From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 2 10:31:37 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 14:01:37 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Convergence Bill recommendations (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- New Delhi: The standing committee on information technology is likely to finalise its recommendations on the Communications Convergence Bill by May. ?We will be in a position to forward our recommendations to the House before the current budget session ends in May,? according to a senior official. After a short recess beginning next week, the Parliament session is scheduled to end on May 17, 2002. The committee?s progress on the Convergence Bill, which was taken up in January itself, was impacted by the time taken on other issues like foreign investment in print media. To expedite work on the Convergence Bill, a 5-member sub-committee has been set up last week, the official said. It is the sub-committee, headed by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, which will undertake clause-by-clause consideration of the Convergence Bill. Other members of the committee are Bhartruhari Mahtab, Balbir K Punj, K Rama Mohana Rao and Kartar Singh Duggal. The sub-committee is expected to finalise its recommendations in the latter half of April. This draft report of the sub-committee will then be presented to the Standing Committee, which is headed by Somnath Chatterjee, which will adopt it. The Convergence Bill takes cognisance of the convergence of voice, and data (telecom, broadcasting and Internet) and seeks to set up a single super regulator ? Communications Commission for India ? for these sectors. The current Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is proposed to be subsumed into the super regulator. The bill also seeks to change the licensing regime and limit the number of licence categories to five ?network infrastructure facilities, networking services, network application services, content application services and valued added network application services. It is still not clear how the existing licencees will be accommodated in the new regime. During the course of the year, the standing committee will also examine, in some detail, issues like direct-to-home (DTH) telecast, quality of electronic media programming, problems and requirements of the IT industry, human resource development in IT and working of the National Informatics Centre and the Software Technology Park scheme. On the telecom side, the committee will focus on the expansion of the network with special focus on rural and remote areas. Vandana Gombar, Financial Express ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Tiny Wireless Camera under $80! Order Now! FREE VCR Commander! 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Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From media at web.net Thu Apr 4 02:47:39 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 18:47:39 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Message-ID: <3CAB4E4B.30646.48F64D@localhost> Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Follows the initial 2 1/2 years of mobilisation in Mozambique, including efforts to set up associations, draft strategic plans, train large groups of volunteers in both formal & informal programmes, & acquire physical installations & equipment. http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-4359.html Contact: UNESCO/UNDP unesco at mediamoz.com -- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." 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From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 08:14:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:44:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Radio as a tool to browse the Net (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Radio as a tool to browse the Net PTI [ TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2002 10:27:48 AM ] NEW DELHI: People on the wrong side of the digital divide can now, through an interactive radio programme called 'radio browsing', ask experts to surf the internet on their behalf and transmit information in response to their requests. "Presenters select relevant, reliable Websites and broadcast the programme with local resource persons as studio guests, like doctors for a health programme, who discuss the contents of the mostly English-language sites directly in local languages," says Unesco regional communication advisor W Jayaweera. Listeners, thus, not only get information they requested, but understand how it is made available on the web. They can react to it and know that key data will remain available in the community database enabling an entire community access to online information in their own language. "It is a unique strategy for bringing poor or marginalised communities mass, indirect access to online information. It is now a model for developing community multimedia centres throughout the developing world," says the Unesco official, adding the project initiated 5 years ago is already proving to be a success in several Third World countires. "Radio browsing is already adapted by Bhutan Broadcasting Service in Bhutan and two radio stations in Nepal apart from community radio stations in Philippines, Niger and Uganda." "Even Pakistan, after acknowledging our efforts, has announced a new broadcasting regulatory regime under which community radio stations are allowed," he says, adding that Unesco now wants to replicate the model in India. However, this unique experiment is yet to take off in the country due to concerns about its possible misuse as a tool of disintegration of nationhood. Cyberlaw experts like Pavan Duggal fear that interception, being a very tedious process due to the peculiarities of this complex country, there is possibility of misuse by separatists and terrorists. "There should be a strong licensing regime," he says. The policy-makers might now consider promoting the novel 'radio- browsing programme' after the passage of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the Controller of Certifying Authority to order interception. Also, the recently passed anti-terrorism Bill -- which gives evidentiary value to such intercepts -- could provide the necessary safeguards. Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj's recent announcement that she favours introducing a policy which will facilitate "narrowcasting" is seen by the social sector as a positive sign from the government towards allowing 'radio browsing' in the country through community radio stations. However, Jayaweera brushes aside fears of armed groups using community radio and programmes like radio browsing to promote their own separatist agenda: "In the countries with conflicts such as Sri Lanka, South Africa and Nepal, community radio is operational without any threat of acquire by armed groups." "In fact, it helps bottom-up decision making from each and every community in the decentralised administration. Therefore, it facilitates the process of true and democratic nation building," he says. Tea farmers in Kothmale, Sri Lanka could improve their tea drying techniques as a result of web infromation shared on these programmes. "Similarly other farmers in Timbuktu, Mali - where four radio stations received a suitcase radio comprising a complete broadcasting unit from Unesco for production of programmes using internet - found more information on improved methods of growing and storage of their crop besides knowing export possibilities and location-specific weather reports," he says, adding village bakers can find new recipes and funeral undertakers can learn more about embalming techniques. All India Radio (AIR) officials are receptive to the concept of radio browsing perhaps through the five community radio stations in the remote areas of the Northeast, notes AIR chief engineer HO Shrivastava. He however points out that the state radio already has similar programmes which induces the listeners to check-out the internet. "The 75 local radio stations broadcasts programmes like Krishidarshan -- programme for agriculturists -- apart from phone- in programmes during which listeners can ask experts questions about the new media and its content." But according to a recent India Human Development Report, only 51 per cent of the villages have access to telephone within two km distance, says Centre for Media Studies director N Bhaskara Rao. "Despite high talk and specific targets, we are far from taking the technoligies to rural areas. Even in Andhra Pradesh, a state which is a pioneer in rural phones, 20 per cent of villages are without a phone. When this is the scenario, how many people can afford phone-in programmes," he says. The successful deployment of the traditional and new media combine to increase the level of IT awareness apart from providing new livelihood areas to the marginalised communities in Kothmale in Sri Lanka and Timbuktu in Mali should set the policymakers thinking on giving permission to similar ventures in the country. "Digitalisation should mean digital dividend and increased access mean empowerment for more people, not the same people. Only then it will narrow the digital divide," says Rao. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=5652296 From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 19:20:44 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:50:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] INTRO: Kamal Prashar Message-ID: When we get a request to subscribe to cr-india, we routinely ask the intending subscriber for a self-introduction. Below is a very interesting one from Kamal Prashar, in response to such a query. Sending it out to other members of the list, so that they could get to know Kamal. Thanks for coming onto the list, Kamal, your skills and experience would obviously be of much use to our other members... FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello there Fred Details about me: Originally I trained as a Biochemical Engineer at University College London and followed this with a Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Biology at the same university. I then spent four years doing PhD research on Drug Design. Once this was all over I made the decision to move into journalism and did print and radio journalism. Having completed this I won the Linda Gage Award for Documentary Production for a programme that I made which looked at the causes and solutions to unnecessary deaths in hospitals because of surgical procedures. My first official radio job was with a UK Community Radio station called Sound Radio. I worked there as a volunteer producing a daily 3 hour programme aimed at children. From media at web.net Fri Apr 5 06:47:52 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:47:52 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Radio Feature Message-ID: <3CACD818.18301.CF1163@localhost> ------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: "AUDIO @ IWR (E-mail)" From: IWR Editor Date sent: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:58:25 +0100 Subject: [creative-radio] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Features about old people availab le for download Send reply to: creative-radio at yahoogroups.com Apologies for cross-postings... This is an email update sent to members of InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org. For details of related websites, please see the signature below. Regards, IWR ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To mark the UN's Second World Summit on Ageing beginning on Monday April 8th, 2002, InterWorld Radio has uploaded a new feature in our SPARK series - 'Young and old in an age of ageing' hears teenagers around the world talk about how they feel about the old people in their own lives and what they think it means to be old. Below you'll find links to this feature, as well as links to three other features that focus on stories about older people. We hope you'll be able to download and broadcast these features as part of your coverage of the World Summit on Ageing. 1. SPARK INTERNATIONAL: Young and old in an age of ageing Listen Online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.ram Listen Online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=232128 There's a dramatic shift taking place between generations. Worldwide, families are shrinking as birth rates fall, but babies born now are likely to live much longer than their parents. The changes mean that by the middle of this century there'll be more old people than young people living on the planet. Another dramatic change is taking place within families, as children nowadays often move away from the place where they were born, and their parents and grandparents have less and less contact with young people. Next week, world leaders meet in Madrid to open the United Nation's Second World Assembly on Ageing. Among other things they'll be discussing how to get older people more actively involved in mainstream society and how to promote solidarity between the generations. But what DO young people really think of old people? As part of our occasional SPARK series, Lina, Rares, Charity and Laura talked to teenagers in Russia, Romania, Ghana, and Northern Ireland and asked them about the older people in their lives. They began by asking the teenagers what THEY think it means to be old. 2. BOYS' TALK: Young and old in Uganda In Uganda, young and old men used to meet before a hunting session. The elders would then warn the younger ones about the dangers of hunting. Today, hunting is dying out, but elders and young men still meet and discuss manhood - and the dangers of AIDS. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.m3u Download page for Broadcast Quality Version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=233079 3. LIBERIA: Older residents are top of the class As the Liberian Government tackles the country's 70% illiteracy rate, Sam Howard hears how a project to get the population to read and write is encouraging older people, especially women, to go to school - often for the first time. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=222857 4. UGANDA: AIDS and old people While AIDS is wiping out young adults, the older generation are often left to look after the children - and each other. Our reporter in Uganda, Joel Tema, visited a village decimated by AIDS where nearly all the children are now being brought up by granparents. How are they coping? Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=226245 The InterWorld Radio Team InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org Tel: +44 (0)20 7239 7637 General email: mailto:editor at interworldradio.org Journalists' enquiries: mailto:journalist at interworldradio.org Forgotten passwords and membership enquiries: mailto:network at interworldradio.org Technical queries and problems: mailto:helpdesk at interworldradio.org News bulletin queries and feedback: mailto:news at interworldradio.org InterWorld Radio is based at the Panos Institute London 9 White Lion St - London N1 9PD - UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 1111 - Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0345 http://www.panos.org.uk Other Panos websites: Panos Pictures - http://www.panos.co.uk Gemini News Service - http://www.gemininewsservice.com/ OneWorld UK - http://www.oneworld.net/uk OneWorld News Service on Yahoo! - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u Oral Testimony - Mountain Voices - http://www.mountainvoices.org/ ------------------------ Yahoo! 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Other use of e-mail to this list requires the permission of individual writers ----~-> Editor, Creative-Radio] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------- End of forwarded message --------- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot... "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito..." African Proverb **************************************** ICQ # 8501081 MediaMentor Weblog http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor Homepages http://media002.tripod.com Caveat Lector, Disclaimers & (c) info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Semi-random signature quotes follow: The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value. That is the voice of the current somnambulism. (McLuhan) From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 6 10:47:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 14:17:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] NEWS: French firm gets FM radio operators' mandate for infrastructure in three metros... Message-ID: A strange development... reported in the business press. After thw ho-ha about foreign ownership of the media, it appears that a French firm will be investing in setting up these radio stations. Local 'licencees' will be just "reimbursing" the foreign firm by way of a "monthly carriage fee" for the next ten years! FN * * * * * * * * FRENCH FIRM TDF GETS FM RADIO OPERATORS' MANDATE FOR INFRASTURCTURE IN THREE METROS Nivedita Mookerji The Financial Express, April 4, 2002 NEW DELHI Leading French transmission infrastructure company TDF is all set to bag the project for setting up private FM radio operations in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. The French firm's Indian subsidiary Mediacast has already received the letter of intent (LoI) from the private FM licencees, according to consultant to TDF Achille Forler. The formal agreement with th eFM players is expected to be signed soon. FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have already informed the Information & Broadcasting Ministry that they've chosen TDF for setting up their operations in these cities, said Mr Forler. As soon as the I&B ministry gives its green signal to the FM players, TDF will start its work. Incidentally this will be TDF's first project in the country. Besides TDF, other trnamissions service companies or "integrators" who were in contention for the FM radio project, included foreign players such as UK-based NTL and Measat of Malaysia. Even India's Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (Becil), a leading player in the transmission services area, was in the fray for installing the set up for private FM radio licencees. TDF will be resonsible for fixing the common multiplexers, cable and antanna for all the FM players in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Besides, this company would also help the FM players in installing their individual transmitters in these cities. While private FM players in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have been allowed to co-locate their transmitters in the All India Radio (AIR) towers in these cities, AIR Mumbai does not have the capacity to allow such a co-location of transmitters. So, Mumbai players have to look for an interim arrangement, before they can have a permanent tower. TDF, which got permission for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in its Indian subsidiary some time ago, believes that it was chosen because of its international expertise in providing infrastructure solutions for radio and television services. This company has so far put up 18,000 transmitters in the world, mainly in Europe and America. TDF also claims to have offered a cost advantage over the other contenders. What however is being seen as a deal clincher is the fact that TDF is making the complete capital investment, running into several crores in setting up the FM operations. The licencees will reimburse TDF in the form of a monthly carriage fee for a period of 10 years. "The fact that we invest in infrastructure is perhaps one of the reasons why we were chosen for the project," said Mr Forler. TDF or any of the FM players refused to divulge the financials for setting up these operations. Although the August 29 deadline for the FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to set up operations is quite close, TDF is optimistic about meeting the same. The company is liely to use the synergies with AIR in setting up the FM operations. Significantly, TDF is committed to invest $500 million over the next five years in radio, television and telecom infrastructure services in India. The company's first target is radio, and it will be looking at providing infrastructure services for television and telecom projects in the country next. TDF has been a world leader in over-the-air solutions for more than 30 yhears. The company builds and operates infrastructure for terrestrial TV and radio, wireless and wireless multimedia. With a strong presence in Europe and America, the company has state-of-the-art R&D centres all over the world. (ENDS) From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 9 08:37:55 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 12:07:55 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] [dx_india] Gyan Vani FM (fwd) Message-ID: Thanks to our DXer friends for sending in this info. Jose, I too was a DXer in my school days! FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Friends, Here is the latest information on Gyan Vani, "the Educational FM Radio Network of India" who has got permission to operate 40 FM stations. The following stations are operational: 1. Allahabad 107.4 0030-0430, 1230-1630 UTC 2. Bangalore 107.6 0030-0430, 1230-1630 3. Coimbatore 91.9 1230-1630 (Allahabad and Coimbatore will go on full power from around April 13, 2002) The following new stations will start in the next few days (around April 13, 2002): Lucknow 105.6 Visakhapatnam 106.4 Their offical web site is: http://www.gyandarshan.ernet.in/gvani.html (Source: Gyan Vani magazine, April 2002) ===== 73 Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax 91-40-3310287 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/iPMolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This group specialises exclusively on Broadcasting in India! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates for Broadcasting by AIR : ---------------------- 1927 - July 23 - 2002 : Platinum Jubilee of AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Post message: dx_india at yahoogroups.com Subscribe : dx_india-subscribe at yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe : dx_india-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com List owner : dx_india-owner at yahoogroups.com More info : groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator : Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax: 91-40-3310287 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From mgbhk at hkstar.com Wed Apr 10 13:32:23 2002 From: mgbhk at hkstar.com (Gerald Brown) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 14:32:23 +0300 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: I know this is a little bit away from your patch but the content below is interesting and relevant of two UK community radio happenings. Regards Gerald Brown Publisher e-broadcastnewsasia e-zine Hong Kong 1. Radio Fiza, has launched a new service for the South Asian community in Nottingham, England. The station, broadcasting on 97.1 MHz, since 25th March, is a shared service between the Asian Women's Project and the Karimia Institute. Radio Fiza has a licence to broadcast for one year as part of this experiment which aims to explore how Access Radio - a new tier of not-for-profit radio in the United Kingdom which will have social and educational benefits - might work in practice. It is the sixth station to launch out of a total of fifteen planned as part of this pilot scheme. Fiza is the first of three services aimed at Asian ethnic populations in the UK, with the other two expected to launch during April in Glasgow and Southall in West London respectively. The station is a communication, information and entertainment for the South Asian community in Nottingham. Asian Women's Project * Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 13.00-21.00 * Sunday: 12.00-21.00 Programming is primarily aimed at Asian women, families and young people. The service includes local and community news and information, features, interviews, discussions, phone-ins, poetry and literature, and Asian and English music. Asian languages include Urdu and Punjabi with some Hindi, Bengali, Mirpuri and Gujarati. The Karimia Institute * Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 08.00-12.00 and 19.00-23.00 * Sunday: 08.00-12.00 Speech-led programming with news and current affairs focussing on issues of local concern and interest. Included are interviews, discussions, phone-ins and features. Music styles featured include Qawalis and Naats, and Ghazals. Languages include Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Arabic languages and English (around 60%). 2. ABN Productions London is to run another 28-day radio station in Southampton, following an extremely successful 1st broadcast during autumn last year. ABN has teamed up with Southampton arts organisation Art Asia to run Radio Art Asia, which will broadcast 24 hours a day from Thursday 11th April to Wednesday 8th May 2002. Programmes will be broadcast in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and will also feature African Caribbean music and MOBO (Music of Black Origin). Presenters will include local people, specially trained for the task, as well as practising professionals. Transmission coincides with the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi and the Hindu festival of Ram Naumi. Listeners will be able to ring up to request dedications. Many local and national businesses are supporting Radio Art Asia including Ford Motor Company, P.O.S.H restaurant, Barclays, Bookers Cash & Carry and the RAF. Both sourced from the UK radio industry newsletter: The-Radio-Newsletter at yahoogroups.com 9th April, 2002 From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Wed Apr 10 18:30:19 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 22:00:19 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR India / Radio Access - UK Message-ID: <20020410163019.2F1E87D0D@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020410/cea6ba53/attachment.diff From kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk Thu Apr 11 01:01:15 2002 From: kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk (Kamal Prashar) Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 00:01:15 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: <001c01c1e0e3$a2f44500$539ffea9@giskard> Just as a little extra to the information that Gerald posted about cr in the UK: I am the associate director of Sound Vision Trust and we have also been granted, after a long time lobbying, one of the 15 licences for an Access Radio Station - called Sound Radio. We have already started to put together our schedule and it includes Punjabi, Bangladeshi, Kurdish, Jewish, Afro Caribbean and of course English programmes. A sort of Community World Service Radio station. Over the year to come we will be streaming all our shows on the net and will have multilingual net access for the various languages spoken. This is for information dispersal and democratic governance issues which are becoming more and more relevant in the multi-lingual and multicultural environment that we have in our broadcast footprint. Hopefully we will be rebroadcasting programmes made by other cr's across the world which may be relevant to our local community (which includes Tamil, Somali, Central and South American as well as other African and of course European... and that is just the start). We have gone for a traditional model for our CR, though we will adapt as needed in the new world of Third Tier Access Radio in the UK. If anyone wants more details or would like to contribute then please feel free to contact me. Kamal Bhushan Prashar KamPra Productions 73 Hordle Promenade North London SE15 6HU (44) 020 7708 1354 www.kampra.com From SH at wacc.org.uk Tue Apr 9 16:45:38 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 15:45:38 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] *NUEVO* Accion 242 *NEW* Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990823D3@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> *********************************************************************** Action is published 10 times a year by WACC and gives news and articles on communication issues and projects from around the world. Accion es publicado 10 veces anualmente por la WACC y contiene noticias e informacion sobre asuntos y proyectos de la comunicacion. *********************************************************************** * NUEVO * Publicado hoy - en Espanol Accion 242, Marzo 2002. http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/accion/242/contenido.html *********************************************************************** Recently published communication magazines in English: Action 242, March 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/242/contents.html Media Development issue 1 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-1/md2002-1_contents.html Media and Gender Monitor 10 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/mgm/10/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociaci?n Mundial de Comunicaci?n Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratisaci?n de la comunicaci?n, la comunicaci?n para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicaci?n en situaciones de censura y opresi?n. ******************************************************************* Unsubscribe/Desuscribirse: update-unsubscribe at lists.wacc.org.uk ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 13 21:16:32 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 00:46:32 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Taru... radio soap with repro health message... Message-ID: 5. Taru - India - this 52-episode radio soap opera targets rural men and women with messages on sexual and reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, the value of the girl-child, education, literacy, and other health and social issues. This is a collaborative effort of an international NGO working with in-country partners to promote sexual and reproductive health and sustainable development through entertainment-education, a regional NGO providing reproductive health care, the Indian national radio network, and a US university where researchers will design and conduct independent monitoring and evaluation of the programme. http://www.comminit.com/pds4-2002/sld-4347.html Contact Lillian Chege lillianc at population.org From fred at bytesforall.org Sun Apr 14 07:14:39 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:44:39 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Re: ATCnet would like to go further with local community radio In-Reply-To: <150.c42113f.29ea596c@aol.com> Message-ID: On Sun, 14 Apr 2002 Profitinafrica at aol.com wrote: > Dear Colleagues > > I have become increasingly interested in the potential of local community > radio as a means of "last mile" delivery of important messages. > > Tom Abeles asks "How can we support this idea?" ...... and I think one useful > way to go forward is for someone with some reasonable level of knowledge to > give us some direction. > > My goal is to incorporate the appropriate technology into our ATCnet program, > and get the technology in use in Africa. We need to do this as cost > effectively as possible because we are working in an economic environment > that ought to be rich but is desperately poor. My current thinking is that > the radio component could be added into our general ICT program without it > adding much additional cost. > > But I suspect that there are a lot of government regulations around that will > make this rather simple idea into a monster. > > The reason I am attracted to this system is the fact that it is low power, > and the messages can therefore be very local and very relevant to the > community. Some years ago I was involved (listening in at meetings) about a > BBC World Service plan to broadcast agricultural information (actually in > support of Afghanistan reconstruction in the early 1990s) ...... and the key > issue that could not be handled was that relevant agricultural information > depended very much on what took place in the local neigborhood, the North > side of the valley compare to the South side of the valley, for example. In a > low power system, this sort of detail can be dealt with in a meaningful way. > > I look forward to learning more. Thanking you in anticipation > > Sincerely > > Peter Burgess > > ______________ > T. Peter Burgess > VP and CFO ATCnet > New York USA > Tel 212 772 6918 Fax 707 371 7805 > website: www.atcnet.org > email: profitinafrica at aol.com / hivaidsstories at aol.com > ---------------------------- > ATCnet Project for Universal Accountability > ATCnet Community Cyber EduCenter Networks > ATCnet Database on African Development and Enterprise > ATCnet Database on the African Health and HIV-AIDS Crisis > ATCnet Trade Networks > ATCnet Consultancy and Management Services > ---------------------------- > > > Subj: Re: [solaris]Fw: ATCnet and its interest in solaris > Date: 4/11/02 11:33:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: tabeles at attglobal.net (tom abeles) > Sender: solaris-admin at sarai.net > Reply-to: tabeles at attglobal.net > To: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) > CC: geert at xs4all.nl (geert), solaris at mail.sarai.net (SOLARIS) > > Radio- now why would one want to use that old technology? > > Great idea- meet people where they are with what you have. There are still > correspondence courses using the postal service and a variety of ways to > bring knowledge to folk. The key is that they want to learn and can learn. > The problem seems to be that certification often clouds the minds of > bureaucrats and gets in the way of learning. > > How can we support this idea? > > tom abeles > From sruti_bala at hotmail.com Sat Apr 13 09:39:48 2002 From: sruti_bala at hotmail.com (sruti bala) Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 13:09:48 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS Message-ID: HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS ----------------------------------------------------- Communications professionals involved in human rights advocacy programs are invited to attend a two-week training course in Laguna, Philippines, organized by the College of Development Communication (CDC). The course will draw heavily from the theory and practice of programs related to development communications. Organizers hope to enhance the participants' networking ability, communication planning, and message and materials development for human rights-based programming. The training course will also develop analytical skills through the use of innovative strategies in adopting a rights-based programming approach. Participants will also receive hands-on experience in using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify and locate potential campaign partners and beneficiaries. The course is offered with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Manila). Participation is open to anyone involved in communication and advocacy programming from both government and non-governmental organizations. A course fee of U.S.$1,600 will cover travel between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the workshop venue, all transportation during the workshop, board and lodging for the duration of the training, and workshop supplies and materials. To reserve a spot, program organizers request sending personal information and biographical data to Dr. Ma. Theresa H. Velascho, associate professor, College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines, Los Ba?os College, Laguna, Philippines. Telephone and fax (6349) 536-3356. For more information, contact Dr. Teresa H. Stuart, communication officer, UNICEF Manila at telephone (632) 892-0611, fax (632) 892-6456, e-mail tstuart at unicef.org or Ms. MaryAnn Q. Maglipon, program communication officer, UNICEF Manila at mmaglipon at unicef.org --------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020413/39e811ca/attachment.htm From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Mon Apr 15 09:02:44 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:32:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Seeking sponsors for women's prog./Madras AIR Message-ID: <20020415070244.E9ABB7D2F@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020415/d26b08c0/attachment.diff From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 15 19:25:46 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:55:46 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] FREE India.... Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020415225421.009f5650@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Check out this mailing-list. Not directly linked to radio... but might have parallel aims. freeindia * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/free-india/ free-india ? Forum For Right to Electronic Expression This list discusses and proposes to the Indian government changes in policy relating to electronic communications. Current concerns: 1) Ban on Internet telephony and blocking of related sites (see http://members.tripod.com/~india_gii/statusof.htm) 2) Proposal to the spectrum management authority for a band for spread-spectrum community networking, which could be used (for instance) by schools to connect to the Internet. And whatever other ideas the list members have. Decisions on what to publish as a formal document of FREE are taken on the list by consensus, failing which, by 2/3rds majority. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 17 19:03:32 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:03:32 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] Impunity and the media - new issue of Media Development Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB11@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ********************************************************************** New issue of Media Development: Impunity and the media ********************************************************************** The Red Sea catch: A Palestinian perspective, Mitri Raheb http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/raheb_red_sea.html Impunity in journalism, Jake Lynch http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lynch_impunity.html 'Are we still of any use?' - Impunity, the media and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Edwin H. Robertson http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/robertson.html Neither too much, not too little justice: Amnesty in the South African context, Charles Villa-Vicencio http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/vv_amnesty.html Communication may not build peace but it can certainly contribute to war, Cees J. Hamelink http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hamelink_war.html A life worth living: Digna Ochoa y Placido (1963-2001), Philip Lee http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lee_ochoa.html Breaking the silence on the war in Algeria - the fight for truth and reconciliation, Andre Jacques http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_algeria.html French version: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_french.html La guerre d'Algerie: 40 ans apres, est-ce encore trop tot?, Djilali Hadjadj http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hadjadj_algerie.html Los medios y la transicion democratica en Centroamerica, Edgar Gutierrez http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/gutierrez.html Verdad e impunidad, Hector Schmucler http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/schmucler.html and other articles, see the contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 10:01:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 13:31:17 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament Message-ID: This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation Statement in liquidation of assurance given to Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated 20.8.2001 Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening an FM channel on rural development and environment preservation and an FM educational channel in Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. From vvcrishna at yahoo.com Sat Apr 20 14:04:15 2002 From: vvcrishna at yahoo.com (Vickram Crishna) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 17:34:15 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details from our website soon. At 1:31 PM +0530 20/04/2002, Frederick Noronha wrote: >This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: > > Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation > Statement in liquidation of assurance given to > Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated > 20.8.2001 > > Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan > Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development > organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant > Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening > an FM channel on rural development and environment > preservation and an FM educational channel in > Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently > allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University > (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources > Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. > >_______________________________________________ >CR-india mailing list >CR-india at mail.sarai.net >http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/cr-india -- Vickram _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 19:33:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 23:03:17 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020420230204.009f8ab0@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Vickram, The point I was trying to make is that, at least on paper, nobody (or, to be precise, nobody but two parties) have applied for licences. Applying is one form of action, which would show that there is a demand for such a channel of communication. Of course, your point on doing something is well taken. FN At 05:34 PM 4/20/02 +0530, Vickram Crishna wrote: >May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if >you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have >to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show >you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait >for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! > >I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the >meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details >from our website soon. