30-06-2012, 12:23 PM
COMMUNITY RADIO STATION
[attachment=26250]
Introduction :
Information and entertainment are now ingredients of human development along with food, clothing and shelter. However, it is also a fact that the mainstream media is unable to cater to the true information needs of the community, as it is primarily market driven and run with profit maximizing motive. Hence, the question of alternative media comes, which definitely has to have space in terms of localization of content, participation and involvement of the community. Community Radio can play a vital role in this, especially in narrowing down the differences between the broadcaster and the audience.
Interestingly, the Govt. of India has also come out with an updated Community Radio Policy and is keen to give licenses to around 4000 Community Radio Stations by 2008. This is no doubt a new approach towards empowerment at the grassroots level, which, in turn will definitely strengthen the tenets of democracy.
Radio is the main source of news and entertainment for most of India. All India Radio is in the top tier of radio coverage, as it is the public service broadcaster. Private FM Radio Stations have now become the second tier. Community Radio promises to be the third tier, closest to the people. Just hearing themselves on radio is an empowering experience for the people, who realize that this, truly, can be their own voice and help them get a better deal from the government and other agencies or groups. Community Radio focuses on low cost and low return pattern of operation, which is aimed at educating and entertaining the community using their own idioms and language in contrast to the private FM Radio, which is primarily driven by entertainment and business considerations.
Ultimately CRS is going to strengthen democratic institutions and practices giving common people access to information to make them informed citizen and also foster people’s social rights like Right to Information.
DEVELOPMENT:
The modern concept of development gives emphasis to human and social development and does not end with economic development only. It has also been accepted that there cannot be any sustainable development unless people can become the agents of their own development and do not remain just a beneficiary. They are required to participate in every stage of the development process and in its decision-making. Empowering the people at the grassroots and their capacity building are the major concerns for modern development. Community Radio can emerge as a major tool for doing both. Community radio can play a significant and effective role in modern concepts of development like the Human Development Index and Human Security. Community Radio can come forward to give development a human face. It can also be a platform for bringing accountability of the development process, ultimately making the system more transparent and ensuring good governance.
PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION:
One of the basic factors of Community Radio is that it has to be participatory. As said by the UNESCO, A Community Radio Station is one that is operated in the community, for the community, about the community and by the community. It is now recognized that participatory communication approaches are powerful tools to bring in change and empower people at the grassroots to decide their own future.
In the context of the information society and its transformation into a knowledge society, participatory communication plays a vital role as it is the marginalized people whose access to information needs to be increased for transforming the entire society to a knowledge based society and this can effectively be done through a proper and planned participatory communication method.
In fact, efforts should be taken to find out possibilities to make at least some CR
programmes interactive and two way. The main advantage of Community Radio is that the selected representatives of the community can easily be called to the studio/ station due to the location advantage to share with and debate their views. In some cases there can also be telephonic participation of the people from and among the community.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY RADIO :
According to the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, the three major elements of Community Radio should be:
1. Non Profit Making,
2. Community Ownership and Control
3.Community participation According to Mr.W. Jayaweera' Director; communication development, UNESCO:
Community Radio is not just about broadcast content; it is mostly about the process of community engagement. Community radio is about social skills, business skills creativity, IT skills, local democracy, hard to reach groups, involvement of women and young people and involvement of hundreds of volunteers. Community Radio is about harnessing the tremendous potentials media can offer to engage people and change their lives. It is about ordinary people having a stake in the vast broadcasting landscape and becoming responsible and accountable citizens. Community radio is also about media literacy. A media literate society can demand accountability from the media and what better way to become media literate than by making media yourself ? Community Ownership and equitable access to community members in all spheres are the two basic elements a Community Radio should have, otherwise it should not be considered as Community Radio.
The poor countries do not only use the concept and practice of Community Radio but it is a global phenomenon. All over the world people can decide to become active in producing radio programmes according to their individual needs.
AWARENESS:
It is true that the need for establishing a Community Radio Station should come from and among the community, but how will it come unless and until they are made known of this potential media outlet of their own. It is very significant that the government of India has come out with the New Community Radio Policy in December 2006 The basic difference between the new policy and the old one of December 2002 is that in the earlier policy only the recognized educational institutions of high repute such as universities, the IITs, the IIMs, were allowed to operate Community Radios, whereas in the new policy the voluntary, Non govt. organizations (NGO) and civil society organizations (CSO) with good track records have been made eligible to set up Community Radio Station (CRS), which is a very significant development This has made the true concept of Community Radio become a reality in India. What was done earlier was mere campus radio. But, it is definitely the responsibility of the practitioners and experts of communication to
create awareness especially among the rural community, NGOs and CSOs so that they can come forward to avail of the opportunity. The need of the hour is to popularize the concept by highlighting its potential and effectiveness, facilitate setting up CRSs and impart training to the community broadcasters. The best practice methods and cases in respect of CRS need to be highlighted as examples so that various communities come forward for it.
