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Browsing Student Essays / Communication for development by Title
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Browsing Student Essays / Communication for development by Title
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Analysis of media reporting and xenophobia violence among youth in So... 
Gomo, Tapiwa : Malmö högskola/Centrum för teknikstudier (2010) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Through the use of content analysis, qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaire survey, this study look at the role of media reporting on xenophobia among youth in South Africa. The study is based on Alexandra Township , a overcrowded and poor settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa. I choose Alexandra because it was the site of many attacks against African immigrants in April 2008. News content from 36 news media was examined on how their content might have contributed to the xenophobic attitudes. The media content findings show a very strong stereotyping and bias against African immigrants which is enough to feed to the xenophobia attitude. However, both qualitative and quantitative findings do not confirm a link between this bias and xenophobic attitude in Alexandra. Competition for resources, their experiences with foreigners, myths social prejudice and the bad behavior by some African immigrants were the main sources of influence. This suggests that the society is influencing the media content and not the other way round as is commonly the case. This phenomenon challenges the assumed power of the media. The study also reveals that while the media in South Africa has little effect on xenophobia attitudes there is a chance that if the media change the way they report on African foreigners, some respondents indicated that it may change their view on African foreigners. Over and above this requires the media to adopt social change models to influence social cohesions while encouraging the government to address incumbent social problems facing both the people of Alexandra and the immigrants as findings suggest a possibility of another xenophobia outbreak if the government does not address social problems in places such as Alexandra. 
TGomo_thesis 2010 Final.pdf
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A Critical Reading of the Scholarly and ICT Industry’s Construction o...
Bibri, Simon Elias : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Ambient Intelligence (AmI) refers to a vision of the information society where everyday human environments will be permeated by intelligent technology: people will be surrounded and accompanied by intelligent interfaces supported by computing and wireless networking technology that is ubiquitous, embedded in virtually all kinds of everyday objects. These computationally augmented, smart environments - composed of a myriad of invisible, distributed, networked, connected, interactive, and always-on computing devices - are aware of human context; sensitive to people's needs; adaptive to, and anticipatory of, their behavior; personalized to their requirements; and responsive to their emotion and presence, thereby intelligently supporting their daily and social lives by providing limitless services in a seamless and unobtrusive way. The vision of AmI assumes a paradigmatic shift in both computing and society – far-reaching societal implications. The challenge lies in developing AmI forms that acclimatise to societal change and the diversity of European socio-cultural life. Indeed, one of the most fundamental views in the prevailing AmI vision is a radical and technology-driven change to social environments and people’s lives. Research emphasizes the fundamental role the ISTAG, a group of scholars and ICT industry experts, plays in the reproduction of AmI as a positive force for societal change. Therefore, the objective of this study is to carry out a critical reading of the scholarly and ICT industry’s construction of AmI in relation to societal transformation. To achieve this objective, a discourse analytical approach was employed to examine the selected empirical material: three reports published by the ISTAG in 2001, 2003 and 2006. The approach consists of seven stages: (1) surface elements and organizational structure, (2) discursive constructions, (3) social actors, (4) language and rhetoric, (5) framing as power and operation, (6) positioning and legitimation, and (7) ideological viewpoints. The AmI discourse (vision) construction tends to be deterministic, i.e. it assumes that the ‘amization’ of society will lead to radical social transformations, and has an unsophisticated account of how social change occurs. It is also inclined to be rhetorical - it promises revolutionary social changes without really having a holistic strategy for achieving the goal. Moreover, topicalization is accomplished in correspondence with the preferred mental models and social representations. Furthermore, the discourse is exclusionary: many issues (pertaining to trust, social sustainability, human-centred design, healthcare, and community life) are left out with the intention to advance the idea of the eventual societal acceptance of AmI. It additionally plays a role in wider processes of legitimation of social agents and structures on the basis of normative and political reasons, and it offers different subject positions: between ISTAG and Europe and European citizens, and between citizens and ICT designers and producers. Likewise, it plays a major role in constructing the image of social actors – ISTAG, ICT industry, research community and EU – as well as in defining their relations and identities in ways that reallocate roles and reflect new attributes. A great highlight and space is awarded to represent these actors, and their views dominate the reports. They are the prime definer of the represented reality. As to ideological reproduction, the discourse perpetuates power relations, serves the interest of certain stakeholders in European society, and reconstructs ideological claims. This discursive endeavor provides a valuable reference for social researchers or scientists in related research communities. Until now, there has been, to the best of one’s knowledge, no comprehensive discursive research of AmI in relation to societal transformation, more specifically the potential of AmI in modernizing the European social model and in shaping Europe’s future.
BibriSEDP12.pdf
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A Discourse Analysis of the Media Representation of Social Media for ...