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 24 13:59:58 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 12:59:58 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] April Action bulletin: Call for fair coverage of Israel-Palestine Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB36@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ************************************************************* Action bulletin, April 2002: Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine: WACC conference statement. ************************************************************* "Megaphones and Muffled Voices - What is Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine Issues?" Report from WACC's conference this week in New York http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/megaphone.html Regional News: shorts from Brazil, USA, China, India, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Canada, Middle East, Russia, Zimbabwe, France and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/news.html The media after September 11th, two perspectives: from USA and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/sep11.html Refugees Rights to Communication and Information, Report from the WACC conference in Lusaka, Zambia http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/refugees.html Gaza Strip, news from Jackie Lubeck of Theatre Day Productions, Gaza http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/gaza.html Bethlehem, news from Rev Dr Mitri Raheb, International Centre Bethlehem http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/bethlehem.html Trust In trouble - Bill Norris on Presswise http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/presswise.html Contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From subbuvincent at yahoo.com Mon Apr 29 08:00:06 2002 From: subbuvincent at yahoo.com (Subramaniam Vincent) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:30:06 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] [USA] NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO Message-ID: >NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO > >By Norman Solomon / Creators Syndicate > > > A triumphant story about National Public Radio appeared in late >March on the front page of Current, the main newspaper of the >public-broadcasting industry. "NPR Lands Most Listeners Ever," the >headline announced, over a summary of the latest Arbitron figures: "NPR >programs reached 19.5 million listeners a week last fall, and member >stations drew a record 28.7 million listeners. One in seven Americans >age 25 or older listens to an NPR member station each week." > > Network officials are exultant about the impressive numbers. "This >demonstrates that NPR is a leading source for news, information and >entertainment in America," says Ken Stern, executive vice president. By >far, the biggest audiences have been tuning into NPR's two weekday >drive-time news programs -- with an average of 1.87 million people >listening during any 15-minute period of "Morning Edition" and a 2.22 >million average for "All Things Considered." > > For a pair of shows with combined airtime of 20 hours between >Monday and Friday, that's a very wide reach to a whole lot of ears. "The >data seem to validate a systemwide trend toward adding more news and >talk programming at stations," Current reports. Overall, "public radio >has steadily gained audience for years, even as commercial radio lost >ground." > > For listeners interested in news and politics, "public radio" is an >obvious choice, while commercial radio slides deeper into an abyss of >mediocrity and corrosive gunk. Boosted by the bipartisan >telecommunications "reform" law of 1996, just a few conglomerates now >own several thousand stations nationwide between them. Tour the dial and >you'll hear a narrow play list of corporate-filtered music, heavily >right-wing and mean-spirited talk shows (Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, Dr. >Laura...), scant news, and barrages of commercials that extend from >mildly unpleasant to awful. > > NPR has plenty of time for news on the air. Yet, as public radio's >dominant network, NPR has largely reneged on the promise of public >broadcasting that stirred hopes 35 years ago with release of the >Carnegie Commission Report -- which declared that public broadcasting >should "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise >be unheard." In 2002, for the most part, "Morning Edition" and "All >Things Considered" provide a voice for the same political, economic and >military interests that are heard, ad nauseam, via other major media. > > A key factor is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- where >everyone on the board of directors has been nominated by the president >of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The nonprofit agency >doles out federal funds to public radio and TV stations. "With its hand >on the till," notes David Barsamian, a longtime independent radio >producer, CPB "wields considerable power and influence over public >broadcasting." > > In his new book "The Decline and Fall of Public Broadcasting," >Barsamian points out similarities between the top execs currently >running CPB and NPR: "Robert T. Coonrod has been the president and CEO >of the CPB since 1997. Prior to joining CPB, Coonrod was deputy managing >director of the Voice of America," operated by the U.S. government. >Meanwhile, "NPR's president and CEO Kevin Klose served as the director >of the International Broadcasting Bureau, which oversees VOA, Radio Free >Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio and Television Marti." > > At NPR News, the diversity of perspectives in reportage and >analysis is particularly limited on subjects like U.S. foreign policy >and nitty-gritty economic power. Whatever fine journalism airs on NPR -- >and there definitely is some -- gets dwarfed by mountains of conformist >stenography for the powerful, with routine reliance on official sources. > > The preponderance of deference to government outlooks has combined >with outsized programming impacts of corporate donors that >"underwrite" -- and, in some cases, literally make possible -- specific >shows. Private money is a big determinant of what's on "public" >broadcasting. > > Major companies "have a huge investment in the economy and can use >their economic power to leverage program content," writes Barsamian, >producer of the national weekly public-affairs program "Alternative >Radio" since the mid-1980s. "Independent producers who approach PBS and >NPR for airtime get a much warmer reception when they have an >underwriting package in hand. Overwhelmingly, programs that will attract >and please corporate underwriters and, crucially, won't rock the >ideological boat, get access to the airwaves." > > But dozens of community-based noncommercial stations, with much >smaller budgets, are striving to bring vibrant news and public affairs >to listeners without mainlining the fare pumped out by National Public >Radio every day. Those stations deserve our support. > > At the same time, we should vigorously critique and challenge what >comes under the heading of "NPR News." Victory in the quest for ratings >is not what public broadcasting is supposed to be about. >____________________________________________________ > >Norman Solomon's syndicated column -- archived at >www.fair.org/media-beat/ -- appears weekly in the San Francisco Examiner >and other newspapers. > > From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 11:36:29 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 15:06:29 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR workshop at Manipal... Message-ID: MIC, the Manipal Institute of Communication, will be hosting another fortnight-long workshop on community radio from May 6 to May 19, 2002. Jacob Ntshangase from Johannesburg, South Africa, will be the resource person. More details from kinnari toliya In summer 2001, a similar workshop was held. FN -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred at bytesforall.org * SMS 9822122436 at attcell.net * Saligao Goa India From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 12:52:49 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 16:22:49 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] PRASHANT SHARMA: Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns (CR in India) Message-ID: An interesting essay. FN Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India Prashant Sharma MA Anthropology of Media School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 22 April 2002 Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India St. Xavier's School, Delhi, India. 1979. Every Wednesday afternoon, at 1.00 pm, the public announcement speakers in each classroom would crackle into life. It was the weekly 'broadcast' of Xavier Radio. The idea was simple. Every week, for half an hour, students would present a variety of programmes to the school - plays, songs, music, speeches, debates - 'live'. The responsibility of producing and hosting the programme would be rotated amongst different classes on a weekly basis. The microphone was in the principal's office, and Wednesday afternoons would see groups of nervous and excited students huddled around it. Over the year, almost everyone would have had his (it was a 'boys only' school) say. The investment needed to run this effort was negligible. The public announcement system had already been in place and it was merely being put to more use than if its role had been restricted to official announcements. Xavier Radio was small and was regulated (strict teachers, with strict eyes would oversee all aspects of the production and delivery), but it was important to the student community. It represented modes and moments of expression that made more sense than classes ever did. For a half hour every week, students could speak to each other, as a group. It was their effort. They had produced everything. And to a large extent, despite the omnipresent 'moderators', they were free to choose what they wanted to speak about. In 1983, Xavier Radio was brought to a close. A new principal had taken charge, and the weekly half an hour 'broadcast' was seen as a waste of precious academic time. Now, students would see the inside of the principal's office only if they had got themselves into some serious trouble. Those that did, would notice that the microphone was being used as a paperweight. And a very dusty one at that. The concerns of community radio in India have much in common with the example outlined above. Both address the issues of communities producing their own radio programmes, of regulation, of the negligible costs involved and of the importance they have for the community concerned. Then there is of course, the strikingly similar life cycle they seem to have gone through. They have had a presence in the past, and then, quite simply, they died. The difference is that community radio is beginning to show signs of life again. For a variety of reasons, it now seems imminent that community radio in India is going to play an increasingly important role in the progress of the country. It is this development that this paper will attempt to contextualise, examine and analyse. What is community media? To approach the issue of community radio, an understanding of the wider term 'community media' becomes essential. The phrase 'community media' can be interpreted literally as media which engages with a particular community, to the exclusion of other communities. Therefore, all media products are essentially community media as they each address a particular community. This 'community' could be a global one, a regional one, a class based one, a language based one (with or without overlaps), and so on. Though dialectically irrefutable, such an understanding of the term lacks empirical confirmation. In practice, community media have come to be accepted as "adaptations of media for use by the community, for whatever purpose the community decides? They are media in which the community participates as planners, producers, performers. They are the means of expression of the community rather than for the community" (Rosario-Braid et al., 1987: 45). An important distinction between non-community (or mainstream media) and community media is being made here. Whereas mainstream media is aimed (the military metaphor permeates production parlance; another example ? target audience) at a particular community, and there remains a clear differentiation between the producers and the audience, this relationship is redefined within the framework of community media for "access [is no longer] limited to reception only" (Moemeka, 1981: 77). The audience are the producers, and possess ownership of and control over all processes of production and distribution. The community produces the media for itself. It is this empowerment of the position of the community within the power relationship between media and its audience that defines community media. A community, a relatively homogeneous group of people with shared interests, is not necessarily limited to a well-defined geographical space. Therefore, community media need not necessarily be local media. However, in a developing country such as India, mobility of people is relatively low and there exist vast differences in language (both aural and visual), culture and geography. These factors, coupled with legal, technological, economic and infrastructural limitations, qualify community media further to be a local one as well. Therefore, the notion of community media in the Indian context refers to media that is owned and controlled by small, localised communities, which produce media products for themselves. The same holds true for community radio as well. Why community radio? The economics of media production limit it into becoming a homogenising 'mass' media. Television and radio networks, print media, Internet companies, all have to bow to the demands of 'market forces', for "media texts are commodities just like any other products of industry, and their production shares many characteristics of assembly line manufacture, like cars or computers" (O'Sullivan & Jewkes, 2001: 249). With this style of production, comes the inherent need for revenues. As revenue generation is primarily advertisement and consumer led in most media markets of the world, this usually translates into programming being generated for those members of the audience who have more purchasing power. Where commercial interests "are primary, broadcasters will deliver a service only to the most profitable markets ? which lie in densely populated areas that can deliver large audiences without difficulties" (Scannell, 1989: 63). The knowledge society certainly has well defined priorities - money. The needs and concerns of the rural and the marginalized, which constitute a large majority of populations of developing countries, are largely ignored in this scheme of things. This is not to say that this constituency of people can be looked upon as a single mass of people with similar needs that would be served by a single monolithic, alternative media. In the development field, as there is "great variability of development patterns, it is more important to understand the dynamics of local situations thoroughly and to plan accordingly than to seek universally valid prescriptions" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 23). Apart from this issue, an important concern that needs to be mentioned is the cost incurred to be able to access information, in any form, whether relevant or not. While the Internet seems to be a free cure-all resource, with a huge potential for community operations as its structure itself is decentralised, entering into its magical world needs a considerable amount of investment, not only on the part of the government in terms of telecommunications and power infrastructure, but also on the part of the individual or community in terms of the prohibitive costs of buying the required hardware. The cheapest 'Internet ready' computer system would cost upwards of $400, in a country where the per capita income is $310 annually. Illiteracy too is a major hurdle that hits at the very core of the English centred, written word oriented Internet. With almost 48% of the people in India illiterate, using the spoken word remains a strategy that would be more useful, even if to promote the cause of literacy. A television set too can be expensive, and although the penetration of television is increasing exponentially, the cost of production of programmes for television, and its subsequent transmission, remains extremely high, and can be recouped only when spread out over a large audience. Even public broadcasters cannot sustain public service programming as a result of commercial pressures of satellite television and "state television has become more focused on entertainment in order to retain its mass audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 335). To a large extent, this factor alone excludes a viable possibility of community owned, and now even public service television. A radio set, on the other hand, remains free of many of these limitations. A radio set (significantly, which can work independent of electricity supply), including an FM tuner, can be purchased for as little as $2. A low range, low power, production and transmission unit for FM can be obtained for under $8000. Clearly, in just economic terms, the case for community radio is strong. India is a large country. Not just in terms of inhabitants and area, but also in terms of the sheer number of languages its people use to communicate. The national languages recognised by the constitution themselves number 15. When regional dialects and offshoots of main languages are thrown in, the number swells to over 1600. Being a society with a very strong oral history, identity and sensibilities are largely associated with language and dialect. Indian federal polity itself is based on linguistic differentiation. Riots have broken out in the past over the issue of language and a perceived hegemony of one over the other. When attempting to address local concerns through media, this can be a very problematic issue to deal with. With this in mind, the presence of media (and specifically radio) in only the dominant languages and dialects thrown at the audience at large can be profoundly counterproductive. A repetition of these experiences certainly would not be a step forward towards becoming a 'knowledge society'. "Properly handled, the wireless can be made to mean for the Indian village such health, wealth and comfort as it has never known. Broadcasting can do more in a few years in the general spread of knowledge than all other methods of education put together in a lifetime" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Although coloured by the simpler optimism and a colonial 'we must do good for the natives' approach of its time, this statement is an early pointer to the critical link between radio and its potential in the development effort. It also carries within itself a reference to the above-mentioned catchphrase of our times, the knowledge society. Many 'world experts' on development constantly bandy about this phrase with little care. New and old communication technologies are often seen as important delivery systems of this knowledge and information. In this context, the case for the presence of a radio (or many radios) which addresses the relevant needs of specific groups of people in a localised space is significantly strong. Community radio then, appears to serve this purpose admirably. Although in a general sense, it is agreed that access to information and knowledge is important for the progress of a people, some critical questions relating to this debate are glossed over. What constitutes this knowledge? Who decides what is relevant information? Who controls access to and control over the systems and processes that disseminate this knowledge? An attempt can be made to answer these questions by first analysing the history of rural, local and community radio in India. The history It is not as if community radio, in the widest sense, has been completely absent in the long history of radio broadcasting in India. Though the form it has taken has varied over time and regions, instances of decentralised, rural and local radio that addressed the needs of the marginalized have been many. The use of radio (and later television) in the development process has long been a cornerstone of public service broadcasting policy of the Indian government, both colonial and independent. As far back as 1932, Punjab's Rural Reconstruction Commissioner, Frederick Brayne, conducted an experiment in rural radio broadcasting in Lahore. Based on the experience of this effort, Charles Strickland, former registrar of Indian Friendly Societies, suggested the setting up of district radio stations for rural development in a presentation made to the East India Society in London in 1933. These stations "would use small transmitters, broadcasting in local dialects, and providing a diet of folk songs and folk theatre, interspersed with news on agricultural prices" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Many other experiments were conducted across India, but none survived. Those that did "were later absorbed into the national broadcasting service and in the process lost much of the community focus which had inspired the pioneers" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 38). The emphasis on using radio broadcast technologies for rural development continued with independence and beyond. Rural programming in regional dialects formed an important part of the overall programme content. The principal objective of All India Radio, India's nationalised radio broadcasting organisation, was the "conversion of All India Radio into a means of bringing practical assistance and pleasure to the millions in the villages" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 16). An important milestone in that effort came in the form of Farm Radio Forums set up in 1956 in 150 villages across five districts of the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Based on a Canadian model, it was a collaborative effort between All India Radio and UNESCO. The genesis of this effort lay in the earlier establishment of "village listening clubs [which had been] organised with the limited objective of ensuring better listening and for the collection of programme material" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 19). All India Radio had decided that the "experiment should be confined to a compact area where one regional language is spoken" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 20). With the support of community leaders and field workers, selected farmers in villages would meet at the appointed hour, listen to the radio broadcast collectively through a community radio set and then discuss the content which was moderated by a convener, who was usually "the secretary of the panchayat (village council)? or a teacher or a gram sevak (village worker)" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 31). The content itself was produced especially for the populace of the region, with a Subjects Committee "consisting of experts and others having an intimate knowledge of village life and its problems" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22) making editorial decisions. The programming was to "place emphasis on the practical aspects of rural life, and stimulate lively discussion among the listeners without raising controversial political issues" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22). The role that the members, the listeners, were to play was defined in advance too and on enrolment, the "objectives of the forums were explained to them in simple terms as follows: (a) to listen to the special farm programme that was broadcast twice a week; (b) to discuss before and after the programmes some of the problems on which the broadcast focused attention; (c) to state their views on the problems and make suggestions about the programmes and occasionally to contribute to the programmes" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). A pioneering effort for its time, this experiment was "very successful in communicating knowledge of agricultural techniques and encouraging participation in decision making" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). However, as shown above, all control clearly lay with the producers and organisers, who were distinct from the audience. All aspects of the experiment were well defined, and carefully orchestrated, from the inception to the functioning. On the face of it, this was done to ensure the efficacy of the experiment. But this efficacy was determined by the desired results of the organisers rather than by those whom it was meant to serve. Though participation and feedback was built into the process, it was not the most critical element of it. The structure of the experiment itself was based on the approach that rural needs were best understood by those outside of the milieu and necessary information injected into these less developed regions would work wonders for the lives of the inhabitants. A later experiment using radio in the service of a specific rural community in a particular agricultural context was undertaken in the 1960s. The occurrence of the Green Revolution of this time changed the status of India being a country that imported food to feed itself to becoming one with net food surpluses. Though the efficacy of the Green Revolution itself in the long term is now suspect, at that time it was the imperative. This change came about primarily due to the introduction of new varieties of food plants and altered agricultural practices that greatly increased crop yields. Agricultural practices in India had remained largely unchanged for generations. Traditional forms of agriculture with a strong component of subsistence farming had been the norm. With the coming of new techniques and technology that later propelled the Green Revolution, came the imperative of introducing fundamental changes into these basic practices. The primary question that plagued planners and development experts was how to transmit the relevant information for the adoption of these new practices in a country as large and as seeped in traditional modes of agriculture as India. If the programme was to be successful, the adoption of these new practices over large areas in a short time was considered essential. In response to this need, All India Radio "began experimental broadcasts for farmers from the Trichinipoly station in 1966 to adopt new yielding varieties" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). The success of these broadcasts can be gauged by the fact that it "led to the new variety [of rice] becoming known as 'Radio Paddy'" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). This was another example of how localised broadcasts had been used effectively for rural needs by providing a link between agricultural extension service and farmers. Although the 'success' of the Farm Radio Forums and Radio Paddy were celebrated, such experiments were short lived and more the exception rather than the norm, as the structure of All India Radio and the philosophy behind broadcasting remained largely top-down. The expansion of stations across the country into districts did take place, however the general problem of their not being able to address local concerns remained. The reason was not hard to find. These stations were "managed and staffed by an all-India cadre of broadcasters with only temporary local affiliations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). The producers of the programmes not having much stake in the issues of the regions they happened to be posted in, the programming itself was bound to suffer. Though programming for farmers remains important in the organisational objectives of All India Radio even now, at best the small district stations continue "broadcasting in local languages and re-broadcasting national programmes to local audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329) and cannot be called community radio stations in the strictest sense of the term as defined earlier in this essay. The fundamental problem remains that these supposedly rural, community oriented programmes are thrown at the audience with almost no "consultations between the people and the producers of the programmes, and no cooperation between the producers and the change agents in the rural areas who know and understand local conditions" (Moemeka, 1981: 66). There is also the problem of choice for the audience. "When community programmes share the same outlets as programmes for the nation as a whole, the two are, in some measure, in competition with one another for the same airtime? Community broadcasting can enjoy much more freedom to expand where it employs outlets of its own" (Moemeka, 1981: 64). The legal aspect The basic problem which had prevented true community radio stations from coming into existence was not only the reluctance of All India Radio to rescind control over the airwaves; it was also the legal aspects of the issue. It was illegal for any individual or private organisation to broadcast any information in any form over any area whatsoever. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 stated that: "Within India, the Central Government shall have the exclusive privilege of establishing, maintaining and working telegraphs: Provided that the Central Government may grant a licence, on such conditions and in consideration of such payments as it thinks fit, to any person to establish, maintain or work a telegraph within any part of India." The act was, and in large parts still is, in use. It laid out in no uncertain terms that broadcasting was the exclusive preserve of the government. Within a legal framework as limiting as this, the notion of community radio has remained a pipedream. The closest it would come to becoming community radio would be in the form of occasional sensitive and participatory programming as a result of the special efforts of the odd officer serving a particular station. Then s/he would be transferred and that would be the end of it. This sporadic presence of sensitive, participatory broadcasting also prevented any momentum leading to a critical mass to build up which could then have forced the issue with the government. Although the airwaves were opened up to private concerns in 1993, this was done so by the commercial auction of airtime on FM stations and that too in only the large metros of Mumbai and Delhi. Needless to say, large media houses with considerable economic clout were able to garner these licenses. The programming would invariably consist of slickly produced entertainment programmes aimed at an urban audience. The airwaves were being opened up, but the benefits were accruing to the mainstream media industry and its consumers. All this changed with a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India in 1995. Though the judgment was delivered in the context of the rights to broadcast a cricket match, the case itself became peripheral to the larger issue of the rights of individuals over the airwaves. While affirming the restrictions that must be put on broadcasting to prevent its misuse, the judgment of the Court also held that, "The airwaves or frequencies are a public property." It went on further to say that: "The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution." The Court further ordered the government to set up an independent and autonomous authority which would oversee the control and regulation of the airwaves, including the task of granting licences to private organisations and individuals to broadcast independent of the government machinery. Although the need for community radio had been a long felt one, this judgment of the Supreme Court gave an important and well-timed fillip to its supporters. In September 1996, VOICES, an Indian non-governmental organisation, brought together more than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-governmental organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment to debate the issue and formulate a strategy to pressurise the government to act upon the judgment by setting up a legislative framework for the introduction, encouragement and facilitation of community radio. The result was the Bangalore Declaration on Radio. While advocating that All India Radio should allocate regular air time to community broadcasting in the interim, the group also "requested the government to grant licenses to set up community radio stations to NGOs and other non-profit making organisations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). Since then, All India Radio has made token efforts in this direction but the current situation remains that no regulatory framework has yet been set up for non-profit agencies. Although the first privately owned FM radio station went on air in July 2001 (ironically, in Bangalore), it is a commercial one, owned by Rupert Murdoch's STAR group. Currently, through various forums, the supporters of community radio are debating whether to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court of India to put further pressure on the government. Some projects based on community production of radio programmes without being broadcast are also being carried out which serve as important demonstrators of the positive potential of community radio. These projects will be discussed in more detail later in the essay. The concerns against community radio Seven years after the Court passed the judgment, the government has still not responded with any concrete action. As the frustration and impatience amongst the votaries of community radio grows, assurances are given, but nothing concrete has come of it. For a better understanding of the issues involved, it would then be useful to examine the reservations that have been raised against the widespread use of community owned radio. These concerns have been many; from technological, to social, to those relating to the development process, and of course, the ubiquitous concern for 'national security'. National Security Disaffected groups with a separatist agenda are a reality in many relatively newly formed nation states of the world. Often their presence is a symptom of the inability of the state to involve all sections of the population in the national mainstream. In India too, there exist many insurgent groups that have such a clearly avowed separatist agenda. Fears are then expressed that legalising broadcasts by private agencies would be of aid to such groups. They would then be in a position to increase the reach of their propaganda and the state would be facilitating it through the legalising of community radio. On the face of it, the argument has a certain appeal, but when the surface is scratched, it begins to show some cracks. Disaffection occurs largely when a group is marginalized or disenfranchised. "Minorities will feel safe only when the nation assures their democratic and human rights and when they see the possibility of negotiating for equitable sharing of power and resources" (Jayaweera, 2001 ). If anything, community radio becomes a facilitator of the integrative role that a nation should play, for through it, communities can engage not with issues immediately important to them, but also with the national mainstream. Panchayati Raj (self-governing village level) Institutions in India are based on the basic principles of self-governance and decentralisation of powers and control. These institutions are being actively supported through legislative, economic, political and social means. However, the same support is not being extended to what could be a critical facilitator of this decentralised structure - community owned media. "It is an empowering tool for the community. A nation [that] consists of empowered communities is more secure" (Jayaweera, 2001). Good governance is not based on externally enforced control. Control is effective only when it is generated by the self. Community radio, being owned and operated by the communities themselves, has self-censorship built into its very structure. With the entire community being stakeholders in the process of generating media for themselves, a propagandist agenda with little currency within the community will be sifted out of its own accord through mechanisms within it. Technology Technologically, the concern is that if thousands of community radio stations were to sprout up, then the airwaves would become clogged, for there is a limited frequency range allocated for broadcast. However, this too is a misplaced fear, for community radio by definition is local, and therefore such broadcasts would typically have a range of 20-30 kilometres. In this way, a single frequency could be shared without any overlapping signals by a series of stations. "On FM, the bandwidth permits a very large number of low powered radio transmitters. There can be up to 5000 FM stations, roughly the same number as tehsils (district sub-divisions) in India." Though the argument of airwaves becoming clogged up is weak and with little basis in fact, an issue that has not been addressed in enough detail is that of the maintenance and repair when needed of production and transmission equipment. Although the Bangalore Declaration does make a demand for the initial setting up of stations to be funded "largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc.", there is little mention of the way in which the maintenance issue would be tackled. Unless training programmes for locals are incorporated into the overall planning and conception of community radio stations, these could be rendered non-functional after some years of use. However, this remains a problem which can be tackled effectively with some foresight and planning and would also be useful in generating employment opportunities within the rural economy. Social Structure While technological and political issues can be resolved through planning and advocacy, it is when the dynamics of the development process itself are analysed, that some valid concerns come to the fore. The early experiment of the Farm Radio Forums itself has something to offer in the discussion on the efficacy of community radio. It was observed that in the project, it was difficult to "set up forums in which all members could speak on an equal footing. The village school masters often tended to be the most vocal and the other village functionaries were able to dominate as a result of their authority" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). The genesis of this problem lies in the fact that often planners, development experts and concerned professionals lobby for a particular solution based on the "assumption that there is harmony of interests amongst the rural population? Village society is highly differentiated in terms of access to resources, ? and [it] is highly characterised by competition for resources among different interest groups" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 256). Even when community radio becomes a reality, this issue will remain, for it will then be an important resource for information, and information "tends not to trickle randomly but to flow along well established channels defined by the social structure" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 259). Though the legal ownership of this resource will lie with the community itself, those already in positions of control within such a community may end up monopolising it. This an important and valid concern as "obstacles to change are structural rather than cultural; changing attitudes are important but insufficient on their own to make any real progress in toppling the prevailing structures of inequality within village culture" (Johnson, 2000: 224). Therefore, checks and balances must be built into the legislative framework that will govern community radio which will at least attempt to minimise such occurrences, for eradicating them altogether will not be easy. Social structures cannot be changed overnight, with or without the presence of community radio. Despite this concern, the relative efficacy of community radio, as opposed to other media that profess the cause of equitable access to relevant information in a practical way, remains unchallenged. Ongoing efforts Despite these concerns and limitations, the positive potential of community radio continues to be demonstrated by various groups of people and organisations throughout the country. With the legal framework of community broadcasting absent and the government dragging its feet on the process, these organisations and groups have begun to undertake innovative measures to use the advantages of audio technology to further their efforts in the developmental arena. The Deccan Development Society (DDS) is an NGO which works in the Medak district of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With efforts emphasising the concerns of gender justice, environmental soundness and people's knowledge, its strategy is to consolidate groups of village women into "vibrant organs of primary local governance and federate them into a strong pressure lobby for women, poor and the dalits (those belonging to the lowest castes)". Sammamma, a 35 year-old non-literate member of the group observed that they "are working on so many alternative issues. The dissemination of this message is now the burden of a few women leaders who travel around? If we have our own radio, the issues we are talking about will have a much wider dissemination? and reach a larger community of women." Propelled by such felt needs, a collaborative effort between DDS and UNESCO was launched in 1996. This resulted in the establishing of an FM station designed to work on the relatively 'low tech', yet effective enough, audio cassette technology. "Once the station is in operation, dalit women from 75 villages will bring their form and content into it and make it a tool for their horizontal communication with their communities as well as to reach out to the outside". A Community Media Trust too has been launched, formally transferring the ownership of these media facilities to a body consisting of members of the rural community. While a fully functional radio station is in place, broadcasting remains illegal. So the community produces radio programmes which are then played back in the periodic community meetings held over the region. Feedback to these programmes in these meetings are recorded and brought back to the production facilities. This form of 'narrowcasting' is proving to be quite useful and effective in the absence of actual broadcasting. In another region of the country, a collaborative effort between All India Radio and small rural communities is being carried out. In the Western Indian state of Rajasthan, the state owned radio broadcaster has leased a weekly time slot to an NGO working with rural women in the region. However, in this case, the programmes are not created by the women themselves. Relying heavily on audience feedback and inputs from field workers, the programmes are written, directed and produced by a team of professional communicators in association with the NGO. Though not community radio in that there is little direct involvement of the community itself in the production and broadcast of the programmes, the response to it has been very positive. As a step toward the creation of a genuine participatory radio, it serves an important purpose. Other such projects continue to be undertaken, deftly sidestepping the legal constraints they find themselves limited by. However, until the promised regulatory framework is finalised, these efforts will have only limited success and the frustration of communities at not being able to communicate with each other freely, despite having the wherewithal to do so, will only grow. Developmental communication and community radio The path that theories of developmental communication have taken bears an eerie resemblance to the one taken by developmental theory at large. For decades, they have rested on presuppositions that have little or no bearing with empirical observations. These mimic in different ways the following pattern. The rural, the marginalized and the disenfranchised need to be helped. And this help must come in the form of outside intervention. This help can take the form of aid, technology, education, political rights, and in the case of communication specifically, ideas and information. This overall approach of "exogenously induced change" (P. Golding cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 24) assumes the receivers to be a monolithic mass of morons who are incapable of articulating their own needs, their own notions of change and their own definitions of development. They are the perfect sponges, absorbing all the wonderful messages directed at them, and whether through the "two-step flow" (E.M. Rogers cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) or by the sheer strength of the "great information multipliers" (W. Schramm cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) characteristic of the media, incorporate them into their daily lives. As a result of this external support, the world becomes a more equitable place sooner rather than later, and all of humanity is indebted to the development and developmental communications experts for eternity. Unfortunately, the world has not changed much. Basic inequities remain (where they have not increased), and so do similar theories. However, what has emerged is a more sagacious view. "Real societies are too complicated and local conditions too varied for universal solutions to be applicable, though the dimensions of the problems of development are now better understood" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 31). A challenge to this dominant, top-down trend in developmental communications has been present for some time, but has not been able to influence communication policy planners in the third world. This alternative view outlines a framework where "the status distance between teacher and student, communicator and audience, is abolished. Communication functions more as a dialogue in which the former learns as well as teaches, and the latter is enabled to understand better the causes of his oppression and thereby to do something about it" (P. Freire cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 29). A constructive dialogue can take place only amongst equals. And to be able to do so implies the partnership and participation of the entire community in all processes of media production and dissemination. It is this approach community radio exemplifies. Community radio also strikes at the heart of the tool with which status quo in a society is maintained - the control of knowledge. Those who have access to such knowledge are loath to give it up. And to give up control over something as important as broadcasting can be very threatening to existing power structures. "The limits of representative democracy and of broadcasting's representative public service role within it are essentially the same; power accrues to the representatives, not those whom they represent" (Scannell, 1989: 70). Moreover, media producers thrive on the mystification of the production process and its associated technology. The possession of this 'specialised' knowledge grants them a position of power. In practice, production processes can be carried out by anyone with just basic training, if that. When production shifts to the community, the demystification of technology occurs simultaneously. No longer can technology remain distant from the people is meant to serve. No longer is the process an esoteric one to which a privileged few have access. No longer can the dominant grammar of the media be sustained, for now it can be redefined by the audience itself. This process then results in the emasculation of the dominant media production industry and its proponents. Consumers of a particular product becoming producers of the same is the worst nightmare of those who gain from established economic structures. It has also been observed that "knowledge of the operational aspects of mass communication increases interest in the media, and creates a critical awareness in listening to the messages they carry" (Moemeka, 1981: 74). An audience that is critically aware of the way in which media products can be designed consciously to suit a certain end and may not necessarily represent the 'truth', is a dangerous one to contend with for those who stand to gain by it. At the same time, if communities are empowered enough to create an alternative media of their own, the mainstream media industry stands to lose the very basis on which it exists, its consumers. It is an unequal world, and it is in the interest of some to keep it so. Conclusion Community radio in India at the moment stands on the threshold of fundamentally changing the basic notion of the role media can play in the empowerment of people. But a major barrier continues to exist in the form of the lack of legislative framework, perhaps fuelled by the resistance of established interest groups. Against the argument that this is the sole barrier to community media being widely propagated, is the one that even if this legislative reform were to take place, the deeply embedded hierarchical social structures within which community radio would have to operate would mitigate the beneficial developmental effects of it. While lobby groups and advocates of community media continue to pressurise the government to formulate laws that would make free the airwaves in the truest sense of the term, it is the second hurdle which is infinitely more difficult to overcome. Hierarchies have an inherent characteristic of being extremely tenacious. Indeed, change of social structures occurs over time and may only take place when the benefits of such a change for all are made obvious to all. In a similar vein, it is possible that the group currently influencing public policy on broadcasting in India will not lose as much power as it fears. Community radio does not seek to replace other forms of broadcast. It simply gives a voice to the peripheral millions. A three tiered broadcasting model, with the national, private and community media playing complementary roles, has a precedence in other developing nations and much can be learnt from such systems. When community radio does take off, it will be a rewarding exercise to observe the ways in which its active presence can be causally related to an improvement in the condition of the marginalized sections of society. However, while it may be tempting to romanticise the power community radio grants and the benefits it can bring, it is important to understand that it must only be as 'useful' as the community wants it to be. To use the exogenous 'we must teach people how to use this new tool' approach would be to merely replicate the follies of the past. Organisations and lobbyists, who are impatient to use this tool in what would hopefully be a more liberal environment, must be careful in this regard. If it is to be a true community radio, it must be wholly and completely left in the hands of the community concerned. Even training and workshops to familiarise members of communities with the technology must facilitate an independent interpretation of the way it can be used. Community radio can be successful only if it frees people to communicate with themselves. In their own language, in their own form and on their own terms. When this happens, perhaps Xavier Radio too may find its voice again. References Hartmann, P., Patil, B.R. and Dighe, A. (1989) The Mass Media and Village Life: An Indian Study, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Jayaweera, W. (2001) "Can community radio become a tool of disintegration?" Discussion paper presented during the National Seminar on Community Radio, Jakarta, Indonesia in September 2001. [Online] http://www.thehoot.org/conference/comtool.asp Johnson, D. (2000) Television and Social Change in Rural India, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Mathur, J.C. and Neurath, P. (1959) An Indian Experiment in Farm Radio Forums, Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Moemeka, A. A. (1981) Local Radio: Community Education for Development, Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press Ltd. O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Page, D. and Crawley, W. (2001) Satellites Over South Asia: Broadcasting, Culture and the Public Interest, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rosario-Braid, R.F., Mendoza-Rivera, M.T., Alberto, E.R., Fabian, E.J. and Tuazon, R.R. (Eds.) (1987) Communication for Rural Mobilisation and Development, Manila: Asian Institute of Journalism. Scannell, P. (1989) "Public service broadcasting and modern public life" O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Web Resources http://www.ilpdc.org http://www.indiantelevision.com http://www.indiapolicy.org http://www.meadev.nic.in http://www.thehoot.org http://www.vigyan.org.in http://www.wantokent.com Appendix A The Supreme Court Ruling In a ruling given in early 1995, India's Supreme Court declared the airwaves as 'public property', to be utilized for promoting public good and ventilating plurality of views, opinions and ideas. This judgment held that the 'freedom of speech and expression' guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution includes the right to acquire and disseminate information. And, in turn, the right to disseminate includes the right to communicate through any media -- print, electronic or audio visual -- though restrictions were permissible on such rights. "The fundamental rights," said the judgment, "can be limited only by reasonable restrictions under a law made for the purpose ... The burden is on the authority to justify the restrictions. Public order is not the same thing as public safety and hence no restrictions can be placed on the right to freedom of speech and expression on the ground that public safety is endangered." Judges Sawant and Mohan held that: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our Constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media." This judgment noted that Indian broadcasting was being governed by archaic laws. