"1. En medio de la pandemia por el Covid-19 y a pesar de los lamentables decesos, del fuerte impacto económico y emocional experimentados, los medios locales no abdicaron de su responsabilidad con las audiencias incluso en aquellas zonas en las prácticamente no existe presencia de Estado. En este
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contexto, han recuperado su protagonismo y han puesto en relieve una fuerte vocación de servicio público. Han visibilizado su labor estratégica en la vida nacional.
2. El principal problema a superar por los medios locales y regionales lo constituye el problema de la sostenibilidad económica. Esperan que esta etapa de reactivación de la economía genere un retorno de la inversión publicitaria local. Dudan que el pago simbólico que reciben por la difusión de los programas del Estado sea suficiente para incluirlos en la programación de las emisoras ahora que hay apertura y reactivación económica.
3. Un malestar común señalado por los medios consultados son las dificultades para acceder a los paquetes publicitarios que se generan en la capital. Creen firmemente que los fondos publicitarios del Estado deben llegar a las localidades más remotas y evitar que se queden en manos de las agencias intermediarias.
4. El impacto económico no fue procesado de la misma manera en todos los medios. Algunos medios, una pequeña minoría, pudieron superar las dificultades económicas: aquellos que pudieron diversificar sus fuentes de recursos económicos. De acuerdo a la evidencia encontrada, una manera de apoyar a los medios locales es diversificando sus fuentes de ingresos. Esto significa que desde el Estado es posible organizar de manera más sistemática los apoyos económicos destinados a medios locales y regionales en función de las estrategias públicas de salud y educación a través de Fondos concursables.
5. Hay un tema que es más profundo y que hay que explorar e investigar con más detalle y son las condiciones de trabajo de los comunicadores locales. Muchos de los trabajadores ganan el sueldo mínimo. Las emisoras han descrito cómo tuvieron que seguir pagando el seguro, los servicios, las AFP, a costa de dejar de pagar otras obligaciones como el IGV. Lo poco que ha ingresado ha sido destinado a para pagar sueldos y servicios. Los más vulnerables son aquellos que trabajan como concesionarios de las emisoras y que en plena pandemia debieron cerrar sus programas quedando totalmente huérfanos de cualquier tipo de protección social." (Conclusiones generales, página 57)
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"La Coordinadora de Medios Comunitarios, Populares y Educativos de Ecuador (CORAPE) es la red de medios comunitarios más grande de Ecuador y desde 2016 ha sido socio principal de DW Akademie en el país sudamericano. Entre 2016 y 2019 ambas organizaciones ejecutaron un proyecto financiado por el Mi
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nisterio de Cooperación Económica y Desarrollo alemán (BMZ) cuyo objetivo era el de fortalecer los medios comunitarios de Ecuador en su labor de brindar acceso a información a poblaciones vulnerables, especialmente en lenguas indígenas. Una línea central de este proyecto fue la sostenibilidad financiera de medios comunitarios, que históricamente ha sido uno de los grandes problemas que ha enfrentado este sector. La viabilidad económica de los medios comunitarios se vio agravada durante el proyecto debido a cambios económicos y políticos en el país: la caída del precio del petróleo y la reestructuración del estado por la crisis fiscal, llevaron a una drástica reducción de los ingresos por publicidad en los medios comunitarios. El proyecto se construyó de manera participativa con miembros de la red de CORAPE. Para ello se definieron cuatro enfoques de sostenibilidad financiera (publicidad; proyectos productivos y emprendimientos; alianzas y articulaciones; producción de programas) y se acordaron una serie de herramientas metodológicas. Una selección de ocho medios comunitarios, diversos en su carácter, constitución y en sus fuentes de financiamiento, participaron en un proceso de autoanálisis, asesorías externas e intercambios entre pares con el objetivo de buscar soluciones de sostenibilidad. De esta manera se lograron definir una serie de procesos y crear herramientas especializadas que pueden ser aplicadas en otros medios de la red, así como otros medios comunitarios en el mundo. Esta publicación se divide en tres capítulos. El primero de ellos presenta los antecedentes, justificación de este proyecto, y la metodología aplicada. El segundo capítulo muestra los aprendizajes y buenas prácticas de cuatro de los medios comunitarios que participaron de este proceso. Finalmente, el último de los capítulos recomienda ocho pasos y herramientas a seguir, que son el aprendizaje de este proyecto, para que los medios comunitarios puedan alcanzar la sostenibilidad." (Página 7)
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"Radio stations across Africa are facing unprecedented threats to their sustainability due to weak media markets, limited advertising revenue and intense competition. A more pragmatic understanding of viability and more flexible donor strategies can help these outlets stay on air and maintain their
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independence. Station managers must continually balance editorial independence, financial sustainability, and their mission to serve the public. Addressing these three challenges is not always compatible, and trade-offs are often inevitable. Successful stations are able to harness viable funding modalities without selling out and capitalize on management and operations techniques to expand reach without compromising quality content. Marginal improvements in the flexibility of media donors and the media assistance community can foster greater viability and independence for small outlets in challenging context." (Key findings)
