"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 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)