We have chosen the term 'glocal' ... to stress the dual character of the globalization process, as being 'globalization' and 'localization' simultaneously. Glocal change means social change in a global and local context. It implies rethinking the discourses of both 'development' and 'communication' in the light of a third discourse which provides the general frame: that is, globalization. [from the Introduction to Media & Glocal Change]

This book presents a collection of writings from the broad field of communication for development and from closely related areas of research and practice. The editors' aim is to present "an integral reflection upon where the still-emerging field of communication for development is coming from and, particularly, where we believe it should be heading." This book aims "to integrate reflection on epistemology, theory, methodology and successful case studies in order to move the field towards a new phase, enabling media and communication practitioners to respond better to the realities of a glocalized world."

Hemer and Tufte open this book with a theoretical introduction to the interdisciplinary vision of globalisation that underlies the collection. They see the current focus on globalisation as economic globalisation as narrow, choosing instead a broader understanding of globalisation as the "general transformational process" that is taking place in in both 'developing' and 'developed' countries - leading to a new paradigm in which "all societies are developing as part of a global process." Their ambition in this collection is to "try to delineate the characteristics of what might be understood as an emerging interdisciplinary communication discipline, committed to development and to social change, and for that purpose seeking to bridge the best of traditionally separate communication paradigms, and drawing on successful experience."

The works presented in this book are divided into five sections:

Globalization, Media and Culture - with articles addressing the underlying epistemology for a new framework
Communication and Social Change - presenting the theory behind the development communication field
Methodology - with articles on participatory models, communication for empowerment and the use of edutainment
Mapping the Field - providing an overview of some of the main areas within the field 
Case Studies - providing exemplary case studies linked to the chosen sub-areas of the field

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Email from Thomas Tufte to The Communication Initiative, September 28 2005; and email from Catharina Bucht to The Communication Initiative on July 4 2007; CLACSO website, November 2 2009.