A community of communities? Emerging dynamics in the community media paradigm

Abstract

Recent years have seen numerous attempts by community broadcasters around the world to reinvent their practices in an effort to remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital age. One proposed initiative is to have community programming distributed via satellite, either in the form of a single channel or as a subscription service for local stations to find programming. Combining two case studies and multiple research methods, this article investigates the potential impact of satellite distribution on community broadcasting in Canada and East Africa. We observe that it is often not the community media organizations themselves that are pushing for satellite delivery, but, rather, outside actors such as media corporations and non-governmental organizations. As a result, we argue that a more spirited discussion within the community media sector is warranted to better understand the implications of this technological shift in delivery mechanisms.

Community media and translocalism in Latin America: cultural production at a Mexican community radio station

“…The question of power relations between civil society groups, or between local groups and transnational NGOs, remains largely unaddressed in the literature, however. Only recently have scholars begun to look closely at the influence of external donors on community media (Ali and Conrad, 2015; Conrad, 2014; Manyozo, 2009). This research raises the concern that transnational funding agencies may gain undue influence over station practices and goals (Rennie, 2006).…”

“…Some scholars interpret this process as the ‘NGOization’ of community radio, whereby transnational NGOs shape the content and agendas of local stations (Manyozo, 2009; Rennie, 2006: 157). Other studies look more broadly at the political and economic impact of donors – be they local, national, or transnational (Ali and Conrad, 2015; Conrad, 2014. Conrad’s (2014) study of community media in East Africa shows that stations regularly put donor desires ahead of community interests.…”