Community Media Handbook

COMMUNITY MEDIA:
A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

Compiled and edited by
Steve Buckley
Published by
the United Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization
7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France
Communication and Information Sector

www.unesco.org/webworld
UNESCO 2011
All rights reserved
ISBN 978-92-3-104210-2
The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning
the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of
UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.
Project Manager: Hara Prasad Padhy
Edited by Steve Buckley
Language Editor: Claudia Mangels
Layout and Cover Designer: Mazoyer, Aurelia
Photo credits
p. 13: UNESCO
p. 15: Logo Courtesy of Danish Agency for Libraries and Media
p. 17: Courtesy of CORAPE
p. 19: Courtesy of ARPAS
p. 21: Logos Courtesy of CNRA and SNRL
p. 23: Courtesy of CNRA
p. 24: UNESCO
p. 25: Courtesy of MDDA
p. 27: Courtesy of CPMR
p. 29: Courtesy of Paula Castello
p. 31: Logo Courtesy of Canstream
p. 37: Courtesy of 3CR Community Radio
p. 39: UNESCO
p. 41: Courtesy of Radio Tierra
p. 43: Courtesy of Archivo Aredmag
p. 45: Courtesy of Sangham Radio
p. 47: Courtesy of AmmanNet
p. 49: Courtesy of Radio La Primersima
p. 51: Courtesy of Steve Buckley
p. 53: Courtesy of Archive of Radio Student, Ljubljana, Slovenia
p. 55: UNESCO
p. 61: UNESCO
p. 63: Courtesy of Franz G. Laime P.
p. 65: Courtesy of One Plus One (Beijing) Disabled Persons Cultural Development Centre
p. 67: Courtesy of FemLINKPacic
p. 69: Courtesy of COMBINE Resource Institution
p. 71: Courtesy of Wadi
p. 73: Courtesy of Earle McLeary
p. 75: Courtesy of Junichi Hibino and Radio FMYY
p. 77: UNESCO
p. 79: Courtesy of Radio Rakambia
Typeset by UNESCO
Printed by UNESCO
Printed in France
CONTENTS
CONTENTS 3
ACKNOWLEDGE MENTS 4
FOREWORD 5
INTRODUCTION 7
ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 9

Benin: West African model for media regulation 13
Denmark: Extended concept of public service broadcasting 15
Ecuador: CORAPE - national alliance for community radio 17
El Salvador: ARPAS a frequency that enabled a network 19
France: FSER - support fund for non-commercial local radio 21
Nepal: ACORAB - defending the community radio sector 23
South Africa: MDDA - funding media development and diversity 25
Thailand: CPMR - civil society campaign for media reform 27
Uruguay: Equitable access for community broadcasting 29
United Kingdom: Canstream - Internet broadcasting made easy 31
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY 33

Australia: 3CR - powered by the people 37
Burundi: Giheta CMC - promoting peace and development 39
Chile: Radio Tierra rooted in social movements 41
Colombia: AREDMAG - defending media in the face of conict 43
India: Sangham Radio giving voice to the excluded 45
Jordan: Radio Al-Balad - the Internet as an entry point 47
Nicaragua: La Primerisima - peoples news radio 49
Senegal: Radio Ndef Leng - letting the listener speak 51
Slovenia: Radio Student - independent and non-conformist 53
Uganda: Radio Apac - promoting social and economic improvement 55
STRENGTHENING SOCIAL IMPACT 57

Belize: Radio Hamalali Garinagu - protecting the Garifuna culture 61
Bolivia: Radio Wiay Jatha - voice of Aymara women 63
China: One Plus One - nothing about us, without us 65
Fiji: femTALK - mobile radio for womens empowerment 67
Indonesia: ARRNet - rebuilding shattered communities 69
Iraq: Radio Dange Nwe - a voice for peace and dialogue 71
Jamaica: FREE FM - radio from behind prison walls 73
Japan: Radio FMYY - celebrating human diversity 75
Mozambique: community radio and election reporting 77
Timor-Leste: Radio Rakambia - youth voices building a new country 79
COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This handbook, compiled and edited by Steve Buckley, has been a collaborative
effort. We wish to thank all those who have contributed. In particular we are
grateful for the case studies produced by Rosamond Brown (Belize, Colombia,
El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Jamaica), Franklin Huizies (Burundi, Mozambique,
South Africa, and Uganda), Lumko Mtimde (Benin, Nepal) and Ashish Sen (China,
Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, and Timor-Leste). We also gratefully
acknowledge the contributors to the expert consultation workshops organized
in February and June 2009 that have helped both to frame this handbook and to
identify the good practice examples, including the case study authors mentioned
above plus Sanjay Asthana, Florencio Ceballos, Bruce Girard, Alfonso Gumucio
Dagron, Raghu Mainali, Ian Pringle, Salvatore Scifo, S. Senthilkumaran,
Fatoumata Sow, Lucio N. Tabing and Jo Ann Tacchi.
The handbook additionally beneted from the reections of an international

community media seminar jointly organized by UNESCO and the World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and held at UNESCO Headquarters
in Paris, on 11 November 2009. The seminar, under the theme Voice and
Empowerment through Community Media: Learning from Good Practices,
Strategies for Development, brought together a group of 30 leading community
media experts, practitioners and stakeholders.
Production of the handbook as well as the organization of the expert consultation

workshops was managed by Hara Padhy under the guidance of Wijayananda
Jayaweera and ably assisted by Claudia Mangels.
Finally we acknowledge and applaud the managers, staff and volunteers of the
community media projects and other organizations whose inspiring work is
described in the case studies of good practice in this handbook.
4 COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

FOREWORD
Community media are a key ingredient of any pluralistic But, as the case studies indicate, such an impactful
media ecology. As an alternative medium to public and medium requires two important conditions in order
commercial media, they occupy an important space to thrive: an enabling policy environment and a
in citizen participation. That they are enlivening civic model of sustainability that guarantees its continued
participation globally is evident in the case studies independence and effectiveness. Again, this publication
compiled in this publication. helps us to draw useful lessons in this regard. An
important conclusion is that the policy, legal and
There is no doubt that community media have a social regulatory framework remains the single most persistent
impact. The case studies are replete with anecdotes obstacle to sustaining community media, despite the fact
that there is worldwide experience of good practice in
of how various initiatives have contributed towards
this regard.
community development and empowerment. Fijis
femLINK is a testament of womens empowerment.
The value of this publication thus lies in the fact that
Indonesias Aceh Nias Reconstruction Radio Network
it highlights problems while at the same time offering
(ARRNet) is a clear testimony of community-based
possible solutions. It presents a useful empirical
rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of
basis for replicating time-tested decisions about how
the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, rebuilding shattered
community media can become an even more effective
communities. element of a free, independent and pluralistic media
system of any democratic society.
Senegals Radio Ndef Leng is an example of how
localized communication can inspire minority groups Against this background, we believe that this book will
through active on-air dialogue and discussion, giving be a useful reference to community media practitioners,
them a sense of local and national belonging. policy-makers, researchers, community organizers, and
other media development stakeholders.
These isolated examples of the social impact of
community media, when interwoven with similar Wijayananda Jayaweera
illustrations from other parts of the world, reinforce their Director, Communication Development Division/IPDC
signicance as an alternative form of communication. Paris

INTRODUCTION
This is a collection of case studies of good practice in stations run by social movement organisations, womens
community media. Its intention is to provide inspiration groups, churches and trade unions.
and support for those engaged in community media
advocacy and to raise awareness and understanding Community media in Europe is more recent. While
of community media among policy makers and other print-based community media publications have a much
stakeholders. The collection is focused on electronic longer history, the rst electronic community media was
media including radio, television, Internet and mobile. probably the student-led radio station, Radio Student,
It is global in spread, with examples from 30 countries, broadcasting since 1967 in Slovenia. In 1977, Italy
but primarily drawn from developing countries. This has opened its airwaves after the Supreme Court declared
the additional consequence that radio is predominant in the state monopoly illegal. France followed in 1983 and
view of its extensive presence today in developing country today most Western European countries have specic
media environments and its reach into rural as well as regulatory provision for community broadcasting. Yet
urban communities. Eastern Europe, despite seismic political change in the
1990s, has still very few countries in which civil society
Community media are understood in this collection has a signicant presence on the airwaves. The early
as independent, civil society based media that operate movement for community broadcasting in Europe was
for social benet and not for prot. They are present driven by the emergence of unlicensed FM broadcasting,
in all regions of the world as social movements and with regulatory frameworks following later. Today the
community-based organisations have sought a means to Internet has become a key entry point for new community
express their issues, concerns, cultures and languages. media.
Community media set out to create an alternative both
to national public broadcasters, which are often under In Africa, until the early 1990s, state broadcasting
government control, and to private commercial media. monopolies remained the norm, vestiges of the colonial
They provide communities with access to information and era, while print media were limited in circulation and
voice, facilitating community-level debate, information targeted educated urban elites. With the end of the cold
and knowledge sharing and input into public decision- war, which had kept many autocratic governments in
making. power, in the face of economic decline and increasing
social mobilization came a wave of democratisation
The emergence of community media is often associated carrying renewed commitments to political freedom and
with wider political change particular the deepening of the emergence of a more plural and democratic media
democracy and the strengthening of civil society. It also landscape. At the forefront of these developments were
builds on recognition that development goals can be Mali and South Africa. In Mali, broadcasting was opened
more effectively achieved by empowering and giving voice up after the revolution of 1991. Anyone could apply for
to people who themselves face poverty and disadvantage. and obtain a licence. Today there are over a hundred
Wherever they have been established it has become clear small rural community radios in Mali with considerable
community media can play a specic and crucial role in public and political support. Other West African countries
encouraging public participation, strengthening cultural followed. In post-apartheid South Africa, community
and linguistic diversity and giving voice to poor and radio was seen as a tool to empower the majority,
otherwise marginalised groups. previously excluded from the airwaves. South African
community radio has a distinct status as a third tier
The rst stirrings in the emergence of the modern alongside state and commercial radio and over 100
community media movement can be traced back to the community radios have been licensed.
1940s with the setting up of community radio stations
in Bolivias tin mining communities, educational radio In Australia community broadcasting commenced in
stations of the catholic church in Colombia, and non- 1972, with Radio 5UV in Adelaide, and is now rmly
commercial FM radio in the United States. Over the embedded in the countrys broadcasting policy and
last twenty years, across the Americas, there has law. Elsewhere in the Asia Pacic region community
been a massive increase in the number of popular and broadcasting is more recent, emerging in South East
community-based radios. These include educational Asia with the Tambuli project in the Philippines in 1991
radio stations both within and outside the structures of which commenced using village loudspeakers systems,
formal education; indigenous peoples radio stations that but now including many hundreds of community radio
take account of local languages and traditions; radio stations in Indonesia and Thailand. Radio Sagarmatha in

Nepal, was the rst independent community broadcaster or innovative nature; as well as the evidential base and
in South Asia when it launched in 1997, whereas India credibility of the source material.
waited until 2006 to adopt a community radio policy,
now being implemented through the issue of broadcast The collection is organized in three sections. The
licences for non-governmental organisations. rst section addresses the enabling environment for
community media, with ten country case studies of
The emergence of the Internet as a media platform good practice in policies, laws, regulations, funding
is having a profound effect on the possibilities and and support structures that enable community media
practice of community media, creating opportunities to establish and to ourish. The second section looks
to distribute media content without the need to use at sustainability, with ten case studies of community
the radio frequency spectrum. Internet distribution media practice that demonstrate such characteristics
enabled Radio AlBalad (formerly AmmanNet Community as longevity, consistency and adaptability. The third
Radio) to commence in 2000 as a web and satellite- section is concerned with social impact, with ten case
based broadcaster in Jordan, only later gaining an FM studies of community media contributing to social
licence after the introduction of media reforms. More change, improvement in lives and livelihoods, social
recently, in China, a webcast media platform for people cohesion in the face of conict, humanitarian protection,
with disability was launched by an independent non- strengthened governance and accountability, increased
governmental organisation, One Plus One, for the Beijing participation in democracy and development, reduced
Paralympics, and has continued to provide a valued discrimination and other benets.
service addressing the needs and interests of its target
audience. Each case study has a summary of the good practice,
a short description that provides further context, plus
This collection endeavours to draw from a broad range highlights of some of the key characteristics. References
of geopolitical contexts different regions, cultures, and links are provided for those who seek further
languages and political systems including urban and information.
rural examples, small and large countries. The criteria
of good practice include the adaptability, relevance
and sustainability of the case example; whether it is
community-owned and participatory; its uniqueness
8 COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA
Spectrum access or licence fees should be free or a
D
espite the growing recognition of community
broadcasting worldwide there remains a need nominal charge so as not exclude communities with few
to promote and defend the right of communities resources. There should be no unreasonable restrictions
to own and to operate their own community media. on sources of revenue. Community broadcasters should
The policy, legal and regulatory framework, remains be encouraged to develop economic support from within
the single most persistent obstacle to establishment. their own community but assistance should also be
There is worldwide experience today of legislating and provided through independently administered public
regulating community media from which can be seen funding mechanisms.
what conditions are needed. But there is still much to be
done in many countries to establish policies, laws and These characteristics can be found in the legal and
regulations that enable and encourage community media regulatory framework for community broadcasting in
to start-up and to ourish. many countries but it is not sufcient simply to have good
policies, laws and regulations if they are not effectively
The enabling environment for community media implemented. An enabling environment that supports
must also be considered in a wider political context. and encourages community media to establish and to
Community media face particular challenges to grow has two other vital ingredients. The rst of these is
establish in conditions where democracy and rule of the existence of civil society based advocacy groups and
law is weak or where human rights, including freedom representative associations that promote community
of expression, are not respected. Conditions that favour media development; that lobby for improvements
community media are most likely to be achieved in in policies, laws, regulations and the distribution of
a context of deepening democracy and the adoption resources; and that provide services and support to
of a public interest approach to the development of assist the community media sector to build sustainability
free, independent and pluralistic media (Buckley et al. and social impact. The second is the support of elected
2008). AMARC has elaborated fourteen principles of representatives, civil servants, regulators and others who
good practice for democratic legislation on community make or implement appropriate media policies, laws and
broadcasting (AMARC-ALC 2008) which provide further regulations.
guidance for legislators and activists as a model for
development. In this section are highlighted some of the policies,
laws and public funding mechanisms that support and
Policies, laws and regulations that enable community encourage community media development, together
media development generally include three core with examples of sector associations and other bodies
characteristics: recognition, access and support. The rst whose effective work has contributed signicantly
consists of clear and explicit recognition of community to media policy reform or to the development of the
media as a distinct sector. The character of community community media sector. Benin and Uruguay provide two
media may be summarized as follows: it should not examples of law and regulation that support community
be run for prot but for social gain and community radio development. Benin is notable for having one of
benet; it should be owned by and accountable to the the better models of independent regulation in Africa,
community that it seeks to serve; and it should provide while Uruguay is one of few countries to have explicitly
for participation by the community in content creation assured an equitable allocation of frequencies between
and management. The second is a legal and regulatory community, private and public broadcasters. Denmark,
system that provides straightforward and transparent France and South Africa provide examples of public
processes for access to the radio spectrum and funding mechanisms. Denmarks draws on a part of
distribution platforms necessary for community media to the licence fee collected from households to support
operate. The allocation of spectrum and other resources the public service broadcasting system. In France, the
should be responsive to demand from community-based support fund for non-commercial local radio is based on
organisations that meet the essential characteristics; a levy on the revenue of commercial broadcasters. South
there should be no unnecessary obstacles that would Africas Media Development and Diversity Agency has a
exclude or deter communities from providing community mixed model with contributions from both private and
media services; and the process should be managed by public broadcasters to a fund that supports community
a body that is independent of political interference. The broadcasting and small scale commercial media.
third is a policy and legal framework that has regard Nepals Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
to sustainability and resourcing of community media. (ACORAB) has played a key role in defending the

sector in the face of considerable political challenges. while in El Salvador, the Association of Participatory
In Ecuador, the Coordinating Committee for Popular Radios and Programmes of El Salvador (ARPAS) made
Educational Radio (CORAPE) has contributed to policy a strategic decision to purchase a nationwide frequency
and legal recognition of the sector and has developed a assignment in order to allocate spectrum to its network
range of support services. In Thailand, the Campaign for of community radio stations. In the UK, the Community
Popular Media Reform, a broad-based activist alliance, Media Association (CMA) has assisted its members,
has played a key role in promoting and defending the through technical support, to adapt quickly to Internet
reservation of frequencies for community broadcasting, broadcasting.
REFERENCES AND LINKS