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 was meant for a different purpose altogether. When it was enacted, there was neither radio nor television, but both these concepts were later sought to be fitted into the definition of "telegraph". In view of this, the judges said it was essential that the Indian Parliament "step in soon to fill the void by enacting a law or laws, as the case may be, governing the broadcast media, i.e. both radio and television". Also, the judges instructed the Indian federal government to "take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of the airwaves". 1236 S.C. Secretary, Ministry of I&B v.Cricket Assocn, Bengal AIR 1995 Supreme Court 1236 P.B.Sawant, S. Mohan Reddy and B.P. Jeevan Reddy, JJ One of the most relevant paragraphs to us perhaps is: "24. We, therefore, hold as follows: "(i) The airwaves or frequencies are a public property. Their use has to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interest of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights. Since the electronic media involves the use of the airwaves, this factor creates an in-built restriction on its use as in the case of any other public property. "(ii) The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. "(iii) The Central Government shall take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of airwaves...." Some other points made in the judgement/s: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media "However, the monopoly in broadcasting and telecasting is often claimed by the Government to utilise the public resources in the form of the limited frequencies available for the benefit of society at large. It is justified by the Government to prevent the concentration of the frequencies in the hands of the rich few who can monopolise the dissemination of views and information to suit their interests and thus in fact to control and manipulate public opinion, in effect smothering the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom of information to others. "The claim to monopoly made on this ground may however lose all its raison d'etre if either... section of the society is unreasonably denied access to broadcasting or the Governmental agency claims exclusive right to prepare and relay programmes." "The Government sometimes claims monopoly also on the ground that having regard to all pervasive presence and impact of the electronic media, it may be utilised for purposes not permitted by law and the damage done by private broadcasters may be irreparable. There is much to be said in favour of this view and it is for this reason that the regulatory provisions including those for granting licences to private broadcasters where it is permitted are enacted." "On the other hand, if the Government is vested with an unbridled discretion to grant or refuse to grant the license or access to the media, the reason for creating monopoly will lose its validity. For them it is the Government which will be enabled to effectively suppress the freedom of speech and expression instead of protecting it and utilising the licensing power strictly for the purpose for which it is conferred. It is for this reason that in most of the democratic countries an independent autonoous broadcasting authority is created to control all aspects of the operation of the electronic media. Such authority is representative of all sections of the society and is free from control of the political and administrative executive of the State. "It therefore, includes the right to propagate one's views through the print media or through any other communication channel e.g. the radio and television. Every citizen of this free country, therefore, has the right to air his or her views through the printing and/or the electronic media subject of course to permissible restrictions imposed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The print media, the radio and the tiny screen play the role of public educators, so vital to the growth of a healthy democracy." Appendix B The Bangalore Declaration on Radio September 1996 Introduction The present decade is significant for the India's development in a number of ways. Decentralisation of governance, professed emphasis on social services, impact of the communication revolution and increased general awareness of human rights have opened up opportunities and challenges on an unprecedented scale. If these far-reaching changes in the economic, technological and social spheres can be harnessed to empower the impoverished and disadvantaged millions, the process of development can be given a fresh impetus and a more purposive orientation. Information is a key element in socio-economic development. The capacity to communicate and have access to the media greatly influences information use and its impact. People will also generate new and vital information when the media are democratised. Therefore, the need for a dynamic and people-oriented policy on communication cannot be over-stressed. A variety of factors peculiar to the Indian situation today suggest that a liberalised policy on radio broadcasting with emphasis on community participation and local control, will be appropriate to the current development strategy. Formulation of broadcasting policy in respect of radio should aim at optimum utilisation of airwaves in the public interest, facilitating community management of information exchange and participatory modes of decision-making. Limited experiments in this direction by the All India Radio through the so-called Local Radio Stations have demonstrated the immense benefits and potential of this approach. It is proposed here to institutionalise and expand the concept of community broadcasting, with the involvement of people at all levels across the length and breadth of this vast country. Democracy and good governance make such a change imperative; and it is an essential pre-requisite for better enjoyment of human rights. More than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-government organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment, discussed the problems and prospects for evolving a sectoral broadcasting policy during a four-day Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy held in Bangalore September 11-14, 1996. The discussions focused on the means and modalities of establishing, at the earliest, a democratic system of public service broadcasting in the country. The Consultation resulted in a consensus statement, here called the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO, which outlines the basic elements of a desirable media policy on radio broadcasting. Given the set of current policies aimed at decentralisation, liberalisation and people's participation in several areas, it is hoped that the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO will receive the timely and earnest attention of relevant authorities, and that the concept of community radio will soon become a reality. Meanwhile, it is important that universities, public bodies, women's organisations, dalit associations - to name a few - prepare themselves for the task of establishment and participatory management of community radio stations with a development agenda appropriate to, and determined by, their communities: this is the near-term challenge and unique opportunity. Community radio will bring fresh validity and meaning to the concept of decentralised governance envisaged by 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution; and catalyse the process of people's empowerment through information and education. It is with this hope and reasonable expectation that the BANGALORE DECLARATION is being presented to the public for a wider discussion, support and follow-up action. NATIONAL BROADCASTING POLICY: Towards public service broadcasting through community radio Preamble Whereas the right to impart and receive information is recognised as a guaranteed basic right under the Constitution; and whereas,the Supreme Court of India has declared airwaves as public property to be utilised for promoting public good and ventilating plurality and diversity of views, opinions and ideas, and that towards this end, the broadcasting media should be under the control of the public as distinct from the Government; and whereas, it is necessary to promote local broadcasting through community-based radio stations for the successful implementation of decentralised governance envisaged under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments;and whereas, successive committees appointed by the Government to examine the issue have recommended the adoption of a comprehensive national broadcasting policy with participation of the private sector, NGOs, local self- government institutions and other community groups providing a framework for media development in the context of technological progress and national needs: It is now proposed to present the elements of a National Broadcasting Policy on the basis of which Parliament could enact legislation for regulating the airwaves as a public property, whose utilisation in the context of electronic media - TV and radio - is intended to promote public good. [Since the Bangalore Consultation was specifically focused on radio broadcasting, the statement of policy contained herein is limited to only the radio broadcasting sector, and in particular, its community broadcasting application. It is our hope that this statement would be included appropriately in the National Media Policy which would cover all media - Television, Radio, Cinema and Print.] Statement The legislative imperative 1. Airwaves are public property and must be used for public good. Public good is not served optimally when there is a monopoly by the government over this public resource or when liberalisation of broadcasting is confined to commercial use of airwaves. Access to the airwaves by everyone who acts in the public interest is the sine qua non of public good in this context. This is also part of the right to information, a guaranteed constitutional right. Need for community radio 2. Centralised one-way broadcasting at various levels of aggregation has limited scope to serve the goals of development, especially in the context of pluralism and diversity which is a singular characteristic of Indian society. As such, the regulatory framework should promote a decentralised system of radio broadcasting. 3. Community broadcasting, is a concept relevant to social cohesion, development for conviviality and national integration. Community radio is public service broadcasting its most decentralised and its most democratic form. A community radio station serves a defined geographical area of a village or groups of villages, and is owned and managed by organisations serving a given community. 4. A community radio station would, besides educating and entertaining people, connect people with people through participatory or circular communication, connect with organisations and communities, and finally, connect people with government and public service agencies. These needs are not met under the current framework. 5. In a number of ways, community or public interest broadcasting can be termed Equal Opportunity Broadcasting, which is essential not only for effective democratisation of a public resource viz. the airwaves, but also in the context of our plural society with a multiplicity of languages, cultures and ethnic groups. Policy formulation 6. Radio combines the benefits of low cost, and wide reach and access. When used in a community setting with limited area coverage, for example as in FM radio broadcasting, it offers many exciting possibilities for fulfilling the developmental goals and aspirations of the people, and wider choices in accessing information from diverse sources within and outside the community. Its potential for creating social change has been demonstrated in many parts of the world. For these reasons, control of community broadcasting should be vested with the community rather than with the government or private commercial enterprises. 7. The present centralised structure of broadcasting is not conducive to people-centred, participatory methods of communication. The potential of the medium to promote community development is largely unrealised. The involvement of other public bodies, NGOs, professional associations, etc. in the utilisation and management of airwaves is essential for realising this potential to promote the welfare of millions in communities, and therefore the public good. The need for structural changes in airwaves management in order to accommodate localised initiatives is a logical result of this imperative. 8. As recommended by the Paswan Committee (1996), while there can be a single national policy which addresses macro-level issues common to all media, medium-specific policies are required for each medium, taking into account the coverage, reach, cost structure, technology, administration and, finally, the social application of the medium. 9. Radio broadcasting, like other media, has developed around power centres and power structures in society, resulting in disparity of access and use among different sections of society. Changes in media policy which seek to mitigate if not eliminate these disparities require political will and a people-centred, bottom-up approach already contemplated in the 74th Consitutional Amendment. Community radio is an illustration of this evolutionary process; therefore, it needs to be acknowledged and supported. 10. At the operational level, a regulatory structure which is independent of the government and existing broadcasting organisations, public and private, should be set up in order to facilitate and support all licensed broadcasters in the country and their shared use of the airwaves under a fair and reasonable regime, consonant with national interests and priorities. The structure must address a varie~ty of issues such as: licensing criteria for various categories of broadcasting, technical and service standards, technical support and training, social and administrative auditing, funding sources and support, etc. 11. Frequency spectrum resources - particularly in the band allocated for FM radio broadcasting viz. 86-108 MHz - will be made available on a shared basis with existing services for community broadcasting applications. Efforts will be made to evolve a national plan for the allocation of frequencies in this band so that the establishment of a large number of community radio stations across the country, based on a high degree of frequency re-use, is facilitated. Note: Far-reaching structural and managerial changes in the regulation and administration of the electronic media by the Government have been recommended by the various committees appointed to examine the issue. These have been partly reflected in the Prasar Bharati Act (1990). This Act might require changes if the statement on policy contained in the BANGALORE DECLARATION is to be adopted in legislation. At the Bangalore Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy, a possible structure for autonomous public service radio broadcasting was discussed, taking into account the appropriate features of such a structure and also the ground realities of the country. The outcome of these discussions, titled "Structure of Public Service Radio Broadcasting in India: Some Essential Features," is appended to this document as Annexure I. Admittedly, some of the features listed therein - particularly those related to funding, organisation, and inter-linkages - need to be elaborated in more detail, after further discussion. However, the proposed structure provides a basis for discussion, once the important policy decisions on public control of airwaves and the concept of community broadcasting are taken. Annexure I ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A PUBLIC SERVICE RADIO: Broadcasting structure Regulatory Authority and Licensing Criteria 1. To regulate and oversee broadcasting activities in the country under a liberalised framework, a National Broadcast Trust (NBT) as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) should be established. The NBT will be an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, and would be free from government control. 2. The current framework adopted by national broadcasting agencies is of three-tier broadcasting, viz. national, regional and local. It is proposed here to enable the setting up of a separate and independent tier - at village/community level. The nature of community broadcasting warrants that it should be owned and managed by the community itself. For all other purposes, community broadcasting will be entitled to the same rights and obligations as broadcasting agencies at the other levels. 3. The term 'community' for this purpose shall mean a non-rigid group of people living in a bounded geographical area which is determined by the reach of the radio broadcasting station, and who share a commonality of concerns, interests and aspirations. 4. No monopoly or exclusive control by any interest group within the community will be permitted. The community, in all its diversity, should exercise democratic control over community broadcasting and establish appropriate systems of accountability, within and outside the community, as may be necessary. Equal opportunity to all groups in the community in respect of access to communication will be the distinct feature of a community radio station. 5. Given the complexity of local communities in India, the regulatory authority may grant licenses to other bodies serving the public interest in a phased manner. In the first phase, universities with extension activities (for example, agricultural universities, medical institutions, adult and legal literacy organisations), registered cooperatives, women's cooperatives and autonomous public bodies fulfilling minimum criteria for eligibility should be granted licenses to set up community radio stations to serve the public interest. Programming 6. While granting licenses for community radio stations, the NBT will direct the All India Radio to provide the required development and technical support to the licensees, including training of technicians and programmers. The licensee shall bear the costs of programming as well as the operating and maintenance costs of the community radio station. 7. A local advisory committee, representing varied public interests within the community, shall be appointed, preferably by a local judge, for a fixed tenure. The committee shall guide the programme content of transmissions from the community radio station. The committee shall also guide all other collective decisions relating to the operations of the community radio station, such as hours of transmission, scheduling and so on. 8. The interactive format for programming shall be encouraged to make the programmes truly participatory. A baseline programming element will relate to environment, health, women's empowerment, education, legal matters and other such public interest issues. 9. Building linkages between private broadcasters, on the one hand, and local self- government institutions, educational and professional bodies, and special interest groups on the other hand, will be essential. It is important that these groups are provided access to the medium in order to serve the public interest in all its dimensions. Such participation would of course be innovative. Community radio stations should also work in concert with government agencies in reaching out to and promoting the economic and social welfare of the marginalised and disadvantaged groups within the community. 10. The NBT may lay down guidelines on programme content promotive of public interest and may monitor community radio stations. It may exercise sanctions to discipline erring stations, again in the public interest as elucidated in the policy statement. 11. Community radio stations may be obliged to broadcast during an agreed period, national messages provided by the AIR, for which the radio networking receiver facilities may be extended by the latter. Role of All India Radio 12. All India Radio, with its extensive infrastructure, trained personnel and vast experience, shall play a crucial but supportive role in the development of community radio broadcasting, under the guidance of the NBT. Its new role in this sphere shall be clearly defined and the necessary organisational restructuring of the AIR shall be carried out to help carry out its new role effectively. 13. All India Radio shall provide assistance to licensed community broadcasters in the design of their radio stations in respect of intended coverage, technical configuration of transmitter and studio, and standardisation of the service at low investment levels; it shall also provide technical training for operation of the facilities. The AIR could also evolve a Handbook/Manual on community broadcasting, based on technical/system studies, which can be a source-book for the NBT in decision-making on technical matters and for potential broadcasters. Checks and Balances 14. To ensure social and public accountability, it is desirable that each community radio station evolves its own code of conduct and strictly abide by it in its programming, transmissions and management. A local Ombudsman consisting of three persons who are widely respected for their experience and integrity shall be attached to each radio station. The Ombudsman will entertain complaints from individuals and institutions and can decide on the culpability or otherwise of the radio station concerned. Once indicted by the Ombudsman, the radio station will have to make amends and strictly abide by its directions. More than three such violations may entail withdrawal of the license, or other privileges of the station or its officers. 15. The station can also be brought under the Consumer Protection Act as a provider of services in a limited number of cases. 16. If the regulatory authority directs a radio station to close down or if the station cannot be run for other reasons, including emergencies, AIR shall have the authority to keep the assets in trust till the problem is resolved and the station resumes broadcasting. If AIR is to finally and irrevocably take over the station along with the assets, the owners shall receive due compensation in respect of the assets taken over by AIR. Funding and Management 17. All community radio stations will work on the principle of no-profit, no-loss. Initial capital expenditure shall be met largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc. 18. The appropriate legal form for a community radio station could be either a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act; or a Trust under the Trusts Act. Other options for management of community radio stations could also be examined by the regulatory authority and a final organisational format can be arrived at. Interim Measures by the Government 19. In order to promote community broadcasting and the development of necessary skills in programming and other areas in the interim period when the legislative framework of community radio and follow-up actions are pending, the Government could provide for the following: ? Airtime in AIR Local Radio Stations for programmes developed by different community and special interest groups to provide regular community interaction with audiences within the coverage areas ? Airtime in Private Radio Stations licensed by the Government for institutions and public bodies within the community to provide regular community programming to audiences within the coverage areas ? Mandatory setting up of Community Broadcasting Stations areas by licensed broadcasters - government and private - as a fraction of the total number of local radio stations licensed by the NBT e.g. for every five Local Radio Station licenses granted, the licensee is obliged to set up one community radio station. Appendix C Verghese Committee Report, 1978 Excerpt from the major recommendations of Shri B.G. Verghese Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, February 1978. "We envisage an autonomous national trust as the authority under which Akashvani and Doordarshan should grow. This we are naming Akash Bharati - the National Broadcast Trust." 1995 data. See http://www.indiapolicy.org/debate/Notes/data1.html 1990 data. See http://www.ilpdc.org/ILP/education.htm See http://www.wantokent.com/prod01.htm See http://www.meadev.nic.in/culture/language/language.htm, the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. My italics. See http://www.vigyan.org.in/teleact18.htm See Appendix A. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp My italics. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp. www.thehoot.org is a website created under the auspices of The Media Foundation, New Delhi. See Appendix B. W. Jayaweera is the Regional Communication Adviser for UNESCO for the South Asia region. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/indcontext.asp The National Broadcast Trust is envisaged as an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, which would be free from government control to be established as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) on autonomy for Akashvani (state owned radio) and Doordarshan (state owned television). See Appendix C. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp From http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp From http://www.comminit.com/ctindiaradio/sld-208.html From http://www.indiantelevision.com/indianbrodcast/legalreso/legalresources.htm 7 From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 2 10:31:37 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 14:01:37 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Convergence Bill recommendations (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- New Delhi: The standing committee on information technology is likely to finalise its recommendations on the Communications Convergence Bill by May. �We will be in a position to forward our recommendations to the House before the current budget session ends in May,� according to a senior official. After a short recess beginning next week, the Parliament session is scheduled to end on May 17, 2002. The committee�s progress on the Convergence Bill, which was taken up in January itself, was impacted by the time taken on other issues like foreign investment in print media. To expedite work on the Convergence Bill, a 5-member sub-committee has been set up last week, the official said. It is the sub-committee, headed by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, which will undertake clause-by-clause consideration of the Convergence Bill. Other members of the committee are Bhartruhari Mahtab, Balbir K Punj, K Rama Mohana Rao and Kartar Singh Duggal. The sub-committee is expected to finalise its recommendations in the latter half of April. This draft report of the sub-committee will then be presented to the Standing Committee, which is headed by Somnath Chatterjee, which will adopt it. The Convergence Bill takes cognisance of the convergence of voice, and data (telecom, broadcasting and Internet) and seeks to set up a single super regulator � Communications Commission for India � for these sectors. The current Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is proposed to be subsumed into the super regulator. The bill also seeks to change the licensing regime and limit the number of licence categories to five �network infrastructure facilities, networking services, network application services, content application services and valued added network application services. It is still not clear how the existing licencees will be accommodated in the new regime. During the course of the year, the standing committee will also examine, in some detail, issues like direct-to-home (DTH) telecast, quality of electronic media programming, problems and requirements of the IT industry, human resource development in IT and working of the National Informatics Centre and the Software Technology Park scheme. On the telecom side, the committee will focus on the expansion of the network with special focus on rural and remote areas. Vandana Gombar, Financial Express ------------------------ Yahoo! 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Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From media at web.net Thu Apr 4 02:47:39 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 18:47:39 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Message-ID: <3CAB4E4B.30646.48F64D@localhost> Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Follows the initial 2 1/2 years of mobilisation in Mozambique, including efforts to set up associations, draft strategic plans, train large groups of volunteers in both formal & informal programmes, & acquire physical installations & equipment. http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-4359.html Contact: UNESCO/UNDP unesco at mediamoz.com -- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot... "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito..." African Proverb **************************************** ICQ # 8501081 MediaMentor Weblog http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor Homepages http://media002.tripod.com Caveat Lector, Disclaimers & (c) info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Semi-random signature quotes follow: A mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open... From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 08:14:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:44:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Radio as a tool to browse the Net (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Radio as a tool to browse the Net PTI [ TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2002 10:27:48 AM ] NEW DELHI: People on the wrong side of the digital divide can now, through an interactive radio programme called 'radio browsing', ask experts to surf the internet on their behalf and transmit information in response to their requests. "Presenters select relevant, reliable Websites and broadcast the programme with local resource persons as studio guests, like doctors for a health programme, who discuss the contents of the mostly English-language sites directly in local languages," says Unesco regional communication advisor W Jayaweera. Listeners, thus, not only get information they requested, but understand how it is made available on the web. They can react to it and know that key data will remain available in the community database enabling an entire community access to online information in their own language. "It is a unique strategy for bringing poor or marginalised communities mass, indirect access to online information. It is now a model for developing community multimedia centres throughout the developing world," says the Unesco official, adding the project initiated 5 years ago is already proving to be a success in several Third World countires. "Radio browsing is already adapted by Bhutan Broadcasting Service in Bhutan and two radio stations in Nepal apart from community radio stations in Philippines, Niger and Uganda." "Even Pakistan, after acknowledging our efforts, has announced a new broadcasting regulatory regime under which community radio stations are allowed," he says, adding that Unesco now wants to replicate the model in India. However, this unique experiment is yet to take off in the country due to concerns about its possible misuse as a tool of disintegration of nationhood. Cyberlaw experts like Pavan Duggal fear that interception, being a very tedious process due to the peculiarities of this complex country, there is possibility of misuse by separatists and terrorists. "There should be a strong licensing regime," he says. The policy-makers might now consider promoting the novel 'radio- browsing programme' after the passage of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the Controller of Certifying Authority to order interception. Also, the recently passed anti-terrorism Bill -- which gives evidentiary value to such intercepts -- could provide the necessary safeguards. Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj's recent announcement that she favours introducing a policy which will facilitate "narrowcasting" is seen by the social sector as a positive sign from the government towards allowing 'radio browsing' in the country through community radio stations. However, Jayaweera brushes aside fears of armed groups using community radio and programmes like radio browsing to promote their own separatist agenda: "In the countries with conflicts such as Sri Lanka, South Africa and Nepal, community radio is operational without any threat of acquire by armed groups." "In fact, it helps bottom-up decision making from each and every community in the decentralised administration. Therefore, it facilitates the process of true and democratic nation building," he says. Tea farmers in Kothmale, Sri Lanka could improve their tea drying techniques as a result of web infromation shared on these programmes. "Similarly other farmers in Timbuktu, Mali - where four radio stations received a suitcase radio comprising a complete broadcasting unit from Unesco for production of programmes using internet - found more information on improved methods of growing and storage of their crop besides knowing export possibilities and location-specific weather reports," he says, adding village bakers can find new recipes and funeral undertakers can learn more about embalming techniques. All India Radio (AIR) officials are receptive to the concept of radio browsing perhaps through the five community radio stations in the remote areas of the Northeast, notes AIR chief engineer HO Shrivastava. He however points out that the state radio already has similar programmes which induces the listeners to check-out the internet. "The 75 local radio stations broadcasts programmes like Krishidarshan -- programme for agriculturists -- apart from phone- in programmes during which listeners can ask experts questions about the new media and its content." But according to a recent India Human Development Report, only 51 per cent of the villages have access to telephone within two km distance, says Centre for Media Studies director N Bhaskara Rao. "Despite high talk and specific targets, we are far from taking the technoligies to rural areas. Even in Andhra Pradesh, a state which is a pioneer in rural phones, 20 per cent of villages are without a phone. When this is the scenario, how many people can afford phone-in programmes," he says. The successful deployment of the traditional and new media combine to increase the level of IT awareness apart from providing new livelihood areas to the marginalised communities in Kothmale in Sri Lanka and Timbuktu in Mali should set the policymakers thinking on giving permission to similar ventures in the country. "Digitalisation should mean digital dividend and increased access mean empowerment for more people, not the same people. Only then it will narrow the digital divide," says Rao. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=5652296 From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 19:20:44 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:50:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] INTRO: Kamal Prashar Message-ID: When we get a request to subscribe to cr-india, we routinely ask the intending subscriber for a self-introduction. Below is a very interesting one from Kamal Prashar, in response to such a query. Sending it out to other members of the list, so that they could get to know Kamal. Thanks for coming onto the list, Kamal, your skills and experience would obviously be of much use to our other members... FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello there Fred Details about me: Originally I trained as a Biochemical Engineer at University College London and followed this with a Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Biology at the same university. I then spent four years doing PhD research on Drug Design. Once this was all over I made the decision to move into journalism and did print and radio journalism. Having completed this I won the Linda Gage Award for Documentary Production for a programme that I made which looked at the causes and solutions to unnecessary deaths in hospitals because of surgical procedures. My first official radio job was with a UK Community Radio station called Sound Radio. I worked there as a volunteer producing a daily 3 hour programme aimed at children. From media at web.net Fri Apr 5 06:47:52 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:47:52 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Radio Feature Message-ID: <3CACD818.18301.CF1163@localhost> ------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: "AUDIO @ IWR (E-mail)" From: IWR Editor Date sent: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:58:25 +0100 Subject: [creative-radio] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Features about old people availab le for download Send reply to: creative-radio at yahoogroups.com Apologies for cross-postings... This is an email update sent to members of InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org. For details of related websites, please see the signature below. Regards, IWR ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To mark the UN's Second World Summit on Ageing beginning on Monday April 8th, 2002, InterWorld Radio has uploaded a new feature in our SPARK series - 'Young and old in an age of ageing' hears teenagers around the world talk about how they feel about the old people in their own lives and what they think it means to be old. Below you'll find links to this feature, as well as links to three other features that focus on stories about older people. We hope you'll be able to download and broadcast these features as part of your coverage of the World Summit on Ageing. 1. SPARK INTERNATIONAL: Young and old in an age of ageing Listen Online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.ram Listen Online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=232128 There's a dramatic shift taking place between generations. Worldwide, families are shrinking as birth rates fall, but babies born now are likely to live much longer than their parents. The changes mean that by the middle of this century there'll be more old people than young people living on the planet. Another dramatic change is taking place within families, as children nowadays often move away from the place where they were born, and their parents and grandparents have less and less contact with young people. Next week, world leaders meet in Madrid to open the United Nation's Second World Assembly on Ageing. Among other things they'll be discussing how to get older people more actively involved in mainstream society and how to promote solidarity between the generations. But what DO young people really think of old people? As part of our occasional SPARK series, Lina, Rares, Charity and Laura talked to teenagers in Russia, Romania, Ghana, and Northern Ireland and asked them about the older people in their lives. They began by asking the teenagers what THEY think it means to be old. 2. BOYS' TALK: Young and old in Uganda In Uganda, young and old men used to meet before a hunting session. The elders would then warn the younger ones about the dangers of hunting. Today, hunting is dying out, but elders and young men still meet and discuss manhood - and the dangers of AIDS. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.m3u Download page for Broadcast Quality Version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=233079 3. LIBERIA: Older residents are top of the class As the Liberian Government tackles the country's 70% illiteracy rate, Sam Howard hears how a project to get the population to read and write is encouraging older people, especially women, to go to school - often for the first time. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=222857 4. UGANDA: AIDS and old people While AIDS is wiping out young adults, the older generation are often left to look after the children - and each other. Our reporter in Uganda, Joel Tema, visited a village decimated by AIDS where nearly all the children are now being brought up by granparents. How are they coping? Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=226245 The InterWorld Radio Team InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org Tel: +44 (0)20 7239 7637 General email: mailto:editor at interworldradio.org Journalists' enquiries: mailto:journalist at interworldradio.org Forgotten passwords and membership enquiries: mailto:network at interworldradio.org Technical queries and problems: mailto:helpdesk at interworldradio.org News bulletin queries and feedback: mailto:news at interworldradio.org InterWorld Radio is based at the Panos Institute London 9 White Lion St - London N1 9PD - UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 1111 - Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0345 http://www.panos.org.uk Other Panos websites: Panos Pictures - http://www.panos.co.uk Gemini News Service - http://www.gemininewsservice.com/ OneWorld UK - http://www.oneworld.net/uk OneWorld News Service on Yahoo! - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u Oral Testimony - Mountain Voices - http://www.mountainvoices.org/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Kwick Pick opens locked car doors, front doors, drawers, briefcases, padlocks, and more. On sale now! http://us.click.yahoo.com/ehaLqB/Fg5DAA/ySSFAA/CPMolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -- To un-subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: creative-radio-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com Creative-Radio Moderator / Manager media at _no_spam_web.net Caveat Lector- Disclaimers, NOTES TO EDITORS & (c) information may be found @ http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Because of the nature of email & the WWW, please check ALL sources & subjects. Members who post to this list retain their copyright but grant a non-exclusive license to others to forward any message posted here. