Media Reform in India: Legitimising community media

In this article, author Ashish Sen examines the direction of media reform in India by asking "Does the course of the reforms conform to a larger and cogent media policy, or are they symptomatic of a crisis - management and reactive culture?"

To approach this question, Sen provides a picture of mainstream and community media in India today. In terms of reach and access, India's print and broadcast media is strong: Approximately 60% of urban Indians and 25% of rural Indians read print media on a regular basis, and 96% of the country is reached by radio. However, Sen argues that "media's impact on development and governance remains, at best, tenuous". For example, a 2000 study conducted by the Centre for Development and Learning (Bangalore) found that 4% of a total of 24 pages in the Times of India were devoted to development news. This percentage proved to be more or less representative in terms of coverage in many other dailies.

In this context, Sen indicates that people's organisations, social movements, voluntary organisations, and other civil society formations must play a central role in monitoring the functioning of the media and making it more people-centred. However, there is, according to this author, weak political will toward media reform that would support the development of community media. To cite one example, Sen argues that - despite advocacy initiatives in India that have articulated the need for a 3-tiered media structure (public, private, and community) - community radio broadcasting has not been endorsed by law.

Specifically, after a decade of lobbying, in early 2003 the government allowed residential educational institutions to apply for community radio station liscences. At the end of that year, Anna University was given permission to implement a campus community radio programme. Sen claims that the government has cited lack of demand for the absence of community radio legislation; he counters that community radio is potentially viable, relevant, and impactive in terms of development and governance in India. Sen cites a few testimonials from citizens, including this one: "We can't use government radio. It is used as a tool for propaganda. They will go to a village and say that they have given so many buffaloes to this village, we have given so much land to this village - that kind of radio will not allow poor women to discuss their own problems and issues..." (Metalukunta Susilamma - from Pastapur village in Andhra Pradesh).

The article concludes with suggested strategies for moving community voices from the margins toward the centre; here is an excerpt from this section of the paper:

1. "...If deregulation is the buzzword, we need to ensure that its vision goes beyond the pale of strategic mergers and corporatisation. This, in turn, demands a review of the notion of access. Access without inclusiveness could be akin to information without communication and handicap the development and governance process...
2. ...Priority needs to be given in issuing of community broadcasting licenses to rural areas and other regions and communities that are least developed in terms of various socio-economic indicators. This is also based on the fact that the least developed regions and communities of the country are also least served by media.
3. While the crux of the problem in several instances might lie with a reluctant state, civil society needs to get its act together. This, in turn, demands a review of the demand-supply equation. For instance, the observation that the demand for community radio is restricted needs to be questioned and dispelled by effective documentation, networking, capacity building, strategic alliance building...
4. Synergise the Right to Information with the Right to Communicate as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The recent endorsement of a freedom of information act by the Lok Sabha and the increasing popularity of the movement across the country (five states already have the Right to Information Act in place) needs to be integrated into community media advocacy agendas. If the denial of information aggravates the poverty gap, information without communication could be dead wood..."

This document is not currently online (2014). Please consult the WACC website.