Bardici, Minavere Vera : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Recent years were marked by a major transformation in human and social communication, owing to the advances in ICT and thus social media technologies. Social media have introduced new communication practices, provided newfound interaction patterns, created new forms of expressions, stimulated a wide civic participation, and so forth. They are rapidly evolving and their significance is increasing while their role is changing in social and political processes. Moreover, they are increasingly becoming an instrumental approach to, and power for, social change due to their potential in bringing new dynamics to its underlying processes such as public mobilization. Indeed, more recently, they played an important role in what has come to be known as the Arab Spring. Particularly, in the recent Egyptian revolt, social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, have been transformed into effective means to fuel revolt and bring about political transformation. This marked a victory for social media and corroborates that they are an enduring resource for the successful mobilization of bottom-up, grassroots movements and leaderless collective actions. This, in turn, has stimulated discussions about their impact on political change, giving rise to a new discourse, what might be identified as ‘social media for social change’. This discourse is gaining an increased attention in the media and the academia: many journalists and authors talk and write about it. Particularly, research and publications by journalists emphasize the fundamental role the online media play in the reproduction of the role of social media in the Egyptian revolution and political change. The aim of this study is to establish, by means of a discourse analysis, how and with what purpose in mind, the online media report on – represent – the relationship between social media and the Egyptian uprising and political transformation, a social relationship that seems to be overstated and constructed in various ways by different journalists. This critical reading reveals what is undervalued, overvalued and excluded, as well as the intersection between the media discourse, subjects and ideology. To achieve this aim, the discourse analysis approach was used to examine the set of selected media texts. The media representation is deterministic as to the role of social media in the Egyptian revolution and political transformation, i.e. it exaggeratedly depicts the power of social media by describing the Egyptian revolution as a Facebook revolution. It also tends to be rhetorical and exclusionary. The event of the revolution and the reality of political change in Egypt are far more complicated than how it is reconstructed by most journalists. Further, it plays a role in constructing a positive image of different corporate players, namely Facebook, Twitter and media companies, as well as in constituting their identities. A great highlight is given to represent these actors. In addition, the media representation does ideological work. It sustains and serves corporate power as well as advances ideological claims. This discursive research enhances the current understanding of the phenomenon of social media in relation to revolution and political change, although the findings may not be generalizable.
BardiciVMDP12.pdf
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A study of Bosnia and Herzegovina´s Ministry of Foreign Affair´s web ...
Sokolovic-Rasmussen, Alma : Malmö högskola/Konst, kultur, kommunikation, K3 (2005) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
Alma_final.pdf
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Beyond the Cultural Horizon- A study on Transnationalism, Cultural Ci...
Lopez Pedersen, Maria Erliza : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: In many cases, the need to survive has been the reason for many individuals to leave their country and to start anew in a foreign land. Indeed, migration has played its role as one of the solutions to struggle against poverty among many migrants. Nevertheless, migration can also be an excellent way to improve or develop one’s linguistic, professional and cultural competencies. And one way of doing this is to be part of the au pair cultural exchange program. The interest to be an au pair as well as the interest to have an au pair has been the subject of colorful debates in Denmark, and pushing politicians to make an action due to reports of abuse by many host families. Where the au pair program will end up is still a question hanging up in the air. This study is about the journey of many young and educated Filipino migrants who have decided to embark on the au pair expedition. The theme is anchored on deprofessionalization and deskilling. Transnationalism, civic culture and cultural citizenship, and media are the central theories of the study. Feedback from the participants indicates that there is a need to shift the discussion and focus. It is also important that the au pairs’ knowledge and skills are recognized. The study recommends further research on how participatory communication can be utilized or applied to engage all the stakeholders: au pairs, host family, social organizations, sending and receiving countries, and mass media, in finding long term solutions. The ‘cultural exchange or cheap labor’ argument must not be ignored; however, debates should not be limited to this alone. Most of the au pairs are educated. Recognition of such qualifications must be done to create a new arena for discussions. Oftentimes, many au pairs themselves do not see this side of their background as something valuable. From a communication for development perspective, behaviour change- the au pairs should not see themselves as domestic workers, but as educated migrants, and this must be promoted and advocated, so that au pairs and members of the host society can acknowledge this unknown aspect of these unsung migrants. They are education migrants; it is only right and logical that the au pairs are supported to enhance their qualifications. Deprofessionalization and deskilling must be avoided.
LopezPedersenMEThesis.pdf
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Conservation 2.0: Leveraging social media for fundraising in Kenya – ...
