[cr-india] Dharmendra supports community radio

[sajan venniyoor]

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 Vickram Crishna wrote :
>Clearly the reach of this list does not yet include journalists who are interested in covering community radio issues, as articles like this, with such a mix of fact and fancy, appear sporadically.

You can say that again. Read these extracts from Dr.Bhaskar Rao's opinion piece in the Pioneer (1 Dec 2004). And Dr.Rao is the Chairman of CMS (Centre for Media Studies, Delhi).

Sajan.
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BROADCASTING FOR PEOPLE: It's not the concern of Prasar Bharati alone
by N. Bhaskara Rao

"... If the government is serious of public service broadcasting, the much-awaited “community radio” scheme should not have been languishing. At the end of two years of a policy, only one community radio service has actually come into operation (that too in the heart of Chennai!) out of some 60 applications from across the country. The priority, on the other hand, has been for “commercial broadcasting”. For, more than a dozen FM broadcasts have come into operation during the same period. 

All broadcast channels should have the obligation for certain “minimum public service” conditions in their programme contents. Such obligations could be in terms of time devoted to community interests, in the interest of children and by way of and in ensuring pluralism, taking into account public grievances, and observing certain codes on advertising and programmes, etc. 

.... The government should fund research and specially for reaching the unreached. As we have for the telecom sector, there should be “universal service obligation” on the part of all broadcasters. 
The concern for PSB should not be limited to Prasar Bharati. The government should ease the procedures for setting up community radio networks. Every broadcaster should do some PSB as an obligation. The extent of dependence on advertisements need be moderated-both in the case of Prasar Bharati and other broadcasters. 

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041201/edit.htm#4

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