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages. Other use of e-mail to this list requires the permission of individual writers ----~-> Editor, Creative-Radio] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------- End of forwarded message --------- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot... "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito..." African Proverb **************************************** ICQ # 8501081 MediaMentor Weblog http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor Homepages http://media002.tripod.com Caveat Lector, Disclaimers & (c) info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Semi-random signature quotes follow: The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value. That is the voice of the current somnambulism. (McLuhan) From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 6 10:47:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 14:17:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] NEWS: French firm gets FM radio operators' mandate for infrastructure in three metros... Message-ID: A strange development... reported in the business press. After thw ho-ha about foreign ownership of the media, it appears that a French firm will be investing in setting up these radio stations. Local 'licencees' will be just "reimbursing" the foreign firm by way of a "monthly carriage fee" for the next ten years! FN * * * * * * * * FRENCH FIRM TDF GETS FM RADIO OPERATORS' MANDATE FOR INFRASTURCTURE IN THREE METROS Nivedita Mookerji The Financial Express, April 4, 2002 NEW DELHI Leading French transmission infrastructure company TDF is all set to bag the project for setting up private FM radio operations in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. The French firm's Indian subsidiary Mediacast has already received the letter of intent (LoI) from the private FM licencees, according to consultant to TDF Achille Forler. The formal agreement with th eFM players is expected to be signed soon. FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have already informed the Information & Broadcasting Ministry that they've chosen TDF for setting up their operations in these cities, said Mr Forler. As soon as the I&B ministry gives its green signal to the FM players, TDF will start its work. Incidentally this will be TDF's first project in the country. Besides TDF, other trnamissions service companies or "integrators" who were in contention for the FM radio project, included foreign players such as UK-based NTL and Measat of Malaysia. Even India's Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (Becil), a leading player in the transmission services area, was in the fray for installing the set up for private FM radio licencees. TDF will be resonsible for fixing the common multiplexers, cable and antanna for all the FM players in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Besides, this company would also help the FM players in installing their individual transmitters in these cities. While private FM players in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have been allowed to co-locate their transmitters in the All India Radio (AIR) towers in these cities, AIR Mumbai does not have the capacity to allow such a co-location of transmitters. So, Mumbai players have to look for an interim arrangement, before they can have a permanent tower. TDF, which got permission for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in its Indian subsidiary some time ago, believes that it was chosen because of its international expertise in providing infrastructure solutions for radio and television services. This company has so far put up 18,000 transmitters in the world, mainly in Europe and America. TDF also claims to have offered a cost advantage over the other contenders. What however is being seen as a deal clincher is the fact that TDF is making the complete capital investment, running into several crores in setting up the FM operations. The licencees will reimburse TDF in the form of a monthly carriage fee for a period of 10 years. "The fact that we invest in infrastructure is perhaps one of the reasons why we were chosen for the project," said Mr Forler. TDF or any of the FM players refused to divulge the financials for setting up these operations. Although the August 29 deadline for the FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to set up operations is quite close, TDF is optimistic about meeting the same. The company is liely to use the synergies with AIR in setting up the FM operations. Significantly, TDF is committed to invest $500 million over the next five years in radio, television and telecom infrastructure services in India. The company's first target is radio, and it will be looking at providing infrastructure services for television and telecom projects in the country next. TDF has been a world leader in over-the-air solutions for more than 30 yhears. The company builds and operates infrastructure for terrestrial TV and radio, wireless and wireless multimedia. With a strong presence in Europe and America, the company has state-of-the-art R&D centres all over the world. (ENDS) From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 9 08:37:55 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 12:07:55 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] [dx_india] Gyan Vani FM (fwd) Message-ID: Thanks to our DXer friends for sending in this info. Jose, I too was a DXer in my school days! FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Friends, Here is the latest information on Gyan Vani, "the Educational FM Radio Network of India" who has got permission to operate 40 FM stations. The following stations are operational: 1. Allahabad 107.4 0030-0430, 1230-1630 UTC 2. Bangalore 107.6 0030-0430, 1230-1630 3. Coimbatore 91.9 1230-1630 (Allahabad and Coimbatore will go on full power from around April 13, 2002) The following new stations will start in the next few days (around April 13, 2002): Lucknow 105.6 Visakhapatnam 106.4 Their offical web site is: http://www.gyandarshan.ernet.in/gvani.html (Source: Gyan Vani magazine, April 2002) ===== 73 Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax 91-40-3310287 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/iPMolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This group specialises exclusively on Broadcasting in India! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates for Broadcasting by AIR : ---------------------- 1927 - July 23 - 2002 : Platinum Jubilee of AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Post message: dx_india at yahoogroups.com Subscribe : dx_india-subscribe at yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe : dx_india-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com List owner : dx_india-owner at yahoogroups.com More info : groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator : Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax: 91-40-3310287 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From mgbhk at hkstar.com Wed Apr 10 13:32:23 2002 From: mgbhk at hkstar.com (Gerald Brown) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 14:32:23 +0300 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: I know this is a little bit away from your patch but the content below is interesting and relevant of two UK community radio happenings. Regards Gerald Brown Publisher e-broadcastnewsasia e-zine Hong Kong 1. Radio Fiza, has launched a new service for the South Asian community in Nottingham, England. The station, broadcasting on 97.1 MHz, since 25th March, is a shared service between the Asian Women's Project and the Karimia Institute. Radio Fiza has a licence to broadcast for one year as part of this experiment which aims to explore how Access Radio - a new tier of not-for-profit radio in the United Kingdom which will have social and educational benefits - might work in practice. It is the sixth station to launch out of a total of fifteen planned as part of this pilot scheme. Fiza is the first of three services aimed at Asian ethnic populations in the UK, with the other two expected to launch during April in Glasgow and Southall in West London respectively. The station is a communication, information and entertainment for the South Asian community in Nottingham. Asian Women's Project * Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 13.00-21.00 * Sunday: 12.00-21.00 Programming is primarily aimed at Asian women, families and young people. The service includes local and community news and information, features, interviews, discussions, phone-ins, poetry and literature, and Asian and English music. Asian languages include Urdu and Punjabi with some Hindi, Bengali, Mirpuri and Gujarati. The Karimia Institute * Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 08.00-12.00 and 19.00-23.00 * Sunday: 08.00-12.00 Speech-led programming with news and current affairs focussing on issues of local concern and interest. Included are interviews, discussions, phone-ins and features. Music styles featured include Qawalis and Naats, and Ghazals. Languages include Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Arabic languages and English (around 60%). 2. ABN Productions London is to run another 28-day radio station in Southampton, following an extremely successful 1st broadcast during autumn last year. ABN has teamed up with Southampton arts organisation Art Asia to run Radio Art Asia, which will broadcast 24 hours a day from Thursday 11th April to Wednesday 8th May 2002. Programmes will be broadcast in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and will also feature African Caribbean music and MOBO (Music of Black Origin). Presenters will include local people, specially trained for the task, as well as practising professionals. Transmission coincides with the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi and the Hindu festival of Ram Naumi. Listeners will be able to ring up to request dedications. Many local and national businesses are supporting Radio Art Asia including Ford Motor Company, P.O.S.H restaurant, Barclays, Bookers Cash & Carry and the RAF. Both sourced from the UK radio industry newsletter: The-Radio-Newsletter at yahoogroups.com 9th April, 2002 From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Wed Apr 10 18:30:19 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 22:00:19 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR India / Radio Access - UK Message-ID: <20020410163019.2F1E87D0D@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020410/cea6ba53/attachment-0001.diff From kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk Thu Apr 11 01:01:15 2002 From: kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk (Kamal Prashar) Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 00:01:15 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: <001c01c1e0e3$a2f44500$539ffea9@giskard> Just as a little extra to the information that Gerald posted about cr in the UK: I am the associate director of Sound Vision Trust and we have also been granted, after a long time lobbying, one of the 15 licences for an Access Radio Station - called Sound Radio. We have already started to put together our schedule and it includes Punjabi, Bangladeshi, Kurdish, Jewish, Afro Caribbean and of course English programmes. A sort of Community World Service Radio station. Over the year to come we will be streaming all our shows on the net and will have multilingual net access for the various languages spoken. This is for information dispersal and democratic governance issues which are becoming more and more relevant in the multi-lingual and multicultural environment that we have in our broadcast footprint. Hopefully we will be rebroadcasting programmes made by other cr's across the world which may be relevant to our local community (which includes Tamil, Somali, Central and South American as well as other African and of course European... and that is just the start). We have gone for a traditional model for our CR, though we will adapt as needed in the new world of Third Tier Access Radio in the UK. If anyone wants more details or would like to contribute then please feel free to contact me. Kamal Bhushan Prashar KamPra Productions 73 Hordle Promenade North London SE15 6HU (44) 020 7708 1354 www.kampra.com From SH at wacc.org.uk Tue Apr 9 16:45:38 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 15:45:38 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] *NUEVO* Accion 242 *NEW* Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990823D3@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> *********************************************************************** Action is published 10 times a year by WACC and gives news and articles on communication issues and projects from around the world. Accion es publicado 10 veces anualmente por la WACC y contiene noticias e informacion sobre asuntos y proyectos de la comunicacion. *********************************************************************** * NUEVO * Publicado hoy - en Espanol Accion 242, Marzo 2002. http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/accion/242/contenido.html *********************************************************************** Recently published communication magazines in English: Action 242, March 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/242/contents.html Media Development issue 1 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-1/md2002-1_contents.html Media and Gender Monitor 10 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/mgm/10/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociación Mundial de Comunicación Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratisación de la comunicación, la comunicación para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicación en situaciones de censura y opresión. ******************************************************************* Unsubscribe/Desuscribirse: update-unsubscribe at lists.wacc.org.uk ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 13 21:16:32 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 00:46:32 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Taru... radio soap with repro health message... Message-ID: 5. Taru - India - this 52-episode radio soap opera targets rural men and women with messages on sexual and reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, the value of the girl-child, education, literacy, and other health and social issues. This is a collaborative effort of an international NGO working with in-country partners to promote sexual and reproductive health and sustainable development through entertainment-education, a regional NGO providing reproductive health care, the Indian national radio network, and a US university where researchers will design and conduct independent monitoring and evaluation of the programme. http://www.comminit.com/pds4-2002/sld-4347.html Contact Lillian Chege lillianc at population.org From fred at bytesforall.org Sun Apr 14 07:14:39 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:44:39 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Re: ATCnet would like to go further with local community radio In-Reply-To: <150.c42113f.29ea596c@aol.com> Message-ID: On Sun, 14 Apr 2002 Profitinafrica at aol.com wrote: > Dear Colleagues > > I have become increasingly interested in the potential of local community > radio as a means of "last mile" delivery of important messages. > > Tom Abeles asks "How can we support this idea?" ...... and I think one useful > way to go forward is for someone with some reasonable level of knowledge to > give us some direction. > > My goal is to incorporate the appropriate technology into our ATCnet program, > and get the technology in use in Africa. We need to do this as cost > effectively as possible because we are working in an economic environment > that ought to be rich but is desperately poor. My current thinking is that > the radio component could be added into our general ICT program without it > adding much additional cost. > > But I suspect that there are a lot of government regulations around that will > make this rather simple idea into a monster. > > The reason I am attracted to this system is the fact that it is low power, > and the messages can therefore be very local and very relevant to the > community. Some years ago I was involved (listening in at meetings) about a > BBC World Service plan to broadcast agricultural information (actually in > support of Afghanistan reconstruction in the early 1990s) ...... and the key > issue that could not be handled was that relevant agricultural information > depended very much on what took place in the local neigborhood, the North > side of the valley compare to the South side of the valley, for example. In a > low power system, this sort of detail can be dealt with in a meaningful way. > > I look forward to learning more. Thanking you in anticipation > > Sincerely > > Peter Burgess > > ______________ > T. Peter Burgess > VP and CFO ATCnet > New York USA > Tel 212 772 6918 Fax 707 371 7805 > website: www.atcnet.org > email: profitinafrica at aol.com / hivaidsstories at aol.com > ---------------------------- > ATCnet Project for Universal Accountability > ATCnet Community Cyber EduCenter Networks > ATCnet Database on African Development and Enterprise > ATCnet Database on the African Health and HIV-AIDS Crisis > ATCnet Trade Networks > ATCnet Consultancy and Management Services > ---------------------------- > > > Subj: Re: [solaris]Fw: ATCnet and its interest in solaris > Date: 4/11/02 11:33:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: tabeles at attglobal.net (tom abeles) > Sender: solaris-admin at sarai.net > Reply-to: tabeles at attglobal.net > To: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) > CC: geert at xs4all.nl (geert), solaris at mail.sarai.net (SOLARIS) > > Radio- now why would one want to use that old technology? > > Great idea- meet people where they are with what you have. There are still > correspondence courses using the postal service and a variety of ways to > bring knowledge to folk. The key is that they want to learn and can learn. > The problem seems to be that certification often clouds the minds of > bureaucrats and gets in the way of learning. > > How can we support this idea? > > tom abeles > From sruti_bala at hotmail.com Sat Apr 13 09:39:48 2002 From: sruti_bala at hotmail.com (sruti bala) Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 13:09:48 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS Message-ID: HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS ----------------------------------------------------- Communications professionals involved in human rights advocacy programs are invited to attend a two-week training course in Laguna, Philippines, organized by the College of Development Communication (CDC). The course will draw heavily from the theory and practice of programs related to development communications. Organizers hope to enhance the participants' networking ability, communication planning, and message and materials development for human rights-based programming. The training course will also develop analytical skills through the use of innovative strategies in adopting a rights-based programming approach. Participants will also receive hands-on experience in using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify and locate potential campaign partners and beneficiaries. The course is offered with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Manila). Participation is open to anyone involved in communication and advocacy programming from both government and non-governmental organizations. A course fee of U.S.$1,600 will cover travel between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the workshop venue, all transportation during the workshop, board and lodging for the duration of the training, and workshop supplies and materials. To reserve a spot, program organizers request sending personal information and biographical data to Dr. Ma. Theresa H. Velascho, associate professor, College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines, Los Baños College, Laguna, Philippines. Telephone and fax (6349) 536-3356. For more information, contact Dr. Teresa H. Stuart, communication officer, UNICEF Manila at telephone (632) 892-0611, fax (632) 892-6456, e-mail tstuart at unicef.org or Ms. MaryAnn Q. Maglipon, program communication officer, UNICEF Manila at mmaglipon at unicef.org --------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020413/39e811ca/attachment-0001.htm From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Mon Apr 15 09:02:44 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:32:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Seeking sponsors for women's prog./Madras AIR Message-ID: <20020415070244.E9ABB7D2F@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020415/d26b08c0/attachment-0001.diff From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 15 19:25:46 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:55:46 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] FREE India.... Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020415225421.009f5650@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Check out this mailing-list. Not directly linked to radio... but might have parallel aims. freeindia * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/free-india/ free-india · Forum For Right to Electronic Expression This list discusses and proposes to the Indian government changes in policy relating to electronic communications. Current concerns: 1) Ban on Internet telephony and blocking of related sites (see http://members.tripod.com/~india_gii/statusof.htm) 2) Proposal to the spectrum management authority for a band for spread-spectrum community networking, which could be used (for instance) by schools to connect to the Internet. And whatever other ideas the list members have. Decisions on what to publish as a formal document of FREE are taken on the list by consensus, failing which, by 2/3rds majority. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 17 19:03:32 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:03:32 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] Impunity and the media - new issue of Media Development Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB11@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ********************************************************************** New issue of Media Development: Impunity and the media ********************************************************************** The Red Sea catch: A Palestinian perspective, Mitri Raheb http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/raheb_red_sea.html Impunity in journalism, Jake Lynch http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lynch_impunity.html 'Are we still of any use?' - Impunity, the media and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Edwin H. Robertson http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/robertson.html Neither too much, not too little justice: Amnesty in the South African context, Charles Villa-Vicencio http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/vv_amnesty.html Communication may not build peace but it can certainly contribute to war, Cees J. Hamelink http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hamelink_war.html A life worth living: Digna Ochoa y Placido (1963-2001), Philip Lee http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lee_ochoa.html Breaking the silence on the war in Algeria - the fight for truth and reconciliation, Andre Jacques http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_algeria.html French version: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_french.html La guerre d'Algerie: 40 ans apres, est-ce encore trop tot?, Djilali Hadjadj http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hadjadj_algerie.html Los medios y la transicion democratica en Centroamerica, Edgar Gutierrez http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/gutierrez.html Verdad e impunidad, Hector Schmucler http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/schmucler.html and other articles, see the contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 10:01:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 13:31:17 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament Message-ID: This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation Statement in liquidation of assurance given to Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated 20.8.2001 Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening an FM channel on rural development and environment preservation and an FM educational channel in Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. From vvcrishna at yahoo.com Sat Apr 20 14:04:15 2002 From: vvcrishna at yahoo.com (Vickram Crishna) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 17:34:15 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details from our website soon. At 1:31 PM +0530 20/04/2002, Frederick Noronha wrote: >This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: > > Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation > Statement in liquidation of assurance given to > Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated > 20.8.2001 > > Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan > Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development > organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant > Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening > an FM channel on rural development and environment > preservation and an FM educational channel in > Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently > allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University > (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources > Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. > >_______________________________________________ >CR-india mailing list >CR-india at mail.sarai.net >http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/cr-india -- Vickram _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 19:33:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 23:03:17 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020420230204.009f8ab0@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Vickram, The point I was trying to make is that, at least on paper, nobody (or, to be precise, nobody but two parties) have applied for licences. Applying is one form of action, which would show that there is a demand for such a channel of communication. Of course, your point on doing something is well taken. FN At 05:34 PM 4/20/02 +0530, Vickram Crishna wrote: >May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if >you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have >to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show >you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait >for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! > >I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the >meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details >from our website soon. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 24 13:59:58 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 12:59:58 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] April Action bulletin: Call for fair coverage of Israel-Palestine Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB36@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ************************************************************* Action bulletin, April 2002: Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine: WACC conference statement. ************************************************************* "Megaphones and Muffled Voices - What is Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine Issues?" Report from WACC's conference this week in New York http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/megaphone.html Regional News: shorts from Brazil, USA, China, India, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Canada, Middle East, Russia, Zimbabwe, France and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/news.html The media after September 11th, two perspectives: from USA and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/sep11.html Refugees Rights to Communication and Information, Report from the WACC conference in Lusaka, Zambia http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/refugees.html Gaza Strip, news from Jackie Lubeck of Theatre Day Productions, Gaza http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/gaza.html Bethlehem, news from Rev Dr Mitri Raheb, International Centre Bethlehem http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/bethlehem.html Trust In trouble - Bill Norris on Presswise http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/presswise.html Contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From subbuvincent at yahoo.com Mon Apr 29 08:00:06 2002 From: subbuvincent at yahoo.com (Subramaniam Vincent) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:30:06 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] [USA] NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO Message-ID: >NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO > >By Norman Solomon / Creators Syndicate > > > A triumphant story about National Public Radio appeared in late >March on the front page of Current, the main newspaper of the >public-broadcasting industry. "NPR Lands Most Listeners Ever," the >headline announced, over a summary of the latest Arbitron figures: "NPR >programs reached 19.5 million listeners a week last fall, and member >stations drew a record 28.7 million listeners. One in seven Americans >age 25 or older listens to an NPR member station each week." > > Network officials are exultant about the impressive numbers. "This >demonstrates that NPR is a leading source for news, information and >entertainment in America," says Ken Stern, executive vice president. By >far, the biggest audiences have been tuning into NPR's two weekday >drive-time news programs -- with an average of 1.87 million people >listening during any 15-minute period of "Morning Edition" and a 2.22 >million average for "All Things Considered." > > For a pair of shows with combined airtime of 20 hours between >Monday and Friday, that's a very wide reach to a whole lot of ears. "The >data seem to validate a systemwide trend toward adding more news and >talk programming at stations," Current reports. Overall, "public radio >has steadily gained audience for years, even as commercial radio lost >ground." > > For listeners interested in news and politics, "public radio" is an >obvious choice, while commercial radio slides deeper into an abyss of >mediocrity and corrosive gunk. Boosted by the bipartisan >telecommunications "reform" law of 1996, just a few conglomerates now >own several thousand stations nationwide between them. Tour the dial and >you'll hear a narrow play list of corporate-filtered music, heavily >right-wing and mean-spirited talk shows (Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, Dr. >Laura...), scant news, and barrages of commercials that extend from >mildly unpleasant to awful. > > NPR has plenty of time for news on the air. Yet, as public radio's >dominant network, NPR has largely reneged on the promise of public >broadcasting that stirred hopes 35 years ago with release of the >Carnegie Commission Report -- which declared that public broadcasting >should "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise >be unheard." In 2002, for the most part, "Morning Edition" and "All >Things Considered" provide a voice for the same political, economic and >military interests that are heard, ad nauseam, via other major media. > > A key factor is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- where >everyone on the board of directors has been nominated by the president >of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The nonprofit agency >doles out federal funds to public radio and TV stations. "With its hand >on the till," notes David Barsamian, a longtime independent radio >producer, CPB "wields considerable power and influence over public >broadcasting." > > In his new book "The Decline and Fall of Public Broadcasting," >Barsamian points out similarities between the top execs currently >running CPB and NPR: "Robert T. Coonrod has been the president and CEO >of the CPB since 1997. Prior to joining CPB, Coonrod was deputy managing >director of the Voice of America," operated by the U.S. government. >Meanwhile, "NPR's president and CEO Kevin Klose served as the director >of the International Broadcasting Bureau, which oversees VOA, Radio Free >Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio and Television Marti." > > At NPR News, the diversity of perspectives in reportage and >analysis is particularly limited on subjects like U.S. foreign policy >and nitty-gritty economic power. Whatever fine journalism airs on NPR -- >and there definitely is some -- gets dwarfed by mountains of conformist >stenography for the powerful, with routine reliance on official sources. > > The preponderance of deference to government outlooks has combined >with outsized programming impacts of corporate donors that >"underwrite" -- and, in some cases, literally make possible -- specific >shows. Private money is a big determinant of what's on "public" >broadcasting. > > Major companies "have a huge investment in the economy and can use >their economic power to leverage program content," writes Barsamian, >producer of the national weekly public-affairs program "Alternative >Radio" since the mid-1980s. "Independent producers who approach PBS and >NPR for airtime get a much warmer reception when they have an >underwriting package in hand. Overwhelmingly, programs that will attract >and please corporate underwriters and, crucially, won't rock the >ideological boat, get access to the airwaves." > > But dozens of community-based noncommercial stations, with much >smaller budgets, are striving to bring vibrant news and public affairs >to listeners without mainlining the fare pumped out by National Public >Radio every day. Those stations deserve our support. > > At the same time, we should vigorously critique and challenge what >comes under the heading of "NPR News." Victory in the quest for ratings >is not what public broadcasting is supposed to be about. >____________________________________________________ > >Norman Solomon's syndicated column -- archived at >www.fair.org/media-beat/ -- appears weekly in the San Francisco Examiner >and other newspapers. > > From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 11:36:29 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 15:06:29 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR workshop at Manipal... Message-ID: MIC, the Manipal Institute of Communication, will be hosting another fortnight-long workshop on community radio from May 6 to May 19, 2002. Jacob Ntshangase from Johannesburg, South Africa, will be the resource person. More details from kinnari toliya In summer 2001, a similar workshop was held. FN -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred at bytesforall.org * SMS 9822122436 at attcell.net * Saligao Goa India From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 12:52:49 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 16:22:49 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] PRASHANT SHARMA: Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns (CR in India) Message-ID: An interesting essay. FN Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India Prashant Sharma MA Anthropology of Media School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 22 April 2002 Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India St. Xavier's School, Delhi, India. 1979. Every Wednesday afternoon, at 1.00 pm, the public announcement speakers in each classroom would crackle into life. It was the weekly 'broadcast' of Xavier Radio. The idea was simple. Every week, for half an hour, students would present a variety of programmes to the school - plays, songs, music, speeches, debates - 'live'. The responsibility of producing and hosting the programme would be rotated amongst different classes on a weekly basis. The microphone was in the principal's office, and Wednesday afternoons would see groups of nervous and excited students huddled around it. Over the year, almost everyone would have had his (it was a 'boys only' school) say. The investment needed to run this effort was negligible. The public announcement system had already been in place and it was merely being put to more use than if its role had been restricted to official announcements. Xavier Radio was small and was regulated (strict teachers, with strict eyes would oversee all aspects of the production and delivery), but it was important to the student community. It represented modes and moments of expression that made more sense than classes ever did. For a half hour every week, students could speak to each other, as a group. It was their effort. They had produced everything. And to a large extent, despite the omnipresent 'moderators', they were free to choose what they wanted to speak about. In 1983, Xavier Radio was brought to a close. A new principal had taken charge, and the weekly half an hour 'broadcast' was seen as a waste of precious academic time. Now, students would see the inside of the principal's office only if they had got themselves into some serious trouble. Those that did, would notice that the microphone was being used as a paperweight. And a very dusty one at that. The concerns of community radio in India have much in common with the example outlined above. Both address the issues of communities producing their own radio programmes, of regulation, of the negligible costs involved and of the importance they have for the community concerned. Then there is of course, the strikingly similar life cycle they seem to have gone through. They have had a presence in the past, and then, quite simply, they died. The difference is that community radio is beginning to show signs of life again. For a variety of reasons, it now seems imminent that community radio in India is going to play an increasingly important role in the progress of the country. It is this development that this paper will attempt to contextualise, examine and analyse. What is community media? To approach the issue of community radio, an understanding of the wider term 'community media' becomes essential. The phrase 'community media' can be interpreted literally as media which engages with a particular community, to the exclusion of other communities. Therefore, all media products are essentially community media as they each address a particular community. This 'community' could be a global one, a regional one, a class based one, a language based one (with or without overlaps), and so on. Though dialectically irrefutable, such an understanding of the term lacks empirical confirmation. In practice, community media have come to be accepted as "adaptations of media for use by the community, for whatever purpose the community decides� They are media in which the community participates as planners, producers, performers. They are the means of expression of the community rather than for the community" (Rosario-Braid et al., 1987: 45). An important distinction between non-community (or mainstream media) and community media is being made here. Whereas mainstream media is aimed (the military metaphor permeates production parlance; another example � target audience) at a particular community, and there remains a clear differentiation between the producers and the audience, this relationship is redefined within the framework of community media for "access [is no longer] limited to reception only" (Moemeka, 1981: 77). The audience are the producers, and possess ownership of and control over all processes of production and distribution. The community produces the media for itself. It is this empowerment of the position of the community within the power relationship between media and its audience that defines community media. A community, a relatively homogeneous group of people with shared interests, is not necessarily limited to a well-defined geographical space. Therefore, community media need not necessarily be local media. However, in a developing country such as India, mobility of people is relatively low and there exist vast differences in language (both aural and visual), culture and geography. These factors, coupled with legal, technological, economic and infrastructural limitations, qualify community media further to be a local one as well. Therefore, the notion of community media in the Indian context refers to media that is owned and controlled by small, localised communities, which produce media products for themselves. The same holds true for community radio as well. Why community radio? The economics of media production limit it into becoming a homogenising 'mass' media. Television and radio networks, print media, Internet companies, all have to bow to the demands of 'market forces', for "media texts are commodities just like any other products of industry, and their production shares many characteristics of assembly line manufacture, like cars or computers" (O'Sullivan & Jewkes, 2001: 249). With this style of production, comes the inherent need for revenues. As revenue generation is primarily advertisement and consumer led in most media markets of the world, this usually translates into programming being generated for those members of the audience who have more purchasing power. Where commercial interests "are primary, broadcasters will deliver a service only to the most profitable markets � which lie in densely populated areas that can deliver large audiences without difficulties" (Scannell, 1989: 63). The knowledge society certainly has well defined priorities - money. The needs and concerns of the rural and the marginalized, which constitute a large majority of populations of developing countries, are largely ignored in this scheme of things. This is not to say that this constituency of people can be looked upon as a single mass of people with similar needs that would be served by a single monolithic, alternative media. In the development field, as there is "great variability of development patterns, it is more important to understand the dynamics of local situations thoroughly and to plan accordingly than to seek universally valid prescriptions" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 23). Apart from this issue, an important concern that needs to be mentioned is the cost incurred to be able to access information, in any form, whether relevant or not. While the Internet seems to be a free cure-all resource, with a huge potential for community operations as its structure itself is decentralised, entering into its magical world needs a considerable amount of investment, not only on the part of the government in terms of telecommunications and power infrastructure, but also on the part of the individual or community in terms of the prohibitive costs of buying the required hardware. The cheapest 'Internet ready' computer system would cost upwards of $400, in a country where the per capita income is $310 annually. Illiteracy too is a major hurdle that hits at the very core of the English centred, written word oriented Internet. With almost 48% of the people in India illiterate, using the spoken word remains a strategy that would be more useful, even if to promote the cause of literacy. A television set too can be expensive, and although the penetration of television is increasing exponentially, the cost of production of programmes for television, and its subsequent transmission, remains extremely high, and can be recouped only when spread out over a large audience. Even public broadcasters cannot sustain public service programming as a result of commercial pressures of satellite television and "state television has become more focused on entertainment in order to retain its mass audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 335). To a large extent, this factor alone excludes a viable possibility of community owned, and now even public service television. A radio set, on the other hand, remains free of many of these limitations. A radio set (significantly, which can work independent of electricity supply), including an FM tuner, can be purchased for as little as $2. A low range, low power, production and transmission unit for FM can be obtained for under $8000. Clearly, in just economic terms, the case for community radio is strong. India is a large country. Not just in terms of inhabitants and area, but also in terms of the sheer number of languages its people use to communicate. The national languages recognised by the constitution themselves number 15. When regional dialects and offshoots of main languages are thrown in, the number swells to over 1600. Being a society with a very strong oral history, identity and sensibilities are largely associated with language and dialect. Indian federal polity itself is based on linguistic differentiation. Riots have broken out in the past over the issue of language and a perceived hegemony of one over the other. When attempting to address local concerns through media, this can be a very problematic issue to deal with. With this in mind, the presence of media (and specifically radio) in only the dominant languages and dialects thrown at the audience at large can be profoundly counterproductive. A repetition of these experiences certainly would not be a step forward towards becoming a 'knowledge society'. "Properly handled, the wireless can be made to mean for the Indian village such health, wealth and comfort as it has never known. Broadcasting can do more in a few years in the general spread of knowledge than all other methods of education put together in a lifetime" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Although coloured by the simpler optimism and a colonial 'we must do good for the natives' approach of its time, this statement is an early pointer to the critical link between radio and its potential in the development effort. It also carries within itself a reference to the above-mentioned catchphrase of our times, the knowledge society. Many 'world experts' on development constantly bandy about this phrase with little care. New and old communication technologies are often seen as important delivery systems of this knowledge and information. In this context, the case for the presence of a radio (or many radios) which addresses the relevant needs of specific groups of people in a localised space is significantly strong. Community radio then, appears to serve this purpose admirably. Although in a general sense, it