[cr-india] Developing Radio Partners.

[George Lessard]

Developing Radio Partners.
http://www.developingradiopartners.org/

For more information about Developing Radio Partners, or to sign up 
for news and information about our activities, please write to 
moreinfo at developingradio.org , or call (202) 332-7924.
You may also write directly to
Bill Siemering
siemering at attglobal.net
or
Rachel Thompson
rachelwtoo at aol.com

Developing Radio Partners (DRP) is a newly-forming not-for-profit 
organization dedicated to supporting independent radio stations in 
countries transitioning to democracy through professional development 
in journalism, programming, station management and finance. 
Developing Radio Partners identifies and responds to communities that 
will benefit from the community building-radio can provide. DRP is 
currently focusing its efforts on select communities in Africa and 
Asia.

Programs at a Glance

Developing Radio Partners' formative programs are Networking and 
Exchange Assistance, Publishing Best Practices, and Africa and Asia 
programs. Developing Radio Partners also offers consulting services 
on a fee-for-services basis. Current planned activities include the 
following:

Networking and Exchange Assistance : It is anticipated that DRP will 
fulfill thirty or more requests for information ranging from 
structuring news operations or program schedules, requests for 
trainers, and inquiries about hooking up with visiting journalists.

Publishing Best Practices : DRP plans to create and disseminate 
electronic and printed materials aimed at educating and attracting 
clients and potential partners. DRP is proposing a series of 
practical guides to address, among other topics, a) station financial 
sustainability (featuring case studies and practical approaches to 
establishing stations and attracting revenue); b) audience 
measurement; and c) programming in a post-conflict setting.

Africa : DRP's first Africa initiative will focus on West Africa. DRP 
plans to design and implement community radio development in Liberia 
and Sierra Leone including an initial assessment; identification of 
short-term needs such as equipment and training; design of a program 
addressing longer-term needs for sustainability including formation 
of a Sierra Leone-based community radio foundation. DRP will partner 
to document effective uses of local radio for peace-building in a 
post-conflict setting.

Asia : DRP's first Asia initiative will focus on Mongolia. In 
collaboration with local communities, DRP plans to establish five new 
stations to add to the existing seven stations. DRP also will examine 
ways to use the Internet for a more effective and creative radio 
station. We will establish a Mongolian Foundation for Independent 
Radio to aggregate and distribute funds and provide training to 
ensure sustainability.

Sister Stations : As opportunities present themselves, Developing 
Radio Partners will collaborate with U.S. public radio stations to 
establish sister station relationships with our station partners 
overseas. The first of these relationships recently debuted, between 
the National Public Radio affiliate Cape and Islands Radio and Gobi 
Wave Radio, in the pop. 10,000 community of Dalanzadgad in the south 
of Mongolia.