Mwambui, Elizabeth : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2010) 2-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Social media - Blogs, social networks (Facebook), micro-blogging (Twitter), You Tube, Flickr, Maps, and Mashups (combinations) - has changed the way we work and communicate. Social media are experiencing explosive growth rates and new prominence, not only in the lives of individuals but as tools in democratic processes and social change (Clark 2009, Gilmor 2004). Social media have been used for democratic campaigns in the US (Obama ), reporting natural disasters (Haiti , Tsunami ), responding to conflict and democratic crises (Kenya , Iran , Burma ) emergency fundraising (Haiti ) and others. Activists, NGOs and those in the development field are also using social media for social change. They offer a multiplicity of channels, easier and cheaper creation of content, and allow local and global linkages for those in this field. An innovative example of how social media are being used for fundraising is WildlifeDirect, a group of conservation blogs. Started in 2004, it provides an opportunity to secure funds for wildlife conservation through online giving, while at the same time providing a forum for like-minded people to discuss wildlife conservation. Limited funding for conservation contributes, alongside poaching, severe climatic conditions, and reduction of the conservation area, to declines in wildlife and habitats. Kenya has a natural resource-based economy, and its people depend on the environment for basic needs. Conservation of these resources and funding to carry it out is a key concern for Government, NGOs and Communities. WildlifeDirect has collaborated with organizations to help boost conservation funds by providing a platform through which people can support conservation. My involvement with WildlifeDirect begun about three years ago when I started using this platform to blog and attempt to fundraise for the organization I worked for - the Kenya Forests Working Group (part of the East African Wildlife Society). I am still today part of WildlifeDirect community, currently blogging at savingparadise.wildlifedirect.org for my current employer, although our blog is not used actively for fundraising. Through my involvement I witnessed firsthand how this media was being utilised for publicity and fundraising. I also became aware of the challenges intrinsic in the choice of blogs for fundraising. At the same time through my studies at Malmo on New Media and Development, and particularly our exploration of Social media, I became aware of just how powerful Social media can be for social change. My study’s principal purpose therefore is to explore the benefits of social media, while looking at its challenges. It places this effort within the context of conservation funding and improvements in the ICTs environment in Kenya. A limited number of research and theories shape this emerging and rapidly shifting media. Because the social/new media field keeps evolving, it is difficult to find a theoretical framework for its analysis. (Hassan and Thomas (eds) 2006:xviii). The study has therefore assumed that the media landscape has changed and attempted not to take an old versus new stance whose discourse found in most literature has been critiqued (by authors such as Holmes 2005). Instead, the dialectical view advanced by Fuchs is considered. In his seminal work, Internet and Society, Fuchs (2008) notes that the research field of ICT&S (Information and Communication Technologies and Society) deals with two interconnected aspects – society and technology. Fuchs posits that the relation of the two is inherently dynamic; the two are mutually connected and have constructive effects onto each other. Fuchs avoids the technological determinist view that sees technology as the driving force of society or the social shaping approaches, which consider technology as being invented, designed, changed, and used by humans and influenced by an overall societal context. Fuchs concludes that neither is appropriate because both have deterministic understandings of technology and society. On the one hand, ICTs are embedded into social systems and overall society; social forces and relations shape them. On the other hand, ICTs enable and constrain human social action. This relationship is an endless dynamical evolving loop (2008:345). Within the development field, there has been an equal application of optimism – (ICTs as freeing and democratising) and pessimism (ICTs as isolationist and elitists). A middle ground has however begun to emerge, one that sees the potential of ICTs while acknowledging their shortcomings. Case studies of how ICTs influence societies and how societies are shaping ICTs are also beginning to emerge (e.g Ushahidi and Mpesa in Kenya). The study is limited to Kenya although WildlifeDirect has blogs from the rest of Africa, Latin America and Asia. The following broad questions were asked: 1. What impact has social media had on fundraising for conservation? 2. Can it be an alternative to traditional sources or help in diversification of sources of funding? 3. Can it address the sustainability question? 4. What attracts donations – species, language, relationships, transparency, location? 5. To what extent are the blogs affecting policies, publics and mainstream media? 6. What offline communication practices are bloggers engaged in, if any? 7. Is social media replacing traditional media? Are they used together? 8. What are the inherent power positions in peer to peer giving? and 9. An exploration of the technology – its freedoms and limitations, the state and media regulations, and who governs new media. The study found that WildlifeDirect is an innovative platform. It has appropriated a relatively new technology for its use. It has had relative success in fundraising, has provided a voice for conservationists, and has served as alternative media bringing news about species and conservation areas from people working directly in the field. It is used to advocate for important issues affecting wildlife conservation. Success in fundraising has not been across the board, bringing the issue of return on investment of using the technology to the fore. Connectivity is still a challenge in rural areas even with the introduction of the fibre optics cable and so is transacting with Africa. Even then, bloggers acknowledge the role the blogs play for their publicity and raising profiles. The study is divided into an introduction (conceptual framework); existing research; theories and methodology; analysis of findings; emerging picture (interpretation of data); discussion of results vis a vis theories; and a conclusion based on other new media/ICTS theories, followed by references and appendices.
EWMwambui_ComDev08_Edited.pdf
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Content Analysis on Coverage of European Union and European Union Mem...
