The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative

After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Your Voice Will Not be Heard Without a Free Press - Armenia

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In May 2004, Internews Armenia celebrated World Press Freedom Day by producing and distributing a 50-second public service announcement (PSA) that ended with the message, "Your voice will not be heard without a free press."
Communication Strategies
The PSA starts with silence and a black screen; then a pair of hands communicates a message in sign language. The image of a man's face appears. He begins screaming, as other voices join him in a loud, long yell. Snapshot images of people's faces appear. Finally, a message in the Armenian language is spoken - "Your voice will not be heard without a free press" - these words appear on the screen as well.Click here to view the PSA on the Internews Armenia website.

The PSA was shown repeatedly on about 25 TV stations located all over Armenia. In addition, it was broadcast about 60 times on the Republic Square electronic video display and on a screen located on the roof of a downtown trade centre.
Development Issues
Freedom of Speech, Media Freedom.
Key Points
Internews Armenia characterises its mission as follows: "to contribute to Armenia's development into a democratic and stable society by creating the conditions for the existence of a free, independent and pluralistic media." The organisation's central strategies include: training (journalism, management, and sales), TV and radio production, technical assistance (equipment grants, repairs), media law, and Internet/information access.
Sources

Press release forwarded to the Young People's Media Network on May 4 2004 (click here for the archives).