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Communication experts endorse
alternative media
Accra, Aug. 11, Ghanadot/GNA-About
120 communication experts, meeting in Accra, have endorsed a
blend of modern information and communication technologies
with traditional and other alternative media forms to
disseminate information for development in the globalised
world.
The participants, from Africa, through Caribbeans to the
Americas, served with spring water in calabash, had sat
enthralled as Professor Kofi Anyidoho, a Ghanaian Poet,
welcomed them with an Akwaaba (Welcome) poetic performance
to Ghana, the land of gold and diversity.
The six-day conference, dubbed; “OURMedia 7, on the theme:
7”Identity, Inclusion, Innovation- Alternative Communication
in a Globalised World” is developing the key that
alternative communication which involves a diversity of
actors, voices, themes and discourses needs to flourish and
take hold to create alternative worlds.
The participants, made up of academics, activists, writers,
journalists and other communication practitioners from
around the globe are discussing the topic through the
presentation of relevant research papers, innovative
workshops and various media forms including story telling,
drumming and beating of gong-gongs and street art and other
traditional forms of communication.
Founded in 2001, OURMedia is a global networks whose goal is
to facilitate a long-term dialogue between academics,
activists, writers, journalists and other communication
practitioners and policy experts around citizens media
initiatives, with focus on the grassroots level.
The underlining principle behind the OURMedia concept is
that various forms of traditional communication with
emerging communication technologies to let voices that had
been drowned over years be heard.
Speaking in a video presentation, Prof John Downing, Co
Founder of OURMedia, developed 10 questions for grassroots
media activism, which included aesthetics, media
organisation, gender so that both sexes could participate in
actively in the media.
He observed that it was necessary to create an atmosphere of
participatory media in the national development process,
arguing there was no need for any further in developing
appropriate communication skills and technology based on a
nation’s identity and its communication education system.
Prof. Downing underscored the connection between media and
social movement of people who had the same interests and
values which they could define openly without apology.
The challenge for communicators was to use communication to
help society to diminish evil and do good, Prof Downing
said, adding it was important that organisations had people
who were deeply culturally sensitive, to provide solutions
to crisis.
Prof Downing, who is also of the Southern Illinois based
Global Media Research Centre, called for the gap between
educators and communicators to be bridged.
Prof Alfred Opubor, of a leading Communication Education
Expert in Africa in a discussion called for a change in the
communication that was taught in the African universities.
He said there was a crisis of confidence in the use of
gender which he said should mutually edify the other in the
communication business.
“No matter the depth of a particular thing, and despite
issues of hierarchy and experience being different, they can
be can be complementary and shared.” Prof Opubor said.
Dr Audrey Gadzekpo. Acting Director of the School of
Communication Studies, referring the role of alternative
media and the OURMedia project, said a variety of
communication forms would not intimidate free expression and
speech.
An integral part of our OURMedia 7 is a Community Radio
Symposium at Radio in Ada, in the Dangme East District of
the Greater Accra Region, which also marks the 10th
Anniversary of the station, which was Ghana’s pioneer
Community Radio Station.
GNA
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