"Recent years have seen numerous attempts by community broadcasters around the world to reinvent their practices in an effort to remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital age. One proposed initiative is to have community programming distributed via satellite, either in the form of a
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single channel or as a subscription service for local stations to find programming. Combining two case studies and multiple research methods, this article investigates the potential impact of satellite distribution on community broadcasting in Canada and East Africa. We observe that it is often not the community media organizations themselves that are pushing for satellite delivery, but, rather, outside actors such as media corporations and non-governmental organizations. As a result, we argue that a more spirited discussion within the community media sector is warranted to better understand the implications of this technological shift in delivery mechanisms." (Abstract)
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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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"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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"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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"This paper is the first attempt to look at the problem of community media in Central and Eastern Europe in general and present the specific problems of community media development in this region from an Eastern perspective. According to the Mapping Project of Community Media completed by the Commun
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ity Media Forum Europe in 2012, the community media sector is legally recognized in only four countries from this region." (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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"Since its beginnings community media has been local media—the voices of communities that echo their interests and concerns. Survival is difficult for broadcasting community media because they most often operate on small budgets, receiving a fraction of the support which the Federal Government pro
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vides to public sector broadcasters and operating largely as a result of support from the communities they service. The broadcasting community media in Australia is more a source which fosters participation than radical idealism; it is the voice of ordinary Australians who mostly do not seek to reorient the world, but to ensure everyone gets a ‘fair go’. It is alternative in that it provides a form to promote cultural diversity within the framework of an overall national culture and in that it delivers strong local voices in a media environment which is increasingly homogenous. It has been suggested that community broadcasting needs to change if it is to continue to deliver its unique services. It needs to become more professional in order to attract a greater share of funding from government and to enhance its main sources of financial support. This is a cause of discontent within the sector, as some consider such changes will betray the principles of community media." (Executive summary)
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"Nas próximas páginas queremos dar uma olhada ampla sobre a prática e os desafios da radiodifusão comunitária no Brasil e em outros países. Convidamos uma turma diversa de 11 autoras e autores, entre elas e eles jornalistas, radialistas, acadêmicos e advogadas. As suas abordagens são origina
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is, convidam-nos para conhecer a radiodifusão comunitária de perto de um ângulo tanto crítico como solidário. São expostos nos textos como organizações internacionais e nacionais influenciam sobre o acesso e o uso do espectro eletromagnético, nos contam dos problemas cotidianos das emissoras independentes no Brasil, México e nos Estados Unidos para conseguir uma outorga. E perguntam por que as rádios comunitárias reproduzem a falta de interesse no esporte feminino, não conseguem romper por completo com tendências homofóbicas da imprensa e não defendem com maior vigor o acesso de migrantes aos ondas eletromagnéticos." (Página 4)
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"122 Indian community radio stations present their background, programming focuses and contact details." (commbox)
"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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"This dissertation explores the role of community media in democratic civil society governance through an examination of participatory communications under socialist administrations in Latin America, with a primary focus on the Bolivarian government of Venezuela. In so doing, it seeks to establish a
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theoretical framework that will facilitate publicly supported democratic media systems capable of displacing hegemonic commercial and state models. One major axis of investigation is the utility of public sphere theory for the structuration of participatory media institutions that function within a system of civil society governance." (Abstract)
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"Community radio remains the most readily available means of access to information for the majority of poor communities in South Africa. In this regard, the purpose served by community radio within communities is elevated to encompass greater significance in the promotion of active citizens and part
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icipation at the local level. In a rapidly changing socio-economic and civil-political context, it is therefore vital that the long term sustainability of this medium be ensured. This study explored the operating environment and narrows the scope of issues impacting on social, institutional and financial sustainability of community radio. The influence of government regulation and community participation were identified as the primary concerns for sustainability. Government, through ICASA and the various broadcasting legal and policy instruments, has immediate responsibilities for community media and community radio in particular which include: the allocation and management of radio frequency spectrum; regulation of spectrum and content among others. How these responsibilities are fulfilled can greatly affect the long term sustainability of community radio in South Africa. These concerns require further examination in order to ensure that efforts of government are influenced for apt and suitable regulatory response. On the other end of the spectrum, the role of communities requires further exploration to ensure that it is exercised with positive effect." (Conclusion)
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