-- Apologies for cross-posting -- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Utilizing Community Media to Fight Poverty in a Digital Age 2 September, 2008. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC and the Division for Communication Development of UNESCO, in collaboration with the Communication for Social Change Consortium, CFSC, are launching the publication "Fighting Poverty: Utilizing Community Media in a Digital Age". The publication contains articles, audio and video documents by practitioners, decision makers and scholars inviting to reflect on concrete examples on ICT for development and particularly the role of community media. For downloading, for comments and to order hard copies visit: http://www.amarc.org/wccd/ The publication captures the practitioner' reflections from an interactive roundtable held at the first World Congress on Communication for Development, WCCD in Rome (http://go.worldbank.org/WR87Z58FK0). The ostensible subject of this publication is community media. The real focus of the text is on democratic and sustainable development. It reflects the main interest of those who support or are active in community radio, an interest that does not centre on technology, equipment, infrastructure or spectrum. Their interest focuses on participation, inclusiveness and the increased influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on communication for development processes, in fighting poverty. The book is a challenge to development policy makers, donor, civil society and media organisations in resource poor countries who can find an inspiration and reminders of just how central their role is in fostering sustainable and democratic development. Putting the poor and marginalised at the centre of development, this publication focuses on the role of community media in underpinning democratic transition in Nepal in 2006, on experiences in Latin America, in Kenya, in francophone West Africa and in the role of new information and communication technologies in facilitating the growth, the impact and dynamism of community radio. "Fighting Poverty: Utilizing Community Media n a Digital Age. Practitioners' reflections from an interactive roundtable at the World Congress on Communication for Development (WCCD)", demonstrates concrete and tangible examples of the interactive and participatory potential of ICTs within communication for development practices. This book is a contribution to increase awareness on the WCCD Statement on Community Media expressing the Rome consensus that recognized the intrinsic value of ICTs in communication for development as well as the vital role of community media in giving access to voice and communication for poor and marginalised groups. For downloading the book, audio and video files, for comments and to order hard copies, visit: http://www.amarc.org/wccd/ AMARC is an international NGO serving the community radio movement with more than 3500 members and associates in 110 countries. AMARC's goal is to support and contribute to the development of community and participatory radio in line with the principles of solidarity and international cooperation. 705, Bourget, suite 100, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4C 2M6, http://www,amarc.org Contact Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary General AMARC ([log in to unmask] ) SDC promotes learning partnerships and works with partner organisations to ensure that access to knowledge and information through new and traditional means, is on the agenda in international policy dialogues. Freiburgstrasse 130, CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland. http://www.deza.ch/ict4d Contact Patrick Kalas, Programme Manager SDC ICT4D ([log in to unmask]) UNESCO is the only UN agency with a mandate to support freedom of expression and media pluralism. UNESCO's long-standing support for community media and local ICT applications has been instrumental in local communication development around the world. 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France. http://www.unesco.org Contact Wijayananda Jayaweera, Director of the Division for Communication Development, UNESCO ([log in to unmask] )