Participatory Communication for Social Change

Abstract

Participatory communication stresses the importance of cultural identity of local communities and of democratization and participation at all levels-international, national, local and individual. However, the point of departure must be the community. It is at the community level that the problems of living conditions are discussed and interactions with other communities are elicited. The most developed form of participation is self-management. This principle implies the right to participation in the planning and production of media content for development. One of the fundamental hindrances to deciding on a participation strategy is that it threatens existing hierarchies. However, participation does not imply that there is no longer a role for specialists, planners and institutional leaders. It only means that the viewpoint of the local groups of the public is considered before the resources for projects are allocated and that their suggestions for changes in the policies are considered.