Introduction
The provision of information and skills has gained
popularity in the quest to empower communities with community radio as a unique
and effective tool. Chapman et al (2003) reported that the growth of rural
radio stations reflects both the improvements in information technologies and
the shifting of development paradigm towards a more participatory style of
information and knowledge transfer. Kumar (2004) identified radio as an avenue
for participatory communication and as a tool relevant in both economic and
social development.
Community radio is a type of radio service that offers a
model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial and public service. Community
radio broadcasting serves geographic communities and communities’ interest. The
content of broadcasting is largely popular and relevant to a local/specific
audience but which may often be overlooked by commercial or mass-media
broadcasters. Community radio stations are operated, owned, and driven by the
communities they serve. Community radio is not-for profit and provides a
mechanism for facilitating individuals, groups, and communities to tell their
own diverse stories, to share experiences, and in a media rich world to become
active creators and contributors of media. In many parts of the world today,
community radio acts as a vehicle for the community and voluntary sector, civil
society, agencies, NGOs and citizens to work in partnership to promote
community development. By the core aims and objectives of this model of
broadcasting, community radio stations often serve their listeners by offering
a variety of content that is not necessarily provided by the larger commercial
radio stations.
Community
radio is unique because the stations are run by the communities themselves.
They are owned and managed by the people they serve. The management is usually
a small team of paid staff with the programming conducted by volunteers. Through media skills training and access to the airwaves,
a community radio facilitates a number of capacity building activities. The
exchange of information, networking of groups, the provision of skills and
training and these undoubtedly are key elements of developing a community.
Again, a radio facility for a community facilitates the promotion of awareness
of community groups and facilities in the area as well as providing the avenue
for the empowerment of these groups to use radio to promote themselves and to
speak directly to the community. For its proximate location to its clients a
community radio serves a local community of its interest. It is accessible to
the community in terms of ownership, decision making and programme output. In
majority of cases, programming is produced by the community, with focus on
local concerns and issues. Unlike in the case of the mainstream media, rather
than merely talking about the community, the people themselves make the
programmes. This strengthens local culture with the recognition that this is
their station; it becomes a forum for a wide diversity of local opinions and
views. Sterling el at (2007) provided evidence that female community radio
listeners are given a voice with which to respond to programming and to create
programming content. The authors estimated the cost of excluding women from ICT
for development and explored how community radio represents an opportunity for
inclusion. By employing the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR),
the authors found that women will be more likely to benefit from technology-mediated
opportunities for development if they themselves produce information that
contributes to their advancement, rather than simply consuming information
provided by others (Sterling et al 2007).
DIAMOND 101.1 FM is an
example of a community radio station. It is situated in the University of
Ibadan, which is known as Nigeria's premier university. The Station was
officially opened on the 30th of October, 2008 by the Executive governor of
Niger State, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Alliu as part of activities marking the 60th
Anniversary of the University.
The station is received by listeners in the city of Ibadan
and nearby towns and cities. The station adopted the tag "Promoting Values and Excellence"
and it is located in the Media Centre of the University of Ibadan. The station
has grown rapidly to become the choice station for music of all genres as well
as educative programmes. The station has in its workforce seasoned and
experienced broadcasters which include:
1.
Dr Mrs Louisa Andah as the director of the station. She
is an experienced broadcaster and lecturer in the Department of Communication
and Language Arts of the university of Ibadan.
2.
Mr Paul Anthony Emokhare as the senior executive
officer/Programmes Manager. He is a seasoned broadcaster who has travel far and
wide with a wealth of experience in programming,fact and format, graduate of
Radio Netherlands, Hilversum.
3.
Mr Obafemi Folorunsho as the studio manager.
4.
Mr Emmanuel Idubor as the station officer.
Other
member of staff include
- Charles Eromosele (Charley)
- Ebose Aziba (AB)
- Njoku Uluaku (NJ)
- Foluke Falayi
- Hameed Adediran
- Essien Ukoyen
- Patience Obilo
- Tomisin Oyelere.
Since the establishment of the community
radio station, it has helped in
1.
Improving the education and
livelihood of it listeners through creating awareness
and knowledge of solutions to the university community development problems.
2.
Improving
communication and information sharing.
3.
Improving
cultural promotion and entertainment.
4.
Providing
income for the university through adverts and sponsorships of its programs.
5.
Improve
social cohesion.
Conclusion
Community radio really helps in serving as one of the fastest
communication channels. It has encouraged target communities to participate in
programme activities and replicate lessons taught in the programs they
broadcast. Community radio helps by encouraging its listening communities to
keep faith and support to activities of the community. The community radio has
social, economical, political and cultural impact its audience. A community
radio station has largely been used as a tool for integrated rural development.
Community radio station operates within its mandate as a community radio with a
social responsibility of providing community news bulletins, current affairs,
sporting, culture and health programmes.
From investigations, there is usually a very high degree of listener
participation in the programmes, and the rural audience likes to hear
themselves and their neighbors. In terms of ownership community members feel
they are part of the ownership because their suggestions or recommendations
have been heeded to by staff of the station. They also participate in the
programmes by way of making announcements and advertisement.
References
1. Chapman
R., Blench R., Kranjac-Berisavljevic’ G. and Zakariah A.B.T. (2003). “Rural Paper
No. 127 January 2003 ISBN 0 85003 640 2.
2. Sterling
S., O'Brien J., and Bennett J. (2007), “Advancement through Interactive Radio”
Information Systems Frontiers Volume 11 Issue 2, April 2009.
Photo
Credits
http://homezonemedia.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/diamond-f-m-university-of-ibadan/
