"This document details the current situation in seven out of 14 Community Radios in operation in Bangladesh at present. While one of the motives behind this study is to see how these young stations are faring and catering programmes to the target audiences, but definitely the study's scope is not li
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mited to that only. Rather, a major thrust of this whole exercise is to see and explore the sustainability aspects of this community media that Bangladesh is exposed to only in recent years. The National Strategy for the Implementation of Community Radio policy places the government at the centre, having two pivotal roles: as regulator and facilitator, to enable community radios to become full-fledged partners in the development process of Bangladesh. In doing so, government laid out rules of the game for operation of the Community Radio and gave licenses to some Community Radios of which 14 are already on air for last three years while a few more are in the pipeline to join the league. This study appreciates that despite many odds, the Community Radios, if not all - many of them, have succeeded in winning hearts of their target audiences. Some of these stations are quite popular among the communities they serve. And that again against the reality that people, even in the rural Bangladesh today are having well access to national and local newspapers and scores of satellite television channels. It is well captured from this study that amidst the milieu of so many other interesting and colorful audio-video, print and online media platforms, many of these Community Radio stations have succeeded in eking out a niche for them." (Executive summary)
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"The present article seeks to serve as a ‘how-to’ text. Based on the relatively more matured experiences of some community radio (CR) stations in Ghana, the authors hope it could be a guide to CR stations in Africa and beyond on how to attain what we term the ‘core dimensions’ of CR that und
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erpin its operations. The study reviews the literature on community radio and highlights some selected data on a survey by Diedong & Naaikuur (2012) to show how effective the implementation of relevant dimensions of CR in Ghana enables people in communities communicate within themselves and with the people making the decisions that affect them. The cases presented point to significant changes that the stations are inducing in various sectors of the lives of their communities across the country through innovative programming strategies. However, despite the significant impact that the CR sector in Ghana is making, there are challenges that need to be addressed to unleash its full potential. Notably, the study is based mainly on earlier studies and the personal experiences of the authors who have had some years of experience working with CR in Ghana." (Abstract)
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"Transformer des radios existantes en radios «communautaire» n’est pas un modèle envisageable à large échelle. Toutefois, le lien créé avec les communautés à travers les groupes d’écoute dans l’ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire a con tribué au processus de rapprochement social entre les
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communautés. Les programmes radiophoniques de ces régions témoignent de la richesse du contenu apporté par les communautés, une fois la relation établie. Tant que le statut des radios reste ambigu et que la gestion financière opaque, il est difficile de chercher à impliquer les communautés dans la gestion financière et humaine des stations de radio. Trop promettre aux communautés sur leur capacité à influencer leur radio locale peut créer de l’amertume si le but n’est pas atteint. En revanche, continuer à former les radios sur la bonne gestion de leurs fonds et des ressources humaines est un prérequis pour les inciter à se stabiliser." (Conclusion)
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"This paper draws on the contrast between community media and the nature of its communities in Africa that are not participatory but use participatory media. The general contention is that participatory media in Africa preside over non-participatory communities. The paper uses data collected at one
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Ugandan community media to prove that the limitations between community media and ‘the community’ require over half a century to solve. The immediate solution should be to rethink the idea of community, pay more attention not just to the nature of which media can develop which community as if it (community) was a homogeneous entity but also the idea of which community has the ability to host which media. The paper concludes by suggesting a redefinition of media to include non-media forms that show more potential in enhancing participation for all than community media." (Abstract)
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"In this article, I analyse the changing nature and meaning of ‘community’ in community radio in the digital age using insights from literature on imagined communities, translocality and liminality. I argue that new media technologies are opening up new spaces for community radio that go beyond
