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.
Time to read
4 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 27 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

The Drum Beat 18 - Communication and Change News and Issues

0 comments
Issue #
18
Date



PROGRAMMES


1. Community Newspaper - Zambia - The Community Voice Media, formed by young writers in Lusaka, has launched "Community Voice", a community newspaper in Zambia. It features events in Kanyama, a collection of shanty townships of some 300,000 people. The Community Media Development Organisation (COMEdo) has adopted "Community Voice" as a pilot project. Contact Elias Chitenje [email protected]

2. Refugee Radio - Albania - The International Centre for Humanitarian Reporting/Radio Partnership is sending a team of radio and humanitarian reporters to establish a daily radio programme for Kosovar refugees in Albania. Broadcast will be throughout Albania on Radio Tirana and local private stations. Two 1/2 hr. programmes will focus on information for the refugee population. Activities coordinated with relief organisations operating in Albania. Project is funded by the British Department for International Development and the Soros Foundation. Contact Moyra Rushby [email protected]

3. Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Programme - The Maldives - this co-project of UNICEF and the Government of the Maldives will include multi-media efforts directed at caregivers of children 0-3 and at children themselves ages 0-5. Contact Barbara Kolucki [email protected]

4. It's Your Business - USA - a campaign of the Family Violence Prevention Fund (the FUND) designed to provide the African American community with information about how to prevent domestic violence and protect women at risk for abuse, began airing 90-second PSAs on radio stations in March 1999. The FUND has also developed posters, window signs, a brochure targeting African American men, and a Community Action Kit. Contact Marissa Ghez [email protected]

5. Yizo Yizo - South Africa - is a popular and often controversial TV series which deals with the social crisis facing schools in South Africa. Based on a true story of a school that was riddled with problems of violence but fights back the gangs to transform itself into a true learning institution, it aims to create debate and discussion about the culture of learning and teaching and to model a process of change. In addition, 1 million youth print magazines have been distributed to schools and teacher guides have appeared in newspapers. Contact Siven Maslamoney [email protected]

6. Women Connect! - Global - is a 3-year project of The Pacific Institute for Women's Health to strengthen the communication capacity of women's rights organizations in the developing world. The project seeks to help women's organizations use media to communicate and advocate for the causes they feel are important for their communities ie: reproductive health, abuse against women, inheritance rights, women's participation in government. Contact Doe Mayer [email protected]

7. Red Ribbon Media Awards - Malaysia - were initiated by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation to acknowledge excellence in representing HIV/AIDS issues by the media, including print (in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil) and broadcast journalism, advertising, and performing and visual arts. The biennial awards aim to encourage media organisations to be more pro-active and responsible for their representation of HIV/AIDS information. Entries open to Malaysians only. Click here for website. Contact Indra Nadchatram [email protected]


WEB SITES


8. "Communication for Social Change: A Position Paper and Conference Report" summarizes the discussions, outcomes and findings of the Cape Town conference. Building on the work of the 1997 Bellagio conference, the Cape Town meeting shifted the dialogue from a theoretical to an applicatory focus. (*See The Drum Beat #14) For the report, see - 
click here for Rockefeller Foundation site.

9. The World Bank has launched "Development News". Updated daily, the site provides links to news releases, speeches, and a calendar of events. It features a Daily News Summary - the Bank's analysis of media coverage of development issues. Click here for site.

10. The Public Service Advertising Research Center has information on how to prepare and place PSAs, and bibliographies on research about how and whether they work. PSA research site.

11. The POLICY Project HIV/AIDS Policy Compendium of The Futures Group is a collection of international HIV/AIDS policies and laws and includes national strategy documents, program plans, and medium-term plans. Over 2400 annotated citations to 91 source policy documents from over 50 countries. Click here for site.


FEATURED ON THE COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE WEB SITE http://www.comminit.com

12. Radio Programmes:


13. SEARCH our detailed descriptions of programmes, trends and evaluations: http://www.comminit.com/search.html


GATHERINGS


14. The "Get Smart - Economic Development, Libraries and Smart Communities" Conference will be 15-16 June 1999 in Toronto, Canada. Participants include librarians, federal, provincial and municipal government representatives, economic development planners, the IT industry, public policy experts and groups working with information and smart communities in today's knowledge economy. Goal is to examine the role libraries can undertake to create 'smart communities' and to promote economic development. Contact The Ellis Riley Group [email protected]

15. Marking up Information for International Development, the 2nd Meeting of the IDML Initiative, will be 10-11 June 1999 in Maastricht, Netherlands. It will explore opportunities that XML and related technologies offer for improved information exchange in the international development community. See Click here for site.

16. The 26th annual Conference of the Global Health Council will be 20-22 June 1999 in Arlington, Virginia, USA. General theme will be Global Health, Poverty and Development, with 3 sub-themes: Health Programs & policies as Tools for Development & Poverty Reduction; Poverty & Hunger in Relation to Global Health; Interaction of Globalization and International Development Efforts with Health, Poverty and Development. Click here for website. Contact Natasha Hsi [email protected]

17. Applications are being accepted for "Youth First: Strategic Communication & Advocacy for Health" from 27 Sept.-15 Oct. 1999 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Workshop will explore theory and practice of effective behavior change communication and advocacy. Focus is on HIV/AIDS and high-risk behavior among youth and features expanded sessions on health and media advocacy. Deadline 28 May 1999. Click here for site. Contact [email protected]


MATERIALS


18. Environmental Newsletter - "EcoAmericas" is a monthly newsletter on development and the environment in Latin America. This 12-page report is an independent publication and uses its own network of correspondents in the region. Contact Lucy Berbeo [email protected]

19. "InteRadio" - is a magasine of The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). This global look at developments, initiatives and training in community radio, is published bi-annually in English, French and Spanish. Contact Elvira Truglia [email protected]

20. "M/MC Videoshare" is a project of the Media/Materials Clearinghouse. This catalogue of videos focuses on topics in family planning and related health issues. In many cases, the M/MC provides free sample videos to appropriate personnel who work to improve reproductive health in developing countries. Contact Aaron Brady [email protected]


PEOPLE


21. Free Exchange Radio Network (FERN) is seeking a General Manager. Radio FERN is the only country-wide independent radio network in Bosnia & Herzegovina, with 22 affiliate stations and more than 50 correspondents. Responsibilities: all aspects of management (finance, budget, procurement, administration and personnel issues, program planning); operational planning of the network's programmatic, technical and financial development; overseeing editorial decisions. Contact Maja Jurcic [email protected]

22. Pacific Institute for Women's Health is seeking a Project Manager/Coordinator. Based in LA with travel to Africa. Responsibilities: coordinating and overseeing project; fundraising; creating training material for communication campaign and interconnectivity workshops; helping design and conduct initial workshops; identifying and working with African NGOs to define communication problems and solutions; identifying African co-trainers to work on media development and connectivity training. Contact Doe Mayer [email protected]


 

***


Thanks to all for their involvement and support. Please send items for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann [email protected]


 

English