"Community radio represents an opportunity for audiences to play a lead role in the production, dissemination and ownership of media channels and content. The active participation of audiences is one of the primary differences between community radio stations and their commercial and state-run count
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erparts. The role of participation though is complicated in environments where community radio acts as an instrument for development, as is the case in India where community radio licenses are held by either educational establishments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Discussions around defining, encouraging and evaluating participation are extensive, yet little has been written about what defines meaningful participation from the perspective of community members. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in India, this article explores what makes participation meaningful and who is able to engage in this meaningful participation with community radio stations. Applying this perspective to community radio, encourages a more qualitative, holistic view of the benefits and outcomes of those who participate. Considering meaningful rather than maximalist or minimalist allows space to explore the impacts of participation in environments where it may be limited or restricted by structural factors. Engaged, invested audiences who regularly and meaningfully participate in their stations can help ensure that community radio remains a collaborative and powerful force within the global media landscape." (Abstract)
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"This article examines the current environment of audio transmission services in the UK with particular regard to the community radio sector. Community radio stations in the UK are having to consider the extent to which their audiences choose to listen on an FM analogue signal and whether this is su
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stainable for them. The number of new platforms that a listener is using to access audio programming now includes DAB, SSDAB, TV carriers and online services. There are also developments to the actual receivers that may be used, in particular the use of smartphones to listen via online Wi-Fi or 4G. Currently there are no plans for an FM turn off in the UK and a hybrid system of transmission and reception is the most likely outcome for the foreseeable future. The consequences of this environment for the broadcasters, the listeners and the audio content are discussed in turn. A sample group of twelve community radio stations have been studied to assess current practices. This group are the remaining stations from the original Access Pilot community radio stations that went on air in 2002 and so are the oldest and most established of the UK stations. This article provides baseline definitions where relevant and uses recent data from national audience research, regulatory and other bodies to assess what people are listening to and how, along with examples from public service and commercial radio, as well as community radio." (Abstract)
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"This article seeks lessons for the sustainability of community media by looking at its role in Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution. It draws on recent theorization to define community media as an articulating mechanism of a maximally democratic civil society. It then situates this understanding in
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relation to the Gramscian notion of a ‘civil state’, which has increasingly informed Latin American socialism and in which the state’s role is to maximise participatory governance within civil society. The article then analyses the weaknesses of the Venezuelan community media sector under a liberal framework, and attempts to establish a new legal structure that would integrate participatory media with civil society and the Bolivarian ‘commune’ system. These efforts demonstrate that heterarchical institutional structures may best integrate community media with civil society in a manner that assures sustainability and autonomy." (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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"Section One (Elections 101) deals with the aspects of voter education and election regulations for both citizens and the media. Section Two (Your Community Radio Station at Election Time) suggests ways to reflect local issues in election coverage and how to make the most of the resources you’ve g
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ot. Section Three (Formats and Platforms to Amplify Broadcast) is a dive into social media approaches and tools that can extend the reach of your content to connect with more and diverse audiences. Section Four (Fact-checking) is all about how to make sure you’ve got it right, and you’re not being fooled by misinformation. The appendix contains a few issue-based resources. These are Fact Sheets compiled by Africa Check on hot election issues like poverty, land and gender violence. There is also a list of contacts and other tools." (Page 2)
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"En respuesta al riesgo que enfrentan tanto las emisoras comunitarias como otros medios de comunicación en todas las regiones del país, Colombia cuenta con un programa de protección a periodistas desde el año 2000. Luego de 19años, puede afirmarse que esta iniciativa ha contribuido considerable
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mente a la disminución de homicidios contra reporteros en el país. Sin embargo, el programa se limita a acciones reactivas, no promueve acciones preventivas para proteger a los reporteros y carece de un alcance integral que involucre a las diferentes entidades estatales —para lograr, entre otras cosas, sanciones judiciales a los agresores—. Este enfoque integral también implica que los medios de comunicación asuman un rol activo en la implementación de medidas preventivas para proteger a sus comunicadores. Considerando los problemas estructurales del actual programa de protección a periodistas, así como las situaciones de riesgo que enfrentan las emisoras comunitarias y sus reporteros, la Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP) y la Red Cooperativa de Medios de Comunicación Comunitarios de Santander (Resander) han creado, con el apoyo de la Unión Europea, este manual de autoprotección, con el fin de que las emisoras comunitarias establezcan medidas preventivas para ejercer su labor informativa. El objetivo de este manual es que las radios comunitarias fortalezcan el trabajo a través de sus redes de comunicación, en aras de monitorear la situación de seguridad de sus comunicadores. Adicionalmente, en este producto se brindan algunas pautas para la elaboración de análisis de contexto y se presenta el ejemplo de los departamentos de Guaviare, Caquetá, Putumayo y Nariño. Finalmente, se hacen recomendaciones para la implementación de medidas de autoprotección antes del cubrimiento de temas de interés, durante el cubrimiento, antes de la emisión de información y al interior de la emisora. Teniendo en cuenta que no es posible anticiparse a todas las situaciones de riesgo, al final del documento se sugieren rutas de acción para enfrentar situaciones de riesgo inminente." (Página 6-7)
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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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"[Esta guía] es el resultado de la realización del Diplomado en Periodismo Comunitario llevado a cabo con comunicadoras y comunicadores populares de la Región Altos y Selva de Chiapas en el 2018, como parte de la labor que como Red de Comunicadores Boca de Polen realizamos desde el campo del peri
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odismo y comunicación comunitaria en México." (Capa psoterior)
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"Sustainable development is a big challenge for developing countries, due to lack of effective communication about sustainability to the rural population. This paper aims at building a theoretically and statistically sound model to communicate sustainability more effectively in rural areas in order
