"This article outlines the early history of the Australian community radio sector. It focuses on three of the country’s oldest stations – Radio Adelaide, 4ZZZ and 3CR – to document the establishment and growth of the sector over the past fifty years. Two theoretical lenses are identified from
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the literature on Australian community broadcasting, loosely categorized as citizens’ media and empowerment media, and these are evident in the narratives of the case study stations. A third framework – social movement theory – is proposed for further understanding the value of community broadcasting and its contributions to the wider media landscape." (Abstract)
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"This paper examines the motivation of audiences to participate in the programming of community radio; the readiness of community radio stations’ management and their audiences to embrace mobile applications; whether Rwanda is a conducive environment for the deployment of mobile applications in co
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mmunity radio; and finally issues of affordability and availability of the internet. The study is qualitative and draws on interviews with community radio audiences as well as unstructured in-depth interviews with local technology experts and community radio representatives. Uses and gratification and diffusion of innovation theories guided the analysis. The study found that the pursuit of recognition within their communities is the main motivator for audiences to participate in community radio programming. The management and audiences of the four community radio stations who participated in this study understand the importance of mobile technologies for community engagement and are interested in adopting them. Rwanda is a conducive environment for the deployment of mobile apps in the community radio sector. Audiences can afford to use these services at least once a week, despite ongoing issues of unreliability of the internet. Further studies may investigate issues of adoption and affordability by the wider community as this paper focused on highly engaged community radio audiences." (Abstract)
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"This article analyzes the role of community radio broadcasting in promoting indigenous minority languages and cultures in selected parts of Malawi. The study collected empirical data from two community radio stations and their surrounding populations. Using the theories of ethnolinguistic vitality
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and globalization, the study reveals that recent establishment of community radio stations, centered on local community development, has created opportunity for promotion of languages and cultures, as practiced by minorities in local areas surrounding the radio stations. Thus, the use of minority languages simplifies the understanding of information and encourages the participation of speakers who might otherwise be excluded due to language difficulties." (Abstract)
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"Kenyan community radio works between international and national media paradigms, while seeking to meet the expectations of its local communities. International funding and training organizations active in the sector focus on enhancing technology for development, freedom of expression, democracy and
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governance. At the national level, community stations are expected to act as development-oriented media. While development is a value embraced by most stations, freedom of expression is embraced more cautiously, given the political contexts in which they exist. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2014 and 2016, this article explores the operational choices that community broadcasters make in view of their funding and training partnerships, all the while negotiating their local, social and political contexts in order to survive. It focuses on Mugambo Jwetu FM, a community radio station in Kenya, as a case study." (Abstract)
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"La violencia armada tiene también una dimensión narrativa, acaso tan devastadora como su dimensión física. No sólo destruye vidas y altera relaciones, sino que su ejercicio –especialmente cuando es sistemático– quiebra la propia posibilidad de otra narrativa que logre articular algún sen
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tido alrededor de la experiencia traumática. Cuando las personas no logran modular un significado sobre la violencia padecida, el ejercicio de ciudadanía para contrarrestar sus efectos se antoja imposible. Algo de lo que somos como individuos y como sociedad se transforma –acaso irremediablemente– a través de la experiencia límite del sufrimiento producido por la violencia. Parte de esa experiencia queda atrapada como lo inefable que solo comprende plenamente quien la ha sufrido. Pero como lo recuerda la escritora y periodista estadounidense Joan Didion, nos narramos historias para poder seguir viviendo. El ejercicio de articular una narrativa es entonces el ejercicio de buscar no desaparecer como ciudadanas y ciudadanos, de no sucumbir como sociedad. Lo que somos como seres sociales está constituido por redes de sentido: pertenecemos a un lugar, a una historia y a unas relaciones establecidas con los otros. El lugar que ocupamos en una sociedad lo ocupamos por referencia a la forma en que nos auto-reconocemos y también a la forma en que nos reconocen los demás. Nuestra existencia social es entonces narrativa: nos narramos y nos narran. Narrativas de paz para hacerla posible. Narrativas de paz, voces y sonidos recoge reflexiones, investigaciones, relatos y experiencias alrededor de cómo la ciudadanía aborda sus propias historias para narrar la paz. Un libro para pensar y pensar-NOS, para la resistencia y la reexistencia, para narrar la paz y luchar contra las guerras." (Descripción de la casa editorial)
