Assignment 3 : Community Radio

Need for Community Radio
There is a need for community radio for the following reasons :
 Difference in culture and custom as common in a diversified country, such as India.
 Democratization.
 Decentralization.
 Relaxation of broadcasting monopolies.
 Access to proper information.
 Awareness of social and economic benefits.
 Equal rights for all communities.
Features
 Audience as Protagonists – The audiences are protagonist cause the shows are for them,
by them and they come and talk about their issues and solutions are discussed.
 Ownership – The complete ownership falls under the community and it’s members only.
 Management – All the management responsibilities are controlled by the community
members only. Outsiders may participate but they have to talk about the community and
their issues only.
 Funding – It’s done by the community members and sometimes sponsors or other people
also give donations.
 Editorial Independence and Credibility – The community and it’s members have all the
editorial independence as they don’t work under any particular media house or editor. So
all the credibility is their own.
 Inclusion of Minority and Marginalised Groups – There are community radio for the
minority and marginalised groups like women, Dalits, tribal people, etc. It includes their
issues and gives them a voice to raise their issues.
 Representation of different groups and interests in community – Community Radio
involves and includes all kinds of different groups and their interests in community.
Functions
 Reflect and Promote Local Identity and culture.
 Create a diversity of voices and opinions.

Radio is chosen as a medium of communication for the following reasons :
 Cost efficient
 Blind medium
 Portable
 Secondary Medium
 No electricity required
 Can reach people across all social strata
There are four tires of Radio, as follows :
 Public Service Broadcasting
 Private Sector (F. M.)
 Community Radio
 Internet Radio
Community Radio
“Community radio responds to the needs of the community it serves, contributing to its
development within progressive perspectives in favour of social change. Community radio
strives to democratize communication through community participation in different forms in
accordance with each specific social context.” – World Association of Community Broadcasters
(AMARC), 1988.
Community radio is an alternative media which is non-commercial and advocates for those who
are excluded from mainstream.
Community Media is formed to give service to community, put tools in hands of community. It
aims to facilitate people centered development and creates awareness. It covers a range of 10 –
15 km max.
Community radio is non – profit making in nature and the ownership and control falls under the community itself. There is only community participation.

>Encourage Open Dialogue and Democratic Process.
 Promote Development and Social Change.
 Encourage sharing of Information and Innovation.

 Gives Voice to the Voiceless.
 Involvement of Women.

Evolution of Community Radio
Miner’s Radio in Bolivia Started in 1947

• United miners for better working conditions.
  Radio Sutatenza in Colombia started in 1947
• Organized peasant community by educating them through radio.
  South Asia
• First community radio station established in Nepal in 1997 (Radio Sagarmatha).
• Bangladesh was the second country to adopt community radio station.
• In India, community radio broadcasting policy was passed in 2006.
  Community Radio in India
  Year
  Snapshots
  1995 Supreme Court declared airwaves are public property.
  1999 Radio broadcasting shifted from government monopoly to commercialized broadcasting.
  2000 UNESCO sponsored workshop in Hyderabad.
  2004 MIB prepared draft policy on Community Radio.
  2005 Draft policy was referred to group of ministers.
  2006 Union Government passed the policy.
  2008 MIB received 297 applications for community radio licenses.
  2011 First Sammelan of Community Radio stations in Delhi.
  Indian Scenario
   289 community radio stations till 31.03.2020.
   Anna Radio (Educational and Multimedia Research Centre)
   Sangam Radio
   Radio Namaskar
   Alwar ki Awaz
   Kumayun Vani
   Dhan Foundation
   Radio Henvalvani
   West Bengal – In 2008 Jadavpur University started first community radio station.