"Taking 14 radio serial dramas from around the world shows that many aspects of the way they are organised are not replicable: what works in one context would just not work in another. This is because of the very nature of pro-social media projects: they depend so much on the personal contacts of th
...
e producers, and the specific needs and tastes of the target audience. A successful model for one country may well not work in another, simply because there are so many variables. Having presented this caveat, the following is a list of replicable features gleaned from the 14 projects studied. More detail about how these features work in practice can be found in each case-study. The features have been selected because they either show up strongly across all projects, have been singled out by project-holders as the key to their success, or because they seem to have the potential for translating across countries and sectors." (Recommendations, page 21)
more
"The use of folk arts in rural development clearly has limitations as to the role that it can play in changing people’s behavior, but it is an effective tool for communication in most cases. The greatest strength of this type of informal education lies in its ability to capture the audience’s at
...
tention through entertaining spectacles and to convey new ideas and information to people. In addition, the Bhats’ social position plays an important role in the education process, as they are a marginal community that has provided social commentary through performance arts for centuries. Thus by employing them, NGOs and government agencies appropriate the benefits of their ritual discursive authority. Also, these organizations are aided by the inversions of the social order that occur during shows because the folk artists are able to command the attention of large audiences and thus disseminate their messages among diverse groups of people. In addition, the kathputli tradition of North India is steeped in mythology and symbolism, and these traits give the puppets themselves special ideological status as metonyms and liminars. In turn, these attributes allow the puppets to exist in a realm that is different from that of live actors, and thus they can communicate more effectively as they are exempt from many of the rules and biases that are linked to human behavior. Despite the numerous benefits of using folk arts in development programs, follow-up sessions and more extensive education for villagers and performers are needed to change behaviors regarding complex issues. These performances are quite successful at conveying information, but people are unlikely to incorporate into their lives new ideas regarding issues like folk medicines." (Conclusion, page 63)
more
"This book looks at the political economy of communication and information, media in development and social change, media theory and practice, international communication technology and communication values and ethics." (Publisher description)
"This cross-country case study on media policy in SouthAsia endeavours to present research and analysis of relevant policy and legislation in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maledives; an overview of media development at regional and national level, examnie the changing trends in p
...
ublic service broadcasting and attempt to identify key issues affecting media operations. In addition the study undertakes analysis and documents the role of media in conflict scenarios within the region, with particular reference to the recent Kargil incident." (Preface)
more
"Während wir bisher nur sehr vage wissen, wie eine globale Welt aussehen könnte, haben sich neben den Finanzmärkten die Medien bereits sichtbar als ihre wichtigsten Protagonisten hervorgetan. Anhand des Fernsehens, das sich innerhalb der letzten zehn Jahre von einem Konstrukteur nationaler Öffen
...
tlichkeit zu einem transnationalen Akteur entwickelt hat, setzt sich dieses Buch mit politischen und sozialen Wandlungsprozessen in der "größten Demokratie der Welt" auseinander und fragt, inwieweit die indische Demokratie durch die mediale Globalisierung gestützt oder infrage gestellt wird." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
more
"This book fills a gap in book marketing literature, as it focuses on marketing books in developing countries. It is, indeed, "a handbook on good practice". How much should you spend for your marketing budget? How to write effective copy? How much time does it take before the first book reviews appe
...
ar? Is it worthwile to attend the Frankfurt book fair? When should editors rent direct mailing lists? How to organize the overseas distribution? The author gives no simple recipes in this book, but he describes the experiences he has accumulated for more than thirty years of professional life in Africa-related publishing. The text is organised into four parts: Marketing and Promotion, Overseas Distribution and Rights Sales, Case Studies, and Resources. Five case studies deal with book marketing and distribution in Africa, India, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the sixth case study highlights the experience of African Books Collective in marketing African books worldwide. A special chapter presents an overview of the internet as a tool for book professions in developing countries. This handbook is an excellent overview of the current state in marketing academic books in developing countries." (CAMECO Media Forum)
more