Orhin Gyau, Isabella : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2009) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: The issue of the image of African countries in European media is an age-long one which has resurfaced in recent times. Eyebrows have been raised over the image of African countries in Europe and other Western Media which is always touted to be negative. The question about how the EU is reported in the African media has however been relegated to the background. This study therefore used content analysis to unearth how the EU and its member countries are reported in the African Media particularly in the Daily Graphic, a leading Daily Newspaper in Ghana in two separate years of 1998 and 2008 and whether what is reported reflects colonial ties between EU member countries and their former colonies in Africa. The study which used both quantitative and qualitative methods of research also sought to investigate the power relations between African media and their European counterpart, the sources of the stories were examined to find out whether they are stories written by European media or in-depth analysis of issues written by Ghanaian or African reporters. Special emphasis was placed on issues around trade and aid between Africa and the European Union which comes across as the key issues. The years 1998 and 2008 were selected because it has a ten year interval in which one can assess whether coverage of EU related issues in the paper has improved over the last ten years especially as the EU has grown in membership and scope, deepening its process of integration and acquiring new responsibilities in the world. Findings of the study indicated a strong tie between some EU member countries and their former colonies, (i.e United Kingdom and Ghana).The study also found out that The Daily Graphic simply borrows stories from EU sources and reproduce them with very little or no analysis, comments, or criticisms, of the issues raised that may have implications for the country or Africa’s growth in terms of aid and trade issues. This is a pointer to the fact that European media has been setting the agenda and the Daily Graphic simply follows. The study further revealed the unequal power relations between the EU and for that matter Africa which also reflects in media relations whereby as a result of poor salaries, logistical support and appropriate technology, newspapers in Africa, such as the Daily Graphic are unable to send reporters to the EU headquarters in Brussels to report issues from the African point of view and as such reproduce what has already been reported in the European media by European reporters and sent down through wire services. Again from the study, it is evident that the Daily Graphic does not report regularly on issues on EU- Africa trade and aid. In 1998, aid related issues involving the EU and Africa were only six percent while that of 2008 was 11 percent. Trade related issues involving the EU and Africa recorded nine percent in both years. Also reporters lack of interest in analysis of the issues in feature articles was reflected in 97 percent of news stories in 1998 as against three percent of feature articles in the same year while 2008 recorded a woefully two percent of feature articles as against a whopping 98 percent of news stories. One of the issues that emerged as a surprise was the fact that contrary to expectations, EU related stories not connected to Africa received more coverage than what connects Africa to Europe. This may be an indication that African media gate-keepers are not selecting stories based on the interest of the country or continent but rather still serving their colonial masters under a new colonial empire facilitated by the EU. Theories underpinning colonialism such as Edward Said’s Orientalism, modernization, media and society theories have helped to discuss some of the issues under focus.
ig-pw_rev 2.pdf
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Cultural Identity in Urban Beijing - Cycle of Change - Life and Devel...
Ladwig, Enno : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2007) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: With Chinas recent and quick uprising coming as a surprise for many of 'us' in the so-called western world, the changes and effects of the recent developments must have also been a big surprise for many of those most effected by the change – the Chinese people. Then, at the turn of the century, China's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing has brought further changes; the winning has finally propelled Beijing's speed of change to previously unknown proportions. Today, the government pushes to finish many projects in time for 2008 and institutionalises the Olympic Games as an excuse for the need to further changes. The structure of the whole city ap- pears to being changed in only a few years. Beijing, originally a city with countless one storey buildings and only a few high-rise buildings is being changed into a city with skyscrapers. Changes that are enforced at this speed, I thought, must have a strong effect on the people's mind. Such fast changes have surely effected me, in a sense that I was simultaneously shocked and as- tounded whenever I came back to Beijing. For this project however, I was interested to find out what the locals think and how they describe these changes. I was interested to learn about the effects of such fast changes on Beijing‘s society and decided to focus on the social effects caused by Beijing‘s change of style in today‘s city planning and how people refer to them. My key- and research-question of this project work, was thus to investigate the following: How are the people affected by the city's development and how do they refer to the fast changes? Can the locals still identify with their own city and do they still feel at home?In writing (this thesis) and in a documentary film ( http://www.cycleofchange.tv )
EL_ComDev_Thesis.pdf
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Development Communication in Agriculture : A Retrospective Study of M...
