PREPARATORY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

Answering the questions laid out in Box 6 will call for much groundwork in the community. This groundwork consists of consultation processes within the community to analyze its situation, existing media access, how a community radio might usefully serve the interests of the community, in what ways, and so on.

Clearly, the leaders of the community - which include the elected and the religious authorities, as well the informal but also influential opinion leaders - must be part of the consultation process.

But equally, if not more important is a consultation process that involves the community at large. Group discussions with the various

sectors in the community are essential. These could include, for example, farmers, fishermen, shop owners, teachers, artisans, etc. It is also crucial to consult women and youth, who are traditionally margi- nalized in many rural societies. Nor should any minority, cultural and linguistic groups be left out. People’s attitudes towards the existing situation, towards the desirabi- lity and possibility of change and development, and towards the possible role of a community radio service must be ascertained and hope- fully confirmed. This is the real basis of community radio: social will, not technical equipment.

Experience has shown that in some

cases merely holding participatory workshops to discuss the situation of the community and explore ways of improving access to basic services may lead spontaneously to the idea that better communication within the community could

be a first prerequisite for change and development. A community radio may then emerge naturally as the most appropriate communication medium.

Preliminary Results: The initial consultation process should indicate:

• The level of enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the notion of having a community radio service;

On Defining the Future Radio Station

“It must be decided what the station will be and for whom. Will it be a tool to be used by a selected few or by only one sector of the community talking down to the many? Will it be monopolised by disc jockeys? Or will its main function be to empower the community as a whole to learn more about issues that directly affect its members, such as primary health care, religious tolerance, basic education, teenage pregnancy, etc.?” 1

Before doing the technical work of setting up radio in Western Nepal, it is essential to encourage the community to discuss their idea of radio and their aspirations in focus group discussions.

Faith in the capacity of all people

“Communication is a vital process for everyone concerned with development. It is a process, not an end. It is a means to sustainable development. The role of communication in the development process is to make people conscious of the reality of their situation and make them aware that they have the power to change their social realities. It assumes that people are equal, that they have a right to knowledge and culture, and that they can criticize their situation and act on it. It also implies having faith in the capacity of all people, including the illiterate, to discuss social issues intelligently.”

Ed Moyo

• What its overall objectives should be, especially in terms of change and development;

• How in general terms it should operate.

If no broad consensus on these issues can be reached, the future of the idea may be compromised, or there could be a need for more and broader discussion.

As the consultation processes continue, answers to the more detailed issues laid out in Box 6 should be sought.

Contacts will also need to be made with people and institutions outside the community who could have a bearing on the project. These will include, among others, any state or commercial radio channels that also reach into the community, development institutions, NGOs concerned with community development, and local officials of government services in health, agriculture, education, and the like.

A Method for Conducting the Consultations

Among the most powerful methods for researching people’s opinions and ideas are Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and

this technique can be successfully used for the community consultations being described here. Originally used for market research, FGDs have more recently been applied with outstanding results in development work when qualitative information

about people’s opinions, perceptions, ideas, and aspirations is required. 2

What is an FGD? An FGD brings together from six to12 people who are homogeneous in terms of their education, life-style, and economic status, and who therefore share similar problems. They need to be homogeneous to reduce the chance that one or more persons of a level that the rest perceive as being superior dominate the discussion. There should not be less than six people in the group, or it will be difficult to get a dynamic discussion going and to gain a meaning- ful consensus; and there should not be more than twelve so that everyone will have a chance to speak, but also to avoid the formation of sub-groups and sub-discussions.

These community consultations could also include groups of, say, unemployed youths, or mothers with small children, or small farmers.

The Facilitator: The group discussion is run by a facilitator whose principal task is to get members of the group talking among themselves about the subject in question. This might, for example,

be what types of radio programmes would be useful to help young mothers safeguard and improve their infants’ health.

The facilitator adopts a low profile and a very informal stan-

ce so that the group feels relaxed. He/she also uses special tech- niques to encourage members of the group to talk among themselves and not to respond to him/her directly. The facilitator guides the discussions with pre- pared open-ended questions that begin with words such as, ‘What do you think about...?’ or ‘How would you suggest that we...?’ i.e. questions that cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Stimulating In-depth Analysis:

A further key function of the facilitator is to stimulate the group into deeper analysis of the issues being discussed. For example, he/she must never let a statement of opinion by a member of the group pass without probing it to find out

what lies behind that statement.

