"Community radio is best understood against the background of the other forms of broadcasting, namely public service, and commercial or private broadcasting. Unlike these, community broadcasting is not state-owned, but rather community-owned and managed. Neither is it aimed at profit-making, but at ... facilitating communication in communities not specifically served by the mass media broadcasters. From simple death announcements to community mobilization to clean up market places or prevent crime, to promoting cross-gender dialogue, to civic education, community radio gives voice to rural and urban oft marginalized communities. This book traces the development of community radio in Europe and the Americas, and eventual rooting in Africa, all the wile noting its great contributions to development in communities. The author presents a continental overview, and an in-depth analysis of the broadcasting in Ghana, South Africa and Zambia, each with its specific legal, politico-historical milieus and community radio case studies." (Back cover) more

"This paper seeks to fill a necessary qualitative gap by focusing on the conceptual and operational characteristics of Radio Icengelo as a case study. Radio Icengelo is a Catholic-run community station launched in 1995, and situated in Kitwe on the Copperbelt province of Zambia. The paper further ex ... amines issues such as: conceptions of Radio Icengelo’s ‘community’; the nature and management structure of the organisation; the workforce; funding and sustainability; editorial policy; staff training; programming; languages; licensing procedures and relationship with government. The project later teases out the role Radio Icengelo plays in terms of social marketing campaigns. The analysis will be looked at in relation to the main features of community radio as postulated by advocates of a participatory approach to the media (McQuail, 1994; White, 1990). Community radio as an alternative medium, is marked by - diversity and plurality, accessibility and participation by the community and non-profit driven (McQuail 1994). The project concludes by highlighting the community radio’s potential to foster social marketing campaigns, using Radio Icengelo as a case study." (Abstract) more