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to achieve sustainable development. To this end, the constructs and items of the hypothesised model are identified, based on a focus group discussion and backed by the literature reviewed. Both partial least squares and covariance-based structural equation modelling approaches were used to test the hypotheses and validate the model against multiple indices after analysing survey data collected from 300 community radio listeners in Bangladesh. It was found that the unique media characteristics of community radio positively increased the acceptability of sustainability communications, which in turn affects the behavioural determinants (popular theory: attitudes, self-efficacy belief and social norms) and changed the intention to adopt sustainable behaviour. Example cases from around the world also support the statistically sound model." (Abstract)
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"This article discusses some structural elements affecting spaces for social interaction within community radio processes, such as spaces for participatory planning and interpersonal communication that could be considered as a crucial contribution to the construction of peace in Colombia. Methodolog
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y: The study used two ethnographic vignettes to investigate these spaces: (i) the “Programming Boards” of community radio stations in the Caribbean, and (ii) the “Local Thematic Committees” of community radio stations in northeast Antioquia. Literature on participatory intensities frame this research providing a historical and critical perspective of community communication for peace. Discussion and conclusions: We concluded that it is necessary to strengthen participatory planning with a political emphasis and that interpersonal communication should form the basis of a radio designed to call and engage civil society to meet, share, and dialogue towards the collective construction of peace." (Abstract)
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"In India, the campaign to legitimise community radio began in mid-1990s, soon after the Supreme Court of India ruled in its judgment of February 1995 that “airwaves are public property. Though the approval for setting up of Community radio stations in India was granted in 2002, it is yet to devel
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op in the valley of Kashmir. Till now, the valley has not established any community radio station, but the first effort to use radio for the development of the community was made in 2009 when Panos South Asia, in collaboration with the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), a rural University in Awantipora (Kashmir) started a community radio program in the Awantipora community. The program named “Pesh Kadam” meaning “Step Forward” started in 2009 and completed 350 episodes in 2018. This paper is aimed to study the reasons for absence of community radio stations in Kashmir. It also documents the efforts made to bring this medium to Kashmir and understand the evolution and challenges of first ever community radio program in Kashmir, study its content, analyse its popularity and efficacy. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques are deployed in this study." (Abstract)
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"This article examines the current environment of audio transmission services in the UK with particular regard to the community radio sector. Community radio stations in the UK are having to consider the extent to which their audiences choose to listen on an FM analogue signal and whether this is su
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stainable for them. The number of new platforms that a listener is using to access audio programming now includes DAB, SSDAB, TV carriers and online services. There are also developments to the actual receivers that may be used, in particular the use of smartphones to listen via online Wi-Fi or 4G. Currently there are no plans for an FM turn off in the UK and a hybrid system of transmission and reception is the most likely outcome for the foreseeable future. The consequences of this environment for the broadcasters, the listeners and the audio content are discussed in turn. A sample group of twelve community radio stations have been studied to assess current practices. This group are the remaining stations from the original Access Pilot community radio stations that went on air in 2002 and so are the oldest and most established of the UK stations. This article provides baseline definitions where relevant and uses recent data from national audience research, regulatory and other bodies to assess what people are listening to and how, along with examples from public service and commercial radio, as well as community radio." (Abstract)
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"This NAB guide is [...] aimed at assisting community radio as well as industry stakeholders to unpack current and future challenges facing the sector. These include issues such as digital disruption, technology convergence and the impact of new content platforms. The guide also provides an overview
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of broadcasting policy and legislative matters, and a list of useful links to resources and research papers. It includes recently developed tools by media monitoring practitioners on fake news and social media.
The first section looks back to the evolution and growth of community radio in South Africa. It briefly explores the radio ecosystem and community radio’s unique mandate, with an emphasis on advancing the goals of the South African Constitution – including freedom of expression, access to information, transparency and accountability. It outlines key regulatory frameworks governing the sector and reflects on a few persistent challenges. The second section provides an overview of the current legislative framework and highlights policy developments. The third section looks to the future – to the possibilities and challenges brought about by advances in new technologies and content platforms. The last section provides a resource list so that practitioners can widen their learning and research, as well as to start curating and archiving the wealth of written materials generated on the community sector – both locally and internationally. It contains a list of useful website and training institutions. The
icon in the text points readers to readings of specific relevance to that section.
The guide is essentially aimed at enabling the user to prepare a “future-proof” strategy for continued relevance, sustainability and viability. It could also serve as a framework on which to build, as we’ve reached 25 years of community radio in South Africa." (Pages 1-2)
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"The Routledge Companion to Alternative and Community Media provides an authoritative and comprehensive examination of the diverse forms, practices and philosophies of alternative and community media across the world. The volume offers a multiplicity of perspectives to examine the reasons why altern
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ative and community media arise, how they develop in particular ways and in particular places, and how they can enrich our understanding of the broader media landscape and its place in society. The 50 chapters present a range of theoretical and methodological positions, and arguments to demonstrate the dynamic, challenging and innovative thinking around the subject; locating media theory and practice within the broader concerns of democracy, citizenship, social exclusion, race, class and gender. In addition to research from the UK, the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, the Companion also includes studies from Colombia, Haiti, India, South Korea and Zimbabwe, enabling international comparisons to be made and also allowing for the problematization of traditional - often Western - approaches to media studies. By considering media practices across a range of cultures and communities, this collection is an ideal companion to the key issues and debates within alternative and community media." (Publisher description)
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