A group member might say something like, ‘I really like that programme and I never miss it’. Or a group member might say the exact opposite, to the effect that he/she thoroughly disliked the programme. In either case, the facilitator should immediately say - but in a mild manner – something like, ‘That’s an interesting opinion. Tell us why you think that?’ In fact, questions using ‘Why?’ are the key for provoking deeper analysis and reaching a fuller understanding of the issues at stake, as the group sees them.

The Observer: While the FGD is in progress, an observer is sitting

The participation of local institutions, whether government or nongovernment, contributes to making the station’s programming relevant and dynamic.

C ommunity

R adio

Handbook

- UNESC

- Chapt

er er

aser

Fr C.

ideas, and opinions off each other might have hidden agendas that, in

o: Phot

in a way that provides true insights the end, could result in their high- into what is in their minds and jacking the radio service for their hearts. FGDs are generally far more own interests. effective for gaining these insights than are one-on-one interviews, for all too often the interviewee here

IMPORTANCE OF A

will say what he or she thinks the

MISSION STATEMENT

interviewer wants to hear. At the other extreme, general and mixed It is important to begin drafting group discussions can easily be

a short and concise mission

dominated by a few people - not to statement about the objectives of mention that women and youth the planned community radio ser- hardly ever speak out freely at such vice at an early stage. This provides gatherings. The facilitator should

a basis for discussion, and it can be

be aware of this, guard against it, modified and refined during the and encourage the less outspoken consultation phase.

to air their feelings without embar-

In Senegal, women are very active in disussing issues of the day;they make for a

quietly taking notes of the main rassing them.

Once a final version of the mission

natural forum face-to-face or on the air.

points that are being made. When

statement is agreed by the various the discussion is finished, it is a Some FGDs with different sectors stakeholders, this constitutes a good idea for the observer to take of the community, backed up with basis for common understanding over the proceedings and to read key informant interviews with and a platform on which to build.

On the Mission Statement

opinion leaders, local authorities

This is not to say that the mission “The mission [statement] of a radio station defines

the main points back to the group.

and the like, will normally provide

statement is carved in stone; it may its aims; it is the map that provides direction

It is very important that he/she

the desired information with which

towards the achievements of its objectives; it is the to plan a community radio service. need modification in the light of

seeks their confirmation of each

experience, but any changes should instrument to measure its success; it is the

point in order to ensure that it has

But whatever methods are used for

foundation on which everything else is built; the consultation within the com- always be the result of a communi-

been correctly noted. This leads

it is the star that guides us... munity and with other interested ty consultation process. The entire programming must be based on the

more easily to a broad consensus.

Effectiveness of FGDs: Especially parties, the process should never What the station does once opera- principles established by the mission.” 3 with people of low educational sta-

be rushed. Mistakes or misunder-

ting to adhere to its mission state- tus, FGDs are remarkably effective. standings that are not put right or ment will depend largely on the

The group feels at ease because clarified in the early stages may individuals chosen to direct and they are talking with their peers come back to haunt the communi- manage it. There must be regular and because the facilitator deliber- ty radio operation later on.

assessments, perhaps by a special ately creates a totally informal Furthermore, during the planning committee within the community,

atmosphere. Once the members of phases, and indeed at all stages, of how the operations are fulfilling the group start discussing among one must be very alert to the possi- the station’s mission.

ROLE OF THE RELIGIOUS

In addition, schoolteachers can • The transmitter and antenna

ESTABLISHMENT

play a major role as volunteer

should not be close to high-

A Comment on the Religious

broadcasters. They often broad- Establishment and Community Radio in tension power lines. Special consideration should be

the Philippines

cast a daily programme to remind

• There should be an available

“The religious establishments are not authorities in the community. In

given to the role of the religious

children about their homework

power source.

and assist them with it. And in

expected to have political or business

numerous communities, they have some communities, the operation • The transmitter and antenna interests. A majority of them are genuinely dedicated been crucial in helping to start and of the radio station is handed over

missionaries who have a deep understanding of the run a radio service. Their commit- to schoolchildren once a week.

should be as close as possible to

each other, and not more than

problems of the poor... It is a shame, however, that ment to genuine community parti-

30 metres apart.

some individual members of the clergy overtly carry cipation and to ensuring that the

their own personal idiosyncrasies and social biases, radio is run in the best interests of

INVOLVEMENT OF

Position of the antenna and

POLITICIANS

transmitter relative to the studio

the people is often outstanding. and in some cases political partiality, into the com-

There are varying points of view • The studio may be up to 1,000

munity...