Lisa, Virgiano : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 2-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Coffee is an important commodity being traded daily on major commodity trade exchanges in London and New York. Meanwhile, in emerging markets like Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia, coffee is a major source of revenue, with exports of coffee accounting for, in some cases, over 80% of foreign exchange earnings . As the fourth largest exporter of coffee beans in the world, Indonesia holds a strong opportunity to be a prominent coffee player in the world, not only by exporting raw material to developed countries but also by performing solemn roles in coffee global marketing strategies. Sadly, from preliminary research that I conducted before, I found out that the knowledge level of most Indonesian coffee farmers, particularly in coffee processing techniques, is relatively beyond par. How can Indonesia become a respected global player in coffee industry if the farmers do not simply know how to roast and grind their coffee? Coffee does not only affect world economy. In fact, it touches social cultural aspect in globalization, diffusion of innovations and technology, agricultural sustainability, and human empowerment among coffee farmers. Based on those above notions, I decided to commence on a particular study of a Motramed (Mediated Partnership Model) program, designed and implemented by ICCRI (Indonesian Coffee and Cacao Research Institute), to specialty coffee farmers in Bondowoso, East Java, Indonesia. Over several weeks that I spent in Jember, in ICCRI headquarter, I met directly with ICCRI researchers who are in charge for Motramed development program under Dr. Surip Mawardi’s supervision, respective Motramed farmers in Bondowoso, East Java and Motramed’s social actors. We engaged in an intense dialogue and qualitative interviews regarding Motramed program and its implications towards social, economy, and behavioral change. The study result was tremendously proliferated by myself observation of exploratory study which through that process, I found significant relations between ground theories of development and their field practice.
VirgianoLDP12.doc
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Diffusion of innovations : reforestation in Haiti
Bellanca, Raffaella : Malmö högskola/Konst, kultur, kommunikation, K3 (2007) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Development discourse emerged from the implicit assumption that the technological achievements and societal organizations of western civilization represent successes of humankind in inhabiting the planet, and should therefore be promoted among other cultures. The ecological threats of this time suggest the contrary, forcing us to reconsider the positiveness of over exploitations of natural resources and to recognize the paradox of the economical growth model. A new urgent meaning for development is that of rediscussing what characterizes an ideal society and enabling the transformation toward sustainability and justice. Among the many challenges that the planet is facing deforestation well represents the reach of the problems since it affects humans at several levels: from the smallest scale of family economy with the products they can directly offer; to the national size through the effect they have on the environmental conditions of countries; and to the global level for the influence over the planet’s climate. In this era of tremendous transformations, demanding the reduction of consumptions for developed countries and appropriate planning of future consumption for developing ones, communication plays a central role. Exchange of information without preferential directions and between different levels (global-local, local-local) is at the base of this process. This study analyses the communication dynamics of a reforestation campaign in Haiti operated by the NGO AMURT. Assuming that the idea of planting trees rather then cutting them can be seen as an innovation, I adopted as a theoretical framework the findings of “Diffusion of Innovation” research. In particular I used the field work to critically assess some of the diffusion model’s findings, especially concerning the characterization of early adopters which I perceived as pro-innovation biased. An analysis of the NGO communication strategy according to diffusion of innovation parameters revealed several positive points, such as the use of homophile change agents, the adaptation of messages to the audience and the characterization of the meaning of the innovation from a receiver’s perspective. Nevertheless, the most important reasons for the success of the program rather seemed to sit in the NGO approach: the relationship of trust, the stability of its presence in the area and the intimate contact and cooperation with the local social structures.
RaffaellaBellancaCOMDEVThesisV2.pdf
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Documentary Photography as a Tool of Social Change: reading a shiftin...
Nesbitt Hills, Christine : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2011) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Gideon Mendel’s ongoing photographic work documenting HIV/ AIDS, first started in 1993, has seen shifts not only in production but also in the author’s representation of his subjects. This paper looks at three texts of Mendel’s work, taken from three different stages of Mendel’s career and reads the shifting paradigm taking Mendel from photojournalist to activist armed with documentary photography as a tool of social change. This thesis explores how different positionings as an author and different representations of the subjects, living and dying, with HIV/AIDS influences meaning-making, and what that means for documentary photography as a tool of social change.
PW-ChristineNesbittHills-FinalEmail.pdf
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Does who we are count? A study of the role that a community’s culture...
Deffor, Sally : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2011) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: Heritage tourism has taken deep roots over the last decade with several destination management areas effectively carving a niche for themselves as places that offer products that help people to relive history. For Ghana, with its various forts and castles spread along its coastline; inhabitants of such communities have taken it for granted that tourists visit. Emerging research has shown that when an area is able to package its heritage artifacts and monuments in an integrated manner with its culture, no matter what it is; then it can be more successful in marketing its tourism products for sustainable development. The culture of a place however, cannot be looked at in isolation. The immediate and remote influences all around it must be explored. Butre as a tourist community, has had its culture over the last couple of years been open to influences not only from tourists but also from the larger globalization platform; brought on by travel, access to satellite TV, mobile phone and Internet access etc. Over the course of the few weeks I spent in Butre, talking to and following the lives of 8 community members; I realized that the rich history of the fort which goes to reinforce our colonial history which is of course, significant to the outside world is left largely untold. My motivation for embarking on this study stemmed from a fascination in knowing why tourists would choose to visit one particular site within the same geographical area. Does the lives and culture of the people there matter at all? The results as this study showed, buttressed the point made in the opening paragraph that yes indeed, we as a people living in these areas do take for granted the artifact, its history and the giant number of tourists that come to see the peculiarities that our area offers. To revert this however, we must begin to think of employing the tried and tested community-participation methodologies that foster sustainable development through the integration of the very important and interrelated strands of culture, heritage and people.
