Participatory Media Workshop

Dr. Usha HarrisValentina Baú

(Macquarie University, Sydney)

Martha Mollison(independent video-maker)

Development Futures Conference, November 2013

Communication for development is the use of communication processes, techniques and media to help people toward a full awareness of their situation and their options for change, to resolve conflicts, to work towards consensus, to help people plan actions for change and sustainable development, to help people acquire the knowledge and skills they need to improve their condition and that of society, and to improve the effectiveness of institutions (Fraser & Restrepo-Estrada, 1998: 63) 

C4D encompasses all forms and modes of communication, including community radio and entertainment-education programmes focused on social change and development, community-based information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives, processes such as community dialogue, participatory video, and digital story-telling activities, and the use of various combinations of new and traditional media in support of development activities. However, C4D is essentially about people rather than technologies, and is both a field of knowledge and of practice (Waisbord, 2008; Wilkins, 2000).

Communication for Development

Participatory approaches, participatory communication and communication for development (C4D) are terms increasingly used in community development work.

Getting communities involved in the development process and create mechanisms that are context-effective, culturally-sensitive and sustainable is a challenged faced by all development practitioners.

Key Terms and Concepts

It has led to the emergence of horizontal communication models that are decentralised, focused on the receiver instead of the sender, reflect the cultural identity of communities, and use alternative production methods.

Some of these ideas were influenced by the Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of dialogic communication.

Participatory Approach to Communication

Facilitating Participation through Communication

Group Discussion

What does the term ‘participation’ mean to you?

What are some of its challenges in the community context?

How do you understand C4D? How do you think it is (or can be)

integrated in your own work or in development work in general?

[You may use flow charts or other diagrams to visualise your ideas]

Participatory Media

They are people-centred – People who are affected by the issue are also in control of message design

Dialogic communication – They adopt a two way communication flow

Process-oriented – The process is as important as the end product

Contextualised in a local setting – Their production is based on local knowledge

Participatory Video (PV)

A PV production is one‘[…] in which a communicator and a community engage in video production. That is, the whole process of producing a video message (planning, script writing, shooting, viewing, editing, and showing) is shared by both, the “communication expert” and the community’

(Rodriguez, 1994:150)

Participatory PhotographyThis method sees the use of photography as a form of consultation. From the images they have taken, members of local communities can show their perspectives, develop narratives, and engage in a collaborative discussion that identifies issues that affect them. It is often used in the context of marginalised and disadvantaged groups, for whom the camera becomes a tool to capture their lives and the world the way they see it. This allows people to share experiences but also to generate knowledge and understanding around the problems they are facing, participating in a debate around their solutions.

Examples

1. Using Participatory Video in Sierra Leone(a project from CAFOD and PV facilitators from InsightShare)2. Participatory Video from Climate Change in

Fiji(faciliated by Usha Harris and Martha Mollison)3. Participatory Photography with children

living in refugee camps in Namibia and Yemen

(a project from UNHCR faciliated by photographer Brendan Bannon)

Basic Notions in Video and Photo Technologies

Shot type

Storyboarding

Composition

Light

Group ActivityHands-on Camera Work

Storyboard a 30 sec picture (only) sequence on the topic of sustainability. Shoot the story using in camera editing

Employ correct camera operation including camera movements and angles Take two photographs of what

sustainability means in your life. Be prepared to present a story around them

Use different types of shots and keep an eye on the composition Presentation of outputs

Concluding Discussion

In what contexts do you think these type of projects are most needed?

How would you apply this media production process to your own work in community development?

What difficulties or obstacles could you encounter?