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"Kenyan community radio works between international and national media paradigms, while seeking to meet the expectations of its local communities. International funding and training organizations active in the sector focus on enhancing technology for development, freedom of expression, democracy and
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governance. At the national level, community stations are expected to act as development-oriented media. While development is a value embraced by most stations, freedom of expression is embraced more cautiously, given the political contexts in which they exist. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2014 and 2016, this article explores the operational choices that community broadcasters make in view of their funding and training partnerships, all the while negotiating their local, social and political contexts in order to survive. It focuses on Mugambo Jwetu FM, a community radio station in Kenya, as a case study." (Abstract)
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"Since 2004 and for the first time in the history of broadcasting in the region, a dozen Latin American countries have acknowledged community radio and television stations as legal providers of audiovisual communication services. In Argentina, a law passed in 2009 not only awarded legal recognition
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to the sector, it also provided a promotion mechanism for community media. In this respect, it was one of the most ambitious ones in the region. The driving question is: How relevant are public policies for the sustainability of community media in Argentina? The argument is: even though the sector of community media has developed and persisted for decades in illegal conditions imposed by the state, the legalization and promotion policies carried outby the state from the perspective of human rights in a context of extreme media ownership concentration have been critical to the growth and sustainability of nonprofit media." (Abstract)
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"During 2016 and 2017 the Centro de Producciones Radiofónicas (CPR-CEPPAS) conducted a research project on the ways 11 community radio stations in Argentina generate and manage financial resources. We selected a comprehensive sample with different types of community radio stations and used UNESCO's
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Media Development Indicators as a starting point. The main goal of the investigation was to deepen our knowledge about the relationship between community radio stations and the market, taking into account work, financial planning and management. We approached the radio stations with the understanding that their sustainability could be measured on multiple levels, not only financially, but also by putting special attention to the economic aspect of sustainability. We draw regularities, identified strengths and weaknesses, and pointed out creative fundraising methods. Our main conclusion is that the multiplicity and diversity of funding sources is a distinctive element of the definition of community radio." (Abstract)
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"The Australian community radio sector is a rich source of information for researchers, activists and practitioners working to support and develop community broadcasting worldwide. With a 46-year history, it represents an established and enduring third tier of independent local broadcasting with ove
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r 450 non-profit radio services legislated to provide opportunities for community engagement and participation. This article focuses on the political, economic and institutional factors involved in a change of ownership and management of Radio Adelaide, the country’s longest running community radio station. The process illustrates the impact and effects of the non-profit industrial complex as stations struggle for financial survival and independence in an increasingly competitive, corporatized environment. It is a case study which questions the contemporary understanding of a strong and resilient sector, highlighting themes to inform community media research and practice internationally." (Abstract)
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"Este curso trata sobre la siempre difícil sostenibilidad económica de las radios de fines sociales. Pensaremos herramientas que ayuden a pensar unestra práctica en estos temas, dónde conseguir fondos, cómo adminstrarlos. La idea es reflexionar sobre las diferentes dimensiones que hacen que una
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radio comunitaria perdure y desarrolle sus objetivos (sostenibilidad político-social, comunicacional, económica-administrativa). A partir de allí nos concentraremos en pensar específicamente el aspecto económico para tener herramientas para analizar cómo abordamos estos temas en nuestra emisora y qué podemos hacer para fortalecernos, obtener más recursos, hacer una gestión prolija. Siempre entendiendo que las radios comunitarias se sostienen con diversas y múltiples fuentes de financiamiento y que también en este aspecto de la gestión es fundamental la comunidad y su participación." (Página 2)
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"Community radio broadcasters obtain economic support from a variety of sources. During my discussions with community broadcasters and activists, there was a general expression of pragmatism towards the economic tensions they faced in running their stations. Their programme content may need to be su
