The Drum Beat - 20 - Communication and Change News and Issues
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The email and web network from THE COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE partnership
- The Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, USAID [HIV/AIDS, CHANGE], WHO,
BBC World Service, CIDA, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communica-
tion Programs, The European Union, Soul City, The Panos Institute,
UNAIDS. Information, ideas, linkages and dialogue on communication, de-
velopment and change.
Web Site: http://www.comminit.com
Director: Warren Feek
mailto:wfeek@coastnet.com
PROGRAMMES
Zimatchika ["It Happens" or "Such Is Life"] - Malawi - a weekly, half-
hour, Chichewa audience, prime time MBC Radio One drama programme. Zi-
matchika was the #1 radio drama in Malawi in 1998. Issues addressed in-
clude: family health, women's empowerment, traditional beliefs that
conflict with scientific views of disease, and health service provider
attitudes. Based on extensive research. Managed by The Story Book NGO,
with support from UNICEF, the Democracy and Human Rights Fund of U.S.
Government and the European Commission
Contact Pam Brooke
mailto:media@malawi.net
Reproductive Health in the Egyptian Press - Egypt - a FRONTIERS and
POLICY Projects activity. It aims to increase the use of reproductive
health and family planning research and to maximize the impact of re-
search findings on policy and program management by increasing coverage
in Egyptian Arabic newspapers and magazines. There will be 4 roundtable
discussions for journalists from May 1999 - Mar. 2000 on issues such as
youth, sexual health, and safe motherhood.
Contact Sahar Hegazi
mailto:shegazi@pccairo.org
The Health Channel - Brazil - promotes long-distance education for 2.5
million health professionals and broad access to health information for
the general population. Seeks to foster debate on policies and programs
in the fields of Health and Health-Related Science and Technology.
Works through: production and broadcasting of television programs; pro-
duction of theme videos; televised debates; televised conferences; and
training courses. Partners include the Brazilian public telecommunica-
tions company Embratel, a range of Government [Municipal, State and
Federal] Councils and Secretariats, Universities and a network of tele-
vision stations. This is a project under the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation,
organized through the Committee for Public Agencies in the Struggle
Against Hunger and in Defense of Life.
Contact Angelica Silva
mailto:canal@dcc001.cict.fiocruz.br
Radio Kwizera - Tanzania - was established in 1995 by the Jesuit Refu-
gee Service (JRS) to offer Rwandan refugees and locals a forum to dia-
logue, supply accurate objective information and promote peace and rec-
onciliation. After the Rwandese refugees' repatriation in 1996, JRS
continued Radio Kwizera to serve the Burundian refugee population. 40
hours of broadcasts in Kirundi, Kiswahili, English and French. Pro-
grammes range from education health, sanitation, childrens' issues,
women and gender issues, culture, and a tracing programme.
mailto:jrsng@hf.habari.co.tz
Gates donation to struggle against AIDS - Global - Bill and Melinda
Gates [of Microsoft] have made a US Dollar 25 million grant to the The
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). This has been announced
as the largest charitable gift in the history of the AIDS pandemic.
Contact Nicholas Gouede
mailto:ngouede@iavi.org
http://www.iavi.org
Prime Time Summit - USA - Population Communications International, with
the Producers Guild of America, Caucus of Producers, Writers and Direc-
tors and Writers Guild of America, will hold the first Prime Time Sum-
mit [June 4/5] for the writers and producers of US prime time televi-
sion programs which will be aired this fall on 6 television networks.
Issues to be covered include violence against women and teen-age sexu-
ality. The Summit presents social issues to the prime time creative
community who shape the story lines and characterizations.
Contact Sonnny Fox
mailto:pciusa@earthlink.net
World No Tobacco Day is May 31
*Custom SEARCH 500 plus communication programme experiences to meet
your information needs:
http://www.comminit.com/search.html
IMPACT DATA
Capital Radio - Uganda - a 1-hour, weekly radio show, on Capital Radio
FM, Kampala. Focus is sexual health. The main audience are youth 15 to
28 years old. There is a 'hotline' for telephone counselling off-air.