NGO, GOVT. OR A TRUE CRS:
A debate has started recently on keeping the true spirit of the CRS. This has come after Bihar Govt. has expressed its willingness to set up CRS in Patna and Nalanda districts. The experts have started saying that in this process state govt. can capture a CR network though broadcasting as such is in the central list of our constitution. The other point raised is whether CR will remain as NGO Radio, which means it should come up from and among the community itself. However, the initiative of NGOs work in rural area cannot be ignored also. The point raised here is NGO run CRS will speak of the particular NGO since it has the fund and manpower to run CRS and obtained the license for the area. These are the question to be deliberated and debated with much caution.
ALLOWING NEWS IN CR:
In the new CR Policy, the CRSs are not allowed to broadcast news. The question has come that if Cable TV operators of even small towns can telecast news in their Cable IV, why CR would be debarred for that. In this context an example from our neighbor Nepal may be appropriate. In spite of all kinds of turmoil, CR has
become very effective and also grown in numbers. When they were debarred from broadcasting news all of them decided together to broadcast the news in musical or ballads form. Actually, in folk and traditional media information used to be passed on in the form of ballads and songs.
In this connection the recent conflict between Gujjars and Meenas in Rajasthan can be sited and had there been CRSs belonging to both the communities, these CRSs might have been used to conspire against these two communities. But, it needs to be seen in a greater aspect and some sort of events, happening, achievements, soft stories should be allowed to be broadcast and in case of major newsbreaks they should be allowed to be noticed. However, who is going to draw the laxmanrekha to decide all these. In this connection, setting up of a monitoring mechanism for CRSs will have to be specified. Though as per the provision of the license all brogrammes are required to be preserved for six months after broadcast for scrutiny at a later stage. Since, CRSs are localized, all of them cannot be monitored from a particular place. However there is provision for penalty for violation of code.
However, the right to broadcast news and current affairs is a part and parcel of freedom of expression. Article 19 of the Constitution reiterates Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. On this ground the community broadcasters are supposed to enjoy the right to disseminate news. But, it is also a fact of the matter that in India private FM channels are also not allowed to broadcast news and current affairs, whereas private TV channels are authorized to do so.
[attachment=26250]
Introduction :
Information and entertainment are now ingredients of human development along with food, clothing and shelter. However, it is also a fact that the mainstream media is unable to cater to the true information needs of the community, as it is primarily market driven and run with profit maximizing motive. Hence, the question of alternative media comes, which definitely has to have space in terms of localization of content, participation and involvement of the community. Community Radio can play a vital role in this, especially in narrowing down the differences between the broadcaster and the audience.
Interestingly, the Govt. of India has also come out with an updated Community Radio Policy and is keen to give licenses to around 4000 Community Radio Stations by 2008. This is no doubt a new approach towards empowerment at the grassroots level, which, in turn will definitely strengthen the tenets of democracy.
Radio is the main source of news and entertainment for most of India. All India Radio is in the top tier of radio coverage, as it is the public service broadcaster. Private FM Radio Stations have now become the second tier. Community Radio promises to be the third tier, closest to the people. Just hearing themselves on radio is an empowering experience for the people, who realize that this, truly, can be their own voice and help them get a better deal from the government and other agencies or groups. Community Radio focuses on low cost and low return pattern of operation, which is aimed at educating and entertaining the community using their own idioms and language in contrast to the private FM Radio, which is primarily driven by entertainment and business considerations.
Ultimately CRS is going to strengthen democratic institutions and practices giving common people access to information to make them informed citizen and also foster people’s social rights like Right to Information.
DEVELOPMENT:
The modern concept of development gives emphasis to human and social development and does not end with economic development only. It has also been accepted that there cannot be any sustainable development unless people can become the agents of their own development and do not remain just a beneficiary. They are required to participate in every stage of the development process and in its decision-making. Empowering the people at the grassroots and their capacity building are the major concerns for modern development. Community Radio can emerge as a major tool for doing both. Community radio can play a significant and effective role in modern concepts of development like the Human Development Index and Human Security. Community Radio can come forward to give development a human face. It can also be a platform for bringing accountability of the development process, ultimately making the system more transparent and ensuring good governance.
PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION:
One of the basic factors of Community Radio is that it has to be participatory. As said by the UNESCO, A Community Radio Station is one that is operated in the community, for the community, about the community and by the community. It is now recognized that participatory communication approaches are powerful tools to bring in change and empower people at the grassroots to decide their own future.