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the geographical and community of interest to embrace translocal and diasporic communities. There is thus need to interrogate the meaning of community radio in terms of audiences and programming in such new configurations. I use two community radio stations in South Africa [Bush Radio and Radio Islam] to make my arguments. I conclude by pointing to the need for new research avenues on community radio in the digital age." (Abstract)
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"This chapter focuses on community radio as one form of community media, and explores how citizens and activists use community radio stations for development and social change, despite the challenges of financial sustainability. First, a brief history of community radio is provided, in an internatio
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nal context; after which the chapter explores various examples of how community radio stations have been used for social change. The chapter also explores how stations having new media technologies are accommodating digital platforms, engaging with listeners via online social networking sites, and using cellphone-based systems of feedback. The chapter concludes with some reflections on the role of radio in creating a space for the formation of publics, and as a tool of resistance." (Summary)
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"Kenya’s 2010 Constitution guarantees press freedom in a way the country has never previously seen. However, the concentration of media ownership and pending consensus on new media legislation are tarnishing the triumphs of Kenya’s media liberalization and development. Regulation of news content
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, including hate speech and political bias, as well as journalistic standards are also issues provoking discussion and sullying the image of Kenya as a role model for other East African countries. On May 21, 2014, international scholars gathered in Bonn to discuss their research under the heading “Kenya’s Media Landscape: A Success Story with Serious Structural Challenges”. This publication provides a supplement to the presentations and discussions held at the fifth annual DW Media Dialogue." (Publisher description)
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"Community radio is often theorized as being (1) independent from political and economic influence and (2) a platform for the meaningful engagement of marginalized populations traditionally excluded by its private and commercial cousins. Contrasting this theoretical model against the reality of prac
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tice, this study argues that the theorized benefits of community radio are unlikely to be realized given the reality of donor, rather than community, funding structures. Voices from 64 in-depth interviews reveal a community radio environment in East Africa that is significantly influenced by the interests – both political and economic – of external donors. Rather than engendering meaningful participation in media-making, this study also demonstrates that donor funding has caused some communities to assume recipient roles in the communication process." (Journalism)
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"This publication is a diagnostic tool for a "health check" or assessment of the sustainability of community radio stations. The check includes five areas: mission and governance of a community radio station; management and staffing; infrastructure and finances; programming; and community involvemen
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t. Core aspects of these five areas are succinctly described in the first part of "The healthy community radio station". The second part provides checklists of ten factual questions (which require a simple yes/no answer) and two qualitative questions for each of the five sectors, and proposes combining the "checklist scores" and "judgement scores" to get an overall picture of the "health" of a given radio station. Also included are guidelines for focus group discussions. This publication is highly recommended, both because of its convincing concept of five "pillars" of community radio sustainability and its practical approach." (CAMECO Update November 2013)
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"In der noch jungen indonesischen Demokratie gibt es mittlerweile um die 600 Community Radios, wovon sich 400 auf Java befinden. Sie senden in einem begrenzten Radius und im Interesse ihrer Community. Je nach Region und Bedarf gibt es verschiedene thematische Ausrichtungen. In katastrophengeplagten
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Gebieten geht es um Disaster Management, in anderen Regionen geht es um nachhaltige Entwicklung und Wiederaufforstungsprogramme. Bei manchen geht es um die Bewahrung der Kultur, oder um politische Partizipation. Durch viel Engagement und Eigeninitiative schaffen die Radiomacher es, die Gemeinschaft zu verbinden und zu stärken. »Der Staat hilft uns nicht, also helfen wir uns selbst«, war ein Satz, den ich auf meiner zweimonatigen Reise durch Java oft hörte. Die Erwähnung der Community Radios im Rundfunkgesetz (Broadcasting Act No. 32/2002) wurde 2002 als großer Erfolg gefeiert, denn es bietet die Möglichkeit, durch den Erwerb von Lizenzen aus dem Zustand des »illegalen Radios« herausgeführt zu werden, was letztendlich auch vor Polizei-Razzien schützt. Bis heute jedoch stecken die Community Radios im Registrierungsprozess fest, und kein einziges hat bisher eine Lizenz erworben. Netzwerke wie JRSP fordern die Regierung auf, die hohen Hürden zu überarbeiten, doch bisher ist nichts passiert." (Seite 41)
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