Media
Media development action with informed and engaged societies
Media

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

Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Read so far

Master of Science - Communication for Development and Social Change - Temple University

0 comments

The Master of Science in Communication for Development and Social Change (summary here also)  is a one-year program that focuses on the history, goals and practices of communication for social change.  

Effective action for affecting change

This program emphasizes effective action by tailoring academic training to the needs of practitioners, policymakers and project managers in the development sector, as well as community advocates working in citizen’s media. Our students’ work is informed by theory to create impactful change in our immediate community and across the globe.

Coursework

The 30 credit hours of coursework on theory and research methodology provide an advanced curriculum grounded in the promotion of responsible and ethical change. Core topics of study include communication and social change theory, citizen and community media and solutions journalism. Also, students can pursue areas of specialization through elective courses in Temple’s other schools and colleges. Together, the available courses and the practicum capstone experience allow a program of study that is flexible and tailored to students’ individual interests.

Why study Communication for Development and Social Change?

Specialists trained in communicating with communities, government, non-governmental organizations and civil society are in high demand. Yet few academic programs provide the specialized training needed to address challenges in areas such as public health, environmental sustainability and human rights.  

Start the conversation

Graduates of the program will be able to plan community projects, facilitate dialogue processes, provide policy expertise and raise public understanding through media campaigns.

Alumni have gone on to land the mfollany positions including the following: Technical writer at Developing Radio Partners; ArcGIS support analyst at ESRI; Monitoring and evaluation officer at Greenpeace; Community outreach specialist at Stokes Creative Group; Communication consultant for the United Nations; Project manager at The Corps Network; Communications manager at Read by 4th; Digital communication at UNICEF; and Consultant at Temple University Small Business Development Center

 
Registration Information:
Application deadline: May 7 2021 for all Master’s programs for fall.
Click here to apply