The Drum Beat 9 - Communication and Change News and Issues

PROGRAMMES

1. Centro de Mujeres Comunicadoras Mayas (Center for Mayan Women Communicators) - Guatemala - CMCM functions primarily as a center for women to unite and communicate, for self-definition and clarity of purpose, and to develop skills in communications technology to enable better representation in the world and in the media. Activities are determined by the indigenous women who participate and coordinate via a directive committee. CMCM also lends and exchanges services with NGOs and governm ental agencies in order to develop communications technologies. Website or alternate website. Contact Padma cmcm@rds.org.gt

2. Unit for Media & Communications - Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, India - is a resource programme engaged in media production, teaching, and cultural studies research and dissemination. Through its programmes, the Unit has been working towards a critical perspective on development and the media with a cultural studies orientation. It produces video documentaries on themes of social concern and conducts workshops on media awareness and production skills. Contact persons: Dr. Anjali Monteiro or Dr. K.P. Jayasankar umc@bom3.vsnl.net.in

3. Media Monitor - Nigeria - is a weekly Internet publication of the Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) which seeks to publicise and support the causes of freedom of expression, democracy, and human rights. Contact: Akin Akingbulu ijc@linkserve.com.ng

4. Meena Communication Initiative - South Asia - Four publications are being produced for groups working with children. a) For child-to-child facilitators, showing older children how to be positive gender role models for babies. b) For parents, showing how they can be developers of their own indigenous media for their children. c) For "non-formal teachers" who are working with street, working, and disabled children. d) For teachers in formal education, designed to support and complement their existing curriculum. All guides are designed to provide practical direction with regard to learning through play, gender equity, and inclusion of all children in activities. Contact Barbara Kolucki barbara_kolucki@mail.unicef.bangla.net

5. AIDS Hot Line - Egypt - funded by the Ministry of Health National AIDS Program and the Ford Foundation, this new hot-line is advertised all over Egypt on billboards, metros, train stations, etc. So far the hot-line has received calls from every governorate in Egypt as well as from other Arab countries. Contact Jocelyn DeJong J.DEJONG@FORDFOUND.ORG

6. PRYME (The Partnership for Regional Youth Media Empowerment) - Cleveland, Ohio, USA - is a combination of three programs (What Youth Think Today, The Write Way, and PRYME-Net) that have recruited and trained area youth to effectively use radio and television production, creative writing and print publication, and internet communication to discuss their perspective on serious community issues. PRYME website. Contact Dave Howell prymer@apk.net

7. Ushikwapo Shikamana - Kenya - after a hiatus of nine years, this Kiswahili radio soap on reproductive health went back on air on the national service of KBC on 2nd November, 1998. It is a collaborative initiative between Population Communications International and Kenyan writers. Contact Kimani Njogu knjogu@africaonline.co.ke

8. Radio Fern (the Free interEthnic Radio Network) - Bosnia & Herzegovinia - is an independent radio broadcaster. It has a 24 hour, 7 days a week schedule. Programming includes issues affecting refugees and women, economic development, call-in and political programmes. The station operates under an international trust fund. Funders include the Swiss government, Open Society Foundation, and Organisation for Security and the Co-operation in Europe. Radio Fern is interested in cooperating with other agencies to produce programmes for audiences in the former Yugoslavia. Contact Jeffrey Heyman jeffheyman@compuserve.com

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

9. For Review - Sex and Reproductive Health Education Project: India. Susannah Ross outlines the catalyst for, progress of, and products from this BBC World Service programme. Click here.

10. Interview - with Christian Clark, Coordinator for the Meena Communication Initiative in South Asia. This interview provides insight into the project's origins, developmental strategies and ultimate launch in September of 1998.
Click here.

11. Past items in "The Drum Beat" are now coded and will come up as part of the SEARCH mechanism. These are brief descriptions only; we are in the process of completing detailed descriptions of each item.

