Context
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) accounted for 1.4 million people in Burkina Faso at the time of the study (2020–2021). These displaced communities suffer from humanitarian, security, and health-related deficiencies. They are marginalized, which makes them more vulnerable to disinformation — a particularly important issue in public health crises such as COVID-19, which was ongoing at the time of the study. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of radio as a medium for delivering targeted, relevant, and verified information to meet the expectations and needs of internally displaced persons.
Methodology
The study was led by researchers Dr. Emma Heywood from the University of Sheffield and Dr. Lassa né Yaméogo from the National Center for Scientific and Technological Research of Burkina Faso, in coordination with Sacha Meuter, Head of Research at Fondation Hirondelle. It was made possible through funding from ELRHA, an organization that supports research and innovation related to humanitarian response. The study focused on three areas with some of the highest concentrations of internally displaced persons: Kaya, Pissila, and Kongoussi.
The study consisted of two components:
1) Surveys were conducted through WhatsApp voice messages, which enabled interaction in vernacular languages and allowed for long-term evaluation of how the information needs of large samples of IDPs evolved over time. Weekly briefings derived from consultations with affected populations were provided by the research team to Studio Yafa so that journalists could adapt their productions to the expectations of IDPs.
2) The study also focused on the productions of Studio Yafa, the multimedia news program for youth and internally displaced persons, created and implemented by Fondation Hirondelle in Burkina Faso. The analysis was strengthened using artificial intelligence tools (Natural Language Processing, NLP), which enabled the transcription and translation of dozens of hours of Studio Yafa radio productions.
These two components made it possible to compare media offerings with the expectations of target audiences. The weekly reports provided by researchers to the editorial team thus helped strengthen the alignment of Studio Yafa’s journalism with expressed expectations.
Measured Impacts
Several interesting conclusions emerge from this study:
- Radio, due to its ability to adapt to audiences and localize its broadcast, appears to be the most suitable medium to support humanitarian action in such contexts. The ability to broadcast in multiple languages also helps make information more accessible. Radio also stands out for its effectiveness in emergency contexts. The responsiveness of journalists and the ease of information transmission make it particularly effective in crisis situations.
- Radio enabled the sharing of relevant and reliable information. It acts as a survival tool, offering a space for exchange, solidarity, and communion between affected individuals and host communities.
- Radio is effective and perceived as trustworthy in a context of uncertainty, where rumors and half-truths proliferate. The most popular programs among affected people during crises are debate shows, news bulletins, interactive shows, and entertainment programs.
- Repetition of messages and rebroadcasting of programs are necessary to improve understanding and counter misinformation related to the pandemic and the vaccine.
- It is necessary to involve affected persons in the production and broadcasting of radio programs, which enhances awareness and implementation of public health recommendations. It is not enough to simply broadcast top-down messages. Interaction with the audience must be generated, allowing them to participate in radio life in order to better target their expectations and meet their needs.
- Internally displaced persons requested to hear more from African experts (and not only from the Global North) and from IDPs themselves in the COVID-19 response.
For more information, see the following articles:
- Heywood, E., & Yaméogo, L. (2022). Radio and Social Media as A Two-Way Communication Tool in Conflict- and Pandemic-Affected Communities in Burkina Faso. African Journalism Studies, 43(4), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2023.2204447
- Research Snapshot on ELRHA’s website