[cr-india] Why Community Radio Stations?

[fred at bytesforall.org]

http://www.developingradiopartners.org/#whyCR

Why Community Radio Stations?

Local radio can transform communities by giving a voice to the people, increasing the free flow of accurate information, and celebrating local culture in music and story. A healthy local station is accountable to its community, broadcasts programs that meet the needs of its listeners, and helps bring about government accountability. A healthy station has diverse sources of revenue to ensure the integrity of its programming and its long-term viability.

“A skilled and viable independent media sector is society’s most promising tool for providing citizens the information they need to bring about and sustain government reform and poverty reduction.”

Dr. Ann Hudock, SeniorAdvisor for Democracy and Governance at the NGO World Learning

Within the last decade, there has been an increasing focus on the role media plays in creating healthy democracies and stronger economic climates. More than any other media, radio is increasingly playing an invaluable role in rural, post-conflict communities for several key reasons:

Radio is accessible. In these countries, more people have access to radio than any other newspapers or television. For example, radios reach roughly 75 percent of Africa's population while only 40 percent have access to television.

Radio is cost effective. A small investment in a radio stations can have a tremendous impact upon thousands of people by providing information about health care, local politics, and education. In Sierra Leone, the radio station (KISS-FM) operates with an annual budget of $110,000 and remarkably, broadcasts to over 2.4 million people on only one kilowatt. 

Radio overcomes illiteracy because it speaks to the people about their issues in their native language and allows the citizens to participate in the management and programming of the community stations. Since poverty is generally higher in rural areas, the impact of radio is wide reaching in giving essential information.

Radio gives a voice to the people because they can discuss concerns and question government officials on the air. This empowerment gives the people a sense of their value and helps with problem solving, ultimately strengthening their communities. A recent Washington Post article reported that a community radio station in India is seen as a "new source of strength for poor people because it addresses their most basic development needs." The September 17, 2003 article quotes one young woman:

"This radio station is ours because it speaks about us ­ in our language and 
in our accent. When I turn it on, I hear the voices of people I know," said Triveni Narayanswamy, 28, as she twirled the dial of her tiny transistor radio. 

Radio can be invaluable in rural, post-conflict countries by reducing tension induced by conflict, educating people about health and governance issues, and celebrating local culture. The dramatic effects radio can have on a community are illustrated in the following examples:

In Africa: A radio campaign in Niger helped eradicate guinea worm that previously affected 70 percent of the population. A subsequent campaign helped increase the frequency of clinic visits by pregnant women. o In Sierra Leone, it is believed that because of the voter education programs KISS-FM conducts, the province had the highest number of registered voters in the country in the 2002 elections and elected more women as parliamentarians than ever before.

In Asia: Gobi Wave Radio in the provincial capital in south Gobi, Mongolia, is on the air twelve hours daily and includes programs described as "News from the people, for the people" that gives its citizens the chance to call in their own news stories. A newscast is presented twice daily, and the governor answers questions from listeners twice a week. A recent survey revealed that of the 1,200 residents surveyed, everyone listened to Gobi Wave, which operates with an annual budget of $7,000.

In Europe: In Albania, more than 50% of all Albanians tune into a soap opera called Rruga me Pisha ("Pine Street") that addresses ethnic discrimination, domestic violence, illegal weapons, environmental conservation, volunteerism and community participation.

Unfortunately, despite the success stories, these community radio stations struggle daily to continue their operations. In the short-term, they need significant funding and equipment, and assistance with staff training and management issues in order to maintain and grow their programming. Long-term, it is essential that these community radio stations develop creative mechanisms to attract annual funding that will lead to sustainability.