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<DIV>>>> Nick Benequista <NickB@ned.org> 01.07.2018 04:11 >>><BR></DIV></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" dir=ltr>
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<P class=MsoNormal><A name=_MailOriginal>All, </A></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>We're sending this message directly to those who have expressed support for a new working group on media development at the International Association for Media and Communication Researchers (IAMCR). We're also sending this to a list-<SPAN class=SpellE>serv</SPAN> (Google group), which will be the primary method of communicating about the activities of this working group in the future. Please accept the invitation to this list-<SPAN class=SpellE>serv</SPAN> (sent this week) if you wish to receive future communication related to this group and other announcements on media development research. <SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>The list-<SPAN class=SpellE>serv</SPAN> has been scarcely used to date, but we expect it to become much more vibrant in the months to come bow that it has been taken up by the working group. You are welcome to announce new research, events, calls for papers, funding opportunities and other information of interest to the community it serves. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>We're pleased to let all of you know that this new working group at IAMCR, expected to be called "Media Development in Theory and Practice," is now likely to be created in the fall after receiving a warm reception at this year's IAMCR. The proposal to create that working group is attached. You'll find that it emphasizes the need to bridge research and practice in our field. That purpose will guide all its activities. We encourage all of you to attend IAMCR in the coming years to participate in what we hope will become an important forum for this work. For those who cannot attend, we will do our best to incorporate your input in other ways, and to communicate the deliberations there widely. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Susan Abbott, Maria Segura Soledad and I were elected as chairs by the 12 members of the working group in attendance at IAMCR. We can hold another vote next year at our first official business meeting. The creation of the working group would not have been possible without a collective effort, and Susan, Soledad and I intend to coordinate its efforts to maintain its collective and participatory spirit. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Those who joined our discussion at the IAMCR put forward ideas for two possible activities at next year's IAMCR gathering in Madrid. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>1) A roundtable/workshop on creating the knowledge we need for media development: There are a number of practical issues that we could address at this discussion; how to gather data needed to inform global efforts on gender and media, or on the issues of media ownership concentration. Much data in our field is also gathered by the donors and other actors through evaluations that are seldom shared. We can ensure that the discussion next year is attended by those actors who can help to address these issues so that we might generate meaningful action. In that sense, we hope the discussion can be focused on impact. At the same time, these discussions raise questions about the politics of knowledge in media development - about whose knowledge counts - that could also be critically explored throughout the discussion with its practical implications for research and data collection in mind. Those interested in shaping this session should be in touch with us. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>2) A panel on media ownership concentration and media development. This panel need not be limited to the Global South given transnational forms of ownership and growing media ownership concentration in the Global North. We might be able to co-organize this panel (or perhaps two panels) with another working group such as political economy, where much of the work on this topic has been presented at IAMCR. This would significantly increase the turnout, and help us to approach the topic in an interdisciplinary way. We still have a ways to go toward focusing the concept for this, but we have agreed on the general principle that research presented at our working group must seek to explore the practical implications for efforts to develop and democratize media systems, and that presentations from practitioners must draw from scholarly work and provide a genuinely critical reflection. That focus on drawing action-oriented and applied conclusions to this issue would distinguish this panel from past panels on the same topic. Those interested in shaping or presenting at this session should be in touch with us. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Please feel free to circulate this email and to encourage your colleagues to join the list-serv and our efforts to strengthen media development through research and knowledge creation. </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Kind regards, </SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Nicholas Benequista, Co-Chair (Center for International Media Assistance)</SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Susan Abbott, Co-Chair (Univeristy of Westminster)</SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Maria Soledad Segura, Vice-Chair (Universidad<SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(31,73,125)"> </SPAN>Nacional de Córdoba)</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></SPAN>
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