is agreed that access to information and knowledge is important for the progress of a people, some critical questions relating to this debate are glossed over. What constitutes this knowledge? Who decides what is relevant information? Who controls access to and control over the systems and processes that disseminate this knowledge? An attempt can be made to answer these questions by first analysing the history of rural, local and community radio in India. The history It is not as if community radio, in the widest sense, has been completely absent in the long history of radio broadcasting in India. Though the form it has taken has varied over time and regions, instances of decentralised, rural and local radio that addressed the needs of the marginalized have been many. The use of radio (and later television) in the development process has long been a cornerstone of public service broadcasting policy of the Indian government, both colonial and independent. As far back as 1932, Punjab's Rural Reconstruction Commissioner, Frederick Brayne, conducted an experiment in rural radio broadcasting in Lahore. Based on the experience of this effort, Charles Strickland, former registrar of Indian Friendly Societies, suggested the setting up of district radio stations for rural development in a presentation made to the East India Society in London in 1933. These stations "would use small transmitters, broadcasting in local dialects, and providing a diet of folk songs and folk theatre, interspersed with news on agricultural prices" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Many other experiments were conducted across India, but none survived. Those that did "were later absorbed into the national broadcasting service and in the process lost much of the community focus which had inspired the pioneers" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 38). The emphasis on using radio broadcast technologies for rural development continued with independence and beyond. Rural programming in regional dialects formed an important part of the overall programme content. The principal objective of All India Radio, India's nationalised radio broadcasting organisation, was the "conversion of All India Radio into a means of bringing practical assistance and pleasure to the millions in the villages" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 16). An important milestone in that effort came in the form of Farm Radio Forums set up in 1956 in 150 villages across five districts of the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Based on a Canadian model, it was a collaborative effort between All India Radio and UNESCO. The genesis of this effort lay in the earlier establishment of "village listening clubs [which had been] organised with the limited objective of ensuring better listening and for the collection of programme material" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 19). All India Radio had decided that the "experiment should be confined to a compact area where one regional language is spoken" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 20). With the support of community leaders and field workers, selected farmers in villages would meet at the appointed hour, listen to the radio broadcast collectively through a community radio set and then discuss the content which was moderated by a convener, who was usually "the secretary of the panchayat (village council)� or a teacher or a gram sevak (village worker)" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 31). The content itself was produced especially for the populace of the region, with a Subjects Committee "consisting of experts and others having an intimate knowledge of village life and its problems" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22) making editorial decisions. The programming was to "place emphasis on the practical aspects of rural life, and stimulate lively discussion among the listeners without raising controversial political issues" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22). The role that the members, the listeners, were to play was defined in advance too and on enrolment, the "objectives of the forums were explained to them in simple terms as follows: (a) to listen to the special farm programme that was broadcast twice a week; (b) to discuss before and after the programmes some of the problems on which the broadcast focused attention; (c) to state their views on the problems and make suggestions about the programmes and occasionally to contribute to the programmes" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). A pioneering effort for its time, this experiment was "very successful in communicating knowledge of agricultural techniques and encouraging participation in decision making" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). However, as shown above, all control clearly lay with the producers and organisers, who were distinct from the audience. All aspects of the experiment were well defined, and carefully orchestrated, from the inception to the functioning. On the face of it, this was done to ensure the efficacy of the experiment. But this efficacy was determined by the desired results of the organisers rather than by those whom it was meant to serve. Though participation and feedback was built into the process, it was not the most critical element of it. The structure of the experiment itself was based on the approach that rural needs were best understood by those outside of the milieu and necessary information injected into these less developed regions would work wonders for the lives of the inhabitants. A later experiment using radio in the service of a specific rural community in a particular agricultural context was undertaken in the 1960s. The occurrence of the Green Revolution of this time changed the status of India being a country that imported food to feed itself to becoming one with net food surpluses. Though the efficacy of the Green Revolution itself in the long term is now suspect, at that time it was the imperative. This change came about primarily due to the introduction of new varieties of food plants and altered agricultural practices that greatly increased crop yields. Agricultural practices in India had remained largely unchanged for generations. Traditional forms of agriculture with a strong component of subsistence farming had been the norm. With the coming of new techniques and technology that later propelled the Green Revolution, came the imperative of introducing fundamental changes into these basic practices. The primary question that plagued planners and development experts was how to transmit the relevant information for the adoption of these new practices in a country as large and as seeped in traditional modes of agriculture as India. If the programme was to be successful, the adoption of these new practices over large areas in a short time was considered essential. In response to this need, All India Radio "began experimental broadcasts for farmers from the Trichinipoly station in 1966 to adopt new yielding varieties" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). The success of these broadcasts can be gauged by the fact that it "led to the new variety [of rice] becoming known as 'Radio Paddy'" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). This was another example of how localised broadcasts had been used effectively for rural needs by providing a link between agricultural extension service and farmers. Although the 'success' of the Farm Radio Forums and Radio Paddy were celebrated, such experiments were short lived and more the exception rather than the norm, as the structure of All India Radio and the philosophy behind broadcasting remained largely top-down. The expansion of stations across the country into districts did take place, however the general problem of their not being able to address local concerns remained. The reason was not hard to find. These stations were "managed and staffed by an all-India cadre of broadcasters with only temporary local affiliations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). The producers of the programmes not having much stake in the issues of the regions they happened to be posted in, the programming itself was bound to suffer. Though programming for farmers remains important in the organisational objectives of All India Radio even now, at best the small district stations continue "broadcasting in local languages and re-broadcasting national programmes to local audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329) and cannot be called community radio stations in the strictest sense of the term as defined earlier in this essay. The fundamental problem remains that these supposedly rural, community oriented programmes are thrown at the audience with almost no "consultations between the people and the producers of the programmes, and no cooperation between the producers and the change agents in the rural areas who know and understand local conditions" (Moemeka, 1981: 66). There is also the problem of choice for the audience. "When community programmes share the same outlets as programmes for the nation as a whole, the two are, in some measure, in competition with one another for the same airtime� Community broadcasting can enjoy much more freedom to expand where it employs outlets of its own" (Moemeka, 1981: 64). The legal aspect The basic problem which had prevented true community radio stations from coming into existence was not only the reluctance of All India Radio to rescind control over the airwaves; it was also the legal aspects of the issue. It was illegal for any individual or private organisation to broadcast any information in any form over any area whatsoever. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 stated that: "Within India, the Central Government shall have the exclusive privilege of establishing, maintaining and working telegraphs: Provided that the Central Government may grant a licence, on such conditions and in consideration of such payments as it thinks fit, to any person to establish, maintain or work a telegraph within any part of India." The act was, and in large parts still is, in use. It laid out in no uncertain terms that broadcasting was the exclusive preserve of the government. Within a legal framework as limiting as this, the notion of community radio has remained a pipedream. The closest it would come to becoming community radio would be in the form of occasional sensitive and participatory programming as a result of the special efforts of the odd officer serving a particular station. Then s/he would be transferred and that would be the end of it. This sporadic presence of sensitive, participatory broadcasting also prevented any momentum leading to a critical mass to build up which could then have forced the issue with the government. Although the airwaves were opened up to private concerns in 1993, this was done so by the commercial auction of airtime on FM stations and that too in only the large metros of Mumbai and Delhi. Needless to say, large media houses with considerable economic clout were able to garner these licenses. The programming would invariably consist of slickly produced entertainment programmes aimed at an urban audience. The airwaves were being opened up, but the benefits were accruing to the mainstream media industry and its consumers. All this changed with a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India in 1995. Though the judgment was delivered in the context of the rights to broadcast a cricket match, the case itself became peripheral to the larger issue of the rights of individuals over the airwaves. While affirming the restrictions that must be put on broadcasting to prevent its misuse, the judgment of the Court also held that, "The airwaves or frequencies are a public property." It went on further to say that: "The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution." The Court further ordered the government to set up an independent and autonomous authority which would oversee the control and regulation of the airwaves, including the task of granting licences to private organisations and individuals to broadcast independent of the government machinery. Although the need for community radio had been a long felt one, this judgment of the Supreme Court gave an important and well-timed fillip to its supporters. In September 1996, VOICES, an Indian non-governmental organisation, brought together more than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-governmental organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment to debate the issue and formulate a strategy to pressurise the government to act upon the judgment by setting up a legislative framework for the introduction, encouragement and facilitation of community radio. The result was the Bangalore Declaration on Radio. While advocating that All India Radio should allocate regular air time to community broadcasting in the interim, the group also "requested the government to grant licenses to set up community radio stations to NGOs and other non-profit making organisations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). Since then, All India Radio has made token efforts in this direction but the current situation remains that no regulatory framework has yet been set up for non-profit agencies. Although the first privately owned FM radio station went on air in July 2001 (ironically, in Bangalore), it is a commercial one, owned by Rupert Murdoch's STAR group. Currently, through various forums, the supporters of community radio are debating whether to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court of India to put further pressure on the government. Some projects based on community production of radio programmes without being broadcast are also being carried out which serve as important demonstrators of the positive potential of community radio. These projects will be discussed in more detail later in the essay. The concerns against community radio Seven years after the Court passed the judgment, the government has still not responded with any concrete action. As the frustration and impatience amongst the votaries of community radio grows, assurances are given, but nothing concrete has come of it. For a better understanding of the issues involved, it would then be useful to examine the reservations that have been raised against the widespread use of community owned radio. These concerns have been many; from technological, to social, to those relating to the development process, and of course, the ubiquitous concern for 'national security'. National Security Disaffected groups with a separatist agenda are a reality in many relatively newly formed nation states of the world. Often their presence is a symptom of the inability of the state to involve all sections of the population in the national mainstream. In India too, there exist many insurgent groups that have such a clearly avowed separatist agenda. Fears are then expressed that legalising broadcasts by private agencies would be of aid to such groups. They would then be in a position to increase the reach of their propaganda and the state would be facilitating it through the legalising of community radio. On the face of it, the argument has a certain appeal, but when the surface is scratched, it begins to show some cracks. Disaffection occurs largely when a group is marginalized or disenfranchised. "Minorities will feel safe only when the nation assures their democratic and human rights and when they see the possibility of negotiating for equitable sharing of power and resources" (Jayaweera, 2001 ). If anything, community radio becomes a facilitator of the integrative role that a nation should play, for through it, communities can engage not with issues immediately important to them, but also with the national mainstream. Panchayati Raj (self-governing village level) Institutions in India are based on the basic principles of self-governance and decentralisation of powers and control. These institutions are being actively supported through legislative, economic, political and social means. However, the same support is not being extended to what could be a critical facilitator of this decentralised structure - community owned media. "It is an empowering tool for the community. A nation [that] consists of empowered communities is more secure" (Jayaweera, 2001). Good governance is not based on externally enforced control. Control is effective only when it is generated by the self. Community radio, being owned and operated by the communities themselves, has self-censorship built into its very structure. With the entire community being stakeholders in the process of generating media for themselves, a propagandist agenda with little currency within the community will be sifted out of its own accord through mechanisms within it. Technology Technologically, the concern is that if thousands of community radio stations were to sprout up, then the airwaves would become clogged, for there is a limited frequency range allocated for broadcast. However, this too is a misplaced fear, for community radio by definition is local, and therefore such broadcasts would typically have a range of 20-30 kilometres. In this way, a single frequency could be shared without any overlapping signals by a series of stations. "On FM, the bandwidth permits a very large number of low powered radio transmitters. There can be up to 5000 FM stations, roughly the same number as tehsils (district sub-divisions) in India." Though the argument of airwaves becoming clogged up is weak and with little basis in fact, an issue that has not been addressed in enough detail is that of the maintenance and repair when needed of production and transmission equipment. Although the Bangalore Declaration does make a demand for the initial setting up of stations to be funded "largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc.", there is little mention of the way in which the maintenance issue would be tackled. Unless training programmes for locals are incorporated into the overall planning and conception of community radio stations, these could be rendered non-functional after some years of use. However, this remains a problem which can be tackled effectively with some foresight and planning and would also be useful in generating employment opportunities within the rural economy. Social Structure While technological and political issues can be resolved through planning and advocacy, it is when the dynamics of the development process itself are analysed, that some valid concerns come to the fore. The early experiment of the Farm Radio Forums itself has something to offer in the discussion on the efficacy of community radio. It was observed that in the project, it was difficult to "set up forums in which all members could speak on an equal footing. The village school masters often tended to be the most vocal and the other village functionaries were able to dominate as a result of their authority" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). The genesis of this problem lies in the fact that often planners, development experts and concerned professionals lobby for a particular solution based on the "assumption that there is harmony of interests amongst the rural population� Village society is highly differentiated in terms of access to resources, � and [it] is highly characterised by competition for resources among different interest groups" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 256). Even when community radio becomes a reality, this issue will remain, for it will then be an important resource for information, and information "tends not to trickle randomly but to flow along well established channels defined by the social structure" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 259). Though the legal ownership of this resource will lie with the community itself, those already in positions of control within such a community may end up monopolising it. This an important and valid concern as "obstacles to change are structural rather than cultural; changing attitudes are important but insufficient on their own to make any real progress in toppling the prevailing structures of inequality within village culture" (Johnson, 2000: 224). Therefore, checks and balances must be built into the legislative framework that will govern community radio which will at least attempt to minimise such occurrences, for eradicating them altogether will not be easy. Social structures cannot be changed overnight, with or without the presence of community radio. Despite this concern, the relative efficacy of community radio, as opposed to other media that profess the cause of equitable access to relevant information in a practical way, remains unchallenged. Ongoing efforts Despite these concerns and limitations, the positive potential of community radio continues to be demonstrated by various groups of people and organisations throughout the country. With the legal framework of community broadcasting absent and the government dragging its feet on the process, these organisations and groups have begun to undertake innovative measures to use the advantages of audio technology to further their efforts in the developmental arena. The Deccan Development Society (DDS) is an NGO which works in the Medak district of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With efforts emphasising the concerns of gender justice, environmental soundness and people's knowledge, its strategy is to consolidate groups of village women into "vibrant organs of primary local governance and federate them into a strong pressure lobby for women, poor and the dalits (those belonging to the lowest castes)". Sammamma, a 35 year-old non-literate member of the group observed that they "are working on so many alternative issues. The dissemination of this message is now the burden of a few women leaders who travel around� If we have our own radio, the issues we are talking about will have a much wider dissemination� and reach a larger community of women." Propelled by such felt needs, a collaborative effort between DDS and UNESCO was launched in 1996. This resulted in the establishing of an FM station designed to work on the relatively 'low tech', yet effective enough, audio cassette technology. "Once the station is in operation, dalit women from 75 villages will bring their form and content into it and make it a tool for their horizontal communication with their communities as well as to reach out to the outside". A Community Media Trust too has been launched, formally transferring the ownership of these media facilities to a body consisting of members of the rural community. While a fully functional radio station is in place, broadcasting remains illegal. So the community produces radio programmes which are then played back in the periodic community meetings held over the region. Feedback to these programmes in these meetings are recorded and brought back to the production facilities. This form of 'narrowcasting' is proving to be quite useful and effective in the absence of actual broadcasting. In another region of the country, a collaborative effort between All India Radio and small rural communities is being carried out. In the Western Indian state of Rajasthan, the state owned radio broadcaster has leased a weekly time slot to an NGO working with rural women in the region. However, in this case, the programmes are not created by the women themselves. Relying heavily on audience feedback and inputs from field workers, the programmes are written, directed and produced by a team of professional communicators in association with the NGO. Though not community radio in that there is little direct involvement of the community itself in the production and broadcast of the programmes, the response to it has been very positive. As a step toward the creation of a genuine participatory radio, it serves an important purpose. Other such projects continue to be undertaken, deftly sidestepping the legal constraints they find themselves limited by. However, until the promised regulatory framework is finalised, these efforts will have only limited success and the frustration of communities at not being able to communicate with each other freely, despite having the wherewithal to do so, will only grow. Developmental communication and community radio The path that theories of developmental communication have taken bears an eerie resemblance to the one taken by developmental theory at large. For decades, they have rested on presuppositions that have little or no bearing with empirical observations. These mimic in different ways the following pattern. The rural, the marginalized and the disenfranchised need to be helped. And this help must come in the form of outside intervention. This help can take the form of aid, technology, education, political rights, and in the case of communication specifically, ideas and information. This overall approach of "exogenously induced change" (P. Golding cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 24) assumes the receivers to be a monolithic mass of morons who are incapable of articulating their own needs, their own notions of change and their own definitions of development. They are the perfect sponges, absorbing all the wonderful messages directed at them, and whether through the "two-step flow" (E.M. Rogers cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) or by the sheer strength of the "great information multipliers" (W. Schramm cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) characteristic of the media, incorporate them into their daily lives. As a result of this external support, the world becomes a more equitable place sooner rather than later, and all of humanity is indebted to the development and developmental communications experts for eternity. Unfortunately, the world has not changed much. Basic inequities remain (where they have not increased), and so do similar theories. However, what has emerged is a more sagacious view. "Real societies are too complicated and local conditions too varied for universal solutions to be applicable, though the dimensions of the problems of development are now better understood" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 31). A challenge to this dominant, top-down trend in developmental communications has been present for some time, but has not been able to influence communication policy planners in the third world. This alternative view outlines a framework where "the status distance between teacher and student, communicator and audience, is abolished. Communication functions more as a dialogue in which the former learns as well as teaches, and the latter is enabled to understand better the causes of his oppression and thereby to do something about it" (P. Freire cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 29). A constructive dialogue can take place only amongst equals. And to be able to do so implies the partnership and participation of the entire community in all processes of media production and dissemination. It is this approach community radio exemplifies. Community radio also strikes at the heart of the tool with which status quo in a society is maintained - the control of knowledge. Those who have access to such knowledge are loath to give it up. And to give up control over something as important as broadcasting can be very threatening to existing power structures. "The limits of representative democracy and of broadcasting's representative public service role within it are essentially the same; power accrues to the representatives, not those whom they represent" (Scannell, 1989: 70). Moreover, media producers thrive on the mystification of the production process and its associated technology. The possession of this 'specialised' knowledge grants them a position of power. In practice, production processes can be carried out by anyone with just basic training, if that. When production shifts to the community, the demystification of technology occurs simultaneously. No longer can technology remain distant from the people is meant to serve. No longer is the process an esoteric one to which a privileged few have access. No longer can the dominant grammar of the media be sustained, for now it can be redefined by the audience itself. This process then results in the emasculation of the dominant media production industry and its proponents. Consumers of a particular product becoming producers of the same is the worst nightmare of those who gain from established economic structures. It has also been observed that "knowledge of the operational aspects of mass communication increases interest in the media, and creates a critical awareness in listening to the messages they carry" (Moemeka, 1981: 74). An audience that is critically aware of the way in which media products can be designed consciously to suit a certain end and may not necessarily represent the 'truth', is a dangerous one to contend with for those who stand to gain by it. At the same time, if communities are empowered enough to create an alternative media of their own, the mainstream media industry stands to lose the very basis on which it exists, its consumers. It is an unequal world, and it is in the interest of some to keep it so. Conclusion Community radio in India at the moment stands on the threshold of fundamentally changing the basic notion of the role media can play in the empowerment of people. But a major barrier continues to exist in the form of the lack of legislative framework, perhaps fuelled by the resistance of established interest groups. Against the argument that this is the sole barrier to community media being widely propagated, is the one that even if this legislative reform were to take place, the deeply embedded hierarchical social structures within which community radio would have to operate would mitigate the beneficial developmental effects of it. While lobby groups and advocates of community media continue to pressurise the government to formulate laws that would make free the airwaves in the truest sense of the term, it is the second hurdle which is infinitely more difficult to overcome. Hierarchies have an inherent characteristic of being extremely tenacious. Indeed, change of social structures occurs over time and may only take place when the benefits of such a change for all are made obvious to all. In a similar vein, it is possible that the group currently influencing public policy on broadcasting in India will not lose as much power as it fears. Community radio does not seek to replace other forms of broadcast. It simply gives a voice to the peripheral millions. A three tiered broadcasting model, with the national, private and community media playing complementary roles, has a precedence in other developing nations and much can be learnt from such systems. When community radio does take off, it will be a rewarding exercise to observe the ways in which its active presence can be causally related to an improvement in the condition of the marginalized sections of society. However, while it may be tempting to romanticise the power community radio grants and the benefits it can bring, it is important to understand that it must only be as 'useful' as the community wants it to be. To use the exogenous 'we must teach people how to use this new tool' approach would be to merely replicate the follies of the past. Organisations and lobbyists, who are impatient to use this tool in what would hopefully be a more liberal environment, must be careful in this regard. If it is to be a true community radio, it must be wholly and completely left in the hands of the community concerned. Even training and workshops to familiarise members of communities with the technology must facilitate an independent interpretation of the way it can be used. Community radio can be successful only if it frees people to communicate with themselves. In their own language, in their own form and on their own terms. When this happens, perhaps Xavier Radio too may find its voice again. References Hartmann, P., Patil, B.R. and Dighe, A. (1989) The Mass Media and Village Life: An Indian Study, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Jayaweera, W. (2001) "Can community radio become a tool of disintegration?" Discussion paper presented during the National Seminar on Community Radio, Jakarta, Indonesia in September 2001. [Online] http://www.thehoot.org/conference/comtool.asp Johnson, D. (2000) Television and Social Change in Rural India, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Mathur, J.C. and Neurath, P. (1959) An Indian Experiment in Farm Radio Forums, Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Moemeka, A. A. (1981) Local Radio: Community Education for Development, Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press Ltd. O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Page, D. and Crawley, W. (2001) Satellites Over South Asia: Broadcasting, Culture and the Public Interest, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rosario-Braid, R.F., Mendoza-Rivera, M.T., Alberto, E.R., Fabian, E.J. and Tuazon, R.R. (Eds.) (1987) Communication for Rural Mobilisation and Development, Manila: Asian Institute of Journalism. Scannell, P. (1989) "Public service broadcasting and modern public life" O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Web Resources http://www.ilpdc.org http://www.indiantelevision.com http://www.indiapolicy.org http://www.meadev.nic.in http://www.thehoot.org http://www.vigyan.org.in http://www.wantokent.com Appendix A The Supreme Court Ruling In a ruling given in early 1995, India's Supreme Court declared the airwaves as 'public property', to be utilized for promoting public good and ventilating plurality of views, opinions and ideas. This judgment held that the 'freedom of speech and expression' guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution includes the right to acquire and disseminate information. And, in turn, the right to disseminate includes the right to communicate through any media -- print, electronic or audio visual -- though restrictions were permissible on such rights. "The fundamental rights," said the judgment, "can be limited only by reasonable restrictions under a law made for the purpose ... The burden is on the authority to justify the restrictions. Public order is not the same thing as public safety and hence no restrictions can be placed on the right to freedom of speech and expression on the ground that public safety is endangered." Judges Sawant and Mohan held that: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our Constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media." This judgment noted that Indian broadcasting was being governed by archaic laws. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 was meant for a different purpose altogether. When it was enacted, there was neither radio nor television, but both these concepts were later sought to be fitted into the definition of "telegraph". In view of this, the judges said it was essential that the Indian Parliament "step in soon to fill the void by enacting a law or laws, as the case may be, governing the broadcast media, i.e. both radio and television". Also, the judges instructed the Indian federal government to "take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of the airwaves". 1236 S.C. Secretary, Ministry of I&B v.Cricket Assocn, Bengal AIR 1995 Supreme Court 1236 P.B.Sawant, S. Mohan Reddy and B.P. Jeevan Reddy, JJ One of the most relevant paragraphs to us perhaps is: "24. We, therefore, hold as follows: "(i) The airwaves or frequencies are a public property. Their use has to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interest of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights. Since the electronic media involves the use of the airwaves, this factor creates an in-built restriction on its use as in the case of any other public property. "(ii) The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. "(iii) The Central Government shall take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of airwaves...." Some other points made in the judgement/s: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media "However, the monopoly in broadcasting and telecasting is often claimed by the Government to utilise the public resources in the form of the limited frequencies available for the benefit of society at large. It is justified by the Government to prevent the concentration of the frequencies in the hands of the rich few who can monopolise the dissemination of views and information to suit their interests and thus in fact to control and manipulate public opinion, in effect smothering the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom of information to others. "The claim to monopoly made on this ground may however lose all its raison d'etre if either... section of the society is unreasonably denied access to broadcasting or the Governmental agency claims exclusive right to prepare and relay programmes." "The Government sometimes claims monopoly also on the ground that having regard to all pervasive presence and impact of the electronic media, it may be utilised for purposes not permitted by law and the damage done by private broadcasters may be irreparable. There is much to be said in favour of this view and it is for this reason that the regulatory provisions including those for granting licences to private broadcasters where it is permitted are enacted." "On the other hand, if the Government is vested with an unbridled discretion to grant or refuse to grant the license or access to the media, the reason for creating monopoly will lose its validity. For them it is the Government which will be enabled to effectively suppress the freedom of speech and expression instead of protecting it and utilising the licensing power strictly for the purpose for which it is conferred. It is for this reason that in most of the democratic countries an independent autonoous broadcasting authority is created to control all aspects of the operation of the electronic media. Such authority is representative of all sections of the society and is free from control of the political and administrative executive of the State. "It therefore, includes the right to propagate one's views through the print media or through any other communication channel e.g. the radio and television. Every citizen of this free country, therefore, has the right to air his or her views through the printing and/or the electronic media subject of course to permissible restrictions imposed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The print media, the radio and the tiny screen play the role of public educators, so vital to the growth of a healthy democracy." Appendix B The Bangalore Declaration on Radio September 1996 Introduction The present decade is significant for the India's development in a number of ways. Decentralisation of governance, professed emphasis on social services, impact of the communication revolution and increased general awareness of human rights have opened up opportunities and challenges on an unprecedented scale. If these far-reaching changes in the economic, technological and social spheres can be harnessed to empower the impoverished and disadvantaged millions, the process of development can be given a fresh impetus and a more purposive orientation. Information is a key element in socio-economic development. The capacity to communicate and have access to the media greatly influences information use and its impact. People will also generate new and vital information when the media are democratised. Therefore, the need for a dynamic and people-oriented policy on communication cannot be over-stressed. A variety of factors peculiar to the Indian situation today suggest that a liberalised policy on radio broadcasting with emphasis on community participation and local control, will be appropriate to the current development strategy. Formulation of broadcasting policy in respect of radio should aim at optimum utilisation of airwaves in the public interest, facilitating community management of information exchange and participatory modes of decision-making. Limited experiments in this direction by the All India Radio through the so-called Local Radio Stations have demonstrated the immense benefits and potential of this approach. It is proposed here to institutionalise and expand the concept of community broadcasting, with the involvement of people at all levels across the length and breadth of this vast country. Democracy and good governance make such a change imperative; and it is an essential pre-requisite for better enjoyment of human rights. More than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-government organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment, discussed the problems and prospects for evolving a sectoral broadcasting policy during a four-day Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy held in Bangalore September 11-14, 1996. The discussions focused on the means and modalities of establishing, at the earliest, a democratic system of public service broadcasting in the country. The Consultation resulted in a consensus statement, here called the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO, which outlines the basic elements of a desirable media policy on radio broadcasting. Given the set of current policies aimed at decentralisation, liberalisation and people's participation in several areas, it is hoped that the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO will receive the timely and earnest attention of relevant authorities, and that the concept of community radio will soon become a reality. Meanwhile, it is important that universities, public bodies, women's organisations, dalit associations - to name a few - prepare themselves for the task of establishment and participatory management of community radio stations with a development agenda appropriate to, and determined by, their communities: this is the near-term challenge and unique opportunity. Community radio will bring fresh validity and meaning to the concept of decentralised governance envisaged by 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution; and catalyse the process of people's empowerment through information and education. It is with this hope and reasonable expectation that the BANGALORE DECLARATION is being presented to the public for a wider discussion, support and follow-up action. NATIONAL BROADCASTING POLICY: Towards public service broadcasting through community radio Preamble Whereas the right to impart and receive information is recognised as a guaranteed basic right under the Constitution; and whereas,the Supreme Court of India has declared airwaves as public property to be utilised for promoting public good and ventilating plurality and diversity of views, opinions and ideas, and that towards this end, the broadcasting media should be under the control of the public as distinct from the Government; and whereas, it is necessary to promote local broadcasting through community-based radio stations for the successful implementation of decentralised governance envisaged under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments;and whereas, successive committees appointed by the Government to examine the issue have recommended the adoption of a comprehensive national broadcasting policy with participation of the private sector, NGOs, local self- government institutions and other community groups providing a framework for media development in the context of technological progress and national needs: It is now proposed to present the elements of a National Broadcasting Policy on the basis of which Parliament could enact legislation for regulating the airwaves as a public property, whose utilisation in the context of electronic media - TV and radio - is intended to promote public good. [Since the Bangalore Consultation was specifically focused on radio broadcasting, the statement of policy contained herein is limited to only the radio broadcasting sector, and in particular, its community broadcasting application. It is our hope that this statement would be included appropriately in the National Media Policy which would cover all media - Television, Radio, Cinema and Print.] Statement The legislative imperative 1. Airwaves are public property and must be used for public good. Public good is not served optimally when there is a monopoly by the government over this public resource or when liberalisation of broadcasting is confined to commercial use of airwaves. Access to the airwaves by everyone who acts in the public interest is the sine qua non of public good in this context. This is also part of the right to information, a guaranteed constitutional right. Need for community radio 2. Centralised one-way broadcasting at various levels of aggregation has limited scope to serve the goals of development, especially in the context of pluralism and diversity which is a singular characteristic of Indian society. As such, the regulatory framework should promote a decentralised system of radio broadcasting. 3. Community broadcasting, is a concept relevant to social cohesion, development for conviviality and national integration. Community radio is public service broadcasting its most decentralised and its most democratic form. A community radio station serves a defined geographical area of a village or groups of villages, and is owned and managed by organisations serving a given community. 4. A community radio station would, besides educating and entertaining people, connect people with people through participatory or circular communication, connect with organisations and communities, and finally, connect people with government and public service agencies. These needs are not met under the current framework. 5. In a number of ways, community or public interest broadcasting can be termed Equal Opportunity Broadcasting, which is essential not only for effective democratisation of a public resource viz. the airwaves, but also in the context of our plural society with a multiplicity of languages, cultures and ethnic groups. Policy formulation 6. Radio combines the benefits of low cost, and wide reach and access. When used in a community setting with limited area coverage, for example as in FM radio broadcasting, it offers many exciting possibilities for fulfilling the developmental goals and aspirations of the people, and wider choices in accessing information from diverse sources within and outside the community. Its potential for creating social change has been demonstrated in many parts of the world. For these reasons, control of community broadcasting should be vested with the community rather than with the government or private commercial enterprises. 