AMARC-ALC (2008) Principles for a Democratic Legislation on Community Broadcasting http://amarcwiki.amarc.org/upload/documents/
Principles_Community_Broadcasting_Legislation.pdf
Buckley, S., K. Duer, T. Mendel and S. OSiochr (2008) Broadcasting, Voice and Accountability: A public interest approach to policies, laws and
regulations. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press
12 ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA

BENIN: West African model
for media regulation
SUMMARY
Community radio in Benin commenced after the liberalization of broadcasting in
1997 which opened the media landscape to private radio and television, including
community broadcasting. There are now around 47 licensed community radios and
other non-commercial radio services. Benin has an independent regulator which
is responsible for the licensing and regulation of community radio services and the
management of a media support fund which includes grants for community radio.
Freedom of speech is recognized and guaranteed In addition to the not-for-prot status, the HAAC
in Benin according to the 1990 Constitution, and is identies Community Radio by its range, its focus on a
protected by the Haute Autorite de lAudiovisuel et de specic community, its use of specic languages and
la Communication (HAAC), an independent regulatory its programming having a focus on local information
body established in 1992. The HAAC is responsible for and mobilization, cultural development and further
the application of the Law No 97-010 of 20 August 1997 education. The licensing process for community radio
which provides for the liberalization of the audio-visual starts with the HAAC publishing the list of available
sector and opening to the establishment of private frequencies based on its frequency map and issuing a
radio and television services. The HAAC distinguishes published call for applications from all sectors, public,
between Commercial Radio and Non-Commercial private and commercial. It processes the received
Radio and it publishes regulatory guidelines (Cahiers applications and allocates the frequencies based on the
des Charges) setting out the procedure and criteria proposed programme content as well as the viability
for licensing of Non-Commercial Radio services. of the proposed services. Applications for frequencies
Community radios are required by HAAC to be organized are examined publicly, in the presence of the HAAC
as non-prot associations, and to invest a management representatives, the applicants and the general public.
committee with executive powers that is comprised
of representatives of the local community. This will The HAAC enforces the Code of Ethics of the Association
generally include members of community organisations, of Journalists of Benin (Association des Journalistes
women groups, and other organisations. du Benin) and works with the self regulatory body,
Observatory on Ethics in the Media (Observatoire de
la Deontologie dans les Medias), to see that broadcast

content respects professional standards and ethics. international donors have been a source of support for
It can apply sanctions which can include a warning, equipment. A public fund, amounting to around US$
suspension for a month, reduction in the licence 200,000 per annum, is available to all the media houses,
duration, or withdrawal of the frequency. including community radio. It is managed by HAAC to
fund training and small media projects. Proposals for
Funding of community radio is generally derived from funding are selected according to their content and
the communities served through announcements, quality.
cultural events, and volunteer work. Contributions from
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Regulatory framework provides for

non-commercial radio services
Open and transparent system for

allocating frequencies including
public hearings
Co-regulation of broadcast content

with the media sector involved
Diverse sources of funding including

a public funding mechanism

Republique du Benin (1992) Loi Organique no. 92-021 du 21 aot 1992 relative la Haute Autorit de lAudiovisuel et de la Communication
(HAAC)
http://www.haacbenin.org/article.php3?id_article=97 (accessed 31/12/2009)
Republique du Benin (1997) Loi Organique no. 97-010 du 20 aot 1997 portant libralisation de lespace audiovisuel et dispositions spciales
relatives aux dlits en matire de presse et communication audiovisuelle
HAAC (1998) Cahiers des charges pour linstallation et lexploitation dune radiodiffusion sonore prive non commerciale
http://www.haacbenin.org/article.php3?id_article=105 (accessed (31/12/2009)
CONTACT INFORMATION
La Haute Autorit de lAudiovisuel et de la Communication Web: http://www.haacbenin.org

DENMARK: Extended concept of public
service broadcasting
SUMMARY
Denmark has a well established community broadcasting sector with 175 non-
commercial local radio stations and 277 non-commercial local television stations (115
carried on cable systems and 164 distributed by terrestrial broadcasting). Community
broadcasting development has taken priority over local commercial broadcasting.
Since 1997, Government funding has been provided through earmarking part of the
licence fee - a tax paid by all households to support public service broadcasting.
Community broadcasting (ikke-kommercielle lokale little money came from this scheme as the commercial
radio- og TV-stationer) in Denmark dates back to early broadcasters adopted avoidance strategies. In 1991 it
experiments with local cable television in the 1970s and was discontinued. From 1994, community radio beneted
a more comprehensive scheme starting in 1983 when from access to nancial support from the state lottery
the rst non-commercial local radio services were pools. In 1997 a subsidy scheme was established in law
licensed on a trial basis. Community that recognised the non-commercial
radio was put on a permanent footing broadcasters as part of an extended
in 1986, which was extended to concept of public service. This has
include community television in 1987. continued to the present day. In 2009 it
Local commercial broadcasting followed later, with provided a grant-in-aid budget for the year of 52.9 million
advertising allowed from 1989 and the establishment of Danish Kroner (US$ 10.2 million).
networks allowed from 2003. Local radio and television
broadcasting remain predominantly non-commercial, The support fund for non-commercial local radio and
while commercial broadcasting competes, at national television is administered by the Radio and Television
and regional level, with the public broadcaster, Board - an independent regulatory body also responsible
Danmarks Radio and TV2. for issuing licences to private and community
broadcasters, and for monitoring whether broadcasters
The introduction of advertising on commercial radio and are fullling their legal obligations. Part of the fund is to
television was accompanied by the establishment of a support core operating costs and part is for programme
support fund for non-commercial services, based on a making, allocated competitively to promote the provision
tax levied on the commercial broadcasters. In practice of local information, citizens access, support for

minority groups and programming quality. The fund is stability to community broadcasters while retaining a
notable both for its size, being, per capita, the largest competitive element that can reward good practice in
of its kind in Europe (at around 2 US dollars per adult programming making. The mechanism is transferable
per annum), and for its mechanism, being drawn from to other countries that collect a television licence fee or
funds collected to support public service broadcasting. other tax in order to support public service broadcasting.
It was introduced after other approaches had been tried While there may be policy objections in some countries
and has demonstrated its stability through changes to deploying the licence fee in this way, Denmark has
of government and over an extended period. The dual demonstrated its use without adverse impact on the
emphasis on both core costs and support for programme main public service broadcaster.
making has enabled some guarantee of economic
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Strategic public funding mechanism for

community broadcasting
Earmarked portion of the household tax for public

service broadcasting
Funding is provided for both operating costs

and programme making
Fund is administered by an independent

regulatory body

Danish Ministry of Culture http://www.kum.dk
Sammenslutningen af lokale radio- og TV-stationer i Danmark http://www.slrtv.dk/
Jauert, Per and Prehn, Ole (2003) The Danish Subsidy Scheme for Non-Commercial Local Stations, Javnost Vol 10, No 1
http://www.javnost-thepublic.org/article/2003/1/5/
CONTACT INFORMATION
Styrelsen for Bibliotek og Medier
Tel: +45 33733373
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.bibliotekogmedier.dk

ECUADOR: CORAPE - national alliance
for community radio
SUMMARY
CORAPE, the Coordinating Committee for Popular Educational Radio in Ecuador (La
Coordinadora de Radio Popular Educativa de Ecuador) groups together community
radio stations throughout Ecuador and works to strengthen the popular, community
and educational radio sector. It has played an instrumental role in achieving improved
legal and regulatory recognition for community radio. Among other activities
it provides news and information services, organizes thematic networks, holds
consultative events, produces broadcast campaigns and provides training and capacity
building support
CORAPE was formed in 1990 right to freedom of opinion and

as a national coordinating expression and that further reform
body to represent, support and was needed to fully recognise
strengthen the community community radio and its dynamic
radio sector in Ecuador. Until role in promoting the rights
1995 community radio was of people and communities.
not recognised in the Law on In 2002 CORAPE presented
Radio and Television (Ley de a constitutional demand for
Radiodifusin y Televisin), which modication of the law which
was approved twenty years earlier when the country was supported by the Economic Commission of the
was under military rule. Media law reform in 1995 National Congress and led to further reform. The
introduced a concept of community service broadcasters amendment (Law 89-2002) to the media law recognises
(estaciones de servicio pblico las destinadas al servicio the distinct character of community stations (estaciones
de la comunidad) but this was accompanied by several comunitarias) and afrms that they have the same
restrictions prohibiting all commercial activity, limiting rights as private commercial broadcasters, including
transmission power and requiring prior approval by access to channels and frequencies and the right to seek
the army for reasons of national security. CORAPE commercial revenue. CORAPE now has 34 community
argued that the new law remained contrary to the radio stations afliated, present in 21 of the 24 provinces

of Ecuador, and reaching 30 per cent of Ecuadors urban signicant legal reform. It has developed a diverse
population and 60 per cent of the rural population. portfolio of projects and services to support community
radio in Ecuador that reects its core commitment to
CORAPE is a democratic association that brings together rights and development. With a much improved legal
community radio stations and production groups framework, the work of the alliance is increasingly
throughout Ecuador. Its General Assembly, consisting focussed on social development goals with much of its
of representatives of all afliates, elects the Board of activities organised around a series of thematic networks
Directors who in turn appoints the Executive Secretary, focussing on the Amazon region, Kichwa speakers,
responsible for day-to-day operations and management cross-border co-operation (with Peru), migration,
of the staff team. CORAPE places the democratisation children and youth, and environment. The alliance
of communication at the centre of its activities and also operates a national news service with three daily
has pursued a participatory approach that has led to bulletins in Spanish and one in Kichwa.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
National alliance of community broadcasters

and production centres
Democratic governance structure with an

elected Board
Demonstrable success in advocacy for media

law reform
Delivering projects and services focused on

social development

Davla, G (2004) Una Utopa Convertida en Realidad
http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=node/308
IICD (2007) Radios Comunitarias: Situacin en el Ecuador

2007
http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/les/Situacion%20Ecuador%20
2007.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
La Coordinadora de Radio Popular Educativa de Ecuador
Tel: +593 2 2523 006
Web: http://www.corape.org.ec
EL SALVADOR:
ARPAS a frequency that enabled a network
SUMMARY
In 1998, the Association of Participatory Radios and Programmes of El Salvador
(Asociacin de Radios y Programas Participativos de El Salvador ARPAS) purchased
the 92.1 FM frequency and redistributed bandwidth to low powered community
radio stations threatened with extinction. The purchase was a crucial move after a
long battle with the Salvadoran authorities for legislation to reserve frequencies for
community based, non-prot broadcasting.
In 1995 ANTEL, the state agency responsible for

telecommunications regulations in El Salvador, ordered
the Salvadoran National Civil Police Service to shut down
ten community radio stations. All of the targeted stations
had common denominators: they were independent,
non-government organisations concerned with improving
social conditions; they served the poorest residents
in their municipalities; they encouraged participatory
approaches to making and sharing content and all
were members of ARPAS. These ten radios, with Radio
Segundo Montes at the forefront, had joined forces the
previous year because, in the words of Jose Aleman of
ARPAS: The radios realized a pretty basic principle. If
we are not united, if we dont act together, we will miss
the opportunity and we will fail. community radio, the government recognized ARPAS
in 2000, including its acquisition of broadcasting
One such opportunity, to which ARPAS responded spectrum for use by its member stations. Since then,
quickly in 1998, was the sale of the frequency 92.1FM. the network has expanded to include 28 community
After six years of advocacy, including the submission of radios services and six production centres, facilitated
amendments to El Salvadors draft telecommunications by the organisations purchase of the 92.1 FM frequency
law proposing the reservation of frequencies for

broadcasters. In El Salvador, in the face of political
and commercial resistance to the development of
community radio, ARPAS successfully negotiated the
acquisition of a part of the FM spectrum, sufcient to
enable its members to gain protection from closure.
Without this intervention it is likely that many of El
Salvadors community radios would have disappeared
and along with them the opportunity for ordinary citizens
to participate in democracy building. ARPAS continues
to be engaged in media reform advocacy as part of the
civil society Movement for Democratic Communication
(Movimiento para la Comunicacin Democratica), but is
also engaged in practical capacity building relating to
nancial sustainability, organisational and management
and its subsequent redistribution to be used by ARPAS skills, and support for community radio programme
community radio station members. content and cultural expression. In the national election
of 2004 ARPAS members were able to create a local and
ARPAS stands out as a successful example of how regional news gathering network of election reporters,
community media can sustain itself through united involving over 150 correspondents providing polling
advocacy, innovative action and long term capacity information across El Salvador far surpassing the reach
building. Access to radio spectrum is essential to the of commercial media.
establishment and sustainability of community radio
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Association of community radio stations and production groups
Engaged in advocacy for legal and regulatory recognition
Collective action to secure part of the FM radio spectrum
Support for capacity building and content development

