Sunday, April 10, 2011
Participatory Communication
In the sustainable development world, "participatory communication" has become very important, both conceptually and practically. Organizations (both government and non-government) that fund sustainable development project often require that proposals include a detailed "participatory communication" strategy. What should such a strategy include? Some new articles (posted on Blackboard) offer insights.
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12 comments:
participatory communication seems like a give there has to an arena of communication that has to be "active". Communication requires context background and openness. this is how or selection for NGO has gone so good in my opinion. This is also going to be a key part of bring out mission to its site. With out involvement from top and bottom our task at hand becomes much more difficult and would be less likely to have longevity.
I'm sorry, I lost everyone's emails! Will you send me an email at manskerm@onid.orst.edu and connect us?
Thank you so much,
Morgan
We need to make sure our different departments stay in touch. That will be key in making sure our project maintains positive synergy.
Participatory Communication I feel needs to be approached with great respect for others thoughts and opinions. I tend to be skeptical of the skeptics of certain issues, wondering what benefits they gain from being loud, obnoxious talking heads (ex. Rush Limbaugh). Although these are my thoughts, I feel I am gaining ground in having more respect for all beings no matter what role they have in the "play" of life. When trying to use participatory Communication to achieve results with a project, one must honor each stake holder, and take their position seriously. I am learning alot form the discussions in class. Thanks Dr. Walker and Classmates
Glad to help Amy ;)
Participatory communication seems to be like a measuring stick for a development project. Through bottom- up strategies like, community discussion and project related surveys; participatory communication acts as a gage for NGO's or agencies to identify the true need of a project and how to most effectively carry it out. Also it serves to give the targeted community or population away to understand the project and hopefully support it. For example: in our simulation installing water purification equipment into a Latin American community. Participatory communication will allow us to hear the community's needs from their side, gage the cultural impact this equipment could have on the community and essentially broadcast our idea into the community. Without the enthusiasm and support of the whole community projects, like ours, will have little positive impact or success.
I appreciate these comments related to participatory communication. It's funny, but only fairly recently has this concept emerged in the area of development. Top-down models of communication were dominant in the colonial world, and only in this post-colonial age have we realized that the people of developing countries have just as much potential as those from the "Global North". Furthermore, we have only just discovered that development projects are more successful if they intimately involve the communities in which they are serving! This sounds ridiculously obvious today, but it hasn't always been this way. . .
According to the working paper published by the World Bank on Participatory Communication, "Key stakeholders must interact, achieve mutual understanding, and then seek a consensus about priorities".
They have a list of tasks for phase 1 of a project.
1.Issue identification and definition
2. Establish a common space
3.Assessment of needs, problems, risks,opportunities, and solutions.
4. Prioritize key issues for change and reconcile different perceptions.
5.Validate findings and define solutions/objectives.
These things have to happen before the project can even start. I guess there are going to be a lot of these things we are going to have to make up. Any ideas where to start? What assumptions can we make?
Now that we know where our site is (el salvador), we need to discuss our exact application and project. we seem to really understand the use of participatory communication and came up will some crative ways to use it. we now need to better understand what exactly we are "selling" so to speak. Also, Great job on the calaboration last class.
Would a collective society exist whith out participatory communication? Would a society that is collective collapse with out it? Or does the cultural beleifs out power the commnication style. Our society had more collective beleifs in its inception but now more individualistic then collectivistic.
Any thoughts on this?
schooler -
I do not think a collective society could exist without participatory communication. Without it, the needs of a healthy collective community would neither be identified nor filled.
It seems to me that in more individualistic societies, a more linear style of communication tends to be utilized. While this technique is useful for meeting certain needs, it inevitably overlooks those who do not assert themselves loudly in the public forum. Participatory communication seems to bring these voices out so the valuable information they possess can be heard by all.
In a collective society, sub-surface needs (such as equal representation) must be met along with the more obvious ones (such as clean water). Participatory communication allows all of these needs to be identified, and in turn, reconciled with one another.
I have a better understanding about the benefits of using participatory communication. An example that I thought of is: at work if a change or desicion is discussed with me (at the bottom) before being implemented. I can add my thoughts and ideas to the desicion making process. I am less likely to "feel" put out by a change that was brought to my attention in a way that makes me feel like I have some say or control over the process. As an employee this would go a long way towards feeling valued and respected. Also if I get to add my ideas my Human creativity and potential is at work.
I agree amy! That is a great way to look at it and I thnk we would all feel more appreciated at work if we were allowed to particapate in the decision making processes.
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