Community Radio 2.0

Osama Manzar, member of screening committee of Community Radio Licensing in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, & DEF’s Founder & Director shared his views how community radio stations can be empowered with digital media tools, at the Session, entitled as ‘Community Radio 2.0’ during the 3rd National Community Radio Sammelan held on 9-11th February 2013 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The main objective of the annual conference is to bring together about 200 Community Radio stakeholders including key government ministries and departments, policy makers, representatives of stations, UN and other international organisations working in the CR domain.

COMMUNITY RADIO SAMMELAN

SESSION: Discussion on Community Radio 2.0

There was a tremendous interest by the community radio operators to find how CR could be taken into the next phase using the digital technologies and digital media. The session dedicated to deliberate the topic attracted almost 100 participants.

Some of the prelude to the discussion as agreed by all participants was:

• Community radio is a developmental participative media activity;
• Community radio produces tremendous amount of content;
• Community radio covers diverse topics in the developmental sector which is usually absent in mainstream media;
• Community radio produces bottom up content with significant participation of the communities in the particular area where the CR is operative;
• There is a huge interest in exploring how Internet and other digital media could help in better outreach;
• It was also learnt that only about 50% have proper website;
• More than 40% of the participants raised hand that either they do not have website or suffer regular updation;
• It was also agreed that while the community radio as a media which is oral, also have no permanent location as it is based on air time;
• It is important from the advocacy perspective to have web presence to reach out to policy makers, government, and administration and to also refer the content for longer discussion;
• It was also learnt that there is a huge interest in broadcasting community radio programs through Internet or streaming, either live or parked;
• Also, many showed interest in how video broadcasting could also be integrated with community radio broadcasting;
• Almost all, without exception, wanted help in putting up website

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR CR 2.0

• MOBILE: For phone in programs; use Mobile as FM Radio, Use as Reporting Tool, Use as Camera, Call back on Tollfree numbers, Can be many possibilities if Smartphone is targeted as Mobile users. [Reference for help: GramVani; CGNetSwara ]

• SMS:The target community, these days would have more mobile users than even community radio listeners; Reach out to them all through SMS Newsletter by having meticulously aggregated subscription and their numbers with their news and requirements and accordingly send them periodic SMS. It can be called SMS Newsletter. [Reference for help: SMSOne; One97; SMSGupShup ]

• INTERNET:Web presence with Web 2.0 technology; Integrate all social media like Facebook, Twitter, Slideshare, Flickr, Podcast, and many more.

eNGO Program of DEF – FREE Unlimited Website

• FACEBOOK: Have individual Facebook Page to engage in sharing news, stories, developments, photos, videos, and generate community including interests in facilitating NGOs and their other works also. The same Facebook page could be embedded in the main website. [Reference for help: DEF, Manch, OneWorld, Facebook ]

• YOUTUBE:Have all programs also shoot in videos using camera, mobile, etc. and start individual XYZ Community radio Channel. Video Channel at YouTube would also help having video broadcasting and can be embedded in main website. [Reference for help: DEF, Manch, OneWorld]

• TWITTER: For those who would like to play in 140 characters and want to share thoughts and programs among outside world, especially with journalistic bent of mind, can use Twitter. [Reference for help: DEF ]

• TEXT: To transcribe all radio programs in textual format also and have them available on the website so that the programs could be consumed in text also without playing video or audio or podcast [Reference for help: As part of Website under eNGO Program of DEF ]

• PHOTO-STREAM:Since most of the CRs take lots of pictures, as per programs and content, it is a must-have to share them through photo stream with captions as each photo or a series of photos could be a story telling. Photo stream could be done through Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Google+, Slide share, Instagram, and so on [Reference for help: DEF’s eNGO Program, OneWorld ]

• CLOSED CIRCUIT BROADCASTING: If your area has local cable wala, you can use them to broadcast your programs locally also to reach through TVs in household [Reference for help: Video Volunteers, Manch, OneWorld]

• PUBLIC SCREENING: Using photos and voice overs and video stories, one can also organise public screening of the programs in the evening and organise discussion over that, which could again another program to broadcast. Public screening can reach to those also who do not listen to CR program and may not have radio sets. This is can be done through LCD/LED projector and a computer or even with Smartphone [Reference for help: DEF, Manch, OneWorld, Chinh]

• PODCAST AND AUDIO STREAMING:Since all the programs with all CRs are available as digital file, they can be uploaded as podcast files. If necessary, even live streaming could be possible through Internet. The available resources for Podcast, Air Streaming and Live Streaming, please refer software like AirTime (Linux), Amarock (Linux & Windows), VLC, IceCast, Audacity and so on. These softwares help in play-listing, editing, scheduling, playing, and streaming. [Reference for help: Abhishek Nagar, DEF, OneWorld, Manch, Chinh, GramVani]

• CD, DVD, PEN DRIVE:Major programs or those having serious impact could be edited as package and could be made available on CDs, DVDs and Pen Drive for distribution among authorities, occasions, events and for better outreach and public screening. [Reference for help: Chinh, Video Volunteers, DEF, OneWorld, Manch]

• APPS: Smartphone based App could be a good idea to reach worldwide easily. But it would require expertise in Android development. [Reference for help: Digital Empowerment Foundation]

• BLOGS:The reporters of CR could have their own Blog to share their experience, their thoughts, and their reports. Blogs can be linked to website and social media. Its valuable as individual can write anything they want, which they may be able to do on the CR. The blogs can be done on Facebook, Google Blogerspot, IndiBlog, and so on [Reference for help: DEF, Manch, OneWorld]

• E-RADIO/E-BOOKS:Programs broadcasted on CR could be converted into playlist kind of files and can be made available to be downloaded or on Pen drive. Similarly, even digital books, either as PDF or e-books, could be created by transcribing the CR programs into a textual format. [Reference for help: Manch, OneWorld, DEF]

• ONLINE WEBINAR & DISCUSSION FORUMS: To organise online discussion forums and Webinars (Seminars on the Web) [Reference for help: Chintan.net.in by Ideosync]

CONTACTS:

Digital Empowerment Foundation [eNGO Program]

Osama Manzar: osamam@gmail.com; 9810042862
http://defindia.net; http://PIReNGO.org

OneWorld

Rajiv Tikoo: rajiv.tikoo@oneworld.net;
http://southasia.oneworld.net/; http://edaa.in 

Manch

VenuArora: varora@ideosyncmedia.org; 9810731552
http://manch.net.in

Podcasting/Streaming

Abhishek Nagar: crs@uou.ac.in; 9536862427