This is a very important question which I hope to provide a brief response. Each community has got its own media diet (communication channels).The guiding principles, strategies, and objectives implemented by one community communication channels are at times quite different from those practiced by others. All said, there are more similarities than differences. So, community media assessment is the starting point in this case. Choose the study methods.

     A matrix for assessing a community communication channels used to solve day to day problems can be reported in a standalone single table. For example, types of media ecology may appear in the rows and communitydemographics in columns of the matrix or vice versa as appropriate.

1.      Print media (access or use)

2.      Electronic media (access or use)

3.      Popular media or direct interpersonal interactions (access or use)

4.      Audience or demographics characteristics (access or use)

5.      Observation (indicate either: status result, comment, impact, or remarks)

     This is a backdrop to the general concept of typical community communication media ecology. The communitydemographics include: education, income, religion, age, gender or sex, culture, residence, location (urban or rural), media literacy, household or family, employments (occupation), professions, and other status). Community communication channels do better in a media ecology saturated with ICT access (information society).

     In connection to the above idea regarding the matrix, the demographics focus areas are:

1.      Social (cultural) issues or systems

2.      Economic issues or systems

3.      Political issues or systems

4.      Environmental issues or systems

5.      Legal issues or systems

     By community (media) communication channels (ecology), I mean different types of information sharing or exchange, ideas, attitudes, behaviour, emotions, thoughts, signs, gestures, arts, and expressions which are both verbal and non-verbal (body language).

     Community media ecology is an umbrella terminology for all types of community local communication systems such as: cell phones (mobile smart phones), social media (networks) like internet, facebook, LinkedIn, U-tube, and emails.

     Others include: TV, films, cinemas, videos, CDs, DVDs, printers (printing press), telefaxes, copiers, PDAs, landline phones, PCs, sign posts, signs, drums, horns, flutes, newspapers, posters, information notice boards, books, local dialects, newsletters or news-bulletins, billboards, placards, graffiti, magazine, theatres, arts, music, dance, markets, drama, song, games, sports, debates, rallies, worships, praying, whistling, hand claps, cultural and traditional lifestyle, pop-culture, meetings, rites, sign language, or ceremonies.

      The focus is how community media ecology can be enhanced by ICT access to leapfrog the ecology poor majority of nationals or citizens into the ideal information society.

Thanks a lot Wilson for quite a detailed response to my very old query.  I had started following the same kind of reasoning but I do find your info quite elaborate and comprehensive.  I had used your ideas in parts in some of the papers I produced on the communication ecology of Hajj pilgrims in Makkah al-Mukarramah. How might we integrate the construct communication ecology to communication policy.  I know communication policy links up more with issues of communication regulations and relates to administration of communication at community and national level and with issues of culture and to goals of national aspiration and development. Communication ecology seems to have implications for kinds of social processes that unfold in a community and may have psyco-social impacts at the individual and the aggregate levels. I just wanted to have your inputs on it if possible. Once again very gracious of you for the effort you put in for my previous query.

hi

here you can find some illuminating thoughts:

http://vikkikatz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/giles-katz-myers-2006-language-attitudes-and-the-role-of-community-infrastructure-moderna-sprak.pdf

https://books.google.co.th/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5aG4FYgOdpAC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=communication+ecology&ots=fIA05akD2g&sig=4qbKEsypq2FX9voVEDyzOJmn3TM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=communication%20ecology&f=false

https://books.google.co.th/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CDrmb1r8R8IC&oi=fnd&pg=PP9&dq=communication+ecology&ots=M2LRXZ8kpM&sig=1XNYv5mf-gVhCKk0_Tiel0U2AN8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=communication%20ecology&f=false

The cited links and sources are quite vital to understanding the construct in focus. Particularly the first two. I shall read the matetials in detail.  I gratefully acknowledge your contribuyion to my understanding. TQ.

Pleasure Professor Fazal.