Sally_Deffor_ComDev09_PW.pdf
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Empowering Tanzanian Youth - Engaging Communities: An experiment in p...
Yarde, Rosalind (2010) 2-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: ABSTRACT Young people, I believe, are the future of every society because they are the ones who will inherit our mistakes and who can potentially drive the change that we all aspire to, through their ideas, creativity and belief. Yet all too often they are marginalised, disregarded, even demonised. In Tanzania, 50% of the population is under the age of 18 years but they are rarely given a voice. This thesis reports on an experiment aimed at giving a voice to a group of marginalised young people in Northern Tanzania – former street children living in the town of Moshi, being cared for by an organisation called Mkombozi. The aim of the research was to investigate whether participatory radio converged with new ICTs, such as mobile telephony and the internet, could be effective communication tools to enable Mkombozi strengthen its youth empowerment and community engagement agenda and thereby help it move from being a ‘provider’ of services to a ‘facilitator’ that helps the community to bring sustainable change. The four young people who took part in the experiment were given free rein to make a radio programme about street children, backed by my technical expertise as a radio journalist. The programme was broadcast on a regional radio station and the audience was invited to take part in a live discussion using the phone, text messages and email. The results showed this to be an effective way of empowering the participants by giving them a voice to articulate their hopes and dreams, by inspiring them with self-confidence and self-respect and by allowing them to formulate their own demands for a better life. The programme they made provoked an overwhelming audience response, which connected the street children through dialogue with the community and engaged them in finding solutions to the issues themselves. Subsequently, there was a widespread consensus on the need for more participatory youth programming and investigation into how these communication tools might be developed further in order to find sustainable solutions at the grassroots level rather than through a ‘top-down’ approach.
YARDE Revised Thesis2.pdf
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Film for Change, Communication Rights and Social Change in Tanzania
Sonderstrup, Soren : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2011) 2-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: The thesis presents a view of film for change set against the manifold approaches, practices or ideologies influencing it, and analysis it as a tool for the self-representation, self-determination and mediation of marginalised people in the face of globalization and the democratization of communication. It seeks to find an answer to the question of how film for change works as a method to empower the disadvantaged inhabitants of three villages in Tanzania, where fieldwork was carried out. The thesis tracks down core parameters that connect the visual communication experience to the social reality and bear the potential to change it. The use of visual communication technology, interactive and horizontal communication practices, fictionalizations and empowerment strategies enable processes among spectators and participants that permit them to reframe or reconsider representations that they witness. Film for change potentially reaches beyond the community and through convergence with Web 2.0 into the much larger public sphere, nationally as well as globally. The thesis suggests that film for change should be adapted to the present day media environment as citizens’ media, whereby media users also become media producers and start broadcasting self-communicated alternatives to the images and interpretations produced by established media corporations that dominate the global flows of information. In this way film for change connects to the right to communicate and becomes a tool for citizens to influence power relations and advocate social change.
F4C_sonderstrup_public.pdf
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HOW CAN ICTs AND NEW/SOCIAL MEDIA REMEDY THE PROBLEM OF VITAL STATIST...
