BBC Media Action’s governance research: emerging evidence and learning. Bridging Theory and Practice Research Dissemination Series: Working Paper Issue 09
Abstract
In 2011, DFID provided BBC Media Action with a 5-year grant to work in 14 countries to achieve a series of governance, health, and humanitarian and resilience outcomes. Of these, governance programming is broadcast in 9 countries. The grant is underpinned by a significant research programme designed to measure and derive insight from the impact of this work and to help generate evidence about the role of media and communication in development.
This research working paper is one of a series supported by this grant, and is one of a specific strand of research papers designed to share the learning and insights the research generates as the grant progresses. Because the research is at a relatively early stage and the data generated from the research to date is limited, this paper is not designed to provide conclusive research results. Rather, it is designed to share some of the most interesting data and the conclusions that BBC Media Action is beginning to reach about the contexts in which it works, and the impact of BBC Media Action’s programmes.
The paper synthesises findings from quantitative and qualitative data from across African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The second section draws on baseline data from Bangladesh, Burma, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories and Sierra Leone to explore the media and governance contexts in the countries where BBC Media Action works. The third part then summarises what is being learned about who is being reached by BBC Media Action interventions. The fourth section, firstly, reports regression analysis conducted on baseline data from Sierra Leone and midline data from Kenya to build up evidence on the impact of debate and discussion programmes on audiences’ political knowledge and participation. Then findings are presented from a qualitative study assessing how Nigerian drama Story Story is promoting dialogue as a means of reducing conflict.
Citation
Casserly, J.; Elias, S.; Fortune, Z. BBC Media Action’s governance research: emerging evidence and learning. Bridging Theory and Practice Research Dissemination Series: Working Paper Issue 09. BBC Media Action, UK (2014) 57 pp.