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. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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When Own <I>Mohallah</I> Is on Air, All You Will Hear Is Radio Ga Ga

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Author

Affiliation
The Indian Express
Summary

This article describes an Indian Information and Broadcasting Ministry plan to bring community
radio to neighbourhoods throughout India. The proposed changes would simplify the process for
receiving clearance to start up a new station and would mean that
non-governmental organisations, voluntary associations, and Resident Welfare
Associations (RWA) could "start radio stations of their own, subject to the
availability of frequencies."



Advertising would be allowed up to 5 minutes per hour, and "foreign funds will be allowed through the FCRA or Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act." Other proposals to simplify the process include increasing transmitter wattage and reducing the bank
guarantee the licensee is required to provide from Rs 50,000 to Rs 25,000.



One reason cited for this change is the communication problems that occurred during the 2004 Tsunami disaster.
The author quotes one source as stating that "Communities operating radio stations along the coastal area could have issued
adequate warning to prevent large-scale casualties."

Web link
to read the full article on the Indian Express website.
Source


Indian Express website; and
Bytes for All Readers listserv, April 1 2005.