Movimiento para la Comunicacin Democratica
http://www.movimientocomunica.blogspot.com/
CONTACT INFORMATION
Asociacin de Radios y Programas Participativos de El Salvador (ARPAS)
Tel: +503 22604427
Web: http://www.arpas.org.sv
FRANCE: FSER - support fund for non-
commercial local radio
SUMMARY
France was one of the rst European countries to introduce a regulatory and funding
framework for community radio. Over 500 community radios (radios associatives)
benet from a cross-subsidy funding mechanism. Commercial radio and television
stations pay a levy on their commercial revenue into the Support Fund for Local Radio
Expression (Fonds de soutien lexpression radiophonique locale - FSER). Community
radio stations are eligible for support from the fund, amounting to some 50 per cent of
their revenue, provided they do not take more than 20 per cent of their revenue from
commercial sources.
Community radio in France dates back to unlicensed revenue from advertising

free radio stations (radios libres) in the 1970s, when and sponsorship. In
there was a state broadcasting monopoly. In 1982 the Communiqu 34 of 29
Law on Audio-Visual Communication (No 82-652) was August 1989, the CSA
adopted providing for the liberalisation of broadcasting dened ve categories
and opening up of the airwaves to private radio operators. of private radio service.
The same law provided for the creation of the FSER to Category A services are
support local non-commercial radio services in achieving non-commercial services
their social objectives. Funding for the FSER is derived eligible for support from the FSER. The characteristics
from a levy on the advertising revenue of the commercial of Category A service licensees include that less than 20
broadcasters. per cent of their revenue is drawn from advertising or
sponsorship; at least 4 hours of local programming is
In 1986 the Law on Freedom of Communication (No 86- broadcast between 0600 and 2200; the licence holder is a
1067) provided for the creation of the Conseil Superieur non prot association; and the programming is made by
Audiovisuel (CSA) tasked with licensing and regulation the licence holder or its member associations.
of private broadcasting services. According to this
law the services eligible for support from the FSER The rules for distribution of funds from the FSER are
are those which receive less than 20 per cent of their set out in decree No 2006-1067 of 25 August 2006,

which also reformed the functioning of the FSER. The operating costs of community radio stations in France,
2007 annual report of the FSER indicates total funding with the amount provided being based on a formula
receipts of Euro 25.49 million that encourages stations to
(36.6 million US dollars), of generate funds from other non-
which 80 per cent was applied commercial sources. The Fund
towards the functioning costs of has provided economic stability
588 community radio services to the sector over more than 25
(average 49,500 US dollars each), years. The historic settlement in
with the remainder being applied which non-commercial stations
to start-up costs, equipment forego advertising revenue in
upgrades and discretionary return for cross-subsidy through
support - through a competitive awards mechanism - for a levy on the commercial sector is largely accepted by
social projects and organisational development. private commercial broadcasters and has retained public
policy support across changes of government. An eleven
The FSER is the longest established public funding person commission that oversees the FSER includes four
mechanism for community media in Europe. Funding representatives from the community radio sector.
from the FSER meets around 50 per cent of the
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Strategic cross-subsidy funding mechanism for community broadcasting
Drawn from an annual levy on commercial broadcasting sector revenue
Distribution based on match funding to other non-commercial sources
Administered by a commission that includes sector representatives

Conseil suprieur de laudiovisuel
http://www.csa.fr
Syndicat national des radios libres

http://www.snrl.org
Confdration Nationale des Radios Associatives

http://www.cnra.fr
Fonds de soutien lexpression radiophonique locale: Rapport dactivit 2007

http://www.ddm.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Rapport_d_activite_2007_FSER_HQ.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
Fonds de soutien lexpression radiophonique locale
Ministre de la culture et de la communication
Direction du dveloppement des mdias
Tel: +33 1 40 15 73 57
Web: http://www.ddm.gouv.fr
NEPAL: ACORAB - defending the community
radio sector
SUMMARY
The mission of ACORAB is to promote, protect and sustained the development
of community radios in Nepal. ACORAB aims to provide services to its member
organisations through information exchange, knowledge sharing and skills
development. It also provides support to community radio stations to get established
and to assure their sustainability through capacity building, equipment provision,
technical support and assistance with organisational development.
Community radio in Nepal commenced in 1997 with

Radio Sagarmatha, based in Kathmandu and established
by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists
(NEFEJ). Radio Sagaramatha was the rst community
radio in South Asia and a pioneer for independent
broadcasting in Nepal. Within ve years of its launch
there were some 15 private FM stations in Nepal, of
which a handful were not-for-prot community radio
stations including Radio Lumbini, Radio Madhanpokhara
and Himchuli FM. To support this embryonic sector
NEFEJ established the Community Radio Support Centre
and the stations themselves came together to set up
a representative body that could advocate for their
interests and further community radio development.
The Association of Community Radio Broadcasters led development. By promoting solidarity between
of Nepal (ACORAB) was established in 2002 as a community radios it has played a key role in defense of
common forum for strengthening the capacity of the right to freedom of expression of community radio
community radios, enabling them to contribute to broadcasters and against the suppression of the voices
building democracy, enhancing peoples participation of marginalized people, notably in the face of attacks and
in the political process and supporting community- threats from both State and non-State actors.

In February 2005, when King Gyanendra dismissed the own rules, procedures, operations and governance
elected parliament and seized direct rule, independent arrangements strive to reect these values facilitating
broadcasters faced an existential threat. Soldiers were the democratic participation of member stations and
deployed to radio studios and station managers were the periodic election of board members and ofcials.
ordered to cease all broadcasting of news and current Since its establishment it has promoted a model of
affairs. Community broadcasters were among the rst to community radio which is not-for-prot and operates
rally in defence of democracy, human rights, freedom of in the public interest, promoting respect for freedom of
expression and access to information. After the success opinion and expression, ensuring a diversity of views and
of the Peoples Movement of 2006 which resulted in a perspectives, facilitating peoples access to information
new constitution and later the abolition of the monarchy, and combating discrimination whether on the grounds of
FM radio licences were awarded more or less on class, caste, gender, ethnic or religious background.
demand, with some 150 licences issued in the rst year
alone of the new constitution, of which more than 65
were for not-for-prot stations. Most of the non-for-
prot stations are members of ACORAB which continues
to advocate for media law reform and strengthened
recognition of community radio.
ACORAB is a values-led organisation whose policies

and strategies are rooted in the defense of human
rights and democratic norms. The organisations
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
National representative association for community

broadcasting
Democratic governance structure with an elected

Board
Promotes solidarity, mutual support and joint action
Values rooted in defense of human rights and

democracy

Pringle, I and Subba, B (2007) Ten years on: The state of community
radio in Nepal Paris: UNESCO
http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/
les/7991/11966615215State_of_Community_Radio_in_Nepal_
abridged.pdf/State+of+Community+Radio+in+Nepal_abridged.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB)
Tel: + 977 1 5551161 / 5551171
Web: http://www.acorab.org.np
SOUTH AFRICA: MDDA - funding
media development and diversity
SUMMARY
South Africas Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) was formed to redress
historical imbalances in the media environment and to promote media diversity. The
agency provides grant funding to community media and small commercial media and
also funds training and industry research. The MDDA is a public body governed by an
independent board and funded by contributions from mainstream media as well as
from government grants.
Community broadcasting emerged rapidly in South Diversity Agency (MDDA) was established in 2003. It is a
Africa in the 1990s after the end of apartheid and public body whose
as a result of an active civil society campaign for a responsibilities
democratic broadcasting environment. The previous and governance
state monopoly of the South African Broadcasting arrangements
Corporation (SABC) was replaced by a three tier system are set out in the
of public, commercial and community broadcasting MDDA Act No 14
including a reformed SABC. The licensing of community of 2002. The MDDA
broadcasting was prioritized over commercial is partly funded
broadcasting as a means to serve the needs of by government
historically disadvantaged communities. There are but also by
now over 100 community radio stations. Community contributions from the private media sector and the
broadcasting is not run for prot and is regulated by SABC. It started providing grants in 2004. Since its
the Independent Communications Authority of South inception, according to its Annual Report 2009/10, it has
Africa (ICASA) under the terms of the Electronic funded over 284 projects and disbursed around R103
Communications Act 2005. million (US$ 15 million) in grant funding.
In order to support the sustainability and continuing The mandate of the MDDA is to create an enabling
development of the community broadcasting sector and environment for media development and diversity
of other media that meet the needs of disadvantaged and which reects the needs and aspirations of all South
under-represented groups, the Media Development and Africans and, in particular, to redress exclusion and

marginalisation of disadvantaged communities. It does heads a staff team of 22 who oversee fundraising and
so, primarily, by providing support in the form of project stakeholder relations, grants management, research,
grants to community media and small commercial capacity building and training delivery. In its seven
media, including print, radio and television. The Agency years of existence the MDDA has contributed to the
is required not to spend more than 25 per cent of its sustainability and the growth of the community radio
revenue on administration. At least 60 per cent of grant sector, it has supported the emergence of community
funding is to be spent on community media; 25 per cent newspapers in indigenous languages and it has assisted
on small commercial media; 5 per cent on research; and in building foundations for community television.
the remainder for other initiatives.
The MDDA is overseen by an independent

Board which provides leadership and
strategic direction. The Chief Executive
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Public body set up by statute to fund

media development
Promotes access for disadvantaged

groups and communities
Focus on community media and small

commercial media
Draws funding from mainstream media and government grants

Media Development and Diversity Agency Act (2002)
http://www.mdda.org.za/gifs/MDDA%20Act.pdf
Media Development and Diversity Agency Annual Report 2009/10

http://www.mdda.org.za/MDDA%20Annual%20Report2009_2010%20.pdf
National Community Radio Forum

http://www.ncrf.org.za
CONTACT INFORMATION
Media Development and Diversity Agency
Tel: +27 11 643 11 00
Web: http://www.mdda.org.za
THAILAND: CPMR - civil society
campaign for media reform
SUMMARY
The Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) is an alliance of civil society
organisations, academics and media professionals working for media and
communications reform in Thailand. Combining policy
monitoring and public interest advocacy, CPMR has been
inuential in the development of media and communications
law and regulation and has played a central role in
promoting and defending the reservation of broadcast
frequencies for community radio. The reservation of 20 per
cent of the FM spectrum for community radio has enabled
more than 5000 community radio services.
The political crisis in Thailand of May 1992, when popular CPMR advocacy
protests were met by a bloody military crackdown, led was inuential
to demands for media reform that inspired provisions in achieving, in
for freedom of expression and media freedom in the 2000, the Act on
Constitution of 1997. Section 40 states that transmission Organisation for
frequencies for radio or television broadcasting and Allocation of Transmission Frequencies and Regulating
radio telecommunications are national communication Broadcasting and Telecommunication Businesses which
resources for public interest and provides for the reserved 20 per cent of the broadcasting spectrum
establishment of an independent regulatory body to for non-prot community broadcasting. The law
distribute such frequencies and to supervise media and reserving frequencies for community radio was never
communication services. The Thai Volunteer Service fully implemented because the independent regulatory
subsequently set up a monitoring committee on Article body that it proposed was not put in place. Claiming
40 to push forward media reform and to promote a right to use the reserved spectrum, community
its practical implementation. This group was later radios started without formal authorisation but gained
reorganised to become the Campaign for Popular Media tacit government acceptance in 2005. In 2008 a new
Reform. Broadcasting Law made it illegal to operate a broadcast

service without a licence. Under temporary regulations, with encouragement and support for community media
5500 community radios have registered with the National at the grassroots level. Working with the Federation
Telecommunications Commission as part of a process of Community Radio, academics and broadcasters,
intended to regularise their existence. CPMR has continued to monitor the development of
community radio policies, defending community radio
Media reform in Thailand has been greatly affected by stations threatened with closure and promoting the
an unstable and polarised political environment. This in drafting of legal provisions and regulatory guidelines to
turn has encouraged a proliferation of services, many recognise and encourage community radio development.
initiated by commercial or political interest groups. CPMR campaigns in parliament and the media have
CPMR has maintained consistent advocacy for public achieved social and political recognition of media and
participation in the media while recognising that effective communication rights in Thailand and have contributed
media reform requires not only changes in law and to conditions that have enabled thousands of community
regulation but practical policy implementation together radio services to establish and operate.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Sustained civil society campaign to deepen media law

reform
Broad alliance of practitioners, civil society activists

and academics
Success in gaining frequency reservation and licences
Values rooted in peoples media and communication

rights

Brooten, Lisa and Klangnarong, Supinya (2009) Peoples media and
reform efforts in Thailand, International Journal of Media and Cultural
Politics, Vol 5, Issue 1 and 2, pages 103-117 Intellect
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2009/08/25/business/99-of-
all-radios-registered-with-NTC-30110566.html
The Nation (2009) 99% of all radios registered with NTC, published
in The Nation online on August 25, 2009 at http://www.nationmultimedia.
com/
Witayasakapan, Jiraporn (2007) Women, good governance and

community radio, paper for the AMARC WIN Workshop at GK3, Kuala
Lumpur
http://www.media4democracy.com/eng/news_002.html
CONTACT INFORMATION
Campaign for Popular Media Reform
Tel: +66 26910574 / 26910574
Web: http://www.media4democracy.com
URUGUAY: Equitable access
for community broadcasting
SUMMARY
The Uruguayan Law on Community Broadcasting, approved in December 2007,
provides clear recognition and support for the development of community
broadcasting in both the analogue and digital environment. The law provides for
an equitable allocation of frequencies between public, commercial and community
broadcasting services. It also assures a fair and transparent process for the award
of licences including oversight by an independent advisory committee involving civil
society organisations.
Community broadcasting in Uruguay commenced outside by a coalition of community broadcasters, civil society
a formal legal framework and stations were vulnerable organisations, journalists and academics. The law was
to closure by the authorities. In 2000 the Uruguayan tabled in parliament by a group of legislators and gained
government indicated it was prepared to legalise further momentum following an ofcial mission to
community radio activity. AMARC-Uruguay, representing Uruguay in 2006 by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom
some of the community radio stations, called for of Expression of the Inter-American Commission for
government civil society dialogue on community radio Human Rights. The Special Rapporteur, Ignacio Alvarez,
licensing and sought an end to the closures. In 2002 the urged immediate consideration of the draft law and
communications regulator, URSEC (Unidad Reguladora afrmed that the Bill, entitled Use of the Radioelectric
de Servicios de Comunicaciones) published a draft bill Spectrum and Community Radio Media was consistent
to regulate community broadcasting. This was rejected with international standards.
by community broadcasters as unacceptable because
of the very limited transmission areas, the exclusion of In 2007 a revised Community Broadcasting Law was
radio stations that were already broadcasting, prison passed by Uruguayan legislators to formally recognise
sentences of up to two years for unlicensed broadcasters and regulate community radio and television. The law
and the retention of executive discretion in the granting stipulates that one third of the AM and FM airwaves and
of frequencies. television spectrum be reserved for community-based
media and set out a transparent and non-discriminatory
In 2005, following a change of government, a new process for the allocation of frequencies, including
draft law on community broadcasting was prepared oversight by an independent council of which the majority

