Equal Access works with local partners to provide Audio & Multimedia Information and Educational Programming

Targeted, educational, relevant and readily usable information that addresses the problems of underserved communities is critically needed in developing countries. To be effective, programming needs to be tailored to specific community needs and address people in their own languages. Catalyzing the production and distribution of such critical information is a central service provided by Equal Access.

   Content team
   Program design
   Steps of content creation
   Program formats

Content Team
Our Content Team produces engaging educational programming in local languages. This Team is comprised of a coalition of in-country creative talent, production groups, NGOs, community organizations, media and development experts. The team identifies important subjects for inclusion in our programs, produces audience tested, engaging audio programs in local languages and broadcasts these programs via satellite to communities and partner radio stations.

Program Design
Programs are designed to educate and increase people’s knowledge about a range of development issues, prompt them to re-examine their attitudes, help change their behaviors and facilitate social change. The type of programming is determined by the kind of need—programming can address such issues such as health, environment, vocational training, sustainable livelihood, water management and HIV/AIDS Prevention. Our programming incorporates many important characteristics:

• addressing local needs and concerns;
• emotionally compelling;
• utilizing identifiable role models;
• tailored to complement cultural and social norms;
• designed to encourage discussions and questions; and
• followed-up by personal interactions with community members to reinforce and improve the impact of programs.

Steps of Content Creation:

1. The Content Development Team, working with the Outreach Team, first solicits information about the information, education and behavior change needs of local communities.
2. With this information, the team then produces educational but entertaining content to help address these needs. For example, in Nepal where the oral tradition is strong, this team has produced a flagship audio drama, ‘Kura Khasra Mitha’/‘Let’s Talk Straight’ addressing issues of HIV/AIDS awareness and women’s empowerment.
3. We then deliver these programs to our audience via satellite receivers or re-broadcasting on local radio stations. Please see the Technology Section for details on Content Dissemination.

This group is comprised of a coalition of in-country creative talent, production groups, NGOs, community organizations, media and development experts. Content is produced locally, in local languages.

Program Formats

• Audio: Keeping in mind the high levels of illiteracy and lack of reliable electricity or phone services in the majority of the developing world, Equal Access primarily utilizes Audio Programming to reach remote communities. We produce engaging audio programs in various formats, including soap operas, news formats, personal interviews, etc. Program formats are determined by the type of content, and by an assessment of the most effective way to reach our target audience. For example, given the popularity of soap operas in Nepal, our Nepali program is produced in the format of an audio serial drama—complete with main and secondary characters, intriguing plot lines and compelling role models.
  Click here to learn more.
• Multimedia: Audio programming is supplemented by multimedia information to select ‘hub sites’ that are equipped with electricity (solar or grid), computers and peripherals. Multimedia can be produced in a variety of formats. Video, interactive training modules, distance learning tools such as electronic textbooks, are all valuable formats. Please visit the Technology Section for further details.

See a content team in action in Nepal