Best Article Award

The editorial board of the Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (JAEE), a leading journal in the field of agricultural communication and innovation studies, has decided to award the best article prize 2010 to Ataharul Huq Chowdhury (OEAD-scholarship holder at BOKU), Helen Hambly Odame and Michael Hauser for their article, “With or Without a Script? Comparing Two Styles of Participatory Video on Enhancing Local Seed Innovation System in Bangladesh (Volume 16, Issue 4, page 355-371)”.
 
In the article the authors critically analysed potential use of two styles of participatory video (PV) in enabling local seed innovation in Bangladesh. PV is a process of developing video with participation of local clients in different stages of video making e.g. content generation, shooting and editing. Films produced through PV process can potentially be used for variety of communication and capacity building goals (e.g. awareness, advocacy and learning) to support local innovation process. “Video has long been recognized as a mass media. Recent years have seen a growing interest on ‘ways’ to use PV elements for agricultural extension in Asia and Africa. This study has been realized to fulfil research and development interests for participatory use of media in agricultural innovation process’’, says Ataharul Chowdhury.

In the recent issue of the JAEE (17/1) the editorial board has marked the reasons for their choice of the article and its contribution to the agricultural innovation and communication studies.  “This year has seen a couple of articles concerning the use of video for agricultural extension and innovation. One of the reasons why the winning article stands out is the critical way in which it explores the uses of participatory video making (…) the article provides the reader with a clear picture of the potential of both styles of participatory video, and their individual and combined potentials. This way, the article provides a solid basis for using video in innovation and extension processes.”

The Centre for Development Research and its partners are very proud of Ataharul’s good work. “Great recognition for the innovativeness of the work (…) and show to all other PhD students what work can be done at the CDR!!!”, states Prof. Ika Darnhofer.
“I am grateful to all my colleagues at the Centre for Development Research and like to acknowledge their continuing supports and encouragement on this research topic. However, I am looking forward to getting ways and opportunities to further this research along cultural, ethical, and political dimensions that have enormous influence to shape participatory and second generation media”, says Ataharul Chowdhury about the success and his future research interest.

The article is freely available through the following link

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a931867363~frm=titlelink