are to be drawn from media, civil society and academic government. Civil society involvement in the drafting of
organisations. In August 2008, URSEC indicated, that the law is mirrored in the provisions that embed civil
of nine channels to be reserved for digital terrestrial society oversight in its implementation. The new law
television three would be set aside for community contains no a priori limits on coverage area or sources of
television, with their allocation to be decided by open and income and is considered an important legal precedent
public competition. for the Latin American region. The explicit commitment
to one third of the broadcast frequency spectrum has
The passing of the Community Broadcasting Law been applied to future development of digital television.
in Uruguay represents the culmination of a process In doing so it sets an international precedent in spectrum
of advocacy and coalition building by community planning for digital television services.
broadcasters over many years and across changes of
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Legal provision for community radio and television
Reservation of one third of analogue and digital

spectrum
Open and transparent process for frequency

allocation
Independent advisory committee involving civil

society

AMARC-Uruguay
http://amarcuruguay.org
IACHR/Ofce of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (2006) Observations and recommendations regarding the situation of freedom of
expression in Uruguay
http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=686&lID=1
IFEX/AMARC (2007) Senate passes approves community broadcasting bill

http://www.ifex.org/uruguay/2007/11/27/senate_passes_community_broadcasting/
IFEX/AMARC (2008) Community stations given unprecedented access to digital television frequencies
http://www.ifex.org/uruguay/2008/08/15/community_stations_given_unprecedented/
Rep. of Uruguay (2007) Ley No. 18.232 Servicio Radiodifusin Comunitaria

http://200.40.229.134/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=18232
CONTACT INFORMATION
Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones
Tel: +598 2902 8082
Web: http://www.ursec.gub.uy
UNITED KINGDOM:
Canstream - Internet broadcasting made easy
SUMMARY
Canstream is a project of the Community Media Association (CMA), the UK membership
association for community media. It provides easy and affordable access to live-
streaming and podcasting services. Initially launched as a free service for members,
and backed by public funding support, Canstream has built
a substantial user base to the point where it is now a self-
nancing service through charges for access and bandwidth.
Canstream has contributed to the rapid adoption in the UK
of the Internet as a new distribution platform for community
media content.
The CMA was established in 1983 (then as the The Humber. This
Community Radio Association) to campaign for enabled investment
community radio through policy and legal reform. In in infrastructure and
1996, in response to new opportunities for local and technical support,
community television and the emergence of the Internet and the Internet Media Service (IMS) was launched
as a platform for community media, it adopted a broader in 2002. Free access was provided to CMA members
remit, and changed its name to Community Media with additional support available to groups located in
Association. With a focus on the challenge of the digital the Yorkshire region. The project commenced using
divide and new media opportunities, the CMA launched proprietary software but was later migrated to an open
a programme of research, development and capacity source solution using the Linux operating system and the
building called Adapting to Digital. Icecast streaming media server. Additional investment
was secured to develop an on-demand audio and
Among the ideas that emerged from this work was the video publishing system using an open source content
concept for a shared server platform to facilitate live management system and a customised metadata set
media streaming and online media archiving. Funding based on the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
was secured in 2001 from the European Union and standard. This was launched as The Showcase
the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and community media online archive in 2003, the rst of its

kind for the UK community media sector and two years media groups to set up as Internet only projects if they
before the creation of YouTube. wish. It also enables media content archiving and the
delivery of online on-demand media. It is based, as far
Since 2006, and responding to the growth of RSS formats as possible, on free and open source software and,
and podcasting (media le distribution using web for speed, reliability and scalability it runs on servers
syndication), the on-demand service was moved to the co-located at the main London Internet exchange. The
Loudblog platform, an open source content management project has accelerated the adoption of the Internet for
system for hosting podcast media. This has enabled the community media content delivery.
dynamic delivery of media content, including archiving
and podcasting of live broadcast programmes on the y.
In 2007, the project was relaunched as Canstream and
became a paid for service. Within two years, Canstream
has become self-nancing through charges to users,
with around 150 community media groups using the
service. Revenue from user charges is supplemented
by additional services such as website development and
hosting, and online media support for events.
Canstream enables community broadcasters with an

Internet connection to provide an online stream of their
media content and provides a means for new community
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Sector led investment in digital media infrastructure
Provides specialist Internet service for community

media
Based primarily on free and open source software
Self-nancing through fees paid by service users

Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk
CONTACT INFORMATION
Canstream
Tel.: +44 1142795219
Web: http://www.canstream.co.uk
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY
serves. For community broadcasters such relations are
C
ommunity media organisations frequently operate
at the very margins of economic viability. It is of critical importance since they draw their mandate
one of the characteristics of the sector that it and purpose from their relation to and role in serving
is able to reach and engage people and communities the interests of their social base. Many community
who face disadvantage and marginalisation. It does media organisations have sprung from broader social
so through social and economic models of operation movements and continue to be sustained by their
and sustainability that would often not be viable on a tangible and intangible support.
commercial basis alone. Where commercial media
generate revenue by targeting audiences with spending Institutional sustainability refers to the structural
power, community media often build an audience around arrangements for operational management and
those who do not have spending power. This is precisely governance including accountability to a suitably
because these are the people who are excluded from constituted and representative governing body. For
mainstream media and most in need of alternative community media, engagement of the community in
access to voice and information, whether it is because management as well as in content making is important,
they are in remote rural communities, marginalised contributing to a broader sense of community ownership
urban populations or disadvantaged minorities. and involvement.
Community media are forms of social enterprise. They Technical sustainability requires technical support and
seek to build an economic model of sustainability in know-how together with the selection of appropriate
order to achieve success in the pursuit of their social technologies that are robust, have low operating costs,
objectives. At the same, just like any enterprise, they are easy to maintain and are replaceable, if necessary.
have to make nancial ends meet, by engaging in Community media that lack reliable technical systems
economic activity that can generate revenue at least risk losing their audiences, staff and supporters. With
sufcient to cover their operational costs. the pace of development of communication technologies,
technical sustainability also requires the ability to
The models of economic sustainability are as diverse appropriate new tools and applications such as mobile
as the community media sector itself but there are and the Internet.
some characteristics that are commonly found in the
most durable organisations. These include strategies The relevance of environmental sustainability has
for raising support from within the community itself become increasingly clear as communities face the
donations, membership schemes, payment for broadcast challenges of climate change. For community media,
announcements, charges for the provision of services environmental sustainability strategies can also
etc; they include a preparedness to seek out and mobilise contribute to economic and technical sustainability, for
support from other sources such as public development example through the use of renewable energy sources
agencies and non governmental organisations, by such as solar power. Other important environmental
offering a platform for social communication and popular considerations include re-use and recycling strategies,
engagement; and they include an ability to control costs and the disposal of electronic waste.
and to operate on very low margins. People working in
community media often donate freely of their time or In this section are highlighted some strategies for
work on very low remuneration because they value the community media sustainability in a diversity of contexts.
social benet of community media and gain reward from Several of the examples, such as Radio Tierra of
contributing to a community service. Santiago, Chile and Radio Ndef Leng of Dakar, Senegal,
are strongly rooted in social movements. Others, such
As Dagron (2004) and others have pointed out, however, as Radio Student of Ljubljana, Slovenia, on air since
sustainability extends beyond simple economic 1969, and 3CR of Melbourne, Australia, on air since 1976,
considerations to include questions of social and demonstrate a strongly defended independence that has
institutional sustainability. In addition, community media undoubtedly contributed to their longevity. Conditions
need to consider the challenges of assuring technical of social and political conict present particularly
and environmental sustainability. challenges as is exemplied by the AREDMAG network
of community radios in the region of Magdalena Medio,
Social sustainability refers to relations between a Colombia and by Radio Apac in Northern Uganda.
media organisation and the community or audience it Giheta Community Media Centre, in Burundi, combines

telecentre technologies with broadcast radio to achieve its rural development objectives, while Radio Al Balad of
Amman, Jordan, demonstrates that the Internet can be an entry point to broadcasting in the Middle East, where radio
and television licensing remains strictly controlled. For Sangham Radio of Pastapur, Indias rst community radio
station, a network of self-help groups that support the radio project are part of a broader strategy for community
autonomy and environmental sustainability. La Primerisima, Nicaraguas leading news and current affairs radio
station, based in Managua, established a membership association of workers, listeners and supporters, to assure its
independence as a community-owned initiative.

Dagron, A.G. (2004) Sustainability of CMCs, in Hughes, S., S. Eashwar and Jennings, V.E. (2004) A guide to community multi-media centres: How
to get started and keep going. Paris: UNESCO
36 STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

AUSTRALIA:
3CR - powered by the people
SUMMARY
3CR is a community radio based in Melbourne, Australia.
It was established to provide a voice for those who lacked
access to the mainstream media, particularly working class
people, women and indigenous people as well as local
community groups and the issues they represent. 3CR has
been broadcasting since 1976. Despite limited funding and
a policy not to carry advertising it has sustained a dynamic alternative broadcasting
service that provides a platform for over 130 programmes every week produced by and
for a diversity of social and cultural interest groups.
Community broadcasting commenced in Australia in as social justice, environment, culture and music, and
1972, with the university-based radio, 5UV, in Adelaide trade unions. Many of 3CRs broadcasters are community
and accelerated with the opening up of the FM band in activists engaged in social movements and well placed
1974. The earliest FM stations were set up by classical to provide alternative perspectives on news and current
music enthusiasts who had formed Music Broadcasting affairs. Programmes such as Girls on Air, Disability
Societies in Sydney (2MBS, which launched in December Day and Beyond the Bars, which looks at the lives of
2004) and Melbourne (3MBS, which launched in July indigenous men and women in Australias prisons, have
1975). 3CR, which commenced broadcasting in July won national awards.
1976, was radically different, with a focus on giving voice
through community radio to social groups who had 3CR ercely guards its independence through a policy of
traditionally faced marginalisation by the mainstream not carrying advertising or commercial sponsorship and
media, particularly working class people, indigenous through a broad-based community ownership structure.
people and women. The station is nancially independent, relying primarily
on membership and donations, including an annual
3CR broadcasts for both a general audience and for radiothon which is the stations major fundraiser and
specic interest groups including programming in provides around one-third of the stations total annual
around 20 different languages and covering themes such operating budget of Aus$ 500,000 (US$ 500,000). The

station also receives one-off grants for specic projects supporting subscribers. The CRF is the highest decision
or programmes through the Community Broadcasting making body at the station and meets four times a year.
Foundation. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of a team of
seven staff led by the Station Manager and overseen by a
Ownership of 3CR is through the Community Radio Committee of Management. Around 400 volunteers are
Federation (CRF), a membership body set up when involved on a regular basis, presenting programmes and
the station launched in 1976 and consisting of assisting station operations.
representatives of afliate members, station workers and
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Community radio providing a voice for marginalized

groups
Programming reects social, cultural and linguistic

diversity
Independently nanced through membership and

donations
Community-based ownership and management

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
http://www.cbaa.org.au
Community Broadcasting Foundation

http://www.cbf.com.au
Lobato, H. (2010) Community radio: the independent alternative

http://www.upstart.net.au/2010/06/07/community-radio-the-
independent-alternative/
CONTACT INFORMATION
3CR Community Radio
Tel: + 61 394198377
Web: http://www.3cr.org.au

BURUNDI: Giheta CMC - promoting peace
and development
SUMMARY
Giheta Community Media Centre, a project of Dushirehamwe, a local development
NGO in Burundi, employs telecommunications and broadcast media to promote rural
and womens development. Combining a rural telecentre, with training courses in
computer skills, and a community radio station - Radio Ijwi ryUmukemyezi - operated
by rural women, the project has played a leading role in post conict reconciliation and
peace building. Dushirehamwe uses a system of participatory needs assessment to
maintain a clear focus on development outcomes.
Giheta is a rural district situated in Gitega Province, a community that has been severely impoverished by
in the heart of Burundi. It is about 100 km from the the civil war that occurred in the early 1990s. It means
capital, Bujumbura. In common with most other rural Voice of Women and it is operated by rural women from
areas of Burundi, in which more than 90 per cent of the the local community. The community radio station was
rural population are smallholders, it is a predominantly installed at the time of the signing of peace agreements
agricultural community. The Giheta Community Media between Burundi and the various rebel movements.
Centre (CMC) was established by Dushirehamwe, a RIU progamme content was designed to contribute to
local development NGO in Burundi, with support from the revival of agricultural activity, fostering of peaceful
UNESCO. Dushirehamwe is a network of community cohabitation among groups that were formerly in conict,
foundations in thirteen provinces of the country which instilling respect for human rights, and promoting local
seeks to empower rural women to play a leading role democracy, health and education.
in post conict reconciliation, peace building and
development. Its projects focus on issues such as gender The Dushirehamwe network has a mature governance
equality and womens rights, conict mediation and structure, with provincial and municipal committees
reconciliation, and combating violence against women. for each of its community foundations, and a clear
organisational vision, focused on development outcomes
The Giheta CMC consists of a telecentre that provides rather than the technological platforms. A system of
local people with access to telephone and the Internet, participatory community-based needs assessment
a computer skills training facility, and a community is used to identify local development priorities and
radio station. Radio Ijwi ryUmukemyezi (RIU) serves to assure local ownership in the implementation of

development projects. Local and international nancial from conict, dialogue through local community-
and technical assistance have followed, enabling based communications, is a vital part of the process of
Dushirehamwe to achieve its objectives. rapprochement, reconciliation and peace building. In
Giheta, women have been at the forefront of this process,
The Giheta CMC demonstrates the benets of combining leading a community media initiative that has achieved
telecentre technologies with community radio to broad impact on local development.
achieve development goals. In a country recovering
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Community media centre combining telecommunications and community radio
Focus on post conict reconciliation, peace building and development
Mature governance structure and clear organisational vision
Objectives dened through participatory community-based needs assessment