From a survey of 200 clients at an STD clinic in Mulago (1996): 70%
said they listened to Capital Doctor; 57% correctly stated day and time
of broadcast; 22% said listened every week; 15% said they listened 2-3
times a month. Those who listened to Capital Doctor were more likely to
use condoms: 91% of those who reported using condoms 'often' were lis-
teners; 71% of those 'always' using condoms were listeners; All 3 doc-
tors on the show say that the show has a big impact on services.
Contact Cathy Watson
mailto:strtalk@imul.com
* To help build your case for communication as an integral component of
development, SEARCH 100 plus evaluation summaries
http://www.comminit.com/search.html
COMMUNICATION TREND
"Radio covers approximately 75% of Africa's population and television,
40%...It has been predicted that 75% of African's alive today will
never make a telephone phone call in their lives, but the vast majority
of them listen to radio and an increasing number watch television....35
of the 49 countries in the world [with] less than 1 telephone per 100
people are in sub-Saharan Africa." From Up in The Air", pp2/3, edited
by Aida Opoku-Mensah, The Panos Institute.
mailto:a.opoku-mensah@fordfound.org
*For other communication trends and country communication profiles use
the column on the right side of http://www.comminit.com/search.html
WEB SITES
Weinreich Communications' new website includes extensive resources on
social marketing and health communications, including articles, links,
a conference calendar, a guide to free publications, and a bookstore.
http://www.social-marketing.com.
i- Contact Video Network is a non-profit initiative set up to provide
support for those using video for positive change. Contains guides on
how to use video and the media, articles about the media and links to
other organisations.
http://www.gifford.co.uk/i-contact
Teachers Talking About Learning (TTAL) is designed to support the pro-
fessional development of teachers in countries where UNICEF works. It
aims to support teachers to explore ideas, discuss issues and take ac-
tion through collaborative projects. 'Explore Ideas' section has a
large selection of current articles, research, and opinions. 'Discuss
Issues' section is an online community.
Contact Elaine Furniss
mailto:efurniss@unicef.org
http://www.unicef.org/teachers
GATHERINGS
The One World Broadcasting Trust's '99 International Media Conference
and Awards will be held 17 June 1999 in London, UK. They bring together
senior broadcasters and journalists with people from international
agencies to explore the media's role in protecting and enhancing chil-
dren's rights.
Contact Jenny Stevens
mailto:jenny@oneworld.org
http://www.oneworld.org/owbt/
A regional seminar on Promoting Community Media in Africa will be held
7-9 June 1999 in Kampala, Uganda. Participants will consider a set of
recommendations and plan of action for promoting the development of
comm unity media in Africa.
Contact Kwame Boafo
mailto:K.Boafo@Unesco.org
7th Cross Cultural Research Conference will be held 12-15 Dec. 1999 in
Cancun, Mexico. This is a forum for the presentation and application of
research for individuals and institutions that value the integration of
cross-cultural skills and the development of business activities for
diverse cultures across the globe.
Contact Michael Jay Polonsky
mailto:mgmjp@cc.newcastle.edu.au
http://www.fec.newcastle.edu.au/~mgmjp
PEOPLE
Health Unlimited is seeking a Radio Magazine Production Consultant for
it's Well Women Media Project in Hargeisa, Somaliland for 2-3 months
from end of May 1999. "Saxon Saxo" (Fresh Breeze) is a magazine pro-
gramme to raise awareness of and change attitudes towards sexual and
reproductive health.
Contact Madeleine Hammond
mailto:ae161@dial.pipex.com
Nicholas Gouede has joined the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
(IAVI) as the Communication Specialist. He will develop and implement
an international communication and advocacy program. IAVI is a non-
profit scientific organization committed to ensuring the development
and distribution of preventive AIDS vaccines for use throughout the
world.
mailto:ngouede@iavi.org
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The Drum Beat to:
The Editor
Deborah Heimann
mailto:deborah@vermontel.net
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