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"Community radio’s relationship with the farming communities has a long history in India. The earliest successful experiments in community broadcasting involved both farmers and agriculture. In terms of development communication, community radio in India represents a confluence of somewhat conflic
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ting paradigms. While community radio is generally presented as a highly democratic, participatory medium, the way it is operationalized in India more closely aligns with the modernization/diffusion paradigm. In 1976, Joseph Ascroft observed the phenomenon of ‘interpersonal diffusion’ among farmers, whereby for each farmer trained in new techniques, three more would adopt the innovations. While this ‘interpersonal diffusion’ was by no means perfect, it was illustrative of the complex communication networks involved in the diffusion process. It also hints towards the ways in which community radio can act as a facilitator of these processes; as somewhat of an intersection between diffusion and participatory communication. Drawing on ethnographically inspired qualitative research conducted at a rural community radio station in South India, this article explores the role of community radio at the intersections of participatory development and diffusion. This article argues that community radio facilitates the sharing of technical information and innovations among farmers and contributes to amplifying existing knowledge communication systems. The implications of this article suggest that a focus on existing local knowledge communication and transfer systems could contribute to achieving broader development outcomes and further situating the role of community radio within development and social change initiatives." (Abstract)
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"In India, the campaign to legitimise community radio began in mid-1990s, soon after the Supreme Court of India ruled in its judgment of February 1995 that “airwaves are public property. Though the approval for setting up of Community radio stations in India was granted in 2002, it is yet to devel
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op in the valley of Kashmir. Till now, the valley has not established any community radio station, but the first effort to use radio for the development of the community was made in 2009 when Panos South Asia, in collaboration with the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), a rural University in Awantipora (Kashmir) started a community radio program in the Awantipora community. The program named “Pesh Kadam” meaning “Step Forward” started in 2009 and completed 350 episodes in 2018. This paper is aimed to study the reasons for absence of community radio stations in Kashmir. It also documents the efforts made to bring this medium to Kashmir and understand the evolution and challenges of first ever community radio program in Kashmir, study its content, analyse its popularity and efficacy. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques are deployed in this study." (Abstract)
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"Los artículos del CAC162 “Narrativas de paz: voces y sonidos” surgen de la mesa de debate homónima presentada en el marco del X Congreso Internacional Latina de Comunicación Social, realizado en la Universidad de La Laguna (Tenerife) en 2018. Nueve textos sobre los retos que afrontan dichas
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narrativas y sobre los espacios que abren en los distintos escenarios donde han emergido. Reflexiones acerca de la forma en que la ciudadanía aborda sus propias historias para conformar narrativas de paz que confronten los efectos de la violencia armada y estructural. Escritos que exploran las experiencias de vida de quienes no se resignan a callarlas, sino que buscan transformarlas en una memoria ejemplar, una que, como señalaba Benjamin, pueda relampaguear en momentos de nuevo peligro." (Resumen)
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"International Media Support (IMS) carried out two initial assessment missions in Ethiopia in June and August 2018, and the community radio sector was identified as an area of possible cooperation and support. In order to follow up on this finding, an IMS team consisting of Mr. Tewodros Negash and M
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r. Per Oesterlund was assigned to carry out an assessment of the community radio sector in Ethiopia. This report synthesises findings from desk research and field-work conducted by IMS. The first phase of the assessment analysed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the community radio sector based on literature reviews, discussions and interviews held with relevant actors such as government regulatory authorities, radio station managers, journalists and listeners. Subsequently, visits to selected community radio stations in rural areas and urban centres outside Addis Ababa were undertaken." (Introduction)
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"This article examines the current environment of audio transmission services in the UK with particular regard to the community radio sector. Community radio stations in the UK are having to consider the extent to which their audiences choose to listen on an FM analogue signal and whether this is su
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stainable for them. The number of new platforms that a listener is using to access audio programming now includes DAB, SSDAB, TV carriers and online services. There are also developments to the actual receivers that may be used, in particular the use of smartphones to listen via online Wi-Fi or 4G. Currently there are no plans for an FM turn off in the UK and a hybrid system of transmission and reception is the most likely outcome for the foreseeable future. The consequences of this environment for the broadcasters, the listeners and the audio content are discussed in turn. A sample group of twelve community radio stations have been studied to assess current practices. This group are the remaining stations from the original Access Pilot community radio stations that went on air in 2002 and so are the oldest and most established of the UK stations. This article provides baseline definitions where relevant and uses recent data from national audience research, regulatory and other bodies to assess what people are listening to and how, along with examples from public service and commercial radio, as well as community radio." (Abstract)