Nkurunziza, J.P. (2009) Radio Ijwi ryUmukenyezi (Voice of the woman) of Giheta
http://www.telecentre.org/proles/blogs/radio-ijwi-ry-umukenyezi-voice
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Ijwi ry Umukenyezi R.I.U 104.1 FM
Tel: +257 29554706

CHILE: Radio Tierra rooted in
social movements
SUMMARY
Radio Tierra is a community media project located in Santiago (Chile) which is
grounded in the political orientation and practical experience of La Morada - a non-
prot association for womens development with 25 years of engagement in action for
democracy and social change. Drawing on gender-based perspectives and a focus on
womens communication, health and citizenship, Radio Tierra has achieved a national
and international prole, both as a proponent of rights and social justice, and as a
platform for social activism.
Launched the year after the restoration of democracy in and development. La Morada provided the management
Chile, Radio Tierra has been operating since 1991 as an experience and the ability to mobilise resources needed
independent, community-based broadcaster serving the to develop and to sustain Radio Tierra. It also brought a
city of Santiago (Chile) with four hours per day of radio feminist political orientation that informed the direction
programming on the medium wave (AM) band. Since and content of the station as well as its processes for
2004 it has also maintained an Internet platform enabling management, self-reection and development.
new forms of media content as well as the broadcast of
the radio signal to national and international audiences. Radio Tierra has itself been a terrain for contesting
Radio Tierra describes its values as being rooted in views of social communication, with the station seen
citizenship and view the promotion of human rights and by some as a means to articulate a feminist vision for
the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and social change and by others as providing a platform for
communication as an essential basis of any democratic direct communication by social movements. In recent
society. It seeks to reect the distinct interests of civil years the station has aligned itself with the resurgence
society, to strengthen citizens communication and to of Chilean social organisations and the growth of new
promote womens participation. social movements in Latin America. A core programme
strand, Voces de la Ciudadania, is a space for citizens
Radio Tierra was established by Corporacin Feminista association and communication in which, over the last
La Morada, a Santiago-based womens organisation, ten years, hundreds of people, social organisations,
with the support of KULU (Kvindernes U-landsudvalg) collectives and networks have participated.
a Danish non-governmental organisation for women

Radio Tierra has its roots in a time of great political broader social movements, the collective commitment
change in Chile. It has demonstrated tenacity in holding and experience of its members, and a diverse economic
to the social and political values on which it was founded model which includes training delivery; production and
while, at the same time, being able to engage in critical broadcast of social action campaigns; and development
self-reection on its role and functioning as a platform co-operation projects; as well as advertising and
for social communication. The sustainability of Radio commercial sponsorship.
Tierra lies in its strong social base in the feminist and
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Social base in civil society and the womens

movement
Values rooted in citizenship, human rights and

democracy
Participatory and self-reective management model
Diversication of activities and economic base

Poblete, Juan (2006) Culture, neo-liberalism and citizen
communication: the case of Radio Tierra in Chile, Global Media and
Communication Vol 2(3) pages 315-334. Sage Publications
Wilson, Perla (2006) Democracia al dbito en las comunicaciones,

Cara y Seal, Volume 5. AMARC-ALC
http://www.caraysenal.agenciapulsar.org/0.php?cys=5&s=5&n=1
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Tierra
Tel.: +562 7351779
Web: http://www.radiotierra.com/

COLOMBIA: AREDMAG - defending
media in the face of conict
SUMMARY
Colombia is among the rst countries in Latin America to provide specic legal
and regulatory provision for community broadcasting, but access is not always
guaranteed. In the region of Magdaleno Medio, which has faced intractable armed
conict, community voices have struggled to be heard. The Network Association of
Community Radios of Magdalena Medio (La Asociacin Red de Emisoras Comunitarias
del Magdalena Medio AREDMAG) has played a vital role in advocating their right to
establish and in building local capacity.
Community broadcasting is recognized and promoted focuses on reducing armed conict in the region. Within
by policies, laws and regulation in Colombia that have this framework AREDMAGs main objective is to develop
enabled over 1000 community radio stations to be forms of social communication that enhance the peace
established, but in regions affected by armed conict and process and sustainable development by empowering
the inuence of paramilitary groups such broadcasting community radios with tools to create cultural and
laws and regulations have carried little weight. The information based programmes. The network supports
Network Association of Community Radios of Magdalena content production and technological development, and
Medio (La Asociacin Red de Emisoras Comunitarias del works with local community broadcasters to develop
Magdalena Medio - AREDMAG) has emerged as a vital skills for self-management, promote cultural identity
support for social institutions and movements in this and co-create nancially sustainability mechanisms for
conict-ridden region. stations within the network.
AREDMAG is a civil society association that mobilizes Among the successes of the AREDMAG network is its
participatory community building including local contribution to promoting and building recognition for
development projects through support for community community radio through advocacy for the rights of
radio stations. The network is an off-spring of the access to information of the people of Magdalena Medio.
Communication and Cultural Strategy of the Programme On a practical level the network also enables media
of Development and Peace for Magdalena Medio, which spaces for children by supporting thematic programmes

that address the rights of children and outlets for community radio as a facilitator in peace-building. This
childrens expression. AREDMAG demonstrates that goes beyond the instrumental approach of transmitting
network support is a crucial link to enabling and persuasive messages, instead viewing each community
sustaining community media. It places emphasis on entity as a peace zone in its own right that can encourage
training and content sharing to raise production levels tolerance of opposing views by strengthening citizen
and collaboration among the associated radio stations. dialogue and participation in decision making.
AREDMAG is unique in its approach to the role of
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Civil society association and network of community

radios
Commitment to peace, conict reduction and

development
Engaged in advocacy for peoples communication

rights
Provides training, content production and technical

support

The Communication Initiative Network Community Radio Network
Association of Magdalena Medio (Asociacin Red de Emisoras
Comunitarias del Magdalena Medio - AREDMAG)
http://www.comminit.com/es/node/127870/306
CONTACT INFORMATION
La Asociacin Red de Emisoras Comunitarias del Magdalena Medio
Tel: +57 3123778346
Web: http://www.aredmag.org.co/

INDIA: Sangham Radio giving voice to the
excluded
SUMMARY
Sangham Radio is the rst community radio station to go on air in India and follows the
approval of Indias Community Radio Policy in 2006. It is also notable as the rst radio
station in the country to be led by women and the rst Dalit (socially marginalized
castes) radio station. Located in Machnoor village, Pastapur, in the Medak district of
Andhra Pradesh, it broadcasts on 90.4 FM for one and a half hours daily, and reaches a
cluster of about 75 villages.
The launch, on 15 October 2008, of Sangham Radio

as an independent community radio service on the
FM waveband was a historic day for the development
of community radio in India and the culmination of
nearly ten years development work in the community of
Pastapur, supported by the Deccan Development Society
(DDS), a non-governmental organisation that has been
working in the villages with Dalit women for more than
20 years.
In 1999, DDS had initiated a programme of video and

audio production training in the local community. The
project built on a tradition of self-organisation and self-
help centred on the womens village level sanghams completed. By the time Indias Community Radio Policy
(womens self-help groups). The Community Media was approved in November 2006, there was a community
Trust (of which Sangham Radio is a part) was formed in radio facility in place with a bank of 600 hours of
2001 under the management of seven non literate Dalit programmes. All that was needed was permission to on
women. The rst audio productions of the Trust were the air. A licence application was submitted to the Indian
distributed on audio cassettes. Later, with the support Ministry of Information and Broadcasting by DDS in early
of UNESCO and other agencies, the infrastructure for 2007. Some 18 months later the application completed
a radio station including studios and transmitter was its nal stages of regulatory approval.

Although Sangham Radio has beneted from external
support its sustainability is rmly rooted in the social
and economic support of the local community. A recent
plan to provide nancial support to Sangham Radio was
formalized in July 2009. According to this plan, each of
the 5000 Sangham members will contribute Rs 50 every
month towards the radio station resulting in an annual
contribution of Rs 250,000 (approx US$ 5,000).
Medak is one of the least developed and arid regions of

the country. Poverty levels are high. Sangham Radio was
the culmination of a long felt need by local Dalit women
that community media of their own could be a critical
ingredient for poverty eradication. The community radio involved in Sangham Radio, autonomy means not
voices the perspectives and needs of the marginalized. only self sufciency in food production but also media
Its success is linked to the larger goal of the Dalit women autonomy. The project has been a pioneer for community
in Pastapur to have their own media. Its sustainability radio at the national level while being rmly rooted in
is linked to a vision of community autonomy as being local self-help and mutual aid.
critical for sustainable development. For the women
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
First community radio station to launch in India
Centred on Dalit womens self-help groups (sanghams)
Building on a vision of community autonomy
Sustained by the support of community members

Pavarala, V, and Malik, K (2007) Other Voices: The struggle for community radio in India New Delhi: Sage Publications
CONTACT INFORMATION
Deccan Development Society
Tel: +91 8451282271
Email:[email protected]
Web: http://www.ddsindia.com

JORDAN: Radio Al-Balad - the Internet as
an entry point
SUMMARY
Radio Al-Balad, formerly Radio AmmanNet FM, is Jordans rst community radio
station. It has also been described as the Arab worlds rst Internet radio station.
It started as an Internet broadcaster and website in 2000 to circumvent restrictive
legislation. In July 2005 it began terrestrial broadcasting on 92.4 FM frequency after
private radio stations received formal regulatory approval. It has gained a reputation
as a pioneer for community radio in the region.
Radio AmmanNet was launched in 2000 by journalist carry news and political programming. This emphasis
Daoud Kuttab and a group of independent media on news has paid dividends in terms of listenership. In
practitioners, inspired by the opportunity to use the the 2009 Jordan Media Survey, Radio Al Balad rated top
Internet as a means to commence broadcasting in among local news websites.
a country where the terrestrial airwaves remained
under State monopoly control. The station was initially Radio Al-Balad has an impressive range of programming.
supported by UNESCO and the Greater Amman Apart from local news and current affairs, the station
municipality. It has played a catalytic role in persuading encourages local musicians and provides extensive
the Jordanian government to open up the broadcasting sports coverage. Interactive phone-in programming
environment and, in 2005, became the rst community is used to facilitate community participation and
broadcaster to be licensed in Jordan. feedback. A high priority is given to promoting womens
perspectives and to carrying programming that address
Following its acquisition of an FM broadcast licence, issues of particular concern to women. The station is
the station was renamed Radio Al-Balad and continued also popular for its work with schools. Students are
to develop its distinctive focus on local news and trained and supported to run weekly broadcasts covering
current affairs. Operating in a highly centralized media young peoples interests.
environment, where local issues tend to remain on the
back burner, the stations coverage of parliamentary and Lines between public, private and community media
municipal affairs initially met resistance in some ofcial remain blurred in Jordan. Radio Al Balad has had
quarters. Despite this, the radio station stood its ground to reckon with often being treated like a commercial
and was ultimately successful in gaining a licence to radio while its tenets and practices are community

driven. It has addressed this by developing a mixed Radio Al-Balad has contributed to media democratization
economic model - combining donor support with in the region through effective advocacy and innovative
income generation mechanisms like advertisements, use of the Internet in the face of considerable political,
studio hire/rental and SMS feedback from listeners. legal and regulatory obstacles. In doing so it has paved
The programming and management structure have the way for other community radio stations to be set
deepened community ownership and local participation up in Jordan and other countries of the Middle East.
as well as providing for staff representation in the board The AmmanNet training centre has contributed to the
of management. Formal governance arrangements have development of journalists from Syria, Egypt, Saudi
been complemented by the setting up of listener clubs. Arabia and Palestine.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Pioneer for Internet and FM community

radio in the Middle East
Emphasis on local news, current affairs

and political reporting
Mixed economic model of donor support

and earned income
Developing a regional support centre

for community media

AmmanNet
http://en.ammannet.net/
Agrabawe, T., S. Zaida, D. Kuttab (2008) Community Radio for Development in Jordan
http://www.amarc.org/documents/articles/Community_radio_in_Jordan.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Al-Balad
Tel: +962 64645486
Web: http://www.balad.fm/

NICARAGUA: La Primerisima -
peoples news radio
SUMMARY
In 1990 the workers of Radio La Primerisima, both past and present, formed the
Association of Nicaraguan Radio Broadcasting Professionals (APRANIC). The main
objective of the group was to secure the independence of the station as an authentic
community based initiative by taking steps to own it themselves. APRANIC was
successful in its bid to secure legal ownership of the station. Over the following two
decades, La Primerisima has evolved a participatory management and programming
framework that sustains its socio-cultural and institutional objectives.
APRANIC (La Asociacin de Profesionales de la indicators of its relationship with the communities it
Radiodifusin) is an association of journalists, staff serves. The members ensure that the station maintains
members, listeners and sympathizers from international its reputation for fairness and honest reporting despite
rights groups, formed to secure the independence of its history of political association with the FSLN (Frente
Radio La Primerisima, Nicaraguas leading news and Sandinista de Liberacin Nacional). Policy decisions
current affairs radio service. The group successfully ensure that the station stays clear of government and
petitioned the former state ownership to donate private attempts to control its editorial content, while
the technical and other assets of the station to the the editorial itself maintains balance through frequent
Association. interaction with the listeners.
The groups activities are based on the principle that La Primerisima exemplies a culturally appropriate
participatory mechanisms, management transparency, and holistic approach to transferring state broadcasting
democracy and worker ownership are the essential assets into community ownership. Its focus as the
pillars of La Primerisima. All members attend a General peoples station is at the core of all its activities and it
Assembly which determines operational guidelines is in turn the people who make the station sustainable.
and where any changes to policies or programmes Signicantly, La Primerisimas coverage now extends
must be ratied. Decisions taken are communicated to to all of Nicaragua and the station does not dene a
the station management through an executive board geographical community, but a community of the poor
nominated by the General Assembly. APRANIC preserves wherever they exist in the country. It is this community
it commitment to participatory media by identifying clear

that makes the station among the top three most solidarity to restore the infrastructure and to return
inuential media in the country. to the airwaves an impressive demonstration of the
resilience of its social base and community involvement.
Not all Nicaraguans support the voice of the station and In lean economic times APRANIC has developed creative
independence has had its price. In its early years the solutions to nancial challenges. One example is the
stations transmitters and installations in Santa Clara unconventional structure of operating each programme
were set re to by thugs and burned to the ground. La as a mini-enterprise, with producers responsible for
Primerisima was able to call on local and international covering their own costs.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Independent news and current affairs radio

service
Serving a nationwide community of interest
Owned by its workers, listeners and supporters
Participatory and transparent governance

structure

Dragon, Alfonso Gumucio. CFSC Case Study: La Primersima.
Communication for Social Change Consortium.
http://www.communicationforsocialchange.org/mazi-articles.
php?id=241
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio La Primerisima
Tel: +505 22227936
Email:[email protected]
Web: http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/