7. The present centralised structure of broadcasting is not conducive to people-centred, participatory methods of communication. The potential of the medium to promote community development is largely unrealised. The involvement of other public bodies, NGOs, professional associations, etc. in the utilisation and management of airwaves is essential for realising this potential to promote the welfare of millions in communities, and therefore the public good. The need for structural changes in airwaves management in order to accommodate localised initiatives is a logical result of this imperative. 8. As recommended by the Paswan Committee (1996), while there can be a single national policy which addresses macro-level issues common to all media, medium-specific policies are required for each medium, taking into account the coverage, reach, cost structure, technology, administration and, finally, the social application of the medium. 9. Radio broadcasting, like other media, has developed around power centres and power structures in society, resulting in disparity of access and use among different sections of society. Changes in media policy which seek to mitigate if not eliminate these disparities require political will and a people-centred, bottom-up approach already contemplated in the 74th Consitutional Amendment. Community radio is an illustration of this evolutionary process; therefore, it needs to be acknowledged and supported. 10. At the operational level, a regulatory structure which is independent of the government and existing broadcasting organisations, public and private, should be set up in order to facilitate and support all licensed broadcasters in the country and their shared use of the airwaves under a fair and reasonable regime, consonant with national interests and priorities. The structure must address a varie~ty of issues such as: licensing criteria for various categories of broadcasting, technical and service standards, technical support and training, social and administrative auditing, funding sources and support, etc. 11. Frequency spectrum resources - particularly in the band allocated for FM radio broadcasting viz. 86-108 MHz - will be made available on a shared basis with existing services for community broadcasting applications. Efforts will be made to evolve a national plan for the allocation of frequencies in this band so that the establishment of a large number of community radio stations across the country, based on a high degree of frequency re-use, is facilitated. Note: Far-reaching structural and managerial changes in the regulation and administration of the electronic media by the Government have been recommended by the various committees appointed to examine the issue. These have been partly reflected in the Prasar Bharati Act (1990). This Act might require changes if the statement on policy contained in the BANGALORE DECLARATION is to be adopted in legislation. At the Bangalore Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy, a possible structure for autonomous public service radio broadcasting was discussed, taking into account the appropriate features of such a structure and also the ground realities of the country. The outcome of these discussions, titled "Structure of Public Service Radio Broadcasting in India: Some Essential Features," is appended to this document as Annexure I. Admittedly, some of the features listed therein - particularly those related to funding, organisation, and inter-linkages - need to be elaborated in more detail, after further discussion. However, the proposed structure provides a basis for discussion, once the important policy decisions on public control of airwaves and the concept of community broadcasting are taken. Annexure I ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A PUBLIC SERVICE RADIO: Broadcasting structure Regulatory Authority and Licensing Criteria 1. To regulate and oversee broadcasting activities in the country under a liberalised framework, a National Broadcast Trust (NBT) as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) should be established. The NBT will be an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, and would be free from government control. 2. The current framework adopted by national broadcasting agencies is of three-tier broadcasting, viz. national, regional and local. It is proposed here to enable the setting up of a separate and independent tier - at village/community level. The nature of community broadcasting warrants that it should be owned and managed by the community itself. For all other purposes, community broadcasting will be entitled to the same rights and obligations as broadcasting agencies at the other levels. 3. The term 'community' for this purpose shall mean a non-rigid group of people living in a bounded geographical area which is determined by the reach of the radio broadcasting station, and who share a commonality of concerns, interests and aspirations. 4. No monopoly or exclusive control by any interest group within the community will be permitted. The community, in all its diversity, should exercise democratic control over community broadcasting and establish appropriate systems of accountability, within and outside the community, as may be necessary. Equal opportunity to all groups in the community in respect of access to communication will be the distinct feature of a community radio station. 5. Given the complexity of local communities in India, the regulatory authority may grant licenses to other bodies serving the public interest in a phased manner. In the first phase, universities with extension activities (for example, agricultural universities, medical institutions, adult and legal literacy organisations), registered cooperatives, women's cooperatives and autonomous public bodies fulfilling minimum criteria for eligibility should be granted licenses to set up community radio stations to serve the public interest. Programming 6. While granting licenses for community radio stations, the NBT will direct the All India Radio to provide the required development and technical support to the licensees, including training of technicians and programmers. The licensee shall bear the costs of programming as well as the operating and maintenance costs of the community radio station. 7. A local advisory committee, representing varied public interests within the community, shall be appointed, preferably by a local judge, for a fixed tenure. The committee shall guide the programme content of transmissions from the community radio station. The committee shall also guide all other collective decisions relating to the operations of the community radio station, such as hours of transmission, scheduling and so on. 8. The interactive format for programming shall be encouraged to make the programmes truly participatory. A baseline programming element will relate to environment, health, women's empowerment, education, legal matters and other such public interest issues. 9. Building linkages between private broadcasters, on the one hand, and local self- government institutions, educational and professional bodies, and special interest groups on the other hand, will be essential. It is important that these groups are provided access to the medium in order to serve the public interest in all its dimensions. Such participation would of course be innovative. Community radio stations should also work in concert with government agencies in reaching out to and promoting the economic and social welfare of the marginalised and disadvantaged groups within the community. 10. The NBT may lay down guidelines on programme content promotive of public interest and may monitor community radio stations. It may exercise sanctions to discipline erring stations, again in the public interest as elucidated in the policy statement. 11. Community radio stations may be obliged to broadcast during an agreed period, national messages provided by the AIR, for which the radio networking receiver facilities may be extended by the latter. Role of All India Radio 12. All India Radio, with its extensive infrastructure, trained personnel and vast experience, shall play a crucial but supportive role in the development of community radio broadcasting, under the guidance of the NBT. Its new role in this sphere shall be clearly defined and the necessary organisational restructuring of the AIR shall be carried out to help carry out its new role effectively. 13. All India Radio shall provide assistance to licensed community broadcasters in the design of their radio stations in respect of intended coverage, technical configuration of transmitter and studio, and standardisation of the service at low investment levels; it shall also provide technical training for operation of the facilities. The AIR could also evolve a Handbook/Manual on community broadcasting, based on technical/system studies, which can be a source-book for the NBT in decision-making on technical matters and for potential broadcasters. Checks and Balances 14. To ensure social and public accountability, it is desirable that each community radio station evolves its own code of conduct and strictly abide by it in its programming, transmissions and management. A local Ombudsman consisting of three persons who are widely respected for their experience and integrity shall be attached to each radio station. The Ombudsman will entertain complaints from individuals and institutions and can decide on the culpability or otherwise of the radio station concerned. Once indicted by the Ombudsman, the radio station will have to make amends and strictly abide by its directions. More than three such violations may entail withdrawal of the license, or other privileges of the station or its officers. 15. The station can also be brought under the Consumer Protection Act as a provider of services in a limited number of cases. 16. If the regulatory authority directs a radio station to close down or if the station cannot be run for other reasons, including emergencies, AIR shall have the authority to keep the assets in trust till the problem is resolved and the station resumes broadcasting. If AIR is to finally and irrevocably take over the station along with the assets, the owners shall receive due compensation in respect of the assets taken over by AIR. Funding and Management 17. All community radio stations will work on the principle of no-profit, no-loss. Initial capital expenditure shall be met largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc. 18. The appropriate legal form for a community radio station could be either a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act; or a Trust under the Trusts Act. Other options for management of community radio stations could also be examined by the regulatory authority and a final organisational format can be arrived at. Interim Measures by the Government 19. In order to promote community broadcasting and the development of necessary skills in programming and other areas in the interim period when the legislative framework of community radio and follow-up actions are pending, the Government could provide for the following: ? Airtime in AIR Local Radio Stations for programmes developed by different community and special interest groups to provide regular community interaction with audiences within the coverage areas ? Airtime in Private Radio Stations licensed by the Government for institutions and public bodies within the community to provide regular community programming to audiences within the coverage areas ? Mandatory setting up of Community Broadcasting Stations areas by licensed broadcasters - government and private - as a fraction of the total number of local radio stations licensed by the NBT e.g. for every five Local Radio Station licenses granted, the licensee is obliged to set up one community radio station. Appendix C Verghese Committee Report, 1978 Excerpt from the major recommendations of Shri B.G. Verghese Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, February 1978. "We envisage an autonomous national trust as the authority under which Akashvani and Doordarshan should grow. This we are naming Akash Bharati - the National Broadcast Trust." 1995 data. See http://www.indiapolicy.org/debate/Notes/data1.html 1990 data. See http://www.ilpdc.org/ILP/education.htm See http://www.wantokent.com/prod01.htm See http://www.meadev.nic.in/culture/language/language.htm, the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. My italics. See http://www.vigyan.org.in/teleact18.htm See Appendix A. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp My italics. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp. www.thehoot.org is a website created under the auspices of The Media Foundation, New Delhi. See Appendix B. W. Jayaweera is the Regional Communication Adviser for UNESCO for the South Asia region. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/indcontext.asp The National Broadcast Trust is envisaged as an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, which would be free from government control to be established as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) on autonomy for Akashvani (state owned radio) and Doordarshan (state owned television). See Appendix C. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp From http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp From http://www.comminit.com/ctindiaradio/sld-208.html From http://www.indiantelevision.com/indianbrodcast/legalreso/legalresources.htm 7 From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 2 10:31:37 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 14:01:37 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Convergence Bill recommendations (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- New Delhi: The standing committee on information technology is likely to finalise its recommendations on the Communications Convergence Bill by May. �We will be in a position to forward our recommendations to the House before the current budget session ends in May,� according to a senior official. After a short recess beginning next week, the Parliament session is scheduled to end on May 17, 2002. The committee�s progress on the Convergence Bill, which was taken up in January itself, was impacted by the time taken on other issues like foreign investment in print media. To expedite work on the Convergence Bill, a 5-member sub-committee has been set up last week, the official said. It is the sub-committee, headed by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, which will undertake clause-by-clause consideration of the Convergence Bill. Other members of the committee are Bhartruhari Mahtab, Balbir K Punj, K Rama Mohana Rao and Kartar Singh Duggal. The sub-committee is expected to finalise its recommendations in the latter half of April. This draft report of the sub-committee will then be presented to the Standing Committee, which is headed by Somnath Chatterjee, which will adopt it. The Convergence Bill takes cognisance of the convergence of voice, and data (telecom, broadcasting and Internet) and seeks to set up a single super regulator � Communications Commission for India � for these sectors. The current Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is proposed to be subsumed into the super regulator. The bill also seeks to change the licensing regime and limit the number of licence categories to five �network infrastructure facilities, networking services, network application services, content application services and valued added network application services. It is still not clear how the existing licencees will be accommodated in the new regime. During the course of the year, the standing committee will also examine, in some detail, issues like direct-to-home (DTH) telecast, quality of electronic media programming, problems and requirements of the IT industry, human resource development in IT and working of the National Informatics Centre and the Software Technology Park scheme. On the telecom side, the committee will focus on the expansion of the network with special focus on rural and remote areas. Vandana Gombar, Financial Express ------------------------ Yahoo! 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Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From media at web.net Thu Apr 4 02:47:39 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 18:47:39 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Message-ID: <3CAB4E4B.30646.48F64D@localhost> Community Waves: Some Experiences in Supporting the Establishment of Community Radios by UNESCO in Mozambique Follows the initial 2 1/2 years of mobilisation in Mozambique, including efforts to set up associations, draft strategic plans, train large groups of volunteers in both formal & informal programmes, & acquire physical installations & equipment. http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-4359.html Contact: UNESCO/UNDP unesco at mediamoz.com -- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot... "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito..." African Proverb **************************************** ICQ # 8501081 MediaMentor Weblog http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor Homepages http://media002.tripod.com Caveat Lector, Disclaimers & (c) info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Semi-random signature quotes follow: A mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open... From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 08:14:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:44:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Radio as a tool to browse the Net (fwd) Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Radio as a tool to browse the Net PTI [ TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2002 10:27:48 AM ] NEW DELHI: People on the wrong side of the digital divide can now, through an interactive radio programme called 'radio browsing', ask experts to surf the internet on their behalf and transmit information in response to their requests. "Presenters select relevant, reliable Websites and broadcast the programme with local resource persons as studio guests, like doctors for a health programme, who discuss the contents of the mostly English-language sites directly in local languages," says Unesco regional communication advisor W Jayaweera. Listeners, thus, not only get information they requested, but understand how it is made available on the web. They can react to it and know that key data will remain available in the community database enabling an entire community access to online information in their own language. "It is a unique strategy for bringing poor or marginalised communities mass, indirect access to online information. It is now a model for developing community multimedia centres throughout the developing world," says the Unesco official, adding the project initiated 5 years ago is already proving to be a success in several Third World countires. "Radio browsing is already adapted by Bhutan Broadcasting Service in Bhutan and two radio stations in Nepal apart from community radio stations in Philippines, Niger and Uganda." "Even Pakistan, after acknowledging our efforts, has announced a new broadcasting regulatory regime under which community radio stations are allowed," he says, adding that Unesco now wants to replicate the model in India. However, this unique experiment is yet to take off in the country due to concerns about its possible misuse as a tool of disintegration of nationhood. Cyberlaw experts like Pavan Duggal fear that interception, being a very tedious process due to the peculiarities of this complex country, there is possibility of misuse by separatists and terrorists. "There should be a strong licensing regime," he says. The policy-makers might now consider promoting the novel 'radio- browsing programme' after the passage of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the Controller of Certifying Authority to order interception. Also, the recently passed anti-terrorism Bill -- which gives evidentiary value to such intercepts -- could provide the necessary safeguards. Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj's recent announcement that she favours introducing a policy which will facilitate "narrowcasting" is seen by the social sector as a positive sign from the government towards allowing 'radio browsing' in the country through community radio stations. However, Jayaweera brushes aside fears of armed groups using community radio and programmes like radio browsing to promote their own separatist agenda: "In the countries with conflicts such as Sri Lanka, South Africa and Nepal, community radio is operational without any threat of acquire by armed groups." "In fact, it helps bottom-up decision making from each and every community in the decentralised administration. Therefore, it facilitates the process of true and democratic nation building," he says. Tea farmers in Kothmale, Sri Lanka could improve their tea drying techniques as a result of web infromation shared on these programmes. "Similarly other farmers in Timbuktu, Mali - where four radio stations received a suitcase radio comprising a complete broadcasting unit from Unesco for production of programmes using internet - found more information on improved methods of growing and storage of their crop besides knowing export possibilities and location-specific weather reports," he says, adding village bakers can find new recipes and funeral undertakers can learn more about embalming techniques. All India Radio (AIR) officials are receptive to the concept of radio browsing perhaps through the five community radio stations in the remote areas of the Northeast, notes AIR chief engineer HO Shrivastava. He however points out that the state radio already has similar programmes which induces the listeners to check-out the internet. "The 75 local radio stations broadcasts programmes like Krishidarshan -- programme for agriculturists -- apart from phone- in programmes during which listeners can ask experts questions about the new media and its content." But according to a recent India Human Development Report, only 51 per cent of the villages have access to telephone within two km distance, says Centre for Media Studies director N Bhaskara Rao. "Despite high talk and specific targets, we are far from taking the technoligies to rural areas. Even in Andhra Pradesh, a state which is a pioneer in rural phones, 20 per cent of villages are without a phone. When this is the scenario, how many people can afford phone-in programmes," he says. The successful deployment of the traditional and new media combine to increase the level of IT awareness apart from providing new livelihood areas to the marginalised communities in Kothmale in Sri Lanka and Timbuktu in Mali should set the policymakers thinking on giving permission to similar ventures in the country. "Digitalisation should mean digital dividend and increased access mean empowerment for more people, not the same people. Only then it will narrow the digital divide," says Rao. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=5652296 From fred at bytesforall.org Thu Apr 4 19:20:44 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:50:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] INTRO: Kamal Prashar Message-ID: When we get a request to subscribe to cr-india, we routinely ask the intending subscriber for a self-introduction. Below is a very interesting one from Kamal Prashar, in response to such a query. Sending it out to other members of the list, so that they could get to know Kamal. Thanks for coming onto the list, Kamal, your skills and experience would obviously be of much use to our other members... FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello there Fred Details about me: Originally I trained as a Biochemical Engineer at University College London and followed this with a Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Biology at the same university. I then spent four years doing PhD research on Drug Design. Once this was all over I made the decision to move into journalism and did print and radio journalism. Having completed this I won the Linda Gage Award for Documentary Production for a programme that I made which looked at the causes and solutions to unnecessary deaths in hospitals because of surgical procedures. My first official radio job was with a UK Community Radio station called Sound Radio. I worked there as a volunteer producing a daily 3 hour programme aimed at children. From media at web.net Fri Apr 5 06:47:52 2002 From: media at web.net (George(s) Lessard) Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:47:52 -0600 Subject: [cr-india] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Radio Feature Message-ID: <3CACD818.18301.CF1163@localhost> ------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: "AUDIO @ IWR (E-mail)" From: IWR Editor Date sent: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:58:25 +0100 Subject: [creative-radio] UN World Summit on Ageing - IWR Features about old people availab le for download Send reply to: creative-radio at yahoogroups.com Apologies for cross-postings... This is an email update sent to members of InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org. For details of related websites, please see the signature below. Regards, IWR ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To mark the UN's Second World Summit on Ageing beginning on Monday April 8th, 2002, InterWorld Radio has uploaded a new feature in our SPARK series - 'Young and old in an age of ageing' hears teenagers around the world talk about how they feel about the old people in their own lives and what they think it means to be old. Below you'll find links to this feature, as well as links to three other features that focus on stories about older people. We hope you'll be able to download and broadcast these features as part of your coverage of the World Summit on Ageing. 1. SPARK INTERNATIONAL: Young and old in an age of ageing Listen Online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.ram Listen Online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview232128.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=232128 There's a dramatic shift taking place between generations. Worldwide, families are shrinking as birth rates fall, but babies born now are likely to live much longer than their parents. The changes mean that by the middle of this century there'll be more old people than young people living on the planet. Another dramatic change is taking place within families, as children nowadays often move away from the place where they were born, and their parents and grandparents have less and less contact with young people. Next week, world leaders meet in Madrid to open the United Nation's Second World Assembly on Ageing. Among other things they'll be discussing how to get older people more actively involved in mainstream society and how to promote solidarity between the generations. But what DO young people really think of old people? As part of our occasional SPARK series, Lina, Rares, Charity and Laura talked to teenagers in Russia, Romania, Ghana, and Northern Ireland and asked them about the older people in their lives. They began by asking the teenagers what THEY think it means to be old. 2. BOYS' TALK: Young and old in Uganda In Uganda, young and old men used to meet before a hunting session. The elders would then warn the younger ones about the dangers of hunting. Today, hunting is dying out, but elders and young men still meet and discuss manhood - and the dangers of AIDS. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview233079.m3u Download page for Broadcast Quality Version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=233079 3. LIBERIA: Older residents are top of the class As the Liberian Government tackles the country's 70% illiteracy rate, Sam Howard hears how a project to get the population to read and write is encouraging older people, especially women, to go to school - often for the first time. Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview222857.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=222857 4. UGANDA: AIDS and old people While AIDS is wiping out young adults, the older generation are often left to look after the children - and each other. Our reporter in Uganda, Joel Tema, visited a village decimated by AIDS where nearly all the children are now being brought up by granparents. How are they coping? Listen online in Real Audio (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.ram Listen online in MP3 (preview quality) http://www.interworldradio.org/store/preview226245.m3u Download page for broadcast quality version (free registration required) http://www.interworldradio.org/audio/rad_show1.cfm?aud_i_id=226245 The InterWorld Radio Team InterWorld Radio - http://www.interworldradio.org Tel: +44 (0)20 7239 7637 General email: mailto:editor at interworldradio.org Journalists' enquiries: mailto:journalist at interworldradio.org Forgotten passwords and membership enquiries: mailto:network at interworldradio.org Technical queries and problems: mailto:helpdesk at interworldradio.org News bulletin queries and feedback: mailto:news at interworldradio.org InterWorld Radio is based at the Panos Institute London 9 White Lion St - London N1 9PD - UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 1111 - Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0345 http://www.panos.org.uk Other Panos websites: Panos Pictures - http://www.panos.co.uk Gemini News Service - http://www.gemininewsservice.com/ OneWorld UK - http://www.oneworld.net/uk OneWorld News Service on Yahoo! - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u Oral Testimony - Mountain Voices - http://www.mountainvoices.org/ ------------------------ Yahoo! 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Other use of e-mail to this list requires the permission of individual writers ----~-> Editor, Creative-Radio] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------- End of forwarded message --------- :-) Message ends, Signature begins (-: George Lessard, living @ 61.10N 94.05W Comments should be sent to media at _no_spam_web.net [Remove _no_spam_ from addresses to e-mail] "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot... "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito..." African Proverb **************************************** ICQ # 8501081 MediaMentor Weblog http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor Homepages http://media002.tripod.com Caveat Lector, Disclaimers & (c) info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Semi-random signature quotes follow: The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value. That is the voice of the current somnambulism. (McLuhan) From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 6 10:47:35 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 14:17:35 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] NEWS: French firm gets FM radio operators' mandate for infrastructure in three metros... Message-ID: A strange development... reported in the business press. After thw ho-ha about foreign ownership of the media, it appears that a French firm will be investing in setting up these radio stations. Local 'licencees' will be just "reimbursing" the foreign firm by way of a "monthly carriage fee" for the next ten years! FN * * * * * * * * FRENCH FIRM TDF GETS FM RADIO OPERATORS' MANDATE FOR INFRASTURCTURE IN THREE METROS Nivedita Mookerji The Financial Express, April 4, 2002 NEW DELHI Leading French transmission infrastructure company TDF is all set to bag the project for setting up private FM radio operations in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. The French firm's Indian subsidiary Mediacast has already received the letter of intent (LoI) from the private FM licencees, according to consultant to TDF Achille Forler. The formal agreement with th eFM players is expected to be signed soon. FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have already informed the Information & Broadcasting Ministry that they've chosen TDF for setting up their operations in these cities, said Mr Forler. As soon as the I&B ministry gives its green signal to the FM players, TDF will start its work. Incidentally this will be TDF's first project in the country. Besides TDF, other trnamissions service companies or "integrators" who were in contention for the FM radio project, included foreign players such as UK-based NTL and Measat of Malaysia. Even India's Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (Becil), a leading player in the transmission services area, was in the fray for installing the set up for private FM radio licencees. TDF will be resonsible for fixing the common multiplexers, cable and antanna for all the FM players in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Besides, this company would also help the FM players in installing their individual transmitters in these cities. While private FM players in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata have been allowed to co-locate their transmitters in the All India Radio (AIR) towers in these cities, AIR Mumbai does not have the capacity to allow such a co-location of transmitters. So, Mumbai players have to look for an interim arrangement, before they can have a permanent tower. TDF, which got permission for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in its Indian subsidiary some time ago, believes that it was chosen because of its international expertise in providing infrastructure solutions for radio and television services. This company has so far put up 18,000 transmitters in the world, mainly in Europe and America. TDF also claims to have offered a cost advantage over the other contenders. What however is being seen as a deal clincher is the fact that TDF is making the complete capital investment, running into several crores in setting up the FM operations. The licencees will reimburse TDF in the form of a monthly carriage fee for a period of 10 years. "The fact that we invest in infrastructure is perhaps one of the reasons why we were chosen for the project," said Mr Forler. TDF or any of the FM players refused to divulge the financials for setting up these operations. Although the August 29 deadline for the FM licencees in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to set up operations is quite close, TDF is optimistic about meeting the same. The company is liely to use the synergies with AIR in setting up the FM operations. Significantly, TDF is committed to invest $500 million over the next five years in radio, television and telecom infrastructure services in India. The company's first target is radio, and it will be looking at providing infrastructure services for television and telecom projects in the country next. TDF has been a world leader in over-the-air solutions for more than 30 yhears. The company builds and operates infrastructure for terrestrial TV and radio, wireless and wireless multimedia. With a strong presence in Europe and America, the company has state-of-the-art R&D centres all over the world. (ENDS) From fred at bytesforall.org Tue Apr 9 08:37:55 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 12:07:55 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] [dx_india] Gyan Vani FM (fwd) Message-ID: Thanks to our DXer friends for sending in this info. Jose, I too was a DXer in my school days! FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Friends, Here is the latest information on Gyan Vani, "the Educational FM Radio Network of India" who has got permission to operate 40 FM stations. The following stations are operational: 1. Allahabad 107.4 0030-0430, 1230-1630 UTC 2. Bangalore 107.6 0030-0430, 1230-1630 3. Coimbatore 91.9 1230-1630 (Allahabad and Coimbatore will go on full power from around April 13, 2002) The following new stations will start in the next few days (around April 13, 2002): Lucknow 105.6 Visakhapatnam 106.4 Their offical web site is: http://www.gyandarshan.ernet.in/gvani.html (Source: Gyan Vani magazine, April 2002) ===== 73 Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax 91-40-3310287 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/iPMolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This group specialises exclusively on Broadcasting in India! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates for Broadcasting by AIR : ---------------------- 1927 - July 23 - 2002 : Platinum Jubilee of AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Post message: dx_india at yahoogroups.com Subscribe : dx_india-subscribe at yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe : dx_india-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com List owner : dx_india-owner at yahoogroups.com More info : groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator : Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India Telefax: 91-40-3310287 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From mgbhk at hkstar.com Wed Apr 10 13:32:23 2002 From: mgbhk at hkstar.com (Gerald Brown) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 14:32:23 +0300 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: I know this is a little bit away from your patch but the content below is interesting and relevant of two UK community radio happenings. Regards Gerald Brown Publisher e-broadcastnewsasia e-zine Hong Kong 1. Radio Fiza, has launched a new service for the South Asian community in Nottingham, England. The station, broadcasting on 97.1 MHz, since 25th March, is a shared service between the Asian Women's Project and the Karimia Institute. Radio Fiza has a licence to broadcast for one year as part of this experiment which aims to explore how Access Radio - a new tier of not-for-profit radio in the United Kingdom which will have social and educational benefits - might work in practice. It is the sixth station to launch out of a total of fifteen planned as part of this pilot scheme. Fiza is the first of three services aimed at Asian ethnic populations in the UK, with the other two expected to launch during April in Glasgow and Southall in West London respectively. The station is a communication, information and entertainment for the South Asian community in Nottingham. Asian Women's Project * Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 13.00-21.00 * Sunday: 12.00-21.00 Programming is primarily aimed at Asian women, families and young people. The service includes local and community news and information, features, interviews, discussions, phone-ins, poetry and literature, and Asian and English music. Asian languages include Urdu and Punjabi with some Hindi, Bengali, Mirpuri and Gujarati. The Karimia Institute * Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 08.00-12.00 and 19.00-23.00 * Sunday: 08.00-12.00 Speech-led programming with news and current affairs focussing on issues of local concern and interest. Included are interviews, discussions, phone-ins and features. Music styles featured include Qawalis and Naats, and Ghazals. Languages include Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Arabic languages and English (around 60%). 2. ABN Productions London is to run another 28-day radio station in Southampton, following an extremely successful 1st broadcast during autumn last year. ABN has teamed up with Southampton arts organisation Art Asia to run Radio Art Asia, which will broadcast 24 hours a day from Thursday 11th April to Wednesday 8th May 2002. Programmes will be broadcast in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and will also feature African Caribbean music and MOBO (Music of Black Origin). Presenters will include local people, specially trained for the task, as well as practising professionals. Transmission coincides with the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi and the Hindu festival of Ram Naumi. Listeners will be able to ring up to request dedications. Many local and national businesses are supporting Radio Art Asia including Ford Motor Company, P.O.S.H restaurant, Barclays, Bookers Cash & Carry and the RAF. Both sourced from the UK radio industry newsletter: The-Radio-Newsletter at yahoogroups.com 9th April, 2002 From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Wed Apr 10 18:30:19 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 22:00:19 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR India / Radio Access - UK Message-ID: <20020410163019.2F1E87D0D@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020410/cea6ba53/attachment-0002.diff From kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk Thu Apr 11 01:01:15 2002 From: kamal at kampra.swinternet.co.uk (Kamal Prashar) Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 00:01:15 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] CR New lease of life in UK Message-ID: <001c01c1e0e3$a2f44500$539ffea9@giskard> Just as a little extra to the information that Gerald posted about cr in the UK: I am the associate director of Sound Vision Trust and we have also been granted, after a long time lobbying, one of the 15 licences for an Access Radio Station - called Sound Radio. We have already started to put together our schedule and it includes Punjabi, Bangladeshi, Kurdish, Jewish, Afro Caribbean and of course English programmes. A sort of Community World Service Radio station. Over the year to come we will be streaming all our shows on the net and will have multilingual net access for the various languages spoken. This is for information dispersal and democratic governance issues which are becoming more and more relevant in the multi-lingual and multicultural environment that we have in our broadcast footprint. Hopefully we will be rebroadcasting programmes made by other cr's across the world which may be relevant to our local community (which includes Tamil, Somali, Central and South American as well as other African and of course European... and that is just the start). We have gone for a traditional model for our CR, though we will adapt as needed in the new world of Third Tier Access Radio in the UK. If anyone wants more details or would like to contribute then please feel free to contact me. Kamal Bhushan Prashar KamPra Productions 73 Hordle Promenade North London SE15 6HU (44) 020 7708 1354 www.kampra.com From SH at wacc.org.uk Tue Apr 9 16:45:38 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 15:45:38 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] *NUEVO* Accion 242 *NEW* Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990823D3@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> *********************************************************************** Action is published 10 times a year by WACC and gives news and articles on communication issues and projects from around the world. Accion es publicado 10 veces anualmente por la WACC y contiene noticias e informacion sobre asuntos y proyectos de la comunicacion. *********************************************************************** * NUEVO * Publicado hoy - en Espanol Accion 242, Marzo 2002. http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/accion/242/contenido.html *********************************************************************** Recently published communication magazines in English: Action 242, March 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/242/contents.html Media Development issue 1 2002 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-1/md2002-1_contents.html Media and Gender Monitor 10 http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/mgm/10/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociación Mundial de Comunicación Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratisación de la comunicación, la comunicación para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicación en situaciones de censura y opresión. ******************************************************************* Unsubscribe/Desuscribirse: update-unsubscribe at lists.wacc.org.uk ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 13 21:16:32 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 00:46:32 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Taru... radio soap with repro health message... Message-ID: 5. Taru - India - this 52-episode radio soap opera targets rural men and women with messages on sexual and reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, the value of the girl-child, education, literacy, and other health and social issues. This is a collaborative effort of an international NGO working with in-country partners to promote sexual and reproductive health and sustainable development through entertainment-education, a regional NGO providing reproductive health care, the Indian national radio network, and a US university where researchers will design and conduct independent monitoring and evaluation of the programme. http://www.comminit.com/pds4-2002/sld-4347.html Contact Lillian Chege lillianc at population.org From fred at bytesforall.org Sun Apr 14 07:14:39 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:44:39 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Re: ATCnet would like to go further with local community radio In-Reply-To: <150.c42113f.29ea596c@aol.com> Message-ID: On Sun, 14 Apr 2002 Profitinafrica at aol.com wrote: > Dear Colleagues > > I have become increasingly interested in the potential of local community > radio as a means of "last mile" delivery of important messages. > > Tom Abeles asks "How can we support this idea?" ...... and I think one useful > way to go forward is for someone with some reasonable level of knowledge to > give us some direction. > > My goal is to incorporate the appropriate technology into our ATCnet program, > and get the technology in use in Africa. We need to do this as cost > effectively as possible because we are working in an economic environment > that ought to be rich but is desperately poor. My current thinking is that > the radio component could be added into our general ICT program without it > adding much additional cost. > > But I suspect that there are a lot of government regulations around that will > make this rather simple idea into a monster. > > The reason I am attracted to this system is the fact that it is low power, > and the messages can therefore be very local and very relevant to the > community. Some years ago I was involved (listening in at meetings) about a > BBC World Service plan to broadcast agricultural information (actually in > support of Afghanistan reconstruction in the early 1990s) ...... and the key > issue that could not be handled was that relevant agricultural information > depended very much on what took place in the local neigborhood, the North > side of the valley compare to the South side of the valley, for example. In a > low power system, this sort of detail can be dealt with in a meaningful way. > > I look forward to learning more. Thanking you in anticipation > > Sincerely > > Peter Burgess > > ______________ > T. Peter Burgess > VP and CFO ATCnet > New York USA > Tel 212 772 6918 Fax 707 371 7805 > website: www.atcnet.org > email: profitinafrica at aol.com / hivaidsstories at aol.com > ---------------------------- > ATCnet Project for Universal Accountability > ATCnet Community Cyber EduCenter Networks > ATCnet Database on African Development and Enterprise > ATCnet Database on the African Health and HIV-AIDS Crisis > ATCnet Trade Networks > ATCnet Consultancy and Management Services > ---------------------------- > > > Subj: Re: [solaris]Fw: ATCnet and its interest in solaris > Date: 4/11/02 11:33:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: tabeles at attglobal.net (tom abeles) > Sender: solaris-admin at sarai.net > Reply-to: tabeles at attglobal.net > To: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) > CC: geert at xs4all.nl (geert), solaris at mail.sarai.net (SOLARIS) > > Radio- now why would one want to use that old technology? > > Great idea- meet people where they are with what you have. There are still > correspondence courses using the postal service and a variety of ways to > bring knowledge to folk. The key is that they want to learn and can learn. > The problem seems to be that certification often clouds the minds of > bureaucrats and gets in the way of learning. > > How can we support this idea? > > tom abeles > From sruti_bala at hotmail.com Sat Apr 13 09:39:48 2002 From: sruti_bala at hotmail.com (sruti bala) Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 13:09:48 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS Message-ID: HUMAN RIGHTS COURSE IN PHILIPPINES FOR COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS ----------------------------------------------------- Communications professionals involved in human rights advocacy programs are invited to attend a two-week training course in Laguna, Philippines, organized by the College of Development Communication (CDC). The course will draw heavily from the theory and practice of programs related to development communications. Organizers hope to enhance the participants' networking ability, communication planning, and message and materials development for human rights-based programming. The training course will also develop analytical skills through the use of innovative strategies in adopting a rights-based programming approach. Participants will also receive hands-on experience in using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify and locate potential campaign partners and beneficiaries. The course is offered with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Manila). Participation is open to anyone involved in communication and advocacy programming from both government and non-governmental organizations. A course fee of U.S.