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itable not only for their local communities but also for the agencies and organisations that support them. However, frequently the greates tension was simply getting enough funds to operate effectively. They found the strain of a constant lack of funds gruelling, and there were often concerns about the sustainability of their stations." (Conclusion)
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"Whereas the earlier ZACRAS manuals already covered issues of social and organisational sustainability, this manual addresses the issue of financial sustainability. These three aspects: social, organisational and financial sustainability e are described and explained in the following chapter. This f
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inancial sustainability framework manual consists of a set of really practical tools, for preparing the work stepebyestep. The manual can be used as a guide and tool in a radio station seminar, where the board and management sit down and develop the tools step by step. It can be further used as a support when you explain your financial situation and life to the broader group of community volunteer broadcasters, or to your members in an annual general assembly, or when breaking down in a discussion with a potential partner, how you work strategically and systematically with partnerships. Every community radio is a mirror of the community to which it belongs – and as every community is special and different, reflecting its history, composition and choices, so is every community radio. It is therefore not possible to present one, generic financial sustainability framework for use by all. But it is possible to present a set of questions that all community radio stations should be asking themselves in order to achieve financial sustainability. The answers will be different – special – and will be your own, special, framework for your own, special, financial sustainability strategy and framework." (Introduction)
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"The current study, which recognises the importance of creating learning organisations and the introduction of new broadcasting techniques to the survival of an organisation, explores the influence of learning orientation (LO) and creative broadcasting techniques (CBT) on the sustainability of CRS.
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There exists extant literature that attests to LO as an antecedent of innovation and the sustainability of firms on the one hand, and new broadcasting capabilities and procedures (CBT) as instrumental to the long-term sustainability of CRS on the other. Yet studies that explore the intersection of these three variables (i.e. LO, CBT and the diverse forms of sustainability) are hard to come by, hence this study. The study draws on an interpretive epistemology, qualitative approach and two case studies of CRS located in Bloemfontein, Free State. It investigates the LO and CBT of these institutions to develop some in-depth knowledge of their influence on the community stations’ sustainability. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with CRS managers, producers and presenters and observed the broadcasting practices and activities of these CRS. The results of the study reveal that LO and CBT, especially the implementation of each of the components, positively influenced organisational, financial and social sustainability of CRS. The study recommends that each CRS should draw up a station constitution, which specifies the code of good practice and conduct in conformity to their licencing conditions, vision and goals. The constitution should be availed to all employees to ensure unity of purpose and common understanding of the practices adopted and methods implemented by the CRS." (Abstract)
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"El manual de estilo facilita el cumplimiento de los Objetivos, Misión y Visión de la Emisora, teniendo en cuenta los principios y políticas sobre los que se sustenta el hacer de la Emisora Comunitaria Vokaribe Radio. Éste busca dinamizar y guiar las prácticas que componen la apuesta global de
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avanzar en el ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación, a la información y libertad de expresión, como base de la democratización de la comunicación. El manual de estilo de Vokaribe Radio ubica estas guias prácticas a nivel de la localidad y se concreta a través del accionar de la Emisora Comunitaria, lo cual significa ofrecerle a los diversos públicos, colectivos y grupos organizados, comunidades y personas, los mecanismos de participación que les posibiliten expresarse a través de los espacios existentes en Vokaribe Radio." (Página 2)
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"This study examines the challenges of good governance for community radio stations. It does this by exploring how volunteers, managers and members of the Boards of Directors at four community radio stations in Ireland view governance issues. The article finds that there are three key requirements f
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or effective governance in the context of non-profit community radio stations. First, participants described the importance of the Board’s leadership role in acquiring expertise in specific, necessary areas, such as finance, human resources and compliance. The Board was also seen to require a capacity to generate positive relationships between the station and its constituent communities. Second, participants outlined a number of practices that proved useful in achieving positive internal relationships between the Board, the volunteers and management. Third, participants described how a collectively shared ethos of community radio was useful in overcoming potential divisions by generating a shared sense of the organization for its members. The findings highlight the need for further research and analysis of the organizational uniqueness and consequent governance requirements of community media." (Abstract)