SENEGAL: Radio Ndef Leng - letting the
listener speak
SUMMARY
Radio Ndef Leng is a radio station for the Srre community in Dakar, one of the
largest minority groups in the Senegalese capital. It is predominantly a talk radio,
broadcasting in 14 languages. With strong roots in its target community, the station
is nanced in large part by its own listeners through their active participation in on-
air dialogue and discussion, as well as membership and donations scheme. Through
a telecommunications service provider, the station generates revenue from calls
received and billed to the listeners telephone account.
Union des associations culturelles Srre was created in although the regular volunteers receive allowances.
1994 and recognised as a non-governmental organisation The radio station has a very active listenership and
in 1996. Its purpose is to promote the language and emphasises interactive broadcasts in which listeners
culture of the Srre speaking community and to assist are encouraged to phone-in to comment on issues and
their integration through a network of 43 groups and current affairs. It receives around 5,000 calls per month
associations engaged in cultural and socio-economic and estimates around 150,000 listeners tuning tune-in
development. The Union realised that lack of access to from the target population.
the means of communication was a weakness for these
associations and in 1999 they took the decision to start The radio is nanced in large part by the listeners who
a community radio station. Following a request to the pay a telephone call charge to take part in live phone-
Ministry of Information for a licence, in April 2001 they ins and who are also encouraged to make a regular
received a letter of agreement and took to the air on 19 voluntary donation. The telephone call charges are
July 2001. collected by the telecommunications service provider and
remitted to the radio on a monthly basis. In addition to
Radio Ndef Leng broadcasts a mixture of on air debate, listener support, the radio raises funds from sponsored
discussion and educational programmes in Srre public service announcements and from national and
languages and in other languages including French international development organisations, for example,
and Wolof. It has organised a listeners club which has for the production of an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign.
3,500 members and has over 100 people involved in It also receives a contribution from the Fonds dappui de
programme making. The radio is run on a voluntary basis

la presse, a support fund for independent broadcast and roots in a respected Srre cultural association and the
print media in Senegal. interest in the Srre speaking community of having a
community radio that reects their language and culture.
Radio Ndef Leng has maintained the leading broadcast Radio Ndef Leng has been able to translate that support
service for the Srre speaking community in Dakar into an economic model that generates revenue from
since 2001 and has been authorised to establish a second listener participation in a predominantly speech-based
station in Fatick. Its sustainability is linked closely to its radio format.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Established and operated by a Srre cultural association
Participatory, speech-based programme format
Listener supported through fees, donations and call charges
Managed and operated by volunteers

Buckley, S. (2004) Community Radio in Senegal. AMARC-Africa
Diouf, B. (2009) Sngal: Une radio pour dfendre lidentit de la minorit seereer
http://www.panos-ao.org/ipao/spip.php?article15403&lang=fr
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Ndef Leng
Tel: +221 8640129

SLOVENIA: Radio Student - independent
and non-conformist
SUMMARY
Radio Student is a non-prot, urban community radio
station operated by the students association of the
University of Ljubljana. It is one of the oldest European
non-commercial radio stations. It started broadcasting
in 1969 and has operated continuously since then. The
station gained prominence for its political coverage and
non-conformist stand in the last years of Yugoslavian
communism and in the 10 day war leading to Slovenian
independence in 1991.
Radio Student was founded in 1969 by the Association contributors.

of Students of the University of Ljubljana, after the Most are
student awakening of 1968. It was, from its beginning, students, but
a home for independent journalism and alternative they also include
music. During the period of civil war in Croatia and intellectuals,
Bosnia, Radio Student retained links with other journalists, artists
independent broadcasters across former Yugoslavia and university
and carried a regular weekly programme in the Serbo- lecturers.
Croatian language focusing especially on the plight of
refugees. Later, with the growth of private commercial Radio Student editorial policy is to present items of
broadcasting in Slovenia, Radio Student reinvented itself information, art forms, music and culture overlooked or
as an alternative cultural and educational radio station, ignored by other media. Its music content avoids global
taking the side of the disadvantaged and promoting corporate music industry trends and seeks to present
media freedom and diversity. Radio Student places an fresh, non-conformist sounds in alternative musical
emphasis on the education of its young contributors - genres: post hard-core, techno, hip hop, blues, jazz,
future journalists, sound engineers, DJs and announcers. world music, experimental and contemporary music. The
It has four full-time employees and over 200 regular station maintains a similarly non-conformist approach

on socio-political issues. It covers events related to civil resilience. It is an institution in its own right within the
society, state and politics, culture, music, the humanities, Association of Students of the University of Ljubljana. It
the University and activities of the student organisation. has arisen from the student movements of the sixties,
In doing so, it has sought to keep a critical distance with lived through the 10 day war and the conict in former
respect to the dominant sources of power (political, Yugoslavia, and now stands as an exemplar for freedom
ideological, religious, nancial) promoting human rights of speech in the rst country of former Yugoslavia to have
and democracy; speaking for the principles of free joined the European Union. Its longevity alone assures
speech, tolerance and solidarity; and supporting the right its unique position while at the same demonstrating that
of minorities and marginalized groups a community radio station with a vigorously independent
philosophy can, over time, create the cultural necessity
Radio Student is a radio station whose own historical for its own survival.
trajectory has become a part of its sustainability and
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Student owned and led radio station since 1969
Focus on alternative music and independent

journalism
Promoting human rights, democracy and free speech
Critical, independent and non-conformist philosophy

Culture.si. Radio tudent (R) (October 2010)
http://www.culture.si/en/Radio_%C5%A0tudent_(R%C5%A0)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Student
Tel: +386 12428 800
http://www.radiostudent.si

UGANDA: Radio Apac - promoting social
and economic improvement
SUMMARY
Radio Apac is a community radio station based in Northern Uganda, a region
impoverished by eighteen years of civil war. The station has shown great resilience
in the face of conict. It has built a strong base of support within the local community
reected both in its audience reach and its partnerships with community-based
organisations. It is now extending its community media provision to include telecentre
facilities, sound recording and business services.
Radio Apac is a community radio station established Radio Apac reaches out to its target community through
in July 1999 by members of the community in the live events, door to door campaigns using bicycles for
district of Apac, in Northern Uganda. The region has transport and mobile radio transmission. The station is
experienced over 18 years of conict and civil war which evolving into a community media centre providing multi-
has decimated the local, predominantly agricultural media services to the community and local businesses.
economy. Since its launch, Radio Apac has geared its The Radio Apac community media centre offers public
content and operations rmly towards peace building and access to telephone, fax and Internet services, audio
improving the livelihoods of the local community of Apac recording and editing, secretarial services and desktop
and neighbouring districts. publishing. By providing secondary services the station
has improved community life and diversied its revenue
The station is guided by strong social principles. In streams.
its pursuit of the twin goals of social and economic
improvement it concentrates mainly on educational Radio Apac has demonstrated the vital role radio
programming. In doing so, it emphasizes grassroots can play in the provision of information, education
participation and partnership with community- and community building in a region with limited
based organisations. Its audience success and high telecommunications infrastructure. Operating in a
programming standards have attracted growing interest subsistence economy and in the face of ongoing conict,
in partnership from non-governmental organisations, it has shown considerable resilience. It success derives
development agencies and government departments. not only from the quality of its programming which has
Local businesses also recognise the stations success in gained a substantial local audience, but also through
gaining audience and are keen to buy advertising space. its community outreach and emphasis on grassroots

participation, its strong partnerships with community- governance structure, and its willingness to innovate and
based organisations including representation within its to diversify its services to the community.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Community radio with a strong educational focus
Promoting local social and economic improvement
Emphasis on partnership and grassroots participation
Diversity of funding including secondary services

The Communication Initiative Network. Radio Apac (January 2009)
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/132280/376
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Apac
Tel: +256 77455593
Web: http://www.radioapac.com

STRENGTHENING SOCIAL IMPACT

media freedom and media development. AMARC (2007)
F
ew would disagree with the view that broadcast
media and telecommunications have had profound has surveyed the social impact of community radio and
impact on human development, yet the nature of observed that its main achievement is intrinsic to its
that impact is complex and multi-layered. This presents distinctive character as a medium it gives voice to the
challenges both to the assessment of the social impact poor and marginalized who otherwise lack the means to
of community media and to the development of strategies speak out and be heard. The survey also concludes that
to strengthen its role and functioning. Much evidence community radio contributes to poverty reduction and
of the difference that community media has made is the achievement of development goals; good governance
anecdotal, being based, as in this study, on local stories and public accountability; the empowerment of women
and case examples. Taken together, however a pattern and the inclusion of marginalized groups; conict
emerges in which community media is seen to have resolution and peace building; and disaster response
both intrinsic value meeting the basic human need to and preparedness. It is equally clear that the extent
communicate and extending the capability to do so and and the nature of the impact of community media vary
instrumental value facilitating access to information, enormously. Not all community media are as effective
contributing to value formation and social cohesion, and as they could be in, for example, promoting gender
enabling people to assert their rights and hold decision equality, combating discrimination, or assuring the full
makers to account. The effects of community media are participation of their community in the management of
thus to be found at multiple and inter-related levels the service as well as the making of media content.
psychological, social, economic and political.
In this section are highlighted examples that
Much of the early work on communications and demonstrate the social impact of community media and
development reected a psychological perspective - its contribution to social change. Womens participation
one still to be found in the language of marketing - in and ownership is central to many community media
which media and communications is understood in projects, for example, Femlink Pacic in Fiji runs a
one way terms, as the dissemination of messages and mobile radio broadcast project for rural women, while
information that can lead to changes in understanding Radio Wiay Jatha, provides a voice for the Aymara
and behaviour. With the emergence and growth of women of the Bolivian Altiplano. On the Caribbean coast
community media have come new perspectives rooted of Belize, Radio Hamalali Garinagu protects the unique
in a social model of communications, in which the culture of the Garifuna communities. One Plus One is
media are a means not only to access information but a Beijing-based media project using an Internet-based
also to take voice and to be heard. In this perspective platform to provide a voice for people with disability
social impact lies in processes of dialogue that lead in China. FREE FM of Kingston, Jamaica goes behind
to value formation and knowledge development, and prison walls to engage prisoners and their warders
that contribute to social change. As community media in community media production. Radio FMYY of Kobe,
has grown in presence and assertiveness it has been Japan, was born in the aftermath of earthquake and
further seen to have signicant socio-political impact, brings together diverse groups of all ages, abilities and
contributing to the transparency of elections and the cultures. The role of community media in rebuilding
accountability of public servants and decision makers. communities after natural disaster or human conict
is highlighted, in very different contexts, by the Aceh
The social impact of community media, taken as a whole, Reconstruction Radio Network in Indonesia, by Radio
has been considerable and widely acknowledged. This Dange Nwe promoting peace and dialogue in Halabja,
is reected in the number of countries which have now Iraq, by Radio Rakambia, run by the young people of Dili,
made specic public policy provision to promote and Timor-Leste working to build a new country, and by the
encourage the development of community media, as well community radios of Mozambique in promoting free and
as in international declarations and in scholarly works on fair elections.

AMARC (2007) Community radio social impact assessment: Removing barriers, increasing effectiveness
http://amarcwiki.amarc.org/upload/documents/AMARCevaluation_2007.pdf

BELIZE: Radio Hamalali Garinagu -
protecting the Garifuna culture
SUMMARY
Radio Hamalali Garinagu broadcasts to the Garifuna communities along the Caribbean
coast of Belize. Its aim is to protect and promote the unique music and cultural
traditions of the Garinagu. The station broadcasts in the Garifuna language and carries
traditional and contemporary Garifuna music. Radio Hamalali Garinagu also runs an
audio-visual recording studio for Garifuna musicians and is building a unique archive
of Garifuna music from the region.
The National Garifuna Council of Belize was formed support from Commonwealth of Learning who donated
in 1981 and advocates for the rights, development and a portable radio transmission facility. The station now
culture of the Garifuna communities. The Garifuna have broadcasts along the entire Caribbean coast of Belize
a unique cultural history which arose in the island of St reaching ten Garifuna communities with a service in
Vincent from the marriage of indigenous people of the the Garifuna language and a mix of traditional and
Caribbean with Africans brought in by the slave trade in contemporary indigenous music.
1635. This gave rise to a new group called the Garifuna
or the Garinagu, with a distinct language and culture. Since its inception the station has evolved to include
After many years of resistance to the European colonial a multi-media centre and an audio visual recording
powers the group was exiled to Central America in 1797. studio which is active in producing and recording local
The Garifuna language today is spoken in communities musicians who would previously have travelled to the
scattered along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, United States at great expense to secure the same
Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. services. The development of the multi-media centre was
assisted by UNESCO as part of a programme to reduce
Radio Hamalali Garinagu was set up in 2002 by the the isolation of indigenous Caribbean communities by
National Garifuna Council as a means to protect and providing access to information and communication
promote the Garifuna culture in Belize. The growth of technologies and training opportunities that could lead
commercial music and entertainment radio in Belize to income generation and enterprise. The centre also
was perceived to be one of the contributing factors to the provides desktop publishing and other services as part of
cultural marginalization of the Garifuna peoples music its strategy for enterprise and sustainability.
and traditions. Radio Hamalali Garinagu received initial

The Hamalali Garinagu community to programme content on the radio
multi-media centre also provides station, such as promoting HIV/AIDS
training and social development awareness. They contribute to further
workshops with a focus on building strengthening the relation between
knowledge and capacity among the the broadcast service and the local
Garinagu people especially women and community.
young people. The workshops are linked
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Community radio and multi-media centre
Serving Garifuna communities of Belize
Promoting rights, culture and development
Supporting Garifuna music and musicians

National Institute of Culture and History (2010) The National Garifuna Council: Its achievements
http://www.nichbelize.org/iscr-featured-organisation/the-national-garifuna-council-its-achievements.html
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Hamalali Garinagu
National Garifuna Council of Belize
Tel: +501 6690639
Web: http://ngcbelize.org/
62 STRENGTHENING SOCIAL IMPACT

BOLIVIA: Radio Wiay Jatha - voice of
Aymara women
SUMMARY
The Radio Wiay Jatha communications network serves the indigenous Aymara
communities of the Bolivian Altiplano with community radio stations operating on the
AM waveband in the municipality of Comanche and in the city of El Alto. The network
was established by the Centre for Integral Development of Aymara Women (CDIMA),
to promote the rights of women and indigenous people and to strengthen the Aymara
culture and language.
Community broadcasting in Bolivia dates back to the and economic

