I just returned from a really inspiring community radio conference in Bangalore, hosted by the Community Radio Forum India. This group is filled with radio buffs—people who, despite full-time jobs, have dedicated the past decade to pushing forward policy reform for radio in India. To say the least I was humbled and awed by their passion and smarts.

The conference took place from Feb 2-5th, at the United Theological College, a beautiful campus with greenery all around. About 200 people attended—all with a wide range of radio experience and backgrounds.

We started with everyone going around the room and introducing themselves—there was a 30-year veteran from All India Radio, an Italian gent who runs an internet channel out of Auroville, a young graduate who’s shunned mainstream media and is passionate about starting a community radio channel for underprivileged women, a consultant for the Indian government who is in charge of launching six radio channels for government NGOs, students from a campus channel, communications professors, women from a rural village in Tamil Nadu, a tech-whiz who creates and sells transmitters, the president of the World Association of Community Radio, and me… from News Radio India. Someone at the back of the room shouted, “But news isn’t allowed on radio in India!” A good point, but we can always dream right??

The first day we got an overview of the history of radio in India, went through a step-by step on the procedure for applying for a community radio license, and had a lively debate on the difference between community radio and NGO radio (community radio is for the people by the people, NGO radio is about promoting the mission of the NGO).

On the second day, we covered technology, the scope for “mixed media” and the hope for a “global community radio.” My favorite session was when a gent from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (they’re the guys who process and have the last word on community radio applications), was asked point blank why the Indian government regulates radio so heavily. He said, “See, private radio broadcasting is just an 8-year-old baby in India. It’s in its infancy and so we have to advice the child, ‘Do this… please don’t do this…’ Radio is a very good tool, a very powerful tool—it reaches the common man… the paanwallah, the chaiwallah, the laborer…so it’s important that it’s not misused for religious or political propaganda. Once you mature, we’ll give you leeway… but you have to prove yourself mature; please exercise self-regulation.” That didn’t go down so well. I have to give the guy props for putting himself out there and answering any and all questions thrown his way.

The third day was about the nitty-gritty of radio. One gentleman from a rural village had actually made a transmitter out of scraps…and it worked! He got a loud applause. UNESCO also unveiled a wonderful technology manual for the layperson called, Community Radio: A Users Guide to the Technology

I left the conference feeling that radio really is at the brink of a revolution here in India, and there are so many amazing people ready to push the momentum forward. I can’t wait to see how this medium evolves in the coming years, and I hope News Radio India adds some value to it.

Here are a few great links with info about applying for a Community Radio channel, and also for learning about what equipment and technology you might need:

WPC
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
UNESCO list

If you’re a radio fan interested in radio in India, I’d also suggest joining the Community Radio Forum by emailing:

cr-india @ sarai.net

And, for those of you who love Queen, here’s a link to their song Radio Ga Ga:

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 7:08 pm and is filed under News Radio India, the state of radio, Firangans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.