"Instead of describing typical systems in their entirety ...," says Head in his foreword, "I decided to organize the text on the basis of the common problems faced by all systems" to show the basic, universal demands and dilemmas they all must face as each interacts with its particular national sett
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ing. His purpose is to enable students, after allowances for limitations imposed by national settings, to appraise the system critically by comparing reality with the ideal possibilities. Thus, he discusses, in terms of the various systems, their origins, their politics of both ownership and access, their laws, regulation, economics, facilities, programming and programs, audience research, transborder broadcasting, and broadcasting and freedom. Although intended as a text, this has much wider uses." (Eleanor Blum, Frances G. Wilhoit: Mass media bibliography. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990 Nr. 652)
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"The three studies contained in this volume trace the emergence of 'community media' in Western society—specifically new approaches to broadcasting and electronic media in North America and Western Europe [...] The orientation of the studies is not purely towards research, though where research ha
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s been done, it is utilized. Rather, their purpose is to collect, analyse and synthesize as large a volume as possible of current initiatives in the field of methods adopted, problems experienced, solutions found, new questions posed. In this kind of review, various dimensions are relevant. There is, first, the conceptual level—the objectives for which the media are used or with which they are associated. Are they used primarily for educational purposes, for enlarging the range of available study materials? Are their purposes mainly social, creating and enhancing processes of community development? Or are they seen as serving psychological ends, by allowing for the fuller expression of individual and group personalities? Second, there is the technological or organizational aspect. For example, are media used at the local level also linked to a national system of information distribution, as in the access programmes of some national networks, which allow the layman to participate in producing television programmes? Are they associated more with local radio or cable television? Or are they a form of video animation, based on portable cameras and recorders, perhaps with very limited distribution? Third, there is the descriptive, social and political level. What is being attempted with community media in different countries? How do these countries differ in cultural attitude, or in prescriptions for social or economic growth?" (Preface)
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