1940s when miners radio stations were established in structures in
several of Bolivias tin mining communities, among the Bolivia through
rst known examples of community radio worldwide. the active
From the end of the 1980s there has been signicant participation of
growth of community radio in Bolivia particularly Aymara women
across the rural communities of the Andean region. and young people
Community radio has proven an important tool for in public decision
indigenous communities seeking to protect and promote making at local,
their culture and language and to assert their social regional and
and political rights. Radio Wiay Jatha is part of a national level. Its objectives include greater participation
broader initiative led by Aymara women to strengthen of women in the political, social and cultural life of the
the indigenous Aymara communities of the Bolivian Aymara people and the country; strengthening Aymara
Altiplano. womens organisations and those of other indigenous
nations; promoting the perspectives of Aymara women
The Centre for Integral Development of Aymara Women, through the media and coordination with other social
CDIMA (Centro de Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer organisations; strengthening the status and respect for
Aymara), is a non-prot social organisation established the rights of indigenous nations and peoples.
in 1989 to promote the empowerment of Aymara women
through the assertion of their rights and cultural identity. The development of communication systems was
CDIMA seeks the transformation of social, political recognized by CDIMA as essential to reaching the

Aymara communities and radio was seen as the most Radio Wiay Jatha is today part of a multimedia
effective means to do so. CDIMA began by negotiating communications strategy developed by CDIMA, including
radio spots on existing local radio leading, in 1992, to the print publications, visual material and educational
production of a weekly programme of 15 to 30 minutes initiatives. The radio provides a voice for the Aymara
that was carried on the catholic radio station, Radio San women with a vision of strengthening the Aymara culture
Gabriel. In 1999, together with womens organisation, and promoting the rights of women and the Aymara
CPFOMAT, and the municipal authorities of Comanche, people. Through dissemination by other community radio
in Pacajes province, CDIMA installed Wiay Jatha stations of programmes produced by CDIMA, the radio
community radio on the frequency 1490 AM. In 2008 a project has played a leading role in raising awareness of
second station, Radio Wiay Jatha 740 AM was launched womens rights and the rights of indigenous peoples in
in the city of El Alto. the Andean region.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Community radio network serving Bolivias Aymara communities
Established and operated by a womens social organisation
Promoting the culture, language and rights of Aymara people
Linked to a broader communications and education strategy

Asociacin de Radios Comunitarias de Bolivia (APRAC)
http://www.apracbolivia.es.tl/
Aguirre Alvis, J.L. (2006) La radiodifusion comunitaria en Bolivia: un signo de esperanza por un pluralismo desde la palabra
http://www.amarc.org/documents/articles/Radio_comunitaria_en_Bolivia.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Winay Jatha
Centro de Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer Aymara (CDIMA)
Tel: +591 2833910
Web: http://www.cdimabolivia.org

CHINA: One Plus One - nothing about us,
without us
SUMMARY
One Plus One is a Beijing-based community radio production group and Internet
broadcaster that started in 2006 and is managed by and for people with disability.
Taking advantage of opportunities afforded by the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, the
group has gained commissions on State media and set up its own Internet platform.
In a country where the media is closely
controlled by the State and the Internet
is strictly monitored, One Plus One has
created an authentic and independent
voice for a section of society that has
traditionally faced marginalization and
discrimination.
its thirteen staff are either visually impaired or have a

physical disability and its facilities incorporate a range of
specialist accessibility adaptations.
One Plus One has established itself as an independent

Beijing One Plus One Cultural Centre was established production centre, gaining commissions on State media
in 2006 with support from the BBC World Service that have enabled it to achieve a nearly country-wide
Trust and China Vision, a UK-based charity. It is an footprint. Its productions, which include China Disability
independent, non-governmental organisation run by and Observed, Bangyang Advice and One Sound One World,
for people with disability. It has sought to build a model have been broadcast on over 75 regional and local
of good civil society practice and to provide a strong, radio stations. At the time of the Beijing Paralympics
independent voice for people with disability and other 2008, two of the One Plus One team members became
marginalized groups. In a South Beijing tower block the rst disabled Chinese journalists to gain press
the group has built a broadcast quality radio production accreditation as Paralympics reporters. To mark the
and training centre for its operations. More than half of Beijing Paralympics, the group started an independent

online radio service broadcasting three hours a day. It cent of Chinas population or 82 million people have
is now developing an Internet-based platform for media some form of disability. Key issues of concern include
content exchange to involve a wider network of disabled abandonment at birth or at a young age, homelessness
and other radio producers and reporters. and livelihood deprivation. People with disability face
social and economic discrimination and are rarely visible
In addition to its broadcast productions, One Plus One in the mainstream media. According to Gao Shan, co-
has organized regular Mobile Advice Clinics to reach founder of One Plus One, a visit to a typical orphanage in
people with disability in poor, remote and rural areas China would reveal a majority of children to be disabled.
of the country. Team members along with experienced Job opportunities are scarce and the visually impaired
legal, health and personal counselors work with local are especially vulnerable to exploitation, often having
community based groups to provide relevant information, little choice in employment other than working as a
advice and support. masseur. One plus One not only aims to give voice to
the concerns of people with disability, but to build their
One plus One is signicant both in terms of its capacity and to promote integration and equality of
contribution freedom of expression and its championing opportunity.
of the rights of people with disability. Some 6.3 per
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Independent production group run by and for

people with disability
Promoting the voices and rights of people with

disability
Working with State media to gain national

reach and impact
Using the Internet as an independent

distribution platform

Buckley, S. (2009) Disability no barrier for One Plus One
http://asiapacic.amarc.org/blog/?p=70
CONTACT INFORMATION
One Plus One Cultural Exchange Center
Tel.: +86 1067259507
Web: http://www.oneplusone.org.cn

FIJI: femTALK - mobile radio for
womens empowerment
SUMMARY
femTALK is the Pacics rst and
only mobile community radio station.
Launched in 2004 by femLINK pacic, a
Fiji-based non-governmental organisation
promoting womens empowerment,
the mobile radio has enabled women in
semi-urban areas and rural communities
to engage in communications for
peace building, education and gender
equality. The project provides training,
production support and an FM broadcast
transmission facility.
femLINK pacic is a womens non-governmental femTALK has become a unique platform for promoting
organisation based in Suva, the Fijian capital, whose peace and gender equality.
focus is community media for development and womens
empowerment. The organisation combines advocacy Media deregulation in Fiji and the growing
for womens rights and access to voice, with practical commercialization of the public-owned broadcaster
initiatives to build the communication skills and capacity have resulted in diminishing media access for local
of rural women. In May 2004 femLINK Pacic launched communities and civil society groups. femLINK pacic
femTALK 89.2 FM, the countrys rst and only mobile has been a consistent voice for legal and regulatory
community radio. With a broadcast range from Suva recognition for community broadcasting as it sought to
of 10km and a mobile studio and transmission facility, strengthen womens voices. It was in this context that
femTALK has reached out to women in the semi-urban the idea for the mobile radio station emerged as part of
and rural communities of Nausori, Nadi, Ba and Labasa. a project to start a Womens Weekend Radio. femTALK
Over a period of ve years of training and broadcasting, 89.2 FM quickly developed as a platform enabling women

to challenge existing decision making structures and women making vox pops and producing reports from
to engage in dialogue with other women as well as with the marketplace, strengthening community content and
their communities. More than 50 young women have participation, and building radio reporting, production
been trained in broadcasting skills and have participated and broadcasting skills.
in the Weekend Radio productions.
femTALKradio station has striven to address the
As a result of the project women have become more participation of women from marginalized groups, such
informed about their rights. New networks have been as women with disability, and from minority cultures,
set up such as the Nausori Rural Womens Association. encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and respect for
Women involved have played a more prominent role in diversity. The unstable political climate and shifting
campaigns, and issues that affect their lives such as donor priorities have presented challenges for femLINK
International Womens Day celebrations, UN Security pacic and for the femTALK project but the Weekend
Council Resolution 1325 awareness raising, and the Radio broadcast schedule has increased to around 16
Trade and Aid Parade / Womens Learning-Sharing hours across Saturday and Sunday.
Circle. The Generation Next project involves young
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Womens mobile radio production and broadcast

project
Producing a weekend broadcast from different

locations
Focus on strengthening the voices of rural women
Promoting rights, community dialogue and peace

building

femLINK pacic (2008) Empowering communities, informing policy:
the potential of community radio
http://www.femlinkpacic.org.fj/_resources/main/pdf/Empowering-
Communities-InformingPolicyThePotentialofCommunityRadio.pdf
femTALK: Womens community radio initiative

http://www.comminit.com/en/node/131265/2754
CONTACT INFORMATION
femLINK Pacic
Web: http://www.femlinkpacic.org.fj

INDONESIA: ARRNet - rebuilding
shattered communities
SUMMARY
Aceh Nias Reconstruction Radio Network (ARRNet) consists of 46 community radio
stations in Aceh and North Sumatra dedicated to community-based rehabilitation and
reconstruction in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Building on the
effectiveness of an emergency radio network set-up in the weeks after the tsunami
struck, ARRNet has combined radio with Internet and telecommunications to connect
coastal and rural communities.
Among the rst responders in Indonesia to the tsunami by Indonesian communications activists and engineers
that devastated Aceh on 26 December 2004, were that included setting up of a wireless Internet access
activists from Indonesias vibrant community radio network. ARRNet built on this emergency response
sector and the community media support organisation, with a project to scale-up the presence of community
Combine. The media in Aceh lacked independence or radio in Aceh and to shift its focus to rehabilitation and
diversity even before the tsunami struck. The region reconstruction. Funding was secured from the Japan
was under a state of emergency with government forces Social Development Fund, a World Bank managed
pitted against the secessionist Free Aceh Movement. The funding mechanism, and Combine Resource Institution
tsunami destroyed many existing broadcasting facilities was contracted to manage the project which ran from
leaving the shattered population without access to news November 2005 until early 2009.
or information. Outside of Banda Aceh, the capital, rural
and coastal communities were particularly affected by
the media blackout.
ARRNet used a mixed media model that combined
rural community radio stations with telephone and
fax lines and a centrally managed news and content
Responding to the communication needs of affected exchange website in Banda Aceh. The impact of ARRNet
communities, the Aceh Emergency Radio Network set was immediate and palpable, enabling communities
up ve community radio stations, with government to directly interact with each other. Where previously
co-operation to secure broadcasting permission. The communication had been aid agency and government
community radio stations were part of a wider response driven, ARRNet brought community needs and concerns

to the fore. The two-way community level dialogue
enabled by ARRNet brought other dividends. It has
served as a monitoring system and accountability
mechanism to ensure complaints and grievances
were being addressed. It has enabled communities
to exchange experiences in reconstruction of
housing, livelihoods, health and education. Many
of the volunteers involved have themselves lost
homes, family and friends. The community radios
have also paid particular attention to on-air trauma
counseling, and to ensuring the conditions and
needs of the relief camps are reported accurately.
ARRNet was a time limited project, but the radio

stations continue and are now supported by their
own regional association in Aceh, the Community
Radio Network in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (JRK- While some used this to deepen community engagement
NAD). As the tsunami and its aftermath recede from and link it with income generation activities, others have
public memory the community radio stations have taken invested directly in economic activity like agriculture or
on other priorities. Prior to completion, ARRnet provided cattle breeding as part of a strategy to build sustainable
core capital to facilitate continuity among the members. livelihoods.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Post-disaster radio network linked by Internet and telecommunications
Responding to the communication needs of disaster affected communities
Facilitating dialogue, community ownership and reconstruction monitoring
Supported by international aid and country level expertise and activism

Birowo, Mario Antonius. The Use of Community Radio in Managing Natural Disaster in Indonesia at Prato CIRN Community Informatics
Conference 2009. (Refereed Paper)
http://www.ccnr.net/pratoconf2009/pdfs/Birowo-.pdf
CONTACT INFORMATION
Combine Resource Institution
Web: http://combine.or.id/

IRAQ: Radio Dange Nwe - a voice for peace
and dialogue
SUMMARY
Radio Dange Nwe, located in Halabja, is the rst
independent community radio in Northern Iraq. With a
focus primarily on women and young people, the radio has
been a voice for peace and dialogue. It has assisted the
Halabja community to come to terms with the effects of a
prolonged period of conict and war including the notorious
and devastating chemical gas attacked on the village in
1988, survivors of which include all of the stations staff
team.
Radio Dange Nwe (New Voice) was launched in June Halabja, located
2005, following steps to open the media environment close to the Iranian
in Northern Iraq. While most of the new broadcasting border, was the site of a devastating chemical weapons
services have been driven by political or commercial attack on the population by Iraqi government forces in
interests, Radio Dange Nwe was set up with the support 1988, that left many dead and others injured for life. The
of the US-based non-governmental development agency region experienced further trauma during the Gulf War of
Agricultural Cooperative Development International/ 1990/1991. Recovery from the trauma of war, conict and
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/ oppression has been hampered by a culture of silence
VOCA), the German non-governmental womens rooted in fear and a reluctance to re-open old wounds.
development organisation WADI e.V. and Radio Gladys By creating a space where young people, women and
Palmera, a Barcelona-based radio station - with the goal men, work together in reporting on local issues and
of providing a voice for women and young people. It is concerns, the radio station has changed the ground rules
the rst independent community radio in the region and of social interaction. Signicantly, all twelve staff of the
broadcasts six hours a day in Kurdish, Arabic, Persian radio station were victims of the poison gas attack and
and other languages. lived for a long period in refugee camps. Most of them
did not complete their education.