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"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
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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)
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"This article examines the constructive roles of community and faith-based radio in building resilience and trust in Kenya after post-election violence. Since the 2007/08 post-election violence, Kenya has had two hotly contested elections (2013 and 2017), which have contributed to the lack of trust
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in electoral institutions and government and the ongoing mistrust between and among different communities. Both mainstream and community media have been criticized for playing destructive roles during post-election violence in Kenya with little focus on any of their constructive roles in the post-conflict period. A key point in this article is that community radio can be used to facilitate peaceful social dialogue and build trust and resilience between and among different communities in Kenya. This is based on the fact that they actually show promising potentials to promote dialogue and better understanding among conflicting communities." (Abstract)
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"Cet ouvrage propose une incursion au coeur d’une radio communautaire silencieuse, mais résiliente. Mise en place par une association de femmes au début des années 2000, la station Manoore FM a subi plusieurs pannes au cours de la décennie 2010, jusqu’à cesser d’émettre en 2015. Pourtant
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, la radio survit. Ses défenseurs occupent encore les lieux, bénévolement pour la plupart, tout en conservant un lien fort avec leurs auditeurs et auditrices les plus fidèles. Une enquête de terrain ethnographique menée dans les locaux de la radio nous a permis de creuser les motivations et les relations qui unissent les participants de cette « famille associative », producteurs et auditeurs, évoluant entre liens affectifs et stratégies professionnelles, au sein de leur "radio refuge." (Dos de couverture)
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"This book explores how community radio contributes to social change. Community radio remains a unique communication platform under digital capitalism, arguably capable of expanding the project of media democratisation. Yet there is a lack of in-depth analysis of community radio experience, and a de
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arth of understanding of its functionality as an actively transformative tool for greater equity in society. This project combines the theoretical positions of the political economy of communication with a citizen's media perspective in order to interrogate community radio's democratic potential. By presenting case studies of two radio stations in Melbourne (Australia) and Lospalos (Timor Leste), and applying multiple research methods, the book reveals community radio's amplification of media participation, communication rights, counter-hegemony and media power - in effect, its distinct regenerative voice." (Introduction)
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"A community radio (CR) station stands as a lifeline for information and communication to the remote, marginalized and the most vulnerable during natural disasters like the Tamil Nadu Floods in 2015. As a result of this, a license was granted to allow the operation of an emergency community radio st
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ation ‘Peridar Kaala Vaanoli’ (PKV) (Tamil words meaning ‘Radio in the time of extreme calamity’). This became the first emergency radio station in the country. The current study aims to evaluate the reach and impact of the community radio PKV with broadcast frequency 107.8 MHz in communicating crisis information during the aftermath of the Tamil Nadu Floods, 2015 in Cuddalore district through an interview schedule of the listeners of Peridar Kaala Vaanoli. The study considers the aspects of the socio-economic profile of the listeners, influential factors of listenership and the impact created by the community radio. The respondents were found to be posing socio-economic vulnerability; the factors influencing listenership were communication style, information credibility and educational broadcasts. The psycho-social impact created by PKV includes issue mediation, knowledge empowerment and community development." (Abstract)
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"Cameroon is battled by several conflicts, so sensitive reporting is important to avoid escalation and foster peace. The Presbyterian Church has set up a network of community media outlets with this end, supported by Germany’s Civil Peace Service. Present results are promising." (Introduction)
"WhatsApp und Facebook werden auch in Lateinamerika massiv genutzt, vor allem aufgrund ihres vermeintlich kostenlosen Charakters. Auch dort wird das Problem der rechten Meinungsmache und der Fake News diskutiert, denn die Tatsache, dass sich die Leute heute vor allem über Werbeplattformen informier
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en, die unzutreffend „soziale Medien“ genannt werden, hat handfeste politische Auswirkungen. In Brasilien und El Salvador wurden die jüngsten Wahlen nicht über Präsenz und Debatten in den traditionellen Medien gewonnen, sondern über gut vorbereitete und teure WhatsApp-Kampagnen. In Brasilien siegt so der Rechtsextremist Jair Bolsonaro, in El Salvador der politische Wende-hals und PR-Profi Nayib Bukele. Die brasilianischen WhatsApp-Nutzer*innen wurden während des Wahlkampfs mit gefälschtem, häufig explizit sexuellem Inhalt geflutet, wie etwa der Meldung, dass die Arbeiterpartei plane, Babyfläschchen mit Nuckel in Penisform zu verteilen, um die Homosexualisierung der Kleinkinder voranzutreiben.
