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

oadcasters emerge as a collective action to meet perceived(subjective) communicational needs of a community or evensmaller interest groups.When analyzing the functions of community radio, it is importantto focus on the practical role, content, and the perceptionof the audience, rather than on the legal status and theofficial mission. For many years, community radio stations operatedillegally and were seen as “pirate radio stations.” Eventoday, many outlets have not completed a formal certificationprocess or, for practical reasons, operate as private radio witha community approach (like Radio Intag); some only have an“illegal” or “semi-legal” status. Meanwhile, many communitybroadcasters are commercial in practice, as Matthias Koppnoticed in Colombia: “Of around 1,000 community radio stations,only a few really fulfill a social function.” 89Almost all those interviewed said that the motivation for theirparticipation in these projects was a social and political one;radio is seen as one of the best and most effective instrumentsof communication to contribute to a common good. For instanceAna María Acosta, radio afficionado from Ecuador: “Radiois the meeting place to articulate our demands and proposalsas young people and to accompany our organizationalprocesses.” 91 The AMARC Coordinator Carlos Rivadeneyra isoptimistic about the future of community radio: “As long ascommunities feel that they have something to say, to singtheir songs, and to dance their dances, community radio willexist, whether legally or informally.” 92 The local journalist ÓscarGómez from Colombia thinks that social compromise willalways be a precondition for the engagement with communityradio: “The future of community radio depends on the enthusiasmand altruism of its promoters and on their willingnessto pursue the dreams of Don Quijote of an equitable world inharmony with our planet.” 93Community broadcasting seeks therefore to compensatefor the insufficiencies of formal democracy: “There is no discomfortwith democracy, but there is discomfort in democracy,”remarks Dante Caputo, director of the UNDP report onDemocracy in Latin America. 94 Communities express this unease,and enrich and deepen democracy often by non-conventionaland even insolent and provocative ways.All sectors together, public, commercial, and communitymedia, should have public service functions and obligations,but with different emphases and responsibilities. This is thereason why all media sectors together are defined as “socialcommunication media” in more recent legislation (for instance,Ley Orgánica de Comunicación in Ecuador). Similarly,Blumler and Nossiter suggest that all media, including that ofthe private sector, should be guided by a philosophy of publicservice: “Public service broadcasting must be defined in termsof a commitment to a set of principles rather than in terms ofthe ownership or financing of broadcasting bodies; it is thereforenot a philosophy which can be confined to national broad-casters or state corporations, but through various legislativeand regulatory frameworks must also imbue privately ownedstations and channels.” 95The potential of community radio in Latin America is still seriouslyrestricted by legal barriers, low budgets, and politicalinterference. In spite of the impressive formal advancement,today community radio in Latin America confronts seriouschallenges: In a context of increasing concentration of mediaownership in Latin America and the consolidation of left-winggovernments in some countries (like Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador,and Venezuela) community broadcasting is under strongpressure. Restrictive legal frameworks, limited access to theradio spectrum, censorship, lack of economic sustainability,political persecution, and social polarization are challengingthe endurance of this historical media form. Meanwhile, manycommunity radio stations are changing and adapting to newand sometimes adverse circumstances: They are making increasinguse of information and communications technology(ICT), for instance, combining internet and FM radio. Accordingto Ernesto Lamas, there is no crisis of community radio,since even when some disappear, new stations are created: “Almostevery day I receive a mail, asking for advice on setting upa new community radio outlet.” 96 Most new legislation seemsto facilitate the process of formalization and consolidation.Media development organizations should have a morestrategic and comprehensive approach for community radio,which could embrace the legal and political framework, thestrengthening of national and international networks for radiocommunities, the facilitation of knowledge managementprocesses, and support for selected community communicationprojects with high potential.A first field of intervention could be supporting the discussion,consolidation, implementation, and accompaniment ofa more progressive legal framework and policy on communityradios, focused on questions like: How to overcome legaland bureaucratic obstacles? How could state policy activelypromote this community radio sector without political interference?How to avoid the misuse and manipulation of thecommunity radio idea? How could community radio be madefinancially sustainable? How could the third sector operate ina coherent manner with the other sectors? How to guaranteean impartial and independent certification process?89Matthias Kopp, Country Manager Colombia, DW Akademie, Germany.90See also Barié & Legatis 2014; and Buckley 2008.91Ana María Acosta, journalist, Wambra Radio, Quito, Ecuador.92Carlos Rivadeneyra, Coordinator for Latin America, AMARC, Peru.93Óscar Gómez, Journalist in Manizales, Colombia.94UNDP 2004, 19.95Blumler & Nossiter 1991, 24.96Ernesto Lamas, Founding member of Radio Tribu, Buenos Aires, Argentina.244