edition-dw-akademie-in-the-service-of-the-public-functions-and-transformation-of-media-in-developing-countries-pdf

Part III Nepal: Radio Sagarmatha, an Asian Community Radio PioneerNepal: Radio Sagarmatha, an Asian Community Radio PioneerIn 1997, Radio Sagarmatha went on air as the first community radio station in Nepal and South Asia. Today, the 250 communityradio stations in Nepal play an important role. For most of the citizens who live in the more remote areas of the country, communityradio is the sole source of information. Radio Sagarmatha set the standard for independent, public-interest radio in thecountry. It also contributes to the empowerment of local communities. As a means of social mobilization, the station is raisingits voice to discuss many hidden issues or taboo topics in society, reflecting the shortcomings of Nepal’s fledgling democracy. Inthe 17 years since its establishment, Radio Sagarmatha has groomed and transformed itself into a professional media house. Nevertheless,the community station struggles to maintain the high level of professionalism in times when international donors arepulling away. This case shows how much community media in Asia can achieve on behalf of the public in the absence of publicservice media. But also what their limitations are.It was a struggle that lasted many years before Radio Sagarmatha1 went on air in 1997 as the first community radio stationin Nepal and South Asia. Since then, Radio Sagarmatha has becomea role model for community radio in the region: in termsof content, agenda setting, and courageous broadcasting evenin times of crisis. In order to understand what makes RadioSagarmatha different from other community radio stationsand what its impact on the media scene in Nepal is, an analysisof Radio Sagarmatha’s role shall be delivered.Radio Sagarmatha’s growth and success is especially impressiveand it is therefore worthwhile to take a closer look atthe different services it delivers to the public. The followinganalysis is based on the definition of a community radio as“a radio station that is owned and controlled by people in thecommunity, is usually smaller and low-cost in comparison tocommercial radio stations, provides interactive two-way communication,is non-profit and autonomous, therefore noncommercial,has a limited coverage or reach, utilizes appropriate,indigenous materials and resources, reflects communityneeds and interests, and its programs or content support communitydevelopment.” 2 To begin with, a brief overview of Nepal’smain characteristics and the country’s media landscapeshall be outlined.Hindus. They follow the caste system strictly, thus deepeningthe rift in society even further. Furthermore, the landlockedHimalayan state is one of the poorest countries in the world.It ranks 157th out of 186 nations in the United Nations HumanDevelopment Index 2013. 5Media LandscapeAll the aforementioned challenges that Nepal as a country isfacing have a direct impact on its media scene. Nepal is farfrom having a state-run or public service network that providesthe majority of its citizens with access to information.The majority of the 30 million Nepalese still rely mainly onradio for information, news, and entertainment as some 80percent of the people live in rural areas where electricity is aproblem and the literacy rate is low. 6,7Radio Nepal was founded in 1951 and had a monopoly onradio broadcasting for the next 46 years. Its broadcast area coverssome 80 to 90% of the country. 8 State-run Nepal Televisionstarted broadcasting in 1985. Not until the end of the 1990s didNepal’s government allow private FM stations to go on air, fillinga vacuum, and giving citizens from then on a choice. Thefirst private TV station, Channel Nepal, got its license in 2002.Nepal – A Brief OverviewNepal is a young and fragile democracy that abolished itspowerful 240-year-old monarchy in 2008. The monarchy hadbeen in trouble since Maoists began a civil war in 1996. A massacrein the palace that left King Birendra, Crown Prince Dipendraand many other members of the royal family dead in2001 traumatized Nepal even more. According to figures fromthe Nepalese government 17,265 people were killed and thousandsdisplaced before the Maoists finally agreed to a trucein 2006. 3 Despite general elections in 2008, which the formerMaoist rebels won by a large majority, and second generalelections in 2013, the process of writing a new constitutioncould not be completed because of fundamentally differentgroup interests. Moreover, Nepal is ethnically a very diversecountry. The National Census of 2011 reports more than 120different ethnic groups and tribes that often have very differentcultures and languages. 4 80 percent of the Nepalis are1Radio Sagarmatha 2014a.2Definition based on Masloget al. 1997.3Nepal Monitor, July 23, 2011;Real Clear Politics,March 29, 2011.4Central Bureau of Statistics 2013.5UNDP 2012.6The literacy rate overall is 57.4 %.It is higher for the male population(71.1%), but significantlylower for women because oftheir low status in society 46.7%.See CIA 2014.7Infoasaid 2011, 5.8The Website of Radio Nepal(http://radionepal.gov.np/) isdirectly connected to theGovernment, which shows thatit is not a public service broadcaster,but a state-run network.The government still views RadioNepal as its official voice andthis, local and commercial radionews in general are more trusted.Edition DW Akademie In the Service of the Public 205