Alfonso Gumucio Dagron defines "communication". This interview was made in the Deep Dish office in New York City. Gumucio's new book, Communication for Social Change, co-authored with Thomas Tufte, is a collection of historical and contemporary readings that look at communication and development. Alan Alda has said about the book, "This idea is flowering at just the right time because it is becoming increasingly clear that communication that doesn't go both ways doesn't go anywhere." Gumucio's article about social change and media (in Spanish) is at http://www.geocities.com/agumucio/ArtMosqueteros.html
Alfonso makes an important
Alfonso makes an important distinction that needs wide recognition. But in his eagerness to differentiate between journalism and communication, he seems - probably inadvertently - to dismiss journalism lightly. Ushering in social change needs BOTH journalism working in the mainstream and citizen media, as well as communicators using other forms of localised, non-media methods. The social change agenda is too vast and too urgent for it to be attempted by one group alone.
recognition
I think he was being a bit defensive -- in respect to academia. Communication Departments have only recently been willing to include community media/communication in the agenda. Many departments in the United States would have a section on journalism and then a part on "communication" by which they would mean either public relations (how to write a press release) or some sort of psychological communication study-- like how to be a good therapist. Now, however, there is a growing appreciation for many forms of community expression and exchange and that is what this blog is all about.