$1,600 will cover travel between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the workshop venue, all transportation during the workshop, board and lodging for the duration of the training, and workshop supplies and materials. To reserve a spot, program organizers request sending personal information and biographical data to Dr. Ma. Theresa H. Velascho, associate professor, College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines, Los Baños College, Laguna, Philippines. Telephone and fax (6349) 536-3356. For more information, contact Dr. Teresa H. Stuart, communication officer, UNICEF Manila at telephone (632) 892-0611, fax (632) 892-6456, e-mail tstuart at unicef.org or Ms. MaryAnn Q. Maglipon, program communication officer, UNICEF Manila at mmaglipon at unicef.org --------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020413/39e811ca/attachment-0002.htm From vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com Mon Apr 15 09:02:44 2002 From: vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com (vincent.dsouza at vsnl.com) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:32:44 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] Seeking sponsors for women's prog./Madras AIR Message-ID: <20020415070244.E9ABB7D2F@chn3.vsnl.net.in> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/attachments/20020415/d26b08c0/attachment-0002.diff From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 15 19:25:46 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 22:55:46 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] FREE India.... Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020415225421.009f5650@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Check out this mailing-list. Not directly linked to radio... but might have parallel aims. freeindia * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/free-india/ free-india · Forum For Right to Electronic Expression This list discusses and proposes to the Indian government changes in policy relating to electronic communications. Current concerns: 1) Ban on Internet telephony and blocking of related sites (see http://members.tripod.com/~india_gii/statusof.htm) 2) Proposal to the spectrum management authority for a band for spread-spectrum community networking, which could be used (for instance) by schools to connect to the Internet. And whatever other ideas the list members have. Decisions on what to publish as a formal document of FREE are taken on the list by consensus, failing which, by 2/3rds majority. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 17 19:03:32 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:03:32 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] Impunity and the media - new issue of Media Development Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB11@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ********************************************************************** New issue of Media Development: Impunity and the media ********************************************************************** The Red Sea catch: A Palestinian perspective, Mitri Raheb http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/raheb_red_sea.html Impunity in journalism, Jake Lynch http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lynch_impunity.html 'Are we still of any use?' - Impunity, the media and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Edwin H. Robertson http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/robertson.html Neither too much, not too little justice: Amnesty in the South African context, Charles Villa-Vicencio http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/vv_amnesty.html Communication may not build peace but it can certainly contribute to war, Cees J. Hamelink http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hamelink_war.html A life worth living: Digna Ochoa y Placido (1963-2001), Philip Lee http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/lee_ochoa.html Breaking the silence on the war in Algeria - the fight for truth and reconciliation, Andre Jacques http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_algeria.html French version: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/jacques_french.html La guerre d'Algerie: 40 ans apres, est-ce encore trop tot?, Djilali Hadjadj http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/hadjadj_algerie.html Los medios y la transicion democratica en Centroamerica, Edgar Gutierrez http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/gutierrez.html Verdad e impunidad, Hector Schmucler http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/schmucler.html and other articles, see the contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/md/md2002-2/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 10:01:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 13:31:17 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament Message-ID: This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation Statement in liquidation of assurance given to Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated 20.8.2001 Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening an FM channel on rural development and environment preservation and an FM educational channel in Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. From vvcrishna at yahoo.com Sat Apr 20 14:04:15 2002 From: vvcrishna at yahoo.com (Vickram Crishna) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 17:34:15 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details from our website soon. At 1:31 PM +0530 20/04/2002, Frederick Noronha wrote: >This is a statement laid in reply to a parliamentary question: > > Statement referred to in Column 4 of the Implementation > Statement in liquidation of assurance given to > Rajya Sabha in respect of Unstarred Question No 2955 dated > 20.8.2001 > > Government have received a proposal from M/s Decan > Development Society, a Charitable Rural Development > organization at Hyderabad, and one from G.B. Pant > Agricultural University, Uttaranchal, for opening > an FM channel on rural development and environment > preservation and an FM educational channel in > Uttaranchal respectively. Government has presently > allowed only the Indira Gandhi National Open University > (IGNOU), under the Ministry of Human Resources > Development, to run an educational channel in 40 centres. > >_______________________________________________ >CR-india mailing list >CR-india at mail.sarai.net >http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/cr-india -- Vickram _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com From fred at bytesforall.org Sat Apr 20 19:33:17 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 23:03:17 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] CRissue in Parliament In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020420230204.009f8ab0@mailsvr.goatelecom.com> Vickram, The point I was trying to make is that, at least on paper, nobody (or, to be precise, nobody but two parties) have applied for licences. Applying is one form of action, which would show that there is a demand for such a channel of communication. Of course, your point on doing something is well taken. FN At 05:34 PM 4/20/02 +0530, Vickram Crishna wrote: >May I point out if it isn't already obvious to everyone in this group: if >you want to get action you have to do, you have to demonstrate, you have >to prove. Sitting around and waiting for licences will have SITE to show >you daytime television. Unstarred questions in Parliament!!!! As well wait >for Modi to be booked under POTA!!!!! > >I am still waiting for Vincent to organise a workshop in Chennai. In the >meantime, we at Radiophony are not idle, and hope to give you more details >from our website soon. From SH at wacc.org.uk Wed Apr 24 13:59:58 2002 From: SH at wacc.org.uk (Sean Hawkey) Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 12:59:58 +0100 Subject: [cr-india] April Action bulletin: Call for fair coverage of Israel-Palestine Message-ID: <171664EA9CFCA84EADE9CF3865973F990DFB36@wacc_commserver.wacc.org.uk> ************************************************************* Action bulletin, April 2002: Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine: WACC conference statement. ************************************************************* "Megaphones and Muffled Voices - What is Full and Fair Media Coverage of Israel/Palestine Issues?" Report from WACC's conference this week in New York http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/megaphone.html Regional News: shorts from Brazil, USA, China, India, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Canada, Middle East, Russia, Zimbabwe, France and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/news.html The media after September 11th, two perspectives: from USA and South Africa http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/sep11.html Refugees Rights to Communication and Information, Report from the WACC conference in Lusaka, Zambia http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/refugees.html Gaza Strip, news from Jackie Lubeck of Theatre Day Productions, Gaza http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/gaza.html Bethlehem, news from Rev Dr Mitri Raheb, International Centre Bethlehem http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/bethlehem.html Trust In trouble - Bill Norris on Presswise http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/presswise.html Contents page: http://www.wacc.org.uk/publications/action/243/contents.html ******************************************************************* WACC supports the democratisation of communications, communication for human dignity and the right to communicate in situations of censorship and oppression. La Asociacion Mundial de Comunicacion Cristiana (WACC por sus siglas en ingles) apoya la democratizacion de la comunicacion, la comunicacion para la dignidad humana y el derecho a la comunicacion en situaciones de censura y opresion. (NOTA: los acentos y otros signos ortograficos se han omitido intencionadamente para evitar posibles problemas de lectura). ******************************************************************* Subscribe or Unsubscribe / Suscribe o Desuscribirse: http://www.wacc.org.uk/forms/subscribe.asp ******************************************************************* From subbuvincent at yahoo.com Mon Apr 29 08:00:06 2002 From: subbuvincent at yahoo.com (Subramaniam Vincent) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:30:06 +0530 Subject: [cr-india] [USA] NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO Message-ID: >NPR AND THE FALLOW TRIUMPH OF PUBLIC RADIO > >By Norman Solomon / Creators Syndicate > > > A triumphant story about National Public Radio appeared in late >March on the front page of Current, the main newspaper of the >public-broadcasting industry. "NPR Lands Most Listeners Ever," the >headline announced, over a summary of the latest Arbitron figures: "NPR >programs reached 19.5 million listeners a week last fall, and member >stations drew a record 28.7 million listeners. One in seven Americans >age 25 or older listens to an NPR member station each week." > > Network officials are exultant about the impressive numbers. "This >demonstrates that NPR is a leading source for news, information and >entertainment in America," says Ken Stern, executive vice president. By >far, the biggest audiences have been tuning into NPR's two weekday >drive-time news programs -- with an average of 1.87 million people >listening during any 15-minute period of "Morning Edition" and a 2.22 >million average for "All Things Considered." > > For a pair of shows with combined airtime of 20 hours between >Monday and Friday, that's a very wide reach to a whole lot of ears. "The >data seem to validate a systemwide trend toward adding more news and >talk programming at stations," Current reports. Overall, "public radio >has steadily gained audience for years, even as commercial radio lost >ground." > > For listeners interested in news and politics, "public radio" is an >obvious choice, while commercial radio slides deeper into an abyss of >mediocrity and corrosive gunk. Boosted by the bipartisan >telecommunications "reform" law of 1996, just a few conglomerates now >own several thousand stations nationwide between them. Tour the dial and >you'll hear a narrow play list of corporate-filtered music, heavily >right-wing and mean-spirited talk shows (Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, Dr. >Laura...), scant news, and barrages of commercials that extend from >mildly unpleasant to awful. > > NPR has plenty of time for news on the air. Yet, as public radio's >dominant network, NPR has largely reneged on the promise of public >broadcasting that stirred hopes 35 years ago with release of the >Carnegie Commission Report -- which declared that public broadcasting >should "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise >be unheard." In 2002, for the most part, "Morning Edition" and "All >Things Considered" provide a voice for the same political, economic and >military interests that are heard, ad nauseam, via other major media. > > A key factor is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- where >everyone on the board of directors has been nominated by the president >of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The nonprofit agency >doles out federal funds to public radio and TV stations. "With its hand >on the till," notes David Barsamian, a longtime independent radio >producer, CPB "wields considerable power and influence over public >broadcasting." > > In his new book "The Decline and Fall of Public Broadcasting," >Barsamian points out similarities between the top execs currently >running CPB and NPR: "Robert T. Coonrod has been the president and CEO >of the CPB since 1997. Prior to joining CPB, Coonrod was deputy managing >director of the Voice of America," operated by the U.S. government. >Meanwhile, "NPR's president and CEO Kevin Klose served as the director >of the International Broadcasting Bureau, which oversees VOA, Radio Free >Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio and Television Marti." > > At NPR News, the diversity of perspectives in reportage and >analysis is particularly limited on subjects like U.S. foreign policy >and nitty-gritty economic power. Whatever fine journalism airs on NPR -- >and there definitely is some -- gets dwarfed by mountains of conformist >stenography for the powerful, with routine reliance on official sources. > > The preponderance of deference to government outlooks has combined >with outsized programming impacts of corporate donors that >"underwrite" -- and, in some cases, literally make possible -- specific >shows. Private money is a big determinant of what's on "public" >broadcasting. > > Major companies "have a huge investment in the economy and can use >their economic power to leverage program content," writes Barsamian, >producer of the national weekly public-affairs program "Alternative >Radio" since the mid-1980s. "Independent producers who approach PBS and >NPR for airtime get a much warmer reception when they have an >underwriting package in hand. Overwhelmingly, programs that will attract >and please corporate underwriters and, crucially, won't rock the >ideological boat, get access to the airwaves." > > But dozens of community-based noncommercial stations, with much >smaller budgets, are striving to bring vibrant news and public affairs >to listeners without mainlining the fare pumped out by National Public >Radio every day. Those stations deserve our support. > > At the same time, we should vigorously critique and challenge what >comes under the heading of "NPR News." Victory in the quest for ratings >is not what public broadcasting is supposed to be about. >____________________________________________________ > >Norman Solomon's syndicated column -- archived at >www.fair.org/media-beat/ -- appears weekly in the San Francisco Examiner >and other newspapers. > > From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 11:36:29 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 15:06:29 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] CR workshop at Manipal... Message-ID: MIC, the Manipal Institute of Communication, will be hosting another fortnight-long workshop on community radio from May 6 to May 19, 2002. Jacob Ntshangase from Johannesburg, South Africa, will be the resource person. More details from kinnari toliya In summer 2001, a similar workshop was held. FN -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred at bytesforall.org * SMS 9822122436 at attcell.net * Saligao Goa India From fred at bytesforall.org Mon Apr 29 12:52:49 2002 From: fred at bytesforall.org (Frederick Noronha) Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 16:22:49 +0530 (IST) Subject: [cr-india] PRASHANT SHARMA: Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns (CR in India) Message-ID: An interesting essay. FN Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India Prashant Sharma MA Anthropology of Media School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 22 April 2002 Peripheral Voices, Central Concerns: Community Radio in India St. Xavier's School, Delhi, India. 1979. Every Wednesday afternoon, at 1.00 pm, the public announcement speakers in each classroom would crackle into life. It was the weekly 'broadcast' of Xavier Radio. The idea was simple. Every week, for half an hour, students would present a variety of programmes to the school - plays, songs, music, speeches, debates - 'live'. The responsibility of producing and hosting the programme would be rotated amongst different classes on a weekly basis. The microphone was in the principal's office, and Wednesday afternoons would see groups of nervous and excited students huddled around it. Over the year, almost everyone would have had his (it was a 'boys only' school) say. The investment needed to run this effort was negligible. The public announcement system had already been in place and it was merely being put to more use than if its role had been restricted to official announcements. Xavier Radio was small and was regulated (strict teachers, with strict eyes would oversee all aspects of the production and delivery), but it was important to the student community. It represented modes and moments of expression that made more sense than classes ever did. For a half hour every week, students could speak to each other, as a group. It was their effort. They had produced everything. And to a large extent, despite the omnipresent 'moderators', they were free to choose what they wanted to speak about. In 1983, Xavier Radio was brought to a close. A new principal had taken charge, and the weekly half an hour 'broadcast' was seen as a waste of precious academic time. Now, students would see the inside of the principal's office only if they had got themselves into some serious trouble. Those that did, would notice that the microphone was being used as a paperweight. And a very dusty one at that. The concerns of community radio in India have much in common with the example outlined above. Both address the issues of communities producing their own radio programmes, of regulation, of the negligible costs involved and of the importance they have for the community concerned. Then there is of course, the strikingly similar life cycle they seem to have gone through. They have had a presence in the past, and then, quite simply, they died. The difference is that community radio is beginning to show signs of life again. For a variety of reasons, it now seems imminent that community radio in India is going to play an increasingly important role in the progress of the country. It is this development that this paper will attempt to contextualise, examine and analyse. What is community media? To approach the issue of community radio, an understanding of the wider term 'community media' becomes essential. The phrase 'community media' can be interpreted literally as media which engages with a particular community, to the exclusion of other communities. Therefore, all media products are essentially community media as they each address a particular community. This 'community' could be a global one, a regional one, a class based one, a language based one (with or without overlaps), and so on. Though dialectically irrefutable, such an understanding of the term lacks empirical confirmation. In practice, community media have come to be accepted as "adaptations of media for use by the community, for whatever purpose the community decides� They are media in which the community participates as planners, producers, performers. They are the means of expression of the community rather than for the community" (Rosario-Braid et al., 1987: 45). An important distinction between non-community (or mainstream media) and community media is being made here. Whereas mainstream media is aimed (the military metaphor permeates production parlance; another example � target audience) at a particular community, and there remains a clear differentiation between the producers and the audience, this relationship is redefined within the framework of community media for "access [is no longer] limited to reception only" (Moemeka, 1981: 77). The audience are the producers, and possess ownership of and control over all processes of production and distribution. The community produces the media for itself. It is this empowerment of the position of the community within the power relationship between media and its audience that defines community media. A community, a relatively homogeneous group of people with shared interests, is not necessarily limited to a well-defined geographical space. Therefore, community media need not necessarily be local media. However, in a developing country such as India, mobility of people is relatively low and there exist vast differences in language (both aural and visual), culture and geography. These factors, coupled with legal, technological, economic and infrastructural limitations, qualify community media further to be a local one as well. Therefore, the notion of community media in the Indian context refers to media that is owned and controlled by small, localised communities, which produce media products for themselves. The same holds true for community radio as well. Why community radio? The economics of media production limit it into becoming a homogenising 'mass' media. Television and radio networks, print media, Internet companies, all have to bow to the demands of 'market forces', for "media texts are commodities just like any other products of industry, and their production shares many characteristics of assembly line manufacture, like cars or computers" (O'Sullivan & Jewkes, 2001: 249). With this style of production, comes the inherent need for revenues. As revenue generation is primarily advertisement and consumer led in most media markets of the world, this usually translates into programming being generated for those members of the audience who have more purchasing power. Where commercial interests "are primary, broadcasters will deliver a service only to the most profitable markets � which lie in densely populated areas that can deliver large audiences without difficulties" (Scannell, 1989: 63). The knowledge society certainly has well defined priorities - money. The needs and concerns of the rural and the marginalized, which constitute a large majority of populations of developing countries, are largely ignored in this scheme of things. This is not to say that this constituency of people can be looked upon as a single mass of people with similar needs that would be served by a single monolithic, alternative media. In the development field, as there is "great variability of development patterns, it is more important to understand the dynamics of local situations thoroughly and to plan accordingly than to seek universally valid prescriptions" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 23). Apart from this issue, an important concern that needs to be mentioned is the cost incurred to be able to access information, in any form, whether relevant or not. While the Internet seems to be a free cure-all resource, with a huge potential for community operations as its structure itself is decentralised, entering into its magical world needs a considerable amount of investment, not only on the part of the government in terms of telecommunications and power infrastructure, but also on the part of the individual or community in terms of the prohibitive costs of buying the required hardware. The cheapest 'Internet ready' computer system would cost upwards of $400, in a country where the per capita income is $310 annually. Illiteracy too is a major hurdle that hits at the very core of the English centred, written word oriented Internet. With almost 48% of the people in India illiterate, using the spoken word remains a strategy that would be more useful, even if to promote the cause of literacy. A television set too can be expensive, and although the penetration of television is increasing exponentially, the cost of production of programmes for television, and its subsequent transmission, remains extremely high, and can be recouped only when spread out over a large audience. Even public broadcasters cannot sustain public service programming as a result of commercial pressures of satellite television and "state television has become more focused on entertainment in order to retain its mass audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 335). To a large extent, this factor alone excludes a viable possibility of community owned, and now even public service television. A radio set, on the other hand, remains free of many of these limitations. A radio set (significantly, which can work independent of electricity supply), including an FM tuner, can be purchased for as little as $2. A low range, low power, production and transmission unit for FM can be obtained for under $8000. Clearly, in just economic terms, the case for community radio is strong. India is a large country. Not just in terms of inhabitants and area, but also in terms of the sheer number of languages its people use to communicate. The national languages recognised by the constitution themselves number 15. When regional dialects and offshoots of main languages are thrown in, the number swells to over 1600. Being a society with a very strong oral history, identity and sensibilities are largely associated with language and dialect. Indian federal polity itself is based on linguistic differentiation. Riots have broken out in the past over the issue of language and a perceived hegemony of one over the other. When attempting to address local concerns through media, this can be a very problematic issue to deal with. With this in mind, the presence of media (and specifically radio) in only the dominant languages and dialects thrown at the audience at large can be profoundly counterproductive. A repetition of these experiences certainly would not be a step forward towards becoming a 'knowledge society'. "Properly handled, the wireless can be made to mean for the Indian village such health, wealth and comfort as it has never known. Broadcasting can do more in a few years in the general spread of knowledge than all other methods of education put together in a lifetime" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Although coloured by the simpler optimism and a colonial 'we must do good for the natives' approach of its time, this statement is an early pointer to the critical link between radio and its potential in the development effort. It also carries within itself a reference to the above-mentioned catchphrase of our times, the knowledge society. Many 'world experts' on development constantly bandy about this phrase with little care. New and old communication technologies are often seen as important delivery systems of this knowledge and information. In this context, the case for the presence of a radio (or many radios) which addresses the relevant needs of specific groups of people in a localised space is significantly strong. Community radio then, appears to serve this purpose admirably. Although in a general sense, it is agreed that access to information and knowledge is important for the progress of a people, some critical questions relating to this debate are glossed over. What constitutes this knowledge? Who decides what is relevant information? Who controls access to and control over the systems and processes that disseminate this knowledge? An attempt can be made to answer these questions by first analysing the history of rural, local and community radio in India. The history It is not as if community radio, in the widest sense, has been completely absent in the long history of radio broadcasting in India. Though the form it has taken has varied over time and regions, instances of decentralised, rural and local radio that addressed the needs of the marginalized have been many. The use of radio (and later television) in the development process has long been a cornerstone of public service broadcasting policy of the Indian government, both colonial and independent. As far back as 1932, Punjab's Rural Reconstruction Commissioner, Frederick Brayne, conducted an experiment in rural radio broadcasting in Lahore. Based on the experience of this effort, Charles Strickland, former registrar of Indian Friendly Societies, suggested the setting up of district radio stations for rural development in a presentation made to the East India Society in London in 1933. These stations "would use small transmitters, broadcasting in local dialects, and providing a diet of folk songs and folk theatre, interspersed with news on agricultural prices" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 37). Many other experiments were conducted across India, but none survived. Those that did "were later absorbed into the national broadcasting service and in the process lost much of the community focus which had inspired the pioneers" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 38). The emphasis on using radio broadcast technologies for rural development continued with independence and beyond. Rural programming in regional dialects formed an important part of the overall programme content. The principal objective of All India Radio, India's nationalised radio broadcasting organisation, was the "conversion of All India Radio into a means of bringing practical assistance and pleasure to the millions in the villages" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 16). An important milestone in that effort came in the form of Farm Radio Forums set up in 1956 in 150 villages across five districts of the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Based on a Canadian model, it was a collaborative effort between All India Radio and UNESCO. The genesis of this effort lay in the earlier establishment of "village listening clubs [which had been] organised with the limited objective of ensuring better listening and for the collection of programme material" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 19). All India Radio had decided that the "experiment should be confined to a compact area where one regional language is spoken" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 20). With the support of community leaders and field workers, selected farmers in villages would meet at the appointed hour, listen to the radio broadcast collectively through a community radio set and then discuss the content which was moderated by a convener, who was usually "the secretary of the panchayat (village council)� or a teacher or a gram sevak (village worker)" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 31). The content itself was produced especially for the populace of the region, with a Subjects Committee "consisting of experts and others having an intimate knowledge of village life and its problems" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22) making editorial decisions. The programming was to "place emphasis on the practical aspects of rural life, and stimulate lively discussion among the listeners without raising controversial political issues" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 22). The role that the members, the listeners, were to play was defined in advance too and on enrolment, the "objectives of the forums were explained to them in simple terms as follows: (a) to listen to the special farm programme that was broadcast twice a week; (b) to discuss before and after the programmes some of the problems on which the broadcast focused attention; (c) to state their views on the problems and make suggestions about the programmes and occasionally to contribute to the programmes" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). A pioneering effort for its time, this experiment was "very successful in communicating knowledge of agricultural techniques and encouraging participation in decision making" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). However, as shown above, all control clearly lay with the producers and organisers, who were distinct from the audience. All aspects of the experiment were well defined, and carefully orchestrated, from the inception to the functioning. On the face of it, this was done to ensure the efficacy of the experiment. But this efficacy was determined by the desired results of the organisers rather than by those whom it was meant to serve. Though participation and feedback was built into the process, it was not the most critical element of it. The structure of the experiment itself was based on the approach that rural needs were best understood by those outside of the milieu and necessary information injected into these less developed regions would work wonders for the lives of the inhabitants. A later experiment using radio in the service of a specific rural community in a particular agricultural context was undertaken in the 1960s. The occurrence of the Green Revolution of this time changed the status of India being a country that imported food to feed itself to becoming one with net food surpluses. Though the efficacy of the Green Revolution itself in the long term is now suspect, at that time it was the imperative. This change came about primarily due to the introduction of new varieties of food plants and altered agricultural practices that greatly increased crop yields. Agricultural practices in India had remained largely unchanged for generations. Traditional forms of agriculture with a strong component of subsistence farming had been the norm. With the coming of new techniques and technology that later propelled the Green Revolution, came the imperative of introducing fundamental changes into these basic practices. The primary question that plagued planners and development experts was how to transmit the relevant information for the adoption of these new practices in a country as large and as seeped in traditional modes of agriculture as India. If the programme was to be successful, the adoption of these new practices over large areas in a short time was considered essential. In response to this need, All India Radio "began experimental broadcasts for farmers from the Trichinipoly station in 1966 to adopt new yielding varieties" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). The success of these broadcasts can be gauged by the fact that it "led to the new variety [of rice] becoming known as 'Radio Paddy'" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 328). This was another example of how localised broadcasts had been used effectively for rural needs by providing a link between agricultural extension service and farmers. Although the 'success' of the Farm Radio Forums and Radio Paddy were celebrated, such experiments were short lived and more the exception rather than the norm, as the structure of All India Radio and the philosophy behind broadcasting remained largely top-down. The expansion of stations across the country into districts did take place, however the general problem of their not being able to address local concerns remained. The reason was not hard to find. These stations were "managed and staffed by an all-India cadre of broadcasters with only temporary local affiliations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). The producers of the programmes not having much stake in the issues of the regions they happened to be posted in, the programming itself was bound to suffer. Though programming for farmers remains important in the organisational objectives of All India Radio even now, at best the small district stations continue "broadcasting in local languages and re-broadcasting national programmes to local audiences" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329) and cannot be called community radio stations in the strictest sense of the term as defined earlier in this essay. The fundamental problem remains that these supposedly rural, community oriented programmes are thrown at the audience with almost no "consultations between the people and the producers of the programmes, and no cooperation between the producers and the change agents in the rural areas who know and understand local conditions" (Moemeka, 1981: 66). There is also the problem of choice for the audience. "When community programmes share the same outlets as programmes for the nation as a whole, the two are, in some measure, in competition with one another for the same airtime� Community broadcasting can enjoy much more freedom to expand where it employs outlets of its own" (Moemeka, 1981: 64). The legal aspect The basic problem which had prevented true community radio stations from coming into existence was not only the reluctance of All India Radio to rescind control over the airwaves; it was also the legal aspects of the issue. It was illegal for any individual or private organisation to broadcast any information in any form over any area whatsoever. