Community Radio

 

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/