- November 6, 2008 - In the last four years, PCI-Media Impact has developed and broadcast more than 174 productions, reaching hundreds of million people in 15 countries around the world. This is quite an accomplishment for a small organization which is passionate about sustainability and serious about making an observable impact. Media Impact attributes its ongoing success to its ability to leverage volunteer spirit and drive community activism.

The release of our 2007-2008 Annual Report highlights the success of the organization's programs around the world. The report focuses on the impact and successes the programs have had on combating the root causes of poverty, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, women's empowerment, HIV/AIDS, the environment and economic development, and human rights.

Highlights of PCI-Media Impact's work in 2007-08:

Guatemala: "La Ruleta II: Donde las Emociones se Funden" (The Roulette II: Where Emotions Melt) 56 episodes > 2006, 2007, 2008
The goal of the radio drama was to increase awareness about sexual and reproductive health rights, teenage pregnancy prevention, and transmission of STDs and HIV. The radio drama centered on one young couple with a healthy relationship and another experiencing the perils of abuse. Maco, a gay character, stood up for his rights and confronted homophobia, intolerance and traditional taboos. Asociacion Tan Uxil, our local partner, continues to report dramatic increases in demand at its local clinic and pharmacy, which they attribute to the widely listened to radio program.

Nicaragua: "Montana de Pasiones" (Mountain of Passion) and "Cultivando Amor" (Harvesting Love) 44 episodes > 2007, 2008
The goal of the radio program was to assist in the development of sustainable agriculture, reduce wood extraction and preserve native flora and fauna on the mountain. The story is about Willy and Amanda, who organize the community to stop wealthy landowner who led heinous environmental activities. The community resists and negative characters try to stop their efforts. Ultimately, everyone finds effective ways to develop sustainable agriculture and reduce wood extraction. The program was developed with Radio Ecologica to support its local efforts in the community.

Bolivia: "Entre Luces y Sombras" (Between Light and Shadows) 16 episodes > 2007
Inspired by the stories of many local girls in the rural areas of Beni, the show uses the radio drama as a tool in preventing adolescent pregnancies, domestic violence, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Partnering locally with Family Care International and Radio Tropico, the drama focuses on Ana, a young woman in a harmful relationship, scared, confused and pregnant.

Western United States of America: "Alla esta el Dinero"(One the Other Side is the Money") 16 episodes > 2007, 2008
The radio drama addressed the root causes and consequences of youth migration from Jalisco, Mexico to the United States. The radio drama dealt with drug abuse, alcoholism, teenage pregnancy and depression. First broadcast in Mexico, the program was rebroadcast in California and Arizona on the Radio Bilingue radio network.

Honduras: "Ke Onda con Tu Vida II" (What's Up With Your Life?) 56 episodes > 2006, 2007, 2008
This innovative program promotes sexual and health education, family planning and STD/HIV prevention in Honduras. The program engages a youth audience in the story of Blanca, Brean, Turbo, Sabrina, and Lucia "“ high school friends "“ who engage in the familiar melodrama of both positive and negative relationships. The conflict constantly changes -- starting between friends, then colleagues and finally with their parents. Working closely with local partner Ashonplafa, the program continues to expand across Honduras and reach new audiences.

Ecuador: "Asi Somos" (The Way We Are) 16 episodes > 2008
The program aims to promote rural organization, fair trade, and sustainable development to bring the local community out of poverty. The serial drama focuses on Vicente and Francisco, who are poor farmers competing to grow coffee and corn on the wealthy Don Alvaro’s farm. As the two men compete, they fall into debt. Their wives play positive characters concerned about their community and try to keep their husbands from doing business with Mr. Alvaro. Our local partner, Radio Integracion, successfully used the radio drama to engage the community in local efforts to find alternative and sustainable forms of agriculture.

Social Communications and Marketing Trainings > 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
More than 150 groups were trained during 2007-08 in our communications and social change methodology. Community activists and broadcasters gathered in Ecuador, Colombia and Belize to learn about and share new techniques in developing, producing, broadcasting and evaluating radio soap operas for social change.

Peruvian American Exchange: Development Professional Standards in the Media
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, this program advanced the professional standards of rural Peruvian journalists. The program trained 23 radio journalists, who peer trained an additional 342 journalist in workshops promoting responsible, accurate and ethical overage of diversity, democracy and governance issues. Part of the program included an exchange between the Peruvian journalists and their radio counterparts at Spanish-speaking stations in the United States.

See the entire Annual Report and all of our programming by visiting www.mediaimpact.org.

About PCI-Media Impact

Since 1985, PCI-Media Impact's programs have addressed the root causes of poverty and have encouraged people to make choices that lead to better health and sustainable development. Working with local partners worldwide, PCI-Media Impact produces carefully researched and culturally sensitive radio and television dramas that combine the power of storytelling with the reach of broadcast media. For more information, please visit PCI-Media Impact's website at www.pci-mediaimpact.org

PCI-Media Impact

PCI-Media Impact

PCI-Media Impact is at the forefront of innovative social change communications programming. Its pioneering approach uses creative media, the power of storytelling and the reach of broadcast media to mobilize individual, community and political action in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, environmental conservation and sustainable development, human rights and democracy.

For over twenty years, its programming has captured people's imagination. Media Impact has trained hundreds of organizations and community leaders in the effective use of media. Working with media professionals, it has completed more than 242 productions, including radio and television serial dramas, comic books, documentaries and public service announcements reaching hundreds of millions of people in 27 countries around the world.

From Mexico to India, Kenya to China, Media Impact has been: "Telling Stories, Saving Lives." For more information, please visit the website at www.mediaimpact.org.

PCI Media Impact Videos:

Click here to watch Who is Media Impact?
Click here to watch Behind the Scenes of PCI Media Impact
Click here to watch Taru Has Changed My Life: Educational Radio Soap Opera

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