BAIDOO, Stephen : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: THE two most important events in every man’s Earth life are birth and death. Each of these events happens once in a life time. Every individual comes into the world at a certain time on one particular day. In the same way, every person leaves this world on one particular day at a certain time. The interaction of these two important events define, to a large extent, the totality of global population at any given time period. Whether there is population boom/ explosion or collapse in the world as a whole depends on these two natural sources. Some demographers, however, classify migration (i.e. emigration and immigration or in-migration and out-migration) as part of the sources of population growth. Recording these events as and when they occur is not for fun or an end to itself, but rather as a means to an end. Population affects every aspect of human life, namely: economic, political, legal, social, cultural, environmental, health, etc. It is for these and other equally important reasons that people of vision such as John Graunt (1620-1674); Thomas Malthus (1766-1834); Sir James Steuart (1713-1780); William Godwin (1756-1836); and the like sought, in those early days, to give recognition to population issues. This establishes the fact that although the formal field of demography is a relatively recent innovation, people have long been concerned about the size and characteristics of their territorial populations for a very long time. In spite of its enormous importance, it appears that little time and resources are channeled into population management in contemporary times. In Ghana, as in many developing countries, very little attention has been given the field by successive governments. This low-profile attitude towards population issues has, over the years, adversely affected the country’s socio-economic and political progress. I may not be too wrong to postulate that true development has eluded most African countries and the developing world at large mainly because in all of these countries proper attention has not been given to population matters. Is it not true that lack of proper method and resources are the main causes of leaders’ seemingly care-free attitude towards population issues in these developing countries in the past? Even though it may seem that many waters have passed under the bridge and that, things seem to have fallen apart (Chinua Achibe) there is always a window of escape when all doors are closed. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are the new generation of windows and escape routes out of many hitherto insurmountable problems. Therefore, in this thesis, I would like to explore and examine how ICTs and the famous new/social media may help alleviate the problem of non-registration or inadequate registration of vital events in Ghana. Swedish abstract: De två viktigaste händelserna i varje man jordliv är födelse och död. Varje av dessa händelser händer en gång i en livtid. Varje individ kommer in i världen på en bestämd tid på en särskild dag. På samma sätt lämnar varje person denna värld på en särskild dag på en bestämd tid. Växelverkan av dessa två viktiga händelser definierar, till en stor grad, totalityen av den globala befolkningen på någon given tidsperiod. Huruvida det finns befolkningboom/explosionen, eller kollapsen i världen beror i sin helhet på dessa två naturliga källor. Några demographers, klassificerar emellertid flyttning (dvs. emigration och invandring eller inflyttning och ut-flyttning) som delen av källorna av befolkningtillväxt. Antecknar dessa händelser, som och, när de uppstår, inte för gyckel eller en avsluta till honom, men ganska som hjälpmedel till en avsluta. Befolkningen påverkar varje aspekt av människoliv, namely: ekonomiskt, politiskt, lagligt, socialt, kulturellt, miljö-, vård-, Etc. Det är för dessa, och annat lika viktigt resonerar att folk av vision liksom John Graunt (1620-1674); Thomas Malthus (1766-1834); Herrn James Steuart (1713-1780); William Godwin (1756-1836); och något liknande sökte, i de tidig sortdagar, att ge erkännande till befolkningen utfärdar. Detta upprättar faktumet att, även om de formella sätter in av demography, är en förhållandevis ny innovation, folk long har angå om storleksanpassa och kännetecknen av deras territoriella befolkningar för mycket en lång tid. Trots dess jättelika betydelse, verkar som om det lite tid och resurser kanaliseras in i befolkningledning i samtidaa tider. I Ghana som i många ett u-land mycket lite uppmärksamhet har givits sätta in av på varandra följande regeringar. Denna low-profile inställning in mot befolkning utfärdar, över åren, har motsatt påverkats landets samhällsekonomiska och politiska framsteg. Jag kan inte vara för fel att förutsätta att riktig utveckling har undsluppit mest afrikanska länder och framkallningsvärlden på stort främst, därför att sammanlagt av dessa länder riktig uppmärksamhet inte har varit fallen föra befolkningmaterier. Är det inte riktigt att brist av den riktiga metoden och resurser är det huvudsakligt orsakar av ledare seemingly care-free inställning in mot befolkning utfärdar i dessa ett u-land i förflutnan? Även om det kan verka, att många bevattnar, har passerat under överbrygga, och, att, saker verkar för att ha stupat apart (Chinua Achibe) där är alltid ett fönster av flykten, när alla dörrar är stängda. Informations- och kommunikationsteknologier (ICTs) är den nya utvecklingen av fönster och flyktruttar ut ur många hitherto oöverstigliga problem. Därför i detta te, skulle jag något liknande för att undersöka och undersöka hur ICTs och det berömda nya/sociala massmedia kan hjälpa att lätta problemet av non-registreringen eller den otillräckliga registreringen av livsviktiga händelser i Ghana.
BAIDOOSDP12.pdf
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ICT4D in GHANA The role of conferencing projects for cultural exchang...
Hunter, Jake; Jonasson, Patrik : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2012) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: We studied a live video conferencing project based in Ghana, because we wanted to determine whether this is one area where Information Communication Technology (ICT) can have an impact on communication for development. We also wanted to better understand whether live video conferencing is a viable way to go forward with Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) and, if so, what benefits it has to offer. To complement the study, we also looked at two other NGOs which are also using similar technology and have a purpose similar to the WPD live video-conference program, which is to create a space for knowledge and cultural exchange with the help of ICT. The additional programs will add a complementary comparative dimension to the analysis of the case study of WPD. It is important to have these two projects in mind since they use two vastly different methods and can provide a reflective understanding on how WPD can move forward as they are in a transitional phase and are currently exploring different ways to develop the project, mainly involving changes in management structure and technology. We studied the WPD project with the complementary information from the other two projects from an academic perspective to document and analyze the outcomes in order to determine which good practices are available when undertaking similar initiatives. From a theoretical perspective, we analyze the projects using research related to participatory communication, the public sphere, and the digital divide. From a practical perspective, we again examine issues related to the digital divide and the growing influence of communications technologies companies due to public-private partnerships.
