The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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The Drum Beat 162 - New Developments of The CI

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162
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Over the past few months a number of people in NGOs, CBOs, Universities, Foundations, Institutes, Governments, the UN Organisations, Research Organisations, as well as from the Private Sector have communicated to us their appreciation for the resource provided by The Communication Initiative magasines [Drum Beat, Son de Tambora] and web sites The Communication Initiative and La Iniciativa de Comunicación in support of their work. There have also been a number of suggestions for improvements to the web site. In response to these suggestions we have made some changes. This issue of The Drum Beat will outline these newest features of The Communication Initiative site

ASSESSMENTS

1. PAGE ASSESSMENTS / REVIEW THIS PAGE - at present all information on the web site is presented without judgement as to the worth or value of any particular item. Rather than the 'traditional' approach of experts assessing, commenting and ranking we wish to use the capacities of the new technologies to build a collective critical analysis from the perspectives of people across the communication and development field. At the top and bottom of each page are some very simple tools to faciliate this process. Click on "REVIEW THIS PAGE" if you are at the top. There are two elements for the review [a] a simple 5 scale rating and [b] a comments section. Click on 'Read Reviews" to see other people's comments recognising that it will take a while to gather a substantive body of knowledge.

As one starting point for this process please provide your assessment of the value of this information and thinking to your work -


ISSUES and REGIONS

2. THEME WINDOWS - many of you have a specific interest in a particular development issue. We have begun the process of developing 'windows' into the web site around those themes. The initial 5 'windows' are on: 

  • South Asia
  • Health
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Radio
  • Immunisation and Vaccines

Others will be developed and rolled out over the next 6 months. On the home page - click on 'Issues & Regions' at the top of the right hand navigation bar and choose the window of most interest to you - eg RADIO. From the page that opens everything you see will, by default, be relevant to radio. If, for example, you choose Programme Descriptions, all listings generated will have a radio component. Each item will be sorted by date instead of relevance - so you will see the MOST CURRENT information, or the information most recently updated on the site.

Please let us know what you think of these 'windows' - contact [email protected] with your comments.

EVALUATION

3. EVALUATING THE COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE - we are taking the first steps in evaluating the work of The Communication Initiative and would welcome your involvement and perspective. Please complete the evaluation form and submit. If you are unable to access the site, but would like to complete the evaluation, please contact [email protected] for a Microsoft Word version. It should only take about 20 minutes to complete and the information you provide in those 20 minutes will be invaluable. We very much look forward to your feedback on our work. Please complete this evaluation by October 15, 2002.

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PAGE OPTIONS

4. A PRINT-FRIENDLY OPTION - on every page of the web site there is now an option [at top and bottom of the page] to print only the core material on that page and to print it in black and white. So - no colour and no top header or left and right navigation bars.

5. EMAIL THIS PAGE - also at the top and bottom of each page is an option to email that particular page to students, colleagues, etc. Just click on the EMAIL THIS PAGE option fill in the email addresses and draft any note you wish to accompany the pages you are forwarding. This is designed to save you having to print out pages or to cut and paste URLs.

Please let us know what you think of these Page Options. Contact [email protected] Many thanks!

SEARCHING

6. LINKED SEARCHES - for some time it has been possible to do a one-stop search of a number of web sites, in one process, through The Communication search systems. We have continued to expand the number of sites within the search fence so that they now number 2000 (approx.). Within the Custom Search - eg http://www.comminit.com/search.html - and keyword search - see top left of all pages - there is a Linked sites option, either Linked sites only or Linked sites in combination with the CI sites. We hope this helps you find a range of information relevant to your work.

7. SUMMARIES OF LINKED SITES - we have undertaken a major reorganisation of the LINKS section of the site. These are not only the basis for #5 above - but also include additional organisations of interest. Short sumamries are provided for each. Those summaries are categorised by type of organisation: NGO's; United Nations & Multilaterals; Bilaterals; Government; Academic; Foundations; Consulting Organisations; Community Based Organisations; Coalitions; Social Movements; New Technologies; and Media. It is possible to search the whole of this section by keyword, resulting in a list of individual links.

8. EXPANDED CUSTOM SEARCH WORDS - for each custom search word (eg: caribbean, ageing, advertising, advocacy, etc.) we have expanded the selection of words that will be searched in order to increase relevance and accuracy of results. For example, if you select "environment", our search engine will now search for all pages which have "environment" or "climate" or "water" or "habitat" or "global warming" or "sustainability" or "pollution" or "nature" or "natural" or "sanitation" or "forestation" or "deforestation" or "desertification" within their text or attached keywords. This expansion has been implemented whereever there is a custom search feature across the entire site, within each 'window', and pertains to custom searches of the Linked sites (see #5 above) as well.

Please let us know what you think of these additions and changes. Contact [email protected]

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The Kellogg Foundation has requested La Iniciativa de Comunicación prepare an inventory of persons, organisations, evaluations, material and key resources of training in communication, in 11 countries of the Latin American region: Bolivia, Brazil, Equador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Dominican Republic.

Please send information to Juana Marulanda [email protected]

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STRATEGY

9. The guiding principles of The Communication Initiative address the question - What do you need that will help you do your job better today? Our strategy for effective support of your work is based on 5 core considerations

  1. providing, in real time, access to the information, contacts and experiences that you value
  2. facilitating horizontal linkages between people and organisations across geographic and issue boundaries
  3. encouraging and supporting peer commentary on programmes and strategies
  4. sharing and debating strategic and policy thinking on communication and development issues and problems
  5. providing an identifiable focal point for a diverse field


This model is detailed in a presentation from November 2001

10. The Partners, who guide the strategic direction of The Communication Initiative, include:

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