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

Part III Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador: Three Examples From Latin American Community MediaStakeholders in Support of Community RadioRadio Pio XII“Bolivians not only listen a lot to radio, they also love to beon air. Countless small stations provide the population withnews and entertainment,” according to a recently publishedsurvey of the community radio landscape. 53 Active NGOs andinternational actors support community broadcasting andparticipative media initiatives. There are national networkswith experience in capacity development, such as ERBOL(association of community radio communication and educationalinstitutions of Christian inspiration), Teko Guaraní(support network for Guarani Radio), AMARC Bolivia (WorldAssociation of Community Radio Broadcasters), and SECRAD(Research and Development Unity of the Catholic University);ONADEM (Observatory of Media Landscape of the FoundationUNIR Bolivia) is an important think tank, reflecting on criticalissues like censorship and access to information. The DanishfundedNGO IBIS was involved until 2013 in the support ofindigenous people. But it was then accused of “interferencein internal affairs” and expelled from the country. Since then,there has been widespread nervousness among internationaldevelopment organizations.Pio XII has been receiving support from various organizationsand institutions and has built up solid alliances, e.g., withALER (Latin American Association of Radio Education), RadioNetherlands, and OCLACC (Catholic Organization of LatinAmerican and Caribbean Communication). Based on a longstandingpartnership with ERBOL, DW Akademie in collaborationwith GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ZusammenarbeitGmbH) recently supported this network (from 2010to 2013), seeking to strengthen the quality of local reporting ina project called “Ondas en Red” (waves in a network).VokaribeIn Colombia there have been numerous initiatives relatingto community radio as a vehicle to raise public awareness inremote areas, which are often dominated by illegal groupingssuch as paramilitary and guerrilla groups. There are supportnetworks for community radio, like the Association ARDEMAG(Asociación Red de Emisoras Comunitarias del Magdalena Medio)and the indigenous networks AMCIC (Red de Emisorasindígenas) and ACIN (Asociación de Cabildos). Several universities,such as the Universidad Minuto de Dios and the Universidadde los Andes analyze the role of community media,whilst foundations like FNPI (Fundación Nuevo PeriodismoIberoamericano) and Medios para la Paz (actually in crisis)stand for journalistic innovation and professionalization. Internationaldevelopment agencies like UNDP, GIZ, and IMS(International Media Support) have been supporting local andcommunity media in a conflictive and violent environment.Vokaribe has several strategic allies: a religious foundationwith whom they share the public library (where Vokaribe hasits main office) and arrange coordination for activities with thelocal community (Comunidad de los Ministros de los EnfermosCamilos). Vokaribe is also integrated into the Caribbeannetwork Intermundos and Red Caribe, explains project managerPatricia Rendón: “The concept of region evokes the identitythat connects to the history and culture of the Caribbeanthat transcends even the borders of Colombia and connects uswith our roots, Afro-descendant and indigenous.” 54 Additionally,Vokaribe implemented cultural projects in the neighborhoodfinanced by the Ministry of Culture. The German publicbroadcaster SWR donated used technical equipment and theGerman Embassy financed the antenna. A project with WACC(World Association for Christian Communication) focusedon radio training for community members. Vokaribe is partof an ongoing project with DW Akademie to strengthen fourrecently-founded urban community radio stations and helpthem become economically sustainable platforms with attractiveand socially relevant programming.Radio IntagWith a new constitutional framework and an anti-monopolistCommunication Law approved in 2013, community radio inEcuador now has a solid legal base and should receive financialand technical support from the state. However, implementationis still a challenge, 55 especially for projects that are not inline with the current government stance, such as those relatedto environmental questions and youth culture: “There is nowa certain reluctance to express criticism openly in the broadcastingcommunity.” 56 Most community radio stations are attachedto religious institutions (about 70 percent), the rest arepart of local communities, mainly indigenous peoples. Thereare few national organizations that have been supportive ofthe community media sector: Corape (Coordinadora de RadiosPopulares y Educativas del Ecuador) is an umbrella group with35 affiliated members; the Latin American Association for RadioEducation (ALER) has its headquarters in Quito.In this rather tense context, Radio Intag can count on afew allies: The associated Foundation Casa Palabra y Pueblooffers substantial support, producing a popular program (RevistaIntag) with local news and background information. Thefoundation has full autonomy over the content of the programs.Radio Intag has the support of an international solidaritynetwork for the protection of the Intag region, with veryactive volunteers 57 and receives news content form ALER and47Pío XII 2008.48id21 2006, 1.49Patricia Rendón, ProjectManager, Vokaribe.50Miguel Andrade, Director ofRadio Intag, Ecuador.51Andreas Postrach, Coordinator,German Association for theIntag region.52Miguel Andrade, Directorof Radio Intag, Ecuador.53Guthmann & Salazar Tórrez2013, 1.54Patricia Rendón, Project Manager,Vokaribe, Colombia.55El Comercio.56Ana María Acosta,Wambra Radio, Quito, Ecuador.57http://intag-ev.de/Edition DW Akademie In the Service of the Public 237