However, it should not necessarily about the role of politicians in

m. from the antenna and trans-

In [a] community where we actually set up a radio

be assumed that all religious community radio, or whether they

mitter, but it must be connected

authorities are free from influence station, the priest happened to be named

should have one at all. (See Box 5

to them by a cable – the pro-

peddling or political interests. So for the opinion of an experienced

chairperson of the Community Media Council. even if the religious establishment community radio broadcaster.)

gramme line. Alternatively, the

Unfortunately, he had never shown fondness can often be of pivotal importance

programme could be fed from

in getting the people to participate in decision in starting and running a commu-

the studio to the transmitter site

making. He distrusted local leadership motives... nity radio service, detailed discus-

via a small power link VHF trans-

CHOOSING A LOCATION

mitter.

He ran the station management by himself and sions are necessary to establish its

IN THE COMMUNITY

conferred involvement to his minions. position and its perceptions before Technical and social considerations

Position of the studio

When the election campaign period came, automatically seeking a partner- 5

• The studio must have an

determine the appropriate loca-

available power source.

the priest threw his support behind the candidate

ship with it.

tion of the radio infrastructure in a

• It should be away from uncon-

whom he deemed the people’s favourite.

Chapt

community.

trollable sources of noise.

As the station was conveniently located in the

ROLE OF LOCAL

Technical Criteria

convent, the priest took the occasion to use

- UNESC

EDUCATIONAL

Position of the antenna and

the programmes to build up the favoured candidate

Social Criteria

and downsize the opponent.” INSTITUTIONS 4 transmitter

• The studio should be as close as

Handbook

The staff of local schools may have • Given the line of sight character-

possible to the centre of popula-

R adio

a particular interest in community

istics of FM radio waves, the

tion.

radio and help to get it started.

antenna should be as high as

It should be in a site that is free possible, on an elevated site or ommunity C

For example, they may see it as a

It should be in a site easily accessible

of vested interests.

way of increasing the involvement

to members of the community.

on a mast not less than 30

of parents in the education of their metres high, and not obstructed • It should have low or no rental • It should be secure from vandals children.

by tall buildings.

charges.

and pilferers.

“ After 22 years as a broadcast journalist, I have a

generally sceptical attitude towards politicians. Whenever I listen to a politician speaking,

I try to figure out what is at the back of his mind, but often in vain.

The question in the project was whether we should deal with politicians or leave them out totally. After numerous discussions in our team as well as consultations with professional sociologists, the conclusion was that politicians needed to participate in operating the radio station. After all, politicians are inescapable elements of community life. They could be influential cogs in the development of the community.

The project cannot totally do away with politicians, even if the opportunist ones are quick to see the poten- tial of a community-wide medium to get them votes and public admiration. Our approach is to place the politicians' role in logical perspective. If, for instance, partisan politicians agree to be involved in the Community Media Council, all the important political parties must be represented.

Certain politicians may publicly manifest a desire to keep their hands off the project, while some may volunteer resources and heavy personal involvement. However, even among those who ostentatiously adopt a hands-off policy, they could have lackeys in key positions in the station - perhaps either as a generous benefactor, an intellectual, or a domineering station manager. Thus, the extension of his personality and interests could creep into sensitive station decision- making.

Some politicians’ pronouncements may indicate unconditional concern for the masses, and they may well include a candid pledge of non-interference in the station’s affairs. However, few make good their promises. Some will ostensibly adhere to their public commitment, particularly when the project management makes its presence felt. But the shrewd politician may intervene surreptitiously.

Quite often, the saying, ‘He who has honey in his mouth, has a sting in his tail’ is confirmed. This may apply not only to the typical impassioned politician, but also to certain other eloquent members of the community.

However, I grant that these are general observations, and there are certainly exceptions to them.

The way programmers and broadcasters respond to political manoeuvres will be determined by their ethical foundation and training.”

Louie Tabing, Manager of the UNESCO/DANIDA

Tambuli Project, Philippines.

PREPARATORY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY