Transcript Community Media - Sehrish Mushtaq

Community Media
MCOM 404: Community Journalism
Community Media
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Jankowski, one of the most cited scholars in
electronically mediated community journalism,
used
“community
media”
as
an
allencompassing term to refer to “a diverse range
of mediated forms of communication:
print media such as newspapers and
magazines,
electronic media such as radio and television,
and electronic network initiatives that embrace
characteristics of both traditional print and
electronic media”
Community Media
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The International Association of Media and
Communication Research (IAMCR) explain that
community media “originates, circulates and
resonates from the sphere of civil society.
This is the field of media communication that
exists outside of the state and the market (often
non-government and non-profit), yet which may
interact with both”
Community Media
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Fuller’s (2007) definition of community media
did not seem as inclusive;
she used “community
media” to define
electronic media that is operated by citizens,
has roots in social justice movements of the
1960s in North America,
and has begun to take hold in developing
nations through the support of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Community Media
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Moore and Gillis definition: (2005) contrasted
community media with community journalism,
arguing that the latter defines a “process” of
doing journalism
that is similar to the advocacy style of journalism
espoused by scholars of civic or public
journalism
Community Media
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By community media, it refers to grass roots or
locally oriented media access initiatives
predicted on a profound sense of dissatisfaction
with mainstream media form and content,
dedicated to the principles of free expression
and participatory democracy,
and committed to enhancing community
relations and promoting community solidarity.
Community Media
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If those distinctions between the concepts of
community journalism and community media
meant only differences in the type of media
channel, it would be one thing,
but those differences may also speak to
differences in the roles those media play in their
communities—
differences
based
on
those
media’s
organizational
structures,
community
relationships,
and what they consider to be news values.
Characteristics of community
media
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Jankowski defined the characteristics of
community media as
(a)
Empowerment
of
the
politically
disenfranchised,
(b) shared, local ownership,
(c) Local content,
(d) Nonprofessional and volunteer ownership,
(e) Electronic distribution,
Characteristics of community
media
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(f) Geographic distribution, and
(g) Noncommercial finance structure, although
they
might
also
include
sponsorship,
advertising, and so forth.
Characteristics of community
media
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Fuller did not draw on traditional community
journalism,
focusing instead on a style of alternative media
that is citizen driven
and focuses on providing a means by which
marginalized groups can participate in
community discourse and create their own
community identity.
Characteristics of community
media
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In many developing nations that have diverse
language groups and lower literacy rates, it is
radio that may do the work of defining
community.
In South Africa, for example, it’s been said that
there are more radios than there are
mattresses.
Characteristics of community
media
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Jankowski’s proposed that most of the research
examining community media to date falls into
four general themes:
(a) Democratic processes,
(b) Cultural identity,
(c) The concept of “community,” and
(d) an “action perspective to communication”
Functions of community media
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To provide information transfer for giving
community members access to knowledge
To watch the community environment
To mobilize to direct people’s actions
To establish networks for community members
To establish community identity
To create new value and culture
To transform member’s experiences/problems
into
a
community’s
common
experiences/problems