In the context of the information society and its transformation into a knowledge society, participatory communication plays a vital role as it is the marginalized people whose access to information needs to be increased for transforming the entire society to a knowledge based society and this can effectively be done through a proper and planned participatory communication method.
In fact, efforts should be taken to find out possibilities to make at least some CR
programmes interactive and two way. The main advantage of Community Radio is that the selected representatives of the community can easily be called to the studio/ station due to the location advantage to share with and debate their views. In some cases there can also be telephonic participation of the people from and among the community.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY RADIO :
According to the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, the three major elements of Community Radio should be:
1. Non Profit Making,
2. Community Ownership and Control
3.Community participation According to Mr.W. Jayaweera' Director; communication development, UNESCO:
Community Radio is not just about broadcast content; it is mostly about the process of community engagement. Community radio is about social skills, business skills creativity, IT skills, local democracy, hard to reach groups, involvement of women and young people and involvement of hundreds of volunteers. Community Radio is about harnessing the tremendous potentials media can offer to engage people and change their lives. It is about ordinary people having a stake in the vast broadcasting landscape and becoming responsible and accountable citizens. Community radio is also about media literacy. A media literate society can demand accountability from the media and what better way to become media literate than by making media yourself ? Community Ownership and equitable access to community members in all spheres are the two basic elements a Community Radio should have, otherwise it should not be considered as Community Radio.
The poor countries do not only use the concept and practice of Community Radio but it is a global phenomenon. All over the world people can decide to become active in producing radio programmes according to their individual needs.
AWARENESS:
It is true that the need for establishing a Community Radio Station should come from and among the community, but how will it come unless and until they are made known of this potential media outlet of their own. It is very significant that the government of India has come out with the New Community Radio Policy in December 2006 The basic difference between the new policy and the old one of December 2002 is that in the earlier policy only the recognized educational institutions of high repute such as universities, the IITs, the IIMs, were allowed to operate Community Radios, whereas in the new policy the voluntary, Non govt. organizations (NGO) and civil society organizations (CSO) with good track records have been made eligible to set up Community Radio Station (CRS), which is a very significant development This has made the true concept of Community Radio become a reality in India. What was done earlier was mere campus radio. But, it is definitely the responsibility of the practitioners and experts of communication to
create awareness especially among the rural community, NGOs and CSOs so that they can come forward to avail of the opportunity. The need of the hour is to popularize the concept by highlighting its potential and effectiveness, facilitate setting up CRSs and impart training to the community broadcasters. The best practice methods and cases in respect of CRS need to be highlighted as examples so that various communities come forward for it.
NGO, GOVT. OR A TRUE CRS:
A debate has started recently on keeping the true spirit of the CRS. This has come after Bihar Govt. has expressed its willingness to set up CRS in Patna and Nalanda districts. The experts have started saying that in this process state govt. can capture a CR network though broadcasting as such is in the central list of our constitution. The other point raised is whether CR will remain as NGO Radio, which means it should come up from and among the community itself. However, the initiative of NGOs work in rural area cannot be ignored also. The point raised here is NGO run CRS will speak of the particular NGO since it has the fund and manpower to run CRS and obtained the license for the area. These are the question to be deliberated and debated with much caution.
ALLOWING NEWS IN CR:
In the new CR Policy, the CRSs are not allowed to broadcast news. The question has come that if Cable TV operators of even small towns can telecast news in their Cable IV, why CR would be debarred for that. In this context an example from our neighbor Nepal may be appropriate. In spite of all kinds of turmoil, CR has
become very effective and also grown in numbers. When they were debarred from broadcasting news all of them decided together to broadcast the news in musical or ballads form. Actually, in folk and traditional media information used to be passed on in the form of ballads and songs.
In this connection the recent conflict between Gujjars and Meenas in Rajasthan can be sited and had there been CRSs belonging to both the communities, these CRSs might have been used to conspire against these two communities. But, it needs to be seen in a greater aspect and some sort of events, happening, achievements, soft stories should be allowed to be broadcast and in case of major newsbreaks they should be allowed to be noticed. However, who is going to draw the laxmanrekha to decide all these. In this connection, setting up of a monitoring mechanism for CRSs will have to be specified. Though as per the provision of the license all brogrammes are required to be preserved for six months after broadcast for scrutiny at a later stage. Since, CRSs are localized, all of them cannot be monitored from a particular place. However there is provision for penalty for violation of code.
However, the right to broadcast news and current affairs is a part and parcel of freedom of expression. Article 19 of the Constitution reiterates Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. On this ground the community broadcasters are supposed to enjoy the right to disseminate news. But, it is also a fact of the matter that in India private FM channels are also not allowed to broadcast news and current affairs, whereas private TV channels are authorized to do so.