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In an attempt to blend ‘symbolic’ communication with ‘organic’ communication we structured the session like a live talk show, allowing our ‘in-studio’ guests panellists to respond to the radio audience as they attempt to ‘call-in’.

The session started with music and song, a rarity in conferences, especially one that is convened by international bodies like the World Bank. But so is a panel of indigenous peoples in forums on communication and development. The invisibility and marginalisation of indigenous peoples from the development and communciation systems were the main issues that representatives of indegenous nations ...

Here is a fresh analysis by Rahul Kumar of One World South Asia (OWSA) about the World Congress on Communication for Developement (WCCD). He writes: "People, local communities and the grassroots was the answer that came repeatedly from politicians as well as practitioners for answers to better communication, right communication and well as the mantra for successful communication strategies. Rea...

In a packed plenary room of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome this week, the BBC’s World Service Trust organised a world debate, hosted by BBC World star moderator Stephen Sackur. “Is a Free Media Essential for Development?” was the question asked. Trigger-happy panellists did not loose a second to get in debating mode.

Interestingly enough, being present at the first Communication for Development (C4D, in NGO slang) conference in Rome gives me some insights for the upcoming Internet Governance Forum, a space where the future is supposed to be discussed.

Politically, the World Congress on Communication for Development that is presently unrolling in beautiful Rome might not seem to be the most relevant event. No gender perspective to report on, little debate on the value of telecom infrastructure, almost no inclusion of information and communication technology for development on the agenda. In one seminar, APC nevertheless felt like going politi...

The leader of a Netherlands-based non governmental association at the very end of the World Congress on Communication for Development, here in Rome, probably best summarised how development practitioners (communicators, donors and those benefiting from the development at the end of the line) need to move on.

Amnesty International is calling for internet freedom particularly for bloggers in countries “such as China, Iran, and Tunisia” Nitin Desai’s statement on the “Balkanisation” of the internet also attracted quite some media. Another view, from the other extreme, it would seem, comes from The New York Sun, which says, Keep the United Nations’s Hands Off the In...