Community Radio in South Asia: Reclaiming the Airwaves

This book explores the state of community radio in South Asia, providing a socioeconomic and historical context for its evolution and functioning in an increasingly globalized media environment. It discusses key issues related to community radio, such as radio policies, NGOization, spectrum management, democratization of technology, disasters/emergencies, gender issues, sustainability, and conflicts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the vibrant realm of community radio, a significant independent media movement that emerged approximately two decades ago across various regions of South Asia. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the socio-economic and historical contexts that shape the evolution and functioning of community radio in a rapidly globalizing media landscape. The volume offers a firsthand account of how different countries in South Asia have crafted policies that have facilitated the emergence of this third sector of broadcasting, alongside public and private broadcasting, through the medium of radio. This has resulted in a more pluralistic and diverse media ecology within the region.

The chapters in the book, interspersed with practitioner perspectives, explore a wide range of critical issues related to community radio, including radio policies, the NGOization of community radio, spectrum management and democratization of technology, disasters/emergencies, gender issues, sustainability, and conflicts. This unique volume stands as one of the first of its kind, appealing to scholars and researchers in the fields of community media, independent media studies, cultural studies, sociology, social anthropology, and South Asian studies.

By examining the state of community radio in South Asia, this book sheds light on the diverse ways in which this form of media operates and contributes to the broader media ecosystem. It offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by community radio stations, as well as the impact they have on their communities and the wider society. The book serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, policymakers, and practitioners interested in exploring the dynamics of independent media and the role it plays in shaping social and cultural landscapes.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 159 x 234 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367520588