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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Small Voices - East Timor and Indonesia

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This community media network was designed to enable those who use the dominant media as their major source of information to gain more direct insight into grassroots movements within the South East Asian region, and to encourage a greater understanding and awareness of local issues. Another purpose of the programme is to strengthen the networks between community media so that information can be shared more easily, thereby preventing cultural divides.
Communication Strategies
The programme organiser has traveled throughout East Timor, working with and investigating the motivations of different community media outlets and reporting on them. She explores the efforts of independent and local media makers, communicating this information to her community through interviews, profiles, essays and conversations on the Small Voices site. For example, one section includes a collection of articles documenting the development of East Timorese media since the vote for independence in August, 1999.

Currently, Small Voices is researching and seeking support for similar projects in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Development Issues
Cultural/community development.
Key Points
During the Suharto regime in Indonesia (1966 - 1998), media was severely state-restricted and subject to enforced self-censorship. During 'the Reform Era', press restrictions were lifted, and commercial and government-funded media functioned relatively free from State control. Since 1998, however, many independent journalists have shifted their focus to work in the mainstream arena. Nonetheless, there is a strong community of grassroots organisations throughout the country that work without influence or support from corporations or government. According to the programme organiser, these community media organisations might work better if more closely networked.
Sources

Small Voices site.