Among a population with low levels of literacy and Radio Dange Nwe has a democratic organisational
formal education, radio takes on a particular importance structure. It is owned and managed by the women
as an accessible source of information and a means and young people who make up its staff. Every three
of dialogue and community empowerment. Almost 50 months the staff elects an administration board to
per cent of women in the area are illiterate. Political oversee day to day operations. Volunteer participation is
and social conict has impeded access to primary and encouraged and remains relatively stable, between ten
secondary education, and there is a paucity of public and 30 volunteers a month. Thematic groups and clubs
spaces to meet, especially for young people. Radio Dange are also encouraged to form, such as groups for young
Nwe addresses such concerns through broadcasts on environmental activists.
education and health, and exploring the consequences of
violence and war. The long term effects of violence have
been the subject of discussion programmes like History
Workshop that involve young people, their parents and
their grandparents recovering historical memory and
reecting on past trauma. The radio also contributes
to promoting the accountability of local public ofcials
through live interviews that focus on citizens rights and
practical concerns such as the state of sanitation, water
or the shortage of electric supply.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
First independent community radio in Northern Iraq
Providing a voice for women and young people
Contributing to participation and local accountability
Promoting peace and post-conict dialogue and

recovery

WADI (2007) Radio New Voice: First community radio in Iraq
http://www.wadi-online.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl
e&id=24&Itemid=25
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Dange Nwe
Tel.: +964 7701962158

JAMAICA: FREE FM - radio from behind
prison walls
SUMMARY
FREE FM is a community multi-media centre that operates from the Tower Street adult
correctional centre in Jamaica. Warders and inmates collaborate to make educational
content and to share their side of the story. The project is a joint venture of the inmate
rehabilitation group Students Expressing Truth working with the Department of
Correctional Service, and supported by
UNESCO and the Canadian International
Development Agency.
FREE FM is a prison radio station and computer lab. The

acronym stands for Fostering Rehabilitation Education
and Entertainment. The idea became an intention
during a meeting of Students Expressing Truth, a prison
group founded in 1998. While listening to a recording
of American broadcaster and former inmate Ray Hill,
hosting his weekly Friday night radio programme The
Prison Show on KPFT 90.1 in Houston, the group was
moved by the voices of family and friends of inmates inception, warders and prisoners have developed several
using the medium to send messages of love and innovative approaches. Society Interaction is a popular
encouragement to their incarcerated loved ones. This programme where ofcers conduct brief recordings
spawned the idea for the Society Interaction programme with family members and friends of the inmates who
and ultimately the setting up of a radio station. send messages of encouragement and greetings to
their loved ones in lock-up. Participatory programmes
FREE FM has been on air since 2007 broadcasting from such are these are extremely popular as this is often the
the Tower Street maximum security adult correctional only contact inmates have with their loved ones on the
centre, the pilot site for the project located in Kingston, outside.
Jamaica. It is a joint venture with the Department of
Correctional Service, and supported by UNESCO and the In order to establish the programming needs of the
Canadian International Development Agency. Since its prison community, a group of inmates were trained in

action research methods. They discovered that inmates intensive training in basic radio skills including recording
wanted to know more about their rights as prisoners and digital editing; collecting research, presentation
and protocols regarding parole. This information led to skills and broadcast etiquette. Since the inception of
the creation of Corrections Corner, a weekly segment the project, prison ofcials have noted a 50 per cent
hosted by prison ofcers who share information in these decline in crime inside the Tower Street prison. They
areas and respond to questions. The ofcers have since attribute this to the community multimedia centre where
extended the programme to include common lifestyle aside from making programmes inmates learn a range
health complaints of inmates and useful preventative of software applications including music production,
information. The action research helped build community graphic design, video recording and editing. One of
support as the inmates experienced, perhaps for the the challenges observed was the high illiteracy rate of
rst time, a horizontal ow of communications between inmates and as a result literacy education has become a
ofcialdom and themselves and began to see the station programme focus.
as an important lifeline.
FREE FM has brought together prisoners and warders,

traditionally hostile to one another, in media production
that can assist rehabilitation. As much of the content
is created jointly, it is in these moments of interaction
between the two groups that one of the most valuable
assets of the project becomes clear and it is the
transformed relationships between the two sectors who
now share a common goal. Both groups beneted from
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Prison radio project for education and rehabilitation
Joint venture between prisoners group, government

and aid agencies
Involves prisoners and warders working together on

media production
Results have included measurable reduction in crime

inside the prison

UNESCO (2008) Prison community radio: FREE FM streams live
online
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26640&URL_DO=DO_
TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jamaica FREE FM Prison Radio
Tel.: +876 9220021

JAPAN: Radio FMYY - celebrating human
diversity
SUMMARY
Radio FMYY was born from the merger of two Japanese community radio stations in
Kobe City, who came together after the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake of 1995. The
radio has sought to unite the community and to dispel prejudice by providing a voice
for people of all ages, abilities and cultures. The station is hosted by the Takatori
Community Centre, which brings together diverse groups united in their commitment
to community improvement.
Up until 1995, community radio in Japan was limited

to very low power coverage that inhibited its potential
role in community development. The Great Hanshin-
Awaji earthquake of 17 January 1995 took the lives of
more than 6400 people of which the majority were from
Kobe, the closest city to the earthquake epicenter.
Among those directly affected, a high proportion were
migrant workers, mainly from Korea and the Philippines,
and refugees, mainly from Vietnam. As economically
marginalized groups, they were particularly vulnerable
after the earthquake. It became clear there was a need
for accurate information and advice to be made available
in their community languages.
Within two weeks of the earthquake, a low power second low power station was established to serve
community radio station for the Korean community the Vietnamese community, many of whom lost not
in Osaka, FM Saran, relocated their broadcasting only their homes but also their jobs as a result of the
equipment to a location close to the epicenter, and earthquake destroying the local shoe factories. FM
started broadcasting in Korean and Japanese under Yumen (friendship in Vietnamese) broadcast not
the name FM Yoboseyo (hello in Korean). A few weeks only in Vietnamese, but also in Tagalog and English
later, with the help of FM Saran and FM Yoboseyo, a for the Filipino community. The main content was

earthquake information, music from their homeland, and Radio FMYY now broadcasts in eleven languages -
entertainment. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Thai,
Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Ainu and English.
The two mini-stations had a similar philosophy and, There are around 150 volunteers involved and three
six months after the earthquake, they decided to join paid staff. Ownership lies with the Takatori Community
forces to form Radio FMYY as a place in which diverse Centre, a non-prot organisation which developed out of
communities could connect and minority voices could be the Relief Base, and whose mix of activities strengthens
heard. The two stations had been born from necessity the stations social impact. The Centre comprises
in the aftermath of the earthquake, but to establish a seven groups that are united by the goal to create a
long term operation they had to acquire a broadcasting better community for all. Each group has a particular
licence and to build a permanent studio. One year after focus - senior citizens, people with disabilities, migrant
the earthquake struck, Radio FMYY was ofcially opened, workers and refugees. The stations programming
located in the Takatori Relief Base, in the grounds of the policies encourage participation from other not-for-prot
Takatori Church. By this time Chinese had been added community-based organisations, some of whom have
to the languages carried and, later, Portuguese for representation on the FMYY board.
migrants from South America.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Multi-cultural and multi-language community radio
Developed as a response to humanitarian disaster
Serving migrants, refugees and marginalized groups
Hosted by a multi-purpose community centre

Takatori Community Centre (Center)
http://www.tcc117.org/en/
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio FMYY
Tel.: +81 78 737-3196
Web: http://www.tcc117.org/fmyy/en

MOZAMBIQUE: community radio and
election reporting
SUMMARY
The community radio sector in Mozambique responded
to political tensions on media reporting in the run up
to elections in 2003 and 2004 by developing a Code of
Conduct for Election Coverage. The Code was the result of
extensive consultation within the community radio sector
to build ownership and consensus. It sets an example of
effective self-regulation and has contributed to fair and
balanced election coverage of the main political parties.
In the years preceding the 2003 municipal elections, the In response,

community radio sector in Mozambique grew rapidly, in the community
part as a result of an active programme of development radio sector
support and investment initiated by UNESCO and the Coordination
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Group, a
within a broader initiative called the Media Development forerunner to
Project. The absence of legal or regulatory provisions the community radio sector body, FORCOM, initiated a
on the role and responsibilities of community radio series of national consultations with all community radio
at election time became a subject of heated debate actors. These consist of independent co-operative and
in parliament as politicians recognised that the new community-based radio stations, church owned radio
radio stations had quickly gained a strong following stations that are predominantly religious in character,
and had become a powerful voice of the people in both and community-oriented stations owned by a public
rural and urban communities. With presidential and body, the Institution for Social Communication (ICS).
national elections planned for 2004 there was a risk that The result was agreement on the ten rules that make
political interference could roll back the gains made up the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage, a code
in community radio development unless the issue of for self-regulation of the community radio sector during
election reporting was effectively addressed. election periods. The rules were launched nationally
with the involvement of the Director of the Government

Press Ofce (GABINFO), and provincially by the radios radio as a tool of social construction and thus a focus for
themselves. attention of the contending forces in local elections, the
initiative to develop the Code was well-timed and useful,
During the 2003 local election campaign, the Media as community radio stations were often caught between
Development Project carried out a study on the demands of opposing parties standing for election.
application of the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage,
and of the general climate surrounding community radio The content of the Code could be adapted for use in other
stations in three particular municipalities covered by African countries, however the study also argues for the
the elections: Dondo, Chimoio and Cuamba. In practice, importance of reection and debate upon the existence
most of the radios followed the rules laid down in the of rules and/or other provisions that regulate the
Code with the exception of the state-owned stations participation of community radio in electoral processes.
which tended to comply with demands from the national The adoption and implementation of the Code in
political leadership to include additional coverage of Mozambique as a self-regulatory instrument is in part a
the ruling FRELIMO party. According to the authors of result of the process of consultation that built consensus
the study, besides showing the strength of community and sector ownership.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Code of conduct for self-regulation of election

reporting
Developed through consultation within the community

radio sector
Assisted community radio stations to resist political

pressure
Strengthened fairness in coverage of main political

parties

The Media Project - Mozambique
http://www.mediamoz.com
UNESCO/UNDP (2003) Participation by community radios in civic

education and electoral coverage the experience of the community
radios in Mozambiques 2003 local elections
http://www.mediamoz.com/ME/doc/creeng.pdf
UNESCO (2004) National community radio network established in

Mozambique
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15702&URL_DO=DO_
TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
CONTACT INFORMATION
FORCOM
Benilde Nhalevilo, Director
[email protected]
Birgitte Jallov
[email protected]

TIMOR-LESTE: Radio Rakambia -
youth voices building a new country
SUMMARY
Radio Rakambia is a student and youth led community radio station based in Dili,
the capital of Timor-Leste. With a focus on peace, education and development,
Radio Rakambia has assured young peoples voices a central place in post-conict
reconstruction following Timorese independence in 1999. The station places particular
emphasis on the promotion of literacy and multi-culturalism. Radio Rakambia has
played a key role in the setting up of the Association of Community Radios of Timor-
Leste (ARKTL) which represents the sector on issues of media law and regulation.
The community radio stations of Timor-Leste have Radio Rakambia emerged from recognition of the critical
played a key role in the process of nation building and role of young people as a catalyst for change. Young
post-conict reconstruction, none more so than Radio people, particularly students are central in the radio
Rakambia, the voice of students and youth in Dili, the stations management and have substantially contributed
nations capital. to its sustainability. Students are encouraged to join
the radio station training courses and to get involved
Timor-Leste experienced violent conict in the as volunteers, but the young people involved in Radio
aftermath of the popular vote for independence from Rakambia also include those who have dropped out of
Indonesia in 1999 as anti-independence militias, backed schools and colleges, and for whom the radio station
by Indonesian forces, carried out a scorched earth provides a means to re-engage. Youth activists and
campaign that destroyed lives and infrastructure and students are on the board and play a signicant role
displaced hundreds of thousands of people. In the in fundraising, organizing activities, such as special
reconstruction process that followed, under United screenings of lms to raise money for the station, and
Nations administration, community radio development building a team of youth supporters through discussions
was given a priority in a country which had previously on peace and conict, music and sports. Although
had no tradition of independent media. Radio the station is partly funded by government and donor
Rakambia was established in 2001, with the support of agencies, it also solicits advertising and charges for
APHEDA (Australian People for Health Education and broadcasting community announcements as well as
Development Abroad), a trade union based aid agency. renting its studio, sound systems and music equipment.

In a country with over 50 per cent illiteracy, Radio enabled it to build a community base in the rural villages,
Rakambia has placed a strong emphasis on education. where it has been successful in promoting access to
It has also sought to ease racial tension and to promote education and reducing conict by providing accurate
cross-cultural understanding in the regions of Loro news and information as they did, following disturbances
Munu and Loro Sae. Although its daily broadcasts of in 2006. Radio Rakambia has also developed a network
15-16 hours are focused on Dili, the station also uses a with 15 other community radio stations to ensure a
mobile radio facility to reach out and cover community national voice for the sector on issues of media policy.
events in more remote parts of the country. This has
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Student and youth led community radio station
Voice for young people in nation building and

development
Focus on literacy, education, peace and conict

resolution
Supported by government, donor agencies and self-

nancing

APHEDA (2007) Building community radio
http://www.apheda.org.au/projects/easttimor/
pages/1068704698_15221.html
CONTACT INFORMATION
Radio Rakambia
Kampung Alor, Dili, East Timor
Tel: +670 7243674

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COMMUNITY MEDIA:

A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

Communication and Information Sector

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 9

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY 33

STRENGTHENING SOCIAL IMPACT 57

COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK 3

The handbook additionally beneted from the reections of an international

Production of the handbook as well as the organization of the expert consultation

4 COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK 5

COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK 7

8 COMMUNITY MEDIA: A GOOD PRACTICE HANDBOOK

Spectrum access or licence fees should be free or a

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 11

REFERENCES AND LINKS

12 ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 13

Regulatory framework provides for

Open and transparent system for

Co-regulation of broadcast content

Diverse sources of funding including

REFERENCES AND LINKS

14 ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 15

Strategic public funding mechanism for

Earmarked portion of the household tax for public

Funding is provided for both operating costs

Fund is administered by an independent

REFERENCES AND LINKS

Sammenslutningen af lokale radio- og TV-stationer i Danmark http://www.slrtv.dk/

16 ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA

CORAPE was formed in 1990 right to freedom of opinion and

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 17

National alliance of community broadcasters

Democratic governance structure with an

Demonstrable success in advocacy for media

Delivering projects and services focused on

REFERENCES AND LINKS

IICD (2007) Radios Comunitarias: Situacin en el Ecuador

In 1995 ANTEL, the state agency responsible for

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 19

Association of community radio stations and production groups

Engaged in advocacy for legal and regulatory recognition

Collective action to secure part of the FM radio spectrum

Support for capacity building and content development

REFERENCES AND LINKS

Community radio in France dates back to unlicensed revenue from advertising

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 21

Strategic cross-subsidy funding mechanism for community broadcasting

Drawn from an annual levy on commercial broadcasting sector revenue

Distribution based on match funding to other non-commercial sources

Administered by a commission that includes sector representatives

REFERENCES AND LINKS

Syndicat national des radios libres

Confdration Nationale des Radios Associatives

Fonds de soutien lexpression radiophonique locale: Rapport dactivit 2007

Community radio in Nepal commenced in 1997 with

ENABLING COMMUNITY MEDIA 23

ACORAB is a values-led organisation whose policies