Using online resources and in-person workshops, RELAY works with southern radio and print journalists and radio stations to communicate development research information through features, reports, and on-air discussions.

Specifically, Panos produces media resource packs for print and radio editors/journalists that highlight issues raised by research into development topics such as poverty and globalisation, the environment, communication for development, HIV/AIDS, and conflict. These resources - as well as concise briefings, background notes and scripts for audio programmes, and bibliographies and research links - are made freely available on the RELAY website. To cite only one example of the offerings here, members in the media interested in learning about how to share information about the topic "empowering people through communications technology" can access a media briefing, print features (e.g., on computer lingo) and radio features (e.g., Radio Malaria).

Participation of the media is central in the development of these materials. RELAY commissions stories from local reporters who talk to those most affected by the issues raised by research. These stories are then picked up by editors around the world who select them for their quality, accuracy, independence, and global content. A list of the articles produced by this project can be found on the Panos/RELAY website - click here.

Face-to-face exchanges are also part of this effort to facilitate dialogue between researchers and journalists, and to produce resource materials to support interaction between them. For instance, in June 2006 Panos Southern Africa/RELAY held a workshop in Zomba, Malawi on communicating research findings. The workshop involved journalists (print and broadcast) and researchers from Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia. The workshop opened with a discussion about the potential for - and difficulties of - working together in Southern Africa. Participants identified numerous concrete ways of improving their working relationships. For example, as well as running workshops, press conferences, and tours, and producing targeted media resources, it was suggested that researchers provide journalists with regular updates throughout the research process. Journalists also felt that a directory of researchers would help them to find contacts for stories, and said they would welcome more off-the-record interaction with researchers. This regional debate was followed by a hands-on journalists training session, in which story ideas based on land and agricultural research were developed. The journalists met local researchers who presented their research and provided interview practice. As a follow-up to this event, Panos commissioned some of the participating journalists to produce print features and radio programmes from the ideas generated at the workshop.

Communication for Development.

From 2000 to 2003, Panos London worked with the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University on the development communications project id21, which popularised UK-funded research to media audiences. RELAY reflects Panos' interest beyond United Kingdom (UK) research. It has been designed to complement ongoing id21 activities by communicating a range of research themes.

RELAY is based on the belief that people living in countries which are often the subject of research and who are likely to be affected by policies based on research recommendations should also have access to information. According to Panos, "[c]ivil society in the south has both a right to know about research findings and must play a role in ensuring accountability, influencing the research agenda and using grassroots networks to move beyond debates and promote researched-based action."

One Sri Lankan reporter, who is quoted on the RELAY website, commented: "As a journalist, I often find that research is shelved in universities. By translating research into daily situations, we open the doors to a wider audience and more exposure to people who could benefit [and] learn from it."