WEB SITES

12. Soul City has redesigned their web site. Look for evaluations, news clippings and detailed descriptions of their strategies. Soul City website.

13. The AMT (Ahern Media & Training Pty Ltd.) web site covers radio industry news in Australia and overseas. Information on the site includes management and program consultancies, training courses and job ads. AMT website. Contact Steve Ahern steve.ahern@syd.aftrs.edu.au

14. Common Ground Productions (CGP), the television and radio production arm of Search for Common Ground, is starting an initiative for conflict resolution through the Internet - CGP Online. CGP website. Contact Matthew Harmon mharmon@sfcg.org

15. Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) is a regional communication source for information, research and promotion of mass communications in the Asia-Pacific region. The centre is actively engaged in communications documentation, research, training, publishing, and press development. AMIC website.

16. Juniorsummit was held by the MIT in partnership with private global companies on 15-21 Nov. 1998. In preparation of this summit, more than 10,000 children aged 10-16 from more than 130 countries were selected for internet discussions. A web site was developed for the preparation of the summit, and now includes a synthetised report page, where children identify what they consider the most acute problems they face in their societies and propose ideas on how to overcome them. Children who physically participated in the summit submitted their recommendations to influential people from political, social and cultural spheres. Web site address for reports is: Click here.

GATHERINGS

17. Christian Council of Zambia - Communications and Social Justice Department, with financial assistance from the Norwegian Church Aid, will hold a CCZ Newsline Church Correspondents Skills Training workshop in January of 1999. Among the topics to be covered at the workshop are: Christian communication as an agent of social change in society; news and human rights in a Christian context; ecumenical news writing; gender as a legitimate area of Christian news; essentials of news writing; and producing a simple newsletter. Contact Fackson Banda ccz@zamnet.zm

19. The next Entertainment-Education Association Conference (EE3) is scheduled for 24 - 29 September 2000 in Amsterdam. Contact Martine Bouman at Martine.Bouman@ALG.VLK.WAU.NL

20. A Consultation Seminar on "Communications Strategies in Health" was held in the Republic of Moldova by the Ministry of Health and WHO/EURO on 18-19 August 1998. A report on the preparation and implementation of the seminar was recently issued. Discussions included outlining and reviewing health care reforms carried out in Moldova, exploring collaboration between mass media and health authorities, and development of a health communication network. Contact Frank Apfel FAP@who.dk

MATERIALS

21. The Center for Media Education (CME) offers quarterly publications and a library of reports and resources through their web site. "InfoActive Kids" and "InfoActive Health" provide insight into recent technological trends. Website. Contact Katherine Montgomery km@cme.org

22. "Jam Packed" - a 28-minute award winning video aimed at high school youth. This is an entertaining exploration of population and consumption issues. Contact Sonny Fox sfox@sonnyfoxconsultants.com.

23. UNICEF and The Thomson Foundation have issued three training kits: Children and Women In Vision; Children and Women In The News; and Children and Women On The Air. These are available in both English and Russian. Contact Gareth Price ThomFound@cardiff.ac.uk

24. Funders Concerned About Aids (FCAA) has published a report of their March 1998 meeting. "Building Strategic Partnerships to Fight Global HIV/AIDS" takes a critical look at HIV/AIDS funding, strategic funding partnerships, and ideas for developing and deepening cooperation in the international arena. Contact Paul Di Donato paul@fcaaids.org

PEOPLE

25. Morten Giersing left his position as Director of Communication at UNICEF New York on December 15th to become UNICEF Country Representative in Viet Nam. Morten has been a major supporter of The Communication Initiative. Our thanks and best wishes for the future.

 

Whatever you celebrate in this festive season we send you many best wishes and positive thoughts for the future. Thanks to everyone for their involvement, encouragement, support and cooperation. The next issue of The Drum Beat will be January 4th. Contact wfeek@comminit.com. This issue edited by Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com