The Communication Initiative Network

Where communication and media are central to social and economic development

E-magazines


Average Rating: no ratings submitted

Media Parliament

Country

Peru

Programme Summary

Peru's Association of Social Communicators Calandria and the Veeduría Ciudadana together organised an exercise in active citizenship which brought together communication students, concerned citizens, educators, members of the Peruvian Congress, media activists, and representatives of social organisations. Held in 4 of Peru's main cities (Arequipa, Iquitos, Lima, and Puno), the consultation was the culmination of a series of activities in a process that encouraged citizens to engage with mainstream media in order to provide feedback as well as to put forward proposals for change to the content offered by Peruvian TV.

Communication Strategies

Operating under the theme "TV - How I dream you", organisers began by calling up and training some 100 members of REVOLCOM – Network of Communication Volunteers, a network of young people who are either students or have a strong interest in communications. The trained volunteers then proceeded to organise different social animation activities, or "citizens' caravans" in each of the cities in question. Conceived as a communication strategy that allows the use of public spaces to establish a dialogue with the public, these caravans are more like street performances. Drama, street musicians and performances, traditional dances, and collective games were all tactics employed by the volunteers to awaken interest and generate public debate in town squares. Clowns in stilts walked up and down inviting people to go into one of several booths to record their opinions on the entertainment programmes being offered, or write down their thoughts on large sheets of papers placed strategically around the town square. A number of attendees chose to be interviewed and went live on television and in radio with their opinions. Upwards of 2,300 people participated in the public space interventions.

At the beginning of 2008 and after the information gathered in the 4 cities was systematised, analysed, and distributed, 4 "media parliaments" were organised. The one in Lima was held in the facilities of Peru's Congress, which generated extensive media coverage and, in turn, set the wheels in motion so that that the other 3 parliaments would get almost as much media exposure as the one in the capital city. Participants were asked to debate and attempt to provide answers and recommendations to 5 key questions dealing with the quality of the television programming offered and the improvements and changes that they as citizens saw as necessary. Finally, and with the objective of bringing together proposals to improve Peru's audiovisual entertainment offer, the public was invited to produce and send videos and PowerPoint presentations illustrating some of the aspirations of ordinary citizens for quality TV entertainment.

Development Issues

Media Development.

Partners

Association of Social Communicators Calandria and the Veeduría Ciudadana.

Contact

Rosa María Alfaro
Calandria

Cahuide 752

Lima
11
Peru
Tel: 511 471 6473
Fax: 511 471 2553

Source

"Peruvian Citizens Demand Better TV" , by María Teresa Aveggio (Aguirre), Programme Manager, World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) - highlighted in WACC News (Media Action 287), February 9 2009.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site February 11 2009
Last Updated June 22 2009



How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work?


0
No votes yet
Your rating: None

Post your comments (review comments from others below):

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

COMMENTS POSTED


Help Seed The CI Network

Jobs and more...

Journalist/Reader Connection

What are the best possibilities for journalist-readership connections? (you may choose more than one; please add clarifying comments)