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The Drum Beat - 9 - Communication and Change News and Issues
December 16th, 1998

The email and web network from THE COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE partnership -
The Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, BBC World Service, CIDA,
Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Soul City, The
Panos Institute, UNFPA. Information, ideas, linkages and dialogue on
communication, development and change.

Web Site: http://www.comminit.com
Contact: wfeek@coastnet.com


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. Web site is
http://www.quetzal.net/~padma or http://rds.org.gt/cmcm/.  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.  Web site:
 http://www.prymetime.com  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.
http://www.comminit.com/peerrev.html


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.
http://www.comminit.com/interview.html


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.
http://www.comminit.com/search.html


WEB SITES


12.  Soul City has redesigned their web site.  Look for evaluations, news
clippings and detailed descriptions of their strategies.
 http://www.icon.co.za/~soulcity/


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.  It can
be found at http://www.amt.org.au
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. http://www.cgponline.org
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.  http://www.amic.org.sg/


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: http://www.jrsummit.net/reports/


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. Web site is http://www.cme.org/cme  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 pciusa@earthlink.net.


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@coastnet.com. This issue
edited by Deborah Heimann deb@comminit.c