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 stated that: "Within India, the Central Government shall have the exclusive privilege of establishing, maintaining and working telegraphs: Provided that the Central Government may grant a licence, on such conditions and in consideration of such payments as it thinks fit, to any person to establish, maintain or work a telegraph within any part of India." The act was, and in large parts still is, in use. It laid out in no uncertain terms that broadcasting was the exclusive preserve of the government. Within a legal framework as limiting as this, the notion of community radio has remained a pipedream. The closest it would come to becoming community radio would be in the form of occasional sensitive and participatory programming as a result of the special efforts of the odd officer serving a particular station. Then s/he would be transferred and that would be the end of it. This sporadic presence of sensitive, participatory broadcasting also prevented any momentum leading to a critical mass to build up which could then have forced the issue with the government. Although the airwaves were opened up to private concerns in 1993, this was done so by the commercial auction of airtime on FM stations and that too in only the large metros of Mumbai and Delhi. Needless to say, large media houses with considerable economic clout were able to garner these licenses. The programming would invariably consist of slickly produced entertainment programmes aimed at an urban audience. The airwaves were being opened up, but the benefits were accruing to the mainstream media industry and its consumers. All this changed with a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India in 1995. Though the judgment was delivered in the context of the rights to broadcast a cricket match, the case itself became peripheral to the larger issue of the rights of individuals over the airwaves. While affirming the restrictions that must be put on broadcasting to prevent its misuse, the judgment of the Court also held that, "The airwaves or frequencies are a public property." It went on further to say that: "The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution." The Court further ordered the government to set up an independent and autonomous authority which would oversee the control and regulation of the airwaves, including the task of granting licences to private organisations and individuals to broadcast independent of the government machinery. Although the need for community radio had been a long felt one, this judgment of the Supreme Court gave an important and well-timed fillip to its supporters. In September 1996, VOICES, an Indian non-governmental organisation, brought together more than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-governmental organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment to debate the issue and formulate a strategy to pressurise the government to act upon the judgment by setting up a legislative framework for the introduction, encouragement and facilitation of community radio. The result was the Bangalore Declaration on Radio. While advocating that All India Radio should allocate regular air time to community broadcasting in the interim, the group also "requested the government to grant licenses to set up community radio stations to NGOs and other non-profit making organisations" (Page & Crawley, 2001: 329). Since then, All India Radio has made token efforts in this direction but the current situation remains that no regulatory framework has yet been set up for non-profit agencies. Although the first privately owned FM radio station went on air in July 2001 (ironically, in Bangalore), it is a commercial one, owned by Rupert Murdoch's STAR group. Currently, through various forums, the supporters of community radio are debating whether to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court of India to put further pressure on the government. Some projects based on community production of radio programmes without being broadcast are also being carried out which serve as important demonstrators of the positive potential of community radio. These projects will be discussed in more detail later in the essay. The concerns against community radio Seven years after the Court passed the judgment, the government has still not responded with any concrete action. As the frustration and impatience amongst the votaries of community radio grows, assurances are given, but nothing concrete has come of it. For a better understanding of the issues involved, it would then be useful to examine the reservations that have been raised against the widespread use of community owned radio. These concerns have been many; from technological, to social, to those relating to the development process, and of course, the ubiquitous concern for 'national security'. National Security Disaffected groups with a separatist agenda are a reality in many relatively newly formed nation states of the world. Often their presence is a symptom of the inability of the state to involve all sections of the population in the national mainstream. In India too, there exist many insurgent groups that have such a clearly avowed separatist agenda. Fears are then expressed that legalising broadcasts by private agencies would be of aid to such groups. They would then be in a position to increase the reach of their propaganda and the state would be facilitating it through the legalising of community radio. On the face of it, the argument has a certain appeal, but when the surface is scratched, it begins to show some cracks. Disaffection occurs largely when a group is marginalized or disenfranchised. "Minorities will feel safe only when the nation assures their democratic and human rights and when they see the possibility of negotiating for equitable sharing of power and resources" (Jayaweera, 2001 ). If anything, community radio becomes a facilitator of the integrative role that a nation should play, for through it, communities can engage not with issues immediately important to them, but also with the national mainstream. Panchayati Raj (self-governing village level) Institutions in India are based on the basic principles of self-governance and decentralisation of powers and control. These institutions are being actively supported through legislative, economic, political and social means. However, the same support is not being extended to what could be a critical facilitator of this decentralised structure - community owned media. "It is an empowering tool for the community. A nation [that] consists of empowered communities is more secure" (Jayaweera, 2001). Good governance is not based on externally enforced control. Control is effective only when it is generated by the self. Community radio, being owned and operated by the communities themselves, has self-censorship built into its very structure. With the entire community being stakeholders in the process of generating media for themselves, a propagandist agenda with little currency within the community will be sifted out of its own accord through mechanisms within it. Technology Technologically, the concern is that if thousands of community radio stations were to sprout up, then the airwaves would become clogged, for there is a limited frequency range allocated for broadcast. However, this too is a misplaced fear, for community radio by definition is local, and therefore such broadcasts would typically have a range of 20-30 kilometres. In this way, a single frequency could be shared without any overlapping signals by a series of stations. "On FM, the bandwidth permits a very large number of low powered radio transmitters. There can be up to 5000 FM stations, roughly the same number as tehsils (district sub-divisions) in India." Though the argument of airwaves becoming clogged up is weak and with little basis in fact, an issue that has not been addressed in enough detail is that of the maintenance and repair when needed of production and transmission equipment. Although the Bangalore Declaration does make a demand for the initial setting up of stations to be funded "largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc.", there is little mention of the way in which the maintenance issue would be tackled. Unless training programmes for locals are incorporated into the overall planning and conception of community radio stations, these could be rendered non-functional after some years of use. However, this remains a problem which can be tackled effectively with some foresight and planning and would also be useful in generating employment opportunities within the rural economy. Social Structure While technological and political issues can be resolved through planning and advocacy, it is when the dynamics of the development process itself are analysed, that some valid concerns come to the fore. The early experiment of the Farm Radio Forums itself has something to offer in the discussion on the efficacy of community radio. It was observed that in the project, it was difficult to "set up forums in which all members could speak on an equal footing. The village school masters often tended to be the most vocal and the other village functionaries were able to dominate as a result of their authority" (Mathur & Neurath, 1959: 30). The genesis of this problem lies in the fact that often planners, development experts and concerned professionals lobby for a particular solution based on the "assumption that there is harmony of interests amongst the rural population� Village society is highly differentiated in terms of access to resources, � and [it] is highly characterised by competition for resources among different interest groups" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 256). Even when community radio becomes a reality, this issue will remain, for it will then be an important resource for information, and information "tends not to trickle randomly but to flow along well established channels defined by the social structure" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 259). Though the legal ownership of this resource will lie with the community itself, those already in positions of control within such a community may end up monopolising it. This an important and valid concern as "obstacles to change are structural rather than cultural; changing attitudes are important but insufficient on their own to make any real progress in toppling the prevailing structures of inequality within village culture" (Johnson, 2000: 224). Therefore, checks and balances must be built into the legislative framework that will govern community radio which will at least attempt to minimise such occurrences, for eradicating them altogether will not be easy. Social structures cannot be changed overnight, with or without the presence of community radio. Despite this concern, the relative efficacy of community radio, as opposed to other media that profess the cause of equitable access to relevant information in a practical way, remains unchallenged. Ongoing efforts Despite these concerns and limitations, the positive potential of community radio continues to be demonstrated by various groups of people and organisations throughout the country. With the legal framework of community broadcasting absent and the government dragging its feet on the process, these organisations and groups have begun to undertake innovative measures to use the advantages of audio technology to further their efforts in the developmental arena. The Deccan Development Society (DDS) is an NGO which works in the Medak district of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With efforts emphasising the concerns of gender justice, environmental soundness and people's knowledge, its strategy is to consolidate groups of village women into "vibrant organs of primary local governance and federate them into a strong pressure lobby for women, poor and the dalits (those belonging to the lowest castes)". Sammamma, a 35 year-old non-literate member of the group observed that they "are working on so many alternative issues. The dissemination of this message is now the burden of a few women leaders who travel around� If we have our own radio, the issues we are talking about will have a much wider dissemination� and reach a larger community of women." Propelled by such felt needs, a collaborative effort between DDS and UNESCO was launched in 1996. This resulted in the establishing of an FM station designed to work on the relatively 'low tech', yet effective enough, audio cassette technology. "Once the station is in operation, dalit women from 75 villages will bring their form and content into it and make it a tool for their horizontal communication with their communities as well as to reach out to the outside". A Community Media Trust too has been launched, formally transferring the ownership of these media facilities to a body consisting of members of the rural community. While a fully functional radio station is in place, broadcasting remains illegal. So the community produces radio programmes which are then played back in the periodic community meetings held over the region. Feedback to these programmes in these meetings are recorded and brought back to the production facilities. This form of 'narrowcasting' is proving to be quite useful and effective in the absence of actual broadcasting. In another region of the country, a collaborative effort between All India Radio and small rural communities is being carried out. In the Western Indian state of Rajasthan, the state owned radio broadcaster has leased a weekly time slot to an NGO working with rural women in the region. However, in this case, the programmes are not created by the women themselves. Relying heavily on audience feedback and inputs from field workers, the programmes are written, directed and produced by a team of professional communicators in association with the NGO. Though not community radio in that there is little direct involvement of the community itself in the production and broadcast of the programmes, the response to it has been very positive. As a step toward the creation of a genuine participatory radio, it serves an important purpose. Other such projects continue to be undertaken, deftly sidestepping the legal constraints they find themselves limited by. However, until the promised regulatory framework is finalised, these efforts will have only limited success and the frustration of communities at not being able to communicate with each other freely, despite having the wherewithal to do so, will only grow. Developmental communication and community radio The path that theories of developmental communication have taken bears an eerie resemblance to the one taken by developmental theory at large. For decades, they have rested on presuppositions that have little or no bearing with empirical observations. These mimic in different ways the following pattern. The rural, the marginalized and the disenfranchised need to be helped. And this help must come in the form of outside intervention. This help can take the form of aid, technology, education, political rights, and in the case of communication specifically, ideas and information. This overall approach of "exogenously induced change" (P. Golding cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 24) assumes the receivers to be a monolithic mass of morons who are incapable of articulating their own needs, their own notions of change and their own definitions of development. They are the perfect sponges, absorbing all the wonderful messages directed at them, and whether through the "two-step flow" (E.M. Rogers cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) or by the sheer strength of the "great information multipliers" (W. Schramm cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 26) characteristic of the media, incorporate them into their daily lives. As a result of this external support, the world becomes a more equitable place sooner rather than later, and all of humanity is indebted to the development and developmental communications experts for eternity. Unfortunately, the world has not changed much. Basic inequities remain (where they have not increased), and so do similar theories. However, what has emerged is a more sagacious view. "Real societies are too complicated and local conditions too varied for universal solutions to be applicable, though the dimensions of the problems of development are now better understood" (Hartmann et al., 1989: 31). A challenge to this dominant, top-down trend in developmental communications has been present for some time, but has not been able to influence communication policy planners in the third world. This alternative view outlines a framework where "the status distance between teacher and student, communicator and audience, is abolished. Communication functions more as a dialogue in which the former learns as well as teaches, and the latter is enabled to understand better the causes of his oppression and thereby to do something about it" (P. Freire cited in Hartmann et al., 1989: 29). A constructive dialogue can take place only amongst equals. And to be able to do so implies the partnership and participation of the entire community in all processes of media production and dissemination. It is this approach community radio exemplifies. Community radio also strikes at the heart of the tool with which status quo in a society is maintained - the control of knowledge. Those who have access to such knowledge are loath to give it up. And to give up control over something as important as broadcasting can be very threatening to existing power structures. "The limits of representative democracy and of broadcasting's representative public service role within it are essentially the same; power accrues to the representatives, not those whom they represent" (Scannell, 1989: 70). Moreover, media producers thrive on the mystification of the production process and its associated technology. The possession of this 'specialised' knowledge grants them a position of power. In practice, production processes can be carried out by anyone with just basic training, if that. When production shifts to the community, the demystification of technology occurs simultaneously. No longer can technology remain distant from the people is meant to serve. No longer is the process an esoteric one to which a privileged few have access. No longer can the dominant grammar of the media be sustained, for now it can be redefined by the audience itself. This process then results in the emasculation of the dominant media production industry and its proponents. Consumers of a particular product becoming producers of the same is the worst nightmare of those who gain from established economic structures. It has also been observed that "knowledge of the operational aspects of mass communication increases interest in the media, and creates a critical awareness in listening to the messages they carry" (Moemeka, 1981: 74). An audience that is critically aware of the way in which media products can be designed consciously to suit a certain end and may not necessarily represent the 'truth', is a dangerous one to contend with for those who stand to gain by it. At the same time, if communities are empowered enough to create an alternative media of their own, the mainstream media industry stands to lose the very basis on which it exists, its consumers. It is an unequal world, and it is in the interest of some to keep it so. Conclusion Community radio in India at the moment stands on the threshold of fundamentally changing the basic notion of the role media can play in the empowerment of people. But a major barrier continues to exist in the form of the lack of legislative framework, perhaps fuelled by the resistance of established interest groups. Against the argument that this is the sole barrier to community media being widely propagated, is the one that even if this legislative reform were to take place, the deeply embedded hierarchical social structures within which community radio would have to operate would mitigate the beneficial developmental effects of it. While lobby groups and advocates of community media continue to pressurise the government to formulate laws that would make free the airwaves in the truest sense of the term, it is the second hurdle which is infinitely more difficult to overcome. Hierarchies have an inherent characteristic of being extremely tenacious. Indeed, change of social structures occurs over time and may only take place when the benefits of such a change for all are made obvious to all. In a similar vein, it is possible that the group currently influencing public policy on broadcasting in India will not lose as much power as it fears. Community radio does not seek to replace other forms of broadcast. It simply gives a voice to the peripheral millions. A three tiered broadcasting model, with the national, private and community media playing complementary roles, has a precedence in other developing nations and much can be learnt from such systems. When community radio does take off, it will be a rewarding exercise to observe the ways in which its active presence can be causally related to an improvement in the condition of the marginalized sections of society. However, while it may be tempting to romanticise the power community radio grants and the benefits it can bring, it is important to understand that it must only be as 'useful' as the community wants it to be. To use the exogenous 'we must teach people how to use this new tool' approach would be to merely replicate the follies of the past. Organisations and lobbyists, who are impatient to use this tool in what would hopefully be a more liberal environment, must be careful in this regard. If it is to be a true community radio, it must be wholly and completely left in the hands of the community concerned. Even training and workshops to familiarise members of communities with the technology must facilitate an independent interpretation of the way it can be used. Community radio can be successful only if it frees people to communicate with themselves. In their own language, in their own form and on their own terms. When this happens, perhaps Xavier Radio too may find its voice again. References Hartmann, P., Patil, B.R. and Dighe, A. (1989) The Mass Media and Village Life: An Indian Study, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Jayaweera, W. (2001) "Can community radio become a tool of disintegration?" Discussion paper presented during the National Seminar on Community Radio, Jakarta, Indonesia in September 2001. [Online] http://www.thehoot.org/conference/comtool.asp Johnson, D. (2000) Television and Social Change in Rural India, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Mathur, J.C. and Neurath, P. (1959) An Indian Experiment in Farm Radio Forums, Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Moemeka, A. A. (1981) Local Radio: Community Education for Development, Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press Ltd. O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Page, D. and Crawley, W. (2001) Satellites Over South Asia: Broadcasting, Culture and the Public Interest, New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rosario-Braid, R.F., Mendoza-Rivera, M.T., Alberto, E.R., Fabian, E.J. and Tuazon, R.R. (Eds.) (1987) Communication for Rural Mobilisation and Development, Manila: Asian Institute of Journalism. Scannell, P. (1989) "Public service broadcasting and modern public life" O'Sullivan, T. and Jewkes, Y., Eds. (2001) The Media Studies Reader, London: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. Web Resources http://www.ilpdc.org http://www.indiantelevision.com http://www.indiapolicy.org http://www.meadev.nic.in http://www.thehoot.org http://www.vigyan.org.in http://www.wantokent.com Appendix A The Supreme Court Ruling In a ruling given in early 1995, India's Supreme Court declared the airwaves as 'public property', to be utilized for promoting public good and ventilating plurality of views, opinions and ideas. This judgment held that the 'freedom of speech and expression' guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution includes the right to acquire and disseminate information. And, in turn, the right to disseminate includes the right to communicate through any media -- print, electronic or audio visual -- though restrictions were permissible on such rights. "The fundamental rights," said the judgment, "can be limited only by reasonable restrictions under a law made for the purpose ... The burden is on the authority to justify the restrictions. Public order is not the same thing as public safety and hence no restrictions can be placed on the right to freedom of speech and expression on the ground that public safety is endangered." Judges Sawant and Mohan held that: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our Constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media." This judgment noted that Indian broadcasting was being governed by archaic laws. The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 was meant for a different purpose altogether. When it was enacted, there was neither radio nor television, but both these concepts were later sought to be fitted into the definition of "telegraph". In view of this, the judges said it was essential that the Indian Parliament "step in soon to fill the void by enacting a law or laws, as the case may be, governing the broadcast media, i.e. both radio and television". Also, the judges instructed the Indian federal government to "take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of the airwaves". 1236 S.C. Secretary, Ministry of I&B v.Cricket Assocn, Bengal AIR 1995 Supreme Court 1236 P.B.Sawant, S. Mohan Reddy and B.P. Jeevan Reddy, JJ One of the most relevant paragraphs to us perhaps is: "24. We, therefore, hold as follows: "(i) The airwaves or frequencies are a public property. Their use has to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interest of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights. Since the electronic media involves the use of the airwaves, this factor creates an in-built restriction on its use as in the case of any other public property. "(ii) The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have an access to telecasting for the purpose. However, this right to have an access to telecasting has limitations on account of the use of public property, viz. the airwaves, involved in the exercise of the right and can be controlled and regulated by the public authority. This limitation imposed by the nature of the public property involved in the use of the electronic media is in addition to the restrictions imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. "(iii) The Central Government shall take immediate steps to establish an independent autonomous public authority representative of all sections and interests in the society to control and regulate the use of airwaves...." Some other points made in the judgement/s: "Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organisation nor any Government or Government organisation can claim exclusive right over it. Our constitution also forbids monopoly either in the print, or electronic media "However, the monopoly in broadcasting and telecasting is often claimed by the Government to utilise the public resources in the form of the limited frequencies available for the benefit of society at large. It is justified by the Government to prevent the concentration of the frequencies in the hands of the rich few who can monopolise the dissemination of views and information to suit their interests and thus in fact to control and manipulate public opinion, in effect smothering the right to freedom of speech and expression and freedom of information to others. "The claim to monopoly made on this ground may however lose all its raison d'etre if either... section of the society is unreasonably denied access to broadcasting or the Governmental agency claims exclusive right to prepare and relay programmes." "The Government sometimes claims monopoly also on the ground that having regard to all pervasive presence and impact of the electronic media, it may be utilised for purposes not permitted by law and the damage done by private broadcasters may be irreparable. There is much to be said in favour of this view and it is for this reason that the regulatory provisions including those for granting licences to private broadcasters where it is permitted are enacted." "On the other hand, if the Government is vested with an unbridled discretion to grant or refuse to grant the license or access to the media, the reason for creating monopoly will lose its validity. For them it is the Government which will be enabled to effectively suppress the freedom of speech and expression instead of protecting it and utilising the licensing power strictly for the purpose for which it is conferred. It is for this reason that in most of the democratic countries an independent autonoous broadcasting authority is created to control all aspects of the operation of the electronic media. Such authority is representative of all sections of the society and is free from control of the political and administrative executive of the State. "It therefore, includes the right to propagate one's views through the print media or through any other communication channel e.g. the radio and television. Every citizen of this free country, therefore, has the right to air his or her views through the printing and/or the electronic media subject of course to permissible restrictions imposed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The print media, the radio and the tiny screen play the role of public educators, so vital to the growth of a healthy democracy." Appendix B The Bangalore Declaration on Radio September 1996 Introduction The present decade is significant for the India's development in a number of ways. Decentralisation of governance, professed emphasis on social services, impact of the communication revolution and increased general awareness of human rights have opened up opportunities and challenges on an unprecedented scale. If these far-reaching changes in the economic, technological and social spheres can be harnessed to empower the impoverished and disadvantaged millions, the process of development can be given a fresh impetus and a more purposive orientation. Information is a key element in socio-economic development. The capacity to communicate and have access to the media greatly influences information use and its impact. People will also generate new and vital information when the media are democratised. Therefore, the need for a dynamic and people-oriented policy on communication cannot be over-stressed. A variety of factors peculiar to the Indian situation today suggest that a liberalised policy on radio broadcasting with emphasis on community participation and local control, will be appropriate to the current development strategy. Formulation of broadcasting policy in respect of radio should aim at optimum utilisation of airwaves in the public interest, facilitating community management of information exchange and participatory modes of decision-making. Limited experiments in this direction by the All India Radio through the so-called Local Radio Stations have demonstrated the immense benefits and potential of this approach. It is proposed here to institutionalise and expand the concept of community broadcasting, with the involvement of people at all levels across the length and breadth of this vast country. Democracy and good governance make such a change imperative; and it is an essential pre-requisite for better enjoyment of human rights. More than sixty people representing All India Radio, universities, non-government organisations involved in development activities, journalists, and members of the broadcasting establishment, discussed the problems and prospects for evolving a sectoral broadcasting policy during a four-day Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy held in Bangalore September 11-14, 1996. The discussions focused on the means and modalities of establishing, at the earliest, a democratic system of public service broadcasting in the country. The Consultation resulted in a consensus statement, here called the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO, which outlines the basic elements of a desirable media policy on radio broadcasting. Given the set of current policies aimed at decentralisation, liberalisation and people's participation in several areas, it is hoped that the BANGALORE DECLARATION ON RADIO will receive the timely and earnest attention of relevant authorities, and that the concept of community radio will soon become a reality. Meanwhile, it is important that universities, public bodies, women's organisations, dalit associations - to name a few - prepare themselves for the task of establishment and participatory management of community radio stations with a development agenda appropriate to, and determined by, their communities: this is the near-term challenge and unique opportunity. Community radio will bring fresh validity and meaning to the concept of decentralised governance envisaged by 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution; and catalyse the process of people's empowerment through information and education. It is with this hope and reasonable expectation that the BANGALORE DECLARATION is being presented to the public for a wider discussion, support and follow-up action. NATIONAL BROADCASTING POLICY: Towards public service broadcasting through community radio Preamble Whereas the right to impart and receive information is recognised as a guaranteed basic right under the Constitution; and whereas,the Supreme Court of India has declared airwaves as public property to be utilised for promoting public good and ventilating plurality and diversity of views, opinions and ideas, and that towards this end, the broadcasting media should be under the control of the public as distinct from the Government; and whereas, it is necessary to promote local broadcasting through community-based radio stations for the successful implementation of decentralised governance envisaged under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments;and whereas, successive committees appointed by the Government to examine the issue have recommended the adoption of a comprehensive national broadcasting policy with participation of the private sector, NGOs, local self- government institutions and other community groups providing a framework for media development in the context of technological progress and national needs: It is now proposed to present the elements of a National Broadcasting Policy on the basis of which Parliament could enact legislation for regulating the airwaves as a public property, whose utilisation in the context of electronic media - TV and radio - is intended to promote public good. [Since the Bangalore Consultation was specifically focused on radio broadcasting, the statement of policy contained herein is limited to only the radio broadcasting sector, and in particular, its community broadcasting application. It is our hope that this statement would be included appropriately in the National Media Policy which would cover all media - Television, Radio, Cinema and Print.] Statement The legislative imperative 1. Airwaves are public property and must be used for public good. Public good is not served optimally when there is a monopoly by the government over this public resource or when liberalisation of broadcasting is confined to commercial use of airwaves. Access to the airwaves by everyone who acts in the public interest is the sine qua non of public good in this context. This is also part of the right to information, a guaranteed constitutional right. Need for community radio 2. Centralised one-way broadcasting at various levels of aggregation has limited scope to serve the goals of development, especially in the context of pluralism and diversity which is a singular characteristic of Indian society. As such, the regulatory framework should promote a decentralised system of radio broadcasting. 3. Community broadcasting, is a concept relevant to social cohesion, development for conviviality and national integration. Community radio is public service broadcasting its most decentralised and its most democratic form. A community radio station serves a defined geographical area of a village or groups of villages, and is owned and managed by organisations serving a given community. 4. A community radio station would, besides educating and entertaining people, connect people with people through participatory or circular communication, connect with organisations and communities, and finally, connect people with government and public service agencies. These needs are not met under the current framework. 5. In a number of ways, community or public interest broadcasting can be termed Equal Opportunity Broadcasting, which is essential not only for effective democratisation of a public resource viz. the airwaves, but also in the context of our plural society with a multiplicity of languages, cultures and ethnic groups. Policy formulation 6. Radio combines the benefits of low cost, and wide reach and access. When used in a community setting with limited area coverage, for example as in FM radio broadcasting, it offers many exciting possibilities for fulfilling the developmental goals and aspirations of the people, and wider choices in accessing information from diverse sources within and outside the community. Its potential for creating social change has been demonstrated in many parts of the world. For these reasons, control of community broadcasting should be vested with the community rather than with the government or private commercial enterprises. 7. The present centralised structure of broadcasting is not conducive to people-centred, participatory methods of communication. The potential of the medium to promote community development is largely unrealised. The involvement of other public bodies, NGOs, professional associations, etc. in the utilisation and management of airwaves is essential for realising this potential to promote the welfare of millions in communities, and therefore the public good. The need for structural changes in airwaves management in order to accommodate localised initiatives is a logical result of this imperative. 8. As recommended by the Paswan Committee (1996), while there can be a single national policy which addresses macro-level issues common to all media, medium-specific policies are required for each medium, taking into account the coverage, reach, cost structure, technology, administration and, finally, the social application of the medium. 9. Radio broadcasting, like other media, has developed around power centres and power structures in society, resulting in disparity of access and use among different sections of society. Changes in media policy which seek to mitigate if not eliminate these disparities require political will and a people-centred, bottom-up approach already contemplated in the 74th Consitutional Amendment. Community radio is an illustration of this evolutionary process; therefore, it needs to be acknowledged and supported. 10. At the operational level, a regulatory structure which is independent of the government and existing broadcasting organisations, public and private, should be set up in order to facilitate and support all licensed broadcasters in the country and their shared use of the airwaves under a fair and reasonable regime, consonant with national interests and priorities. The structure must address a varie~ty of issues such as: licensing criteria for various categories of broadcasting, technical and service standards, technical support and training, social and administrative auditing, funding sources and support, etc. 11. Frequency spectrum resources - particularly in the band allocated for FM radio broadcasting viz. 86-108 MHz - will be made available on a shared basis with existing services for community broadcasting applications. Efforts will be made to evolve a national plan for the allocation of frequencies in this band so that the establishment of a large number of community radio stations across the country, based on a high degree of frequency re-use, is facilitated. Note: Far-reaching structural and managerial changes in the regulation and administration of the electronic media by the Government have been recommended by the various committees appointed to examine the issue. These have been partly reflected in the Prasar Bharati Act (1990). This Act might require changes if the statement on policy contained in the BANGALORE DECLARATION is to be adopted in legislation. At the Bangalore Consultation on Community Radio and Media Policy, a possible structure for autonomous public service radio broadcasting was discussed, taking into account the appropriate features of such a structure and also the ground realities of the country. The outcome of these discussions, titled "Structure of Public Service Radio Broadcasting in India: Some Essential Features," is appended to this document as Annexure I. Admittedly, some of the features listed therein - particularly those related to funding, organisation, and inter-linkages - need to be elaborated in more detail, after further discussion. However, the proposed structure provides a basis for discussion, once the important policy decisions on public control of airwaves and the concept of community broadcasting are taken. Annexure I ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A PUBLIC SERVICE RADIO: Broadcasting structure Regulatory Authority and Licensing Criteria 1. To regulate and oversee broadcasting activities in the country under a liberalised framework, a National Broadcast Trust (NBT) as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) should be established. The NBT will be an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, and would be free from government control. 2. The current framework adopted by national broadcasting agencies is of three-tier broadcasting, viz. national, regional and local. It is proposed here to enable the setting up of a separate and independent tier - at village/community level. The nature of community broadcasting warrants that it should be owned and managed by the community itself. For all other purposes, community broadcasting will be entitled to the same rights and obligations as broadcasting agencies at the other levels. 3. The term 'community' for this purpose shall mean a non-rigid group of people living in a bounded geographical area which is determined by the reach of the radio broadcasting station, and who share a commonality of concerns, interests and aspirations. 4. No monopoly or exclusive control by any interest group within the community will be permitted. The community, in all its diversity, should exercise democratic control over community broadcasting and establish appropriate systems of accountability, within and outside the community, as may be necessary. Equal opportunity to all groups in the community in respect of access to communication will be the distinct feature of a community radio station. 5. Given the complexity of local communities in India, the regulatory authority may grant licenses to other bodies serving the public interest in a phased manner. In the first phase, universities with extension activities (for example, agricultural universities, medical institutions, adult and legal literacy organisations), registered cooperatives, women's cooperatives and autonomous public bodies fulfilling minimum criteria for eligibility should be granted licenses to set up community radio stations to serve the public interest. Programming 6. While granting licenses for community radio stations, the NBT will direct the All India Radio to provide the required development and technical support to the licensees, including training of technicians and programmers. The licensee shall bear the costs of programming as well as the operating and maintenance costs of the community radio station. 7. A local advisory committee, representing varied public interests within the community, shall be appointed, preferably by a local judge, for a fixed tenure. The committee shall guide the programme content of transmissions from the community radio station. The committee shall also guide all other collective decisions relating to the operations of the community radio station, such as hours of transmission, scheduling and so on. 8. The interactive format for programming shall be encouraged to make the programmes truly participatory. A baseline programming element will relate to environment, health, women's empowerment, education, legal matters and other such public interest issues. 9. Building linkages between private broadcasters, on the one hand, and local self- government institutions, educational and professional bodies, and special interest groups on the other hand, will be essential. It is important that these groups are provided access to the medium in order to serve the public interest in all its dimensions. Such participation would of course be innovative. Community radio stations should also work in concert with government agencies in reaching out to and promoting the economic and social welfare of the marginalised and disadvantaged groups within the community. 10. The NBT may lay down guidelines on programme content promotive of public interest and may monitor community radio stations. It may exercise sanctions to discipline erring stations, again in the public interest as elucidated in the policy statement. 11. Community radio stations may be obliged to broadcast during an agreed period, national messages provided by the AIR, for which the radio networking receiver facilities may be extended by the latter. Role of All India Radio 12. All India Radio, with its extensive infrastructure, trained personnel and vast experience, shall play a crucial but supportive role in the development of community radio broadcasting, under the guidance of the NBT. Its new role in this sphere shall be clearly defined and the necessary organisational restructuring of the AIR shall be carried out to help carry out its new role effectively. 13. All India Radio shall provide assistance to licensed community broadcasters in the design of their radio stations in respect of intended coverage, technical configuration of transmitter and studio, and standardisation of the service at low investment levels; it shall also provide technical training for operation of the facilities. The AIR could also evolve a Handbook/Manual on community broadcasting, based on technical/system studies, which can be a source-book for the NBT in decision-making on technical matters and for potential broadcasters. Checks and Balances 14. To ensure social and public accountability, it is desirable that each community radio station evolves its own code of conduct and strictly abide by it in its programming, transmissions and management. A local Ombudsman consisting of three persons who are widely respected for their experience and integrity shall be attached to each radio station. The Ombudsman will entertain complaints from individuals and institutions and can decide on the culpability or otherwise of the radio station concerned. Once indicted by the Ombudsman, the radio station will have to make amends and strictly abide by its directions. More than three such violations may entail withdrawal of the license, or other privileges of the station or its officers. 15. The station can also be brought under the Consumer Protection Act as a provider of services in a limited number of cases. 16. If the regulatory authority directs a radio station to close down or if the station cannot be run for other reasons, including emergencies, AIR shall have the authority to keep the assets in trust till the problem is resolved and the station resumes broadcasting. If AIR is to finally and irrevocably take over the station along with the assets, the owners shall receive due compensation in respect of the assets taken over by AIR. Funding and Management 17. All community radio stations will work on the principle of no-profit, no-loss. Initial capital expenditure shall be met largely by a grant through the National Broadcast Trust, contributions from member institutions, donations from the public, fees from listeners for broadcast of local messages and advertisements, sponsorship charges, radio club subscriptions, etc. 18. The appropriate legal form for a community radio station could be either a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act; or a Trust under the Trusts Act. Other options for management of community radio stations could also be examined by the regulatory authority and a final organisational format can be arrived at. Interim Measures by the Government 19. In order to promote community broadcasting and the development of necessary skills in programming and other areas in the interim period when the legislative framework of community radio and follow-up actions are pending, the Government could provide for the following: ? Airtime in AIR Local Radio Stations for programmes developed by different community and special interest groups to provide regular community interaction with audiences within the coverage areas ? Airtime in Private Radio Stations licensed by the Government for institutions and public bodies within the community to provide regular community programming to audiences within the coverage areas ? Mandatory setting up of Community Broadcasting Stations areas by licensed broadcasters - government and private - as a fraction of the total number of local radio stations licensed by the NBT e.g. for every five Local Radio Station licenses granted, the licensee is obliged to set up one community radio station. Appendix C Verghese Committee Report, 1978 Excerpt from the major recommendations of Shri B.G. Verghese Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, February 1978. "We envisage an autonomous national trust as the authority under which Akashvani and Doordarshan should grow. This we are naming Akash Bharati - the National Broadcast Trust." 1995 data. See http://www.indiapolicy.org/debate/Notes/data1.html 1990 data. See http://www.ilpdc.org/ILP/education.htm See http://www.wantokent.com/prod01.htm See http://www.meadev.nic.in/culture/language/language.htm, the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. My italics. See http://www.vigyan.org.in/teleact18.htm See Appendix A. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp My italics. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp. www.thehoot.org is a website created under the auspices of The Media Foundation, New Delhi. See Appendix B. W. Jayaweera is the Regional Communication Adviser for UNESCO for the South Asia region. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/indcontext.asp The National Broadcast Trust is envisaged as an autonomous body made up of eminent professionals and other individuals, which would be free from government control to be established as outlined by the Verghese Committee (1978) on autonomy for Akashvani (state owned radio) and Doordarshan (state owned television). See Appendix C. See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp See http://www.thehoot.org/conference/commlocal.asp From http://www.thehoot.org/conference/supreme.asp From http://www.comminit.com/ctindiaradio/sld-208.html From http://www.indiantelevision.com/indianbrodcast/legalreso/legalresources.htm 7