Haarsträubendes postfaktisches Zeitalter – warum fallen Fake News auf fruchtbaren Boden? Klar ist: Klassische Medien haben ihre Funktion als „Gatekeeper“, als Instanzen, die sortieren und filtern, längst eingebüßt. Die Gesellschaften werden vielfältiger und unübersichtlicher: mehr Pluralität auf der einen Seite, andererseits immer tiefere Gräben, die sich durch die Gesellschaften ziehen. Die mediale Öffentlichkeit und die Zugangsbedingungen zu ihr wandeln sich. Die Menschen misstrauen „denen da oben“ durchaus zu Recht. Aber die kommerziellen Global Tech Player beherrschen die Räume für Kommunikation, Information und Meinungsbildung mit Algorithmen. Das hat Folgen. Das Geschäftsmodell basiert auf Datenschürfen, kombiniert mit persönlich zugeschnittener Werbung. Du bekommst das, was du sehen und hören willst, nicht was wahr ist und den Tatsachen entspricht. Und davon profitieren vor allem rechtspopulistische Akteure.
Gibt es dazu einen funktionierenden linken Gegenentwurf? Wir, die Macher*innen der ila und ähnlich Gesinnte, wollten eigentlich schon immer zur Bildung einer Gegenöffentlichkeit beitragen, positionierten uns gegen den „bürgerlichen Journalismus als Stellvertreterjournalismus“, wollten „Betroffenenberichterstattung“. Heute haben Rechte und Rechtsextreme den Begriff „Gegenöffentlichkeit“ für sich gekapert. Und jetzt haben wir den Salat.
Aktuell existiert eine Öffentlichkeit jenseits der Dichotomie „staatlich geregelt oder privat“. Wir haben kein Problem mehr damit, unsere eigenen Inhalte zu verbreiten und eigene Medien zu schaffen. Das stellt allerdings noch längst nicht sicher, dass wir auch gehört werden. Der springende Punkt ist nicht mehr der Zugang, sondern die Reichweite. Wir konkurrieren mit allen anderen Anbietern von welcher Information auch immer um Aufmerksamkeit. Und dabei verfügen wir, kaum anders als früher, immer noch über die schwächeren Möglichkeiten.
Wie sieht also das Überleben im „Plattformkapitalismus“ aus, wie sich darin bewegen, schützen, informieren, seine Meinung bilden und als politisch Aktive oder alternative Medienschaffende die eigenen Inhalte verbreiten? Dazu ein paar Ideen, die sich aus der Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema und lateinamerikanischen Gesprächspartner*innen herauskristallisieren: Versteht, die Technik zu verstehen (in Lateinamerika ist die Rede von hackear la tecnología, also die Technologie für die eigenen Zwecke zu nutzen wissen), wahrt eine kritische Distanz, haltet eure Informationsquellen vielfältig (was vor allem auch Kindern und Jugendlichen vermittelt werden sollte), schafft und nutzt alternative Plattformen. Manchmal kann auch digitales Fasten das Gebot der Stunde sein. Handy aus und raus auf die Straße – oder in den Wald." (Editorial)
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"This paper examined listeners’ perceptions of Forte FM’s role in facilitating community development in Alice, which is a small rural town under Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, South Africa. Forte FM is a community radio station located at University of Fort Hare, Alice campus, established to facil
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itate development in communities within the Amathole District Municipality. The paper adopted a qualitative design in which qualitative questionnaires with open-ended questions were used to collect primary data. The findings revealed that listeners view Forte FM as a community station that facilitates development in Alice in various ways, including providing the community with agricultural information, promoting local culture and local artists as well as creating health awareness among others. The paper further revealed that listeners feel a sense of community ownership towards the radio station and this means that the community is involved in their own development." (Abstract)
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