Comdevthesis.pdf
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Immigrant integration conflicts in Malmö through a development commun...
Mighton, Lisa : Malmö högskola/Kultur och samhälle (2010) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: In the context of significant numbers of Muslim newcomers immigrating to Europe and perceptions of failed integration in Sweden, and in light of the urban conflict and increasing debates about integration as a one-way or two-way street, this paper sets out a “communication for development”-informed theoretical framework that focuses on the struggle for social cohesion and immigrant integration in Malmö, Sweden. The paper uses triangulation to view this challenging situation from various perspectives. Not only does this reveal that unemployment and lack of power have taken their toll on agency among migrants—particularly Iraqi men—but also that the strongest stories showing immigration as an asset—particularly Iraqi women—are not being told in the media. Through the use of empirical material from Malmö, this paper contends that participatory communication in Malmö is less than participatory, and that integration in Sweden, in its expectations, leans uncomfortably close to assimilation. The paper gives examples of several development communication initiatives for integration that have had positive results, with strong evidence that community media, as just one example, has proven effective at improving immigrant integration. The paper concludes that development communication initiatives show promise for improving social cohesion in Malmö, and that these can be effective only if the choice to participate, and the choices of initiative, medium and content are made by the migrants themselves.
MightonComDev_Sept29_2010.pdf
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Indigenous, yes: participatory documentary-making revisited (an Argen...
Enghel, Florencia : Malmö högskola/Konst, kultur, kommunikation, K3 (2005) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: This Master in Communication for Development thesis –an essay- is based on two documentaries made with -and about- indigenous communities located in the North region of Argentina (the provinces of Misiones and Jujuy) which the author produced between 1997 and 2003 through the implementation of a participatory communication approach: Ayvü-Porä/The beautiful words (1998), and Candabare/Late summer celebration (2001). The essay is meant to be in itself a communication for development device: an investigation of examples, and a mapping exercise, intent at laying open and laying out the actual practices that led to the concrete products discussed.
indigenous EMAIL VERSION.pdf
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Intercultural Communication for Development : An exploratory study of...
Taketani, Keisuke : Malmö högskola/Konst, kultur, kommunikation, K3 (2008) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: The purpose of the study is to (1)analyze the level of intercultural sensitivity of United Nations Volunteer (UNV) volunteers in terms of interpersonal communication in a multicultural working environment; (2) explore how UNV volunteers interact and communicate in a multicultural environment at community level by developing a cognitive structure to understand differences in culture and; (3) identify the level of intercultural sensitivity of the UNV volunteers. This study is intended to make a contribution to the research on Communication for Development from the perspective of Intercultural Communication, particularly by using the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) as a framework to analyze the Intercultural experiences of a number of UNV volunteers. The qualitative survey was conducted with selected UNV volunteers including national, international and former UNV volunteers from February 15, 2008 for 4 weeks. A total of 48 UNV volunteers from 26 countries, serving in 24 countries, participated in the survey. The methodology of content analysis was applied to analyze their intercultural sensitivity and communication skills. The results show that UNV volunteers experience a wide range of intercultural situations, including: language and relativity of experience, non-verbal behaviour, communication styles, monochronic and polychronic time, values and assumptions. Whereas some UNV volunteers seem to be at the ethnocentric stage, the majority of respondents are at the ethnorelative stages, which include the acceptance and adaptation stages of DMIS. In order to improve cultural sensitivity, intercultural trainings are provided to selected UNV volunteers at headquarters in Bonn. This study points to the need for the UNV programme to design and implement structured training in intercultural sensitivity for all UNV volunteers. These trainings should not be given only at Headquarters, but in every Country Office or Support Unit as part of a mainstreamed procedure for both national and international UNV volunteers. Building the capacity of intercultural communication and intercultural sensitivity of UNV volunteers will lead to optimal outcomes in their work through improved communication with colleagues, counterparts and local partners. Intercultural sensitivity is a critical aspect of communication for development. Intercultural sensitivity creates the two-way communication systems that allow communities to speak out, and by finding their voice, communities begin to realize ownership of the development agenda enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
ComDev KT Final.pdf
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Looking for Amina: An experience on Forum Theatre. Entertainment-Educ...
de Miguel Capell, Jordi : Malmö högskola/Konst, kultur, kommunikation, K3 (2009) 1-year master
STUDENT ESSAY
English abstract: This Master in Communication for Development thesis is based on the experience of "Amina's looking for a job", a Forum Theatre play created in 2007 - whith the help of her sons and an NGO- by a Moroccan woman who is discriminated by different institutions in her will to find a decent job in Catalonia, Spain. Through this case study, the essay explores the contributions of participatory approaches to Education-Entertainment field from a communication for social change perspective.
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