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.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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UNESCO Science and Media Study

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At the beginning of 2011, the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University in Uganda, sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), launched a study project in nine African countries designed to explore the status and quality of media reporting on science and technology. The study includes content analysis and interviews with journalists and readers, and is designed to inform how to improve the dissemination of scientific knowledge on the continent.
Communication Strategies

The research involves analysing the science and technology content of major newspapers in the selected countries - Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda are participating in the initiative.. Newspaper readers will be interviewed as well to help shed light on how audiences receive and make sense of news and information about science and technology. In addition, the views of key figures in the media and in the science and technology research and policy communities will be gathered.

The results of the study are intended to inform recommendations on coverage of science and technology, as well as elevate science to a level where policy-makers consider it part of their overall governance, educational, and development agendas.

UNESCO is supporting the study under its initiative of partnering with African media organisations to disseminate scientific knowledge. The research is also a follow up to UNESCO’s special agreement with the African Union on developing advocacy and capacity building programmes for African journalism on science and technology.

Development Issues

Science and technology

Key Points

In July 2009, UNESCO signed a special agreement with the African Union Commission (AUC) focused on the objectives of: providing support for the development of regional science and technology networks for journalism students and media professionals;  improving the range and scale of journalism training in reporting science and technology; and developing centres of excellence in journalism training in science and technology. Makerere University is one of 12 potential centres of excellence.

Sources

University World News website, WeInformers website and UNESCO website on June 20, 2011.