Rural Communication Working Group
The working group aims to provide a platform for scholars and professionals working in the field of rural communication. The focus of the working group goes beyond the provision of services in rural areas and adopts a broad understanding of rural communication, ranging from the functioning of multi-stakeholder platforms, rural radio and other ICTs, agricultural extension services via farmer field school, SMS services and other channels to improving access to rural telecommunications infrastructures. Communication challenges to be addressed relate to the specific kind of communication and advisory services found in rural areas, the particular characteristics of rural communication infrastructures and the nature of the content and information relevant for rural people.
Topics include:
- innovative methodologies and new technologies for rural communication and extension;
- interdisciplinary multi-stakeholder actions and social learning;
- innovation system approaches and knowledge brokering;
- monitoring and evaluation for learning and institutional change;
- research and transdisciplinarity in rural communication for development theory and practice, and;
- mainstreaming communication in rural development policies.
The working group addresses the specifics of communication in rural areas. We focus on rural innovations and interventions, social change and development that responds in a sustained and inclusive manner to communication needs of rural populations. The working group operates in close cooperation with the Participatory Communication Research section as this section has historically provided a home for rural communication subjects, especially in the global South.
The working group was initiated by the Global Research Initiative for Rural Communication (GRI-RC), which seeks to mainstream communication for development into the wider development agenda and practice, and has been formed by the following institutions: The Centre for Communication and Social Change, The University of Queensland, Wageningen University & Research, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, University of Guelph, University of Reading, and University of the Philippines Los Baños. GRI-IC aims to collaborate in education and lead research into rural communication for development and social change and operates in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
GRI – RC strives to strengthen rural policy frameworks by incorporating and improving the communication processes and services involved. Although various scientists are working on technical innovations, sources and distribution, GRI-RC believes that communication is critical to addressing wicked problems that relate to agriculture and food, health and the environment in rural areas.
Co-chairs: Sarah Cardey [contact] and Rico Lie [contact]
Vice chair: Maria Stella C. Tirol (College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baños) [contact]
See the list of all current members of the Rural Communication Working Group.
To join the Rural Communication Working Group (RUC), login to your account and select My Sections and Working Groups from the menu. A number of IAMCR sections and working groups send notices and other information exclusively to their members. IAMCR members can join up to three sections or working groups.
IAMCR 2024 - Call for proposals
IAMCR's Rural Communication Working Group invites submissions for IAMCR 2024, which will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 30 June to 4 July 2024. The deadline for submission is 7 February 2024, at 23.59 UTC.
IAMCR/FAO Award winners 2023
IAMCR is pleased to announce the winners of the IAMCR/FAO Research Award: Nurul Hilmiati (Indonesia), Nurdahalia Lairing (Indonesia) and Ma. Theresa Rivera (Philippines). The awards will be formally presented at an IAMCR 2023 session on July 12 from 16:00-17:30 CEST.
Rural Communication Working Group - elections 2023
The Rural Communication Working Group (RUC) will be holding online elections for one vice-chair position, for the term 2023 - 2027. The deadline to submit candidacies is 17 May.
IAMCR 2023 - Call for proposals
IAMCR's Rural Communication Working Group invites proposals for IAMCR 2023, to be held in Lyon, France, from 9 to 13 July (Lyon23) with an Online Conference Papers (OCP23) component from 26 June to 5 July. The deadline for submission is 9 February 2023, at 23.59 UTC.
Call for Candidates - S&WG Head elections 2022
The Rural Communication Working Group (RUC) will be holding online elections for two co-chair positions, for the term 2022 - 2026. The deadline to submit candidacies is 29 April.
IAMCR Beijing 2022 - Call for proposals
IAMCR's Rural Communication Working Group invites the submission of proposals for papers and panels for IAMCR 2022, which will be held online from 11 to 15 July 2022. The conference will also have a national hub at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The deadline for submission is 9 February 2021, at 23.59 UTC.
IAMCR 2021 call for proposals - Deadline 9 February
IAMCR's Rural Communication Working Group invites the submission of proposals for single papers and multi-paper sessions (the online conference equivalent of a panel in a face to face conference) for IAMCR 2021, which will be held online from 11 to 15 July, with a regional hub in Nairobi, Kenya. The deadline for submission is 9 February 2021, at 23.59 UTC.
IAMCR 2020 call for proposals - Deadline 10 February
IAMCR's Rural Communication Working Group invites the submission of abstracts of papers and proposals for panels for the 2020 conference of the Association, which will be held from 12 to 16 July, 2020 at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Introducing the Rural Communication Working Group
The new IAMCR Working Group on Rural Communication (RUC) was launched at our last IAMCR Conference in Eugene. The working group aims to provide a platform for scholars and professionals working in the field of rural communication.
Rural Communication Working Group
IAMCR's General Assembly approved the creation of a new Rural Communication Working Group at its meeting in Oregon.