The Drum Beat 129 - Communication and Change News and Issues
PROGRAMMES
1. Suitcase Radio for "Radio Browsing" Programmes - Mali - the 4 radio stations of Timbuktu received a suitcase radio from UNESCO to encourage the production of programmes using the information resources of Internet. It is to be housed in the community telecentre of Timbuktu in order to enable radio staff to produce "radio browsing" programmes. In these programmes, a presenter browses the Internet in response to listeners' questions, describes in local languages the websites selected and discusses their contents with a local expert. In this way, the entire community has access to online information in their own language, explained and contextualised. Contact Stella Hughes [email protected]
2. Asian Development Bank HIV/AIDS Prevention Activities - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam - aim to provide a comprehensive range of HIV/AIDS prevention activities in "hot spots" where HIV is easily transmitted and to strengthen the capacity of national and local HIV authorities and selected NGOs to develop community-based prevention and care programmes. Prevention activities include behavior change communication activities for host communities and mobile populations and promoting the use of condoms through social marketing. The project will also support capacity-building activities that include training teachers and community workers on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Contact Mr Indu Bhushan [email protected]
3. The Right to Refuge - Global - a radio project of BBC World Service Trust. The project targets audiences in key geographical regions where refugees have become a priority issue. Each programme has different stories, experiences and concerns but the main aim of the project is to give voice to refugees themselves. Radio programmes have been produced in 9 languages - English, Russian, Spanish for Americas, Albanian, Serbian, Croatian, Indonesian, French for Africa, Urdu and Persian.
4. World Social Forum Multimedia Initiative - Global - Journalists from community media, networks and associations from Latin America, Africa, North America and Europe will unite at the World Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil from Jan 31 - Feb 5, 2002. Each day, radio broadcasts will be transmitted by satellite to community radio stations throughout Latin America via the Asociación Latinoamericana de Educación Radiofónica (ALER), to community radio stations in South Africa via a partnership with the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), and world-wide via Radio Netherlands. The team of journalists will also web cast live in partnership with FIRE, Feminist Internet Radio Endeavor based in Costa Rica. Written features and reports will be distributed daily via the Latin American Information Agency (ALAI) based in Quito, Ecuador and Cybersolidaires based in Montreal, Canada. Contact Elvira Truglia [email protected]
5. AIDS Resource Center (ARC) - Ethiopia - will be established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It will serve as the hub for AIDS information for journalists, health providers, government departments, and HIV/AIDS organisations and programmes. Aims are: to develop and maintain a clearinghouse on all HIV/AIDS, VCT, STD and TB materials produced in Ethiopia; to develop standardized high-quality print and audio visual materials; to support the AIDS Hotline managed by the Organization for Social services for AIDS (OSSA); to develop a strong relationship with the media by training journalists in HIV/AIDS reporting; to encourage networking and coordination through the development of a database of all HIV/AIDS organisations and projects. Contact Ato Araya Demissie [email protected]
IMPACT DATA
6. Action by Canadians (ABC) / Count Me In - Canada - designed to communicate the issue of climate change to the Canadian public through workshops delivered to individuals at their place of work. Evaluations show there was a change in awareness following the workshops. Participants prior to the workshop scored an average of 81% on the presurvey - immediately following the workshop, they scored 89% on the same questions. 6-8 weeks after the workshop, participants reported the following: 83% were more aware of climate change; 90% were more aware of personal energy use; 44% were more aware of TV programs on climate; 45% reported that they had attempted to take public transit since they participated in the workshop. Contact Sara Melamed [email protected]
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PULSE - the international development opinion poll
Without diversified media ownership [eg private sector, the State, community groups] it is not possible to have representative, democratic government in a country.
Do you agree? disagree? can not decide?
What are your comments?
3 comments:
Agree: "In a country where 60% for example of any media; newspaper, television, radio, is owned by one person a society will not get an accurate and well balanced view of themselves and their political leaders. It is very difficult to get unbiased journalism... but it is almost impossible when...journalists are afraid to write the truth for fear of losing their job, political persecution, or worse." [Malawi]
Disagree: "Even if there were no media at all, democracy is always possible. Media coverage is expansive and not always trusted. Without media, representatives work differently and are more near the people which elected them."
Can not decide: "Maybe the reverse is true: without a democratic government, diversified media ownership is not likely. If diversified media ownership does not exist, democracy is probably weaker, but not non-existent." [Egypt]
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EVENTS
7. ARTPAD Event - Feb 21 2002 - The Centre for Applied Theatre Research has produced a training/information resource in theatre-based participatory development techniques with and for development workers that will be distributed to development workers and organisations with an interest in integrating theatre techniques into their practice. Contact Julie McCarthy [email protected]
8. Learn to "BEHAVE": A Workshop on the BEHAVE Framework for Behavior Change Programming - Feb 4-8 2002 - an opportunity for managers and planners of Child Survival projects to experience how a behavioral framework can aid them in planning their project strategically for maximum effectiveness. Contact Rikki Welch Tel: (301) 572-0466
E-MAGASINE
9. Bretton Woods Update - bi-monthly update working to monitor and influence the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
AWARD
10. Tech Museum Awards - aim to demonstrate the impact technological innovation can have when applied creatively to solve significant challenges. Presented in: Health; Education; Environment; Economic Development; Equality.
11. University of Natal - South Africa - offers MA & PH.D Research Theses in Public Health Communication and a Ph.D in Media & Cultural Studies.
12. King Alfred's College - England - offers an MA in Theatre for Development that integrates community drama and theatre practices with development studies.
MATERIAL
13. 6th Annual Video and Computer Game Report Card - provides a snapshot of the interactive gaming industry with a focus on issues related to child welfare. It includes a list of recommended games for kids and a list of games for parents to avoid.
DISCUSSION
14. "Local 'health information providers' - whether ministries of health, NGOs, training colleges, publishers, or libraries - are best placed to create and adapt information for local healthcare workers. Despite information technology, however, health workers continue to lack access to the information they need to learn, to diagnose, and to save lives." 'HIF-net at WHO' will explore this issue. They are looking to identify innovative ways of using information and communication technologies. Information about the list - Send contributions to [email protected]
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