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"Local radio stations have mushroomed in Africa, including Tanzania, partly due to increased support from international donors. However, research results show that the lack of economic viability is a major constraint for local radio stations. They can hardly generate sufficient revenues from adverti
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sers to sustain the station. This leads to high turnover of staff due to low pay, low quality of content, and lack of capacity in serious programming. Based on a market model, the goal of this paper is to identify these problems from both a business and a journalism perspective and to find possible solutions. The results of this analysis show that a viable economic model in Africa requires simultaneous support for three different fields, (a) development of good content, (b) development of media management capacities, and (c) media research covering the extent and satisfaction of local audiences in order to develop local advertising markets that serve local media." (Abstract)
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"The quest for competitiveness and popularity of a campus radio station needs to be balanced with the epistemological frames of community radio, which include participation, community ownership, and opposition to hegemonic discourse in the mainstream media as well as independence from political and
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market influences. I contribute to these reflections by highlighting how within this frame ATL FM is facing dilemmas and challenges that have not occupied community media theorists so far. Through content analysis and in-depth interviews, I investigate whether a community radio can serve and encourage the participation of the local community when professional rather than community members exclusively manage it. I propose a conscious incorporation of stakeholders in the community radio business model as a possible solution to this dilemma." (Abstract)
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"This study assesses the role and impact of this local radio station network as well as its sustainability prospects, focusing on four pillars of sustainability in particular: Financial sustainability: at a minimum, radio stations need to be able to support their activities, and ideally enjoy some s
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urplus for innovation. Organizational sustainability: radio stations need to have access to a level of professionalism and resources that allow it to produce and present programs of reasonable quality. Political and cultural sustainability: radio stations need to be politically enabled to perform their activities, to do so in safety, and to enjoy the support of the communities within their broadcast area. Audience sustainability: radio stations need to be able to reach a sizeable audience, and to meet this audience’s information needs and expectations. To this end, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders in the Internews/Salam Watandar story as well as those involved in media operations at the central Kabul level were combined with 10 in-depth case studies from the research sample of 30 provincial Internews-established, full Salam Watandar-partner stations. 20 in-depth interviews by phone with the remaining sample stations were added to this." (Executive summary)
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"Una radio social (comunitaria, alternativa, popular, local, etc.) posee múltiples y diversas fuentes de financiamiento. Múltiples: en el sentido de que no se sostienen con una sola fuente de financiamiento. Primero, porque es difícil conseguir una sola fuente que cubra completamente los gastos d
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e una emisora. Segundo, porque eso haría peligrar la independencia y margen de acción: la multiplicidad es estratégica. Diversas: implementan distintos modelos. Van a la búsqueda de distintas fuentes. Y en general, tienen pequeños ingresos de muchas fuentes y de todos los tipos posibles. Incluso, creando e inventando nuevas. Utilizan alquiler de espacios a terceros, publicidad comercial, publicidad oficial, proyectos de cooperación, subsidios, aportes individuales, venta de productos (discos, material promocional, etc.), venta de servicios (producción radiofónica, capacitación, investigaciones, etc.), desarrollo de bares o espacios culturales, etc. Nos parece de relevancia que estos elementos se incluyan a la definición de lo que es una radio social, por cuanto es un tema que siempre queda postergado o es tabú para las emisoras. Es una característica diferencial respecto de otros tipos de emisora, y habla también de su capacidad de resiliencia, resistencia, adaptabilidad y creatividad. De considerar a la multiplicidad y diversidad de fuentes de financiamiento como un elemento constitutivo de la definición de medio social, podrían evitarse, por ejemplo, algunas legislaciones como la brasileña y la chilena que definen a los medios comunitarios o ciudadanos -entre otras cosas- como aquellos que no pueden recibir publicidad comercial. Y esto funciona como una restricción a su funcionamiento. Al igual que las legislaciones que imponen una restricción al alcance de este tipo de medios: esa restricción de alcance repercute en achicar las posibilidades, sobre todo, de obtener publicidad comercial." (Conclusiones y recomendaciones, página 273-274)
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