Communities and media in the aftermath of conflict : participatory productions for reconciliation and peace

The article begins with an overview of the notion of participation in development and its link to a new model of development communication, based on the pursuit of social change. This will open the path to a discussion on the rise of the media produced by local communities and their use in contexts of development. A review of some of the literature in this field will assist in distinguishing and defining a specific set of community media that sees the direct participation of local community members as the primary element of their production. Subsequently, an analysis of the role of the media in the light of conflict transformation theory will show how media outputs created through participatory methodologies of video, photography and theatre can be effective tools for dealing with the hostility and grief that linger after a civil conflict, as they provide those channels of communication and storytelling that are needed for effective development interventions aimed at community reconciliation. Examples drawn from projects implemented in less developed countries will be brought forward to demonstrate the impact these productions can have in re-connecting groups affected by violence.