Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Women, Religion and Media Seminar - Global

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Organised by the Women's Feature Services, "Women, Religion and the Media: Searching for New Interpretations" took place 18-20 September 1998 in Leiden, the Netherlands. Thirty-five journalists, activists, clergy and academics from Africa, Europe and the United States met along with WFS staff from India, the United States and the Netherlands to discuss media coverage of women and religion. Journalists came from mainstream print, wire, radio and television houses. Religious faiths represented included Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Judaism and Baha'is. Participants came from Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, France, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and the United States.
Development Issues



Women, gender, rights, religion.

Key Points

Discussions led to the following conclusions and recommendations: Conc. - 1) Much of the coverage of religious women in the media is distorted, regressive or non-existent. It often overlooks the impact of religion on women and of women on religion. Rec. - A) Design international, regional and national strategies that focus on training both journalists and activists to develop strategies for better coverage. B) Produce alternative sources of news that can be used in mainstream media. Conc. - 2) Women journalists need support outside news organisations that may not be receptive to alternative stories on women and religion. Rec. - A) Provide more opportunities for women journalists to share experiences and strategies. There are few opportunities of this kind for media professionals, and almost none devoted to analysing gender issues. B) Develop methods for rewarding both individual women journalists and news organisations for outstanding coverage of religion. Conc. - 3) Religious activists want and need communications training. Rec. - A) Raise consciousness in activist community about strategic use of media. B) Devise training curricula that fit needs of religious women activists in different regions.
Sources

Letter from the WFS to The Communication Initiative.