Addressing Stigma and Structural Barriers to Communicating COVID-19 Using Community Radio

Purpose: This paper assessed social impacts of three community radio stations located in three different social-economic zones in Tanzania namely, Kilosa in the Eastern Zone, Karagwe in the Lake Victoria Zone and Orkonerei Community Radio (ORS) in the Northern Zone. 
 Methodology: The study used cross sectional design whereby data were collected at one point in time. Purposive sampling methods were used to obtain 585 (48% female) respondents based on whether the area was well covered by community radio broadcasts or otherwise. Data were collected interview schedule, in-depth interview of key informants, systematic observations and focus group discussions. Key informants included community radio management and journalists working in the community radios. As for focus group discussions, four discussions were held (two in each community radio) with a total of 40 respondents. 
 Findings: The study found that 51% of the respondents viewed community radio stations as enhanced access to information (news, current affairs and educational informational). On popularity, the study found that on average, community radios were more popular with local audience than other radio stations. This was due to broadcasting local contents. An analysis of sex and education levels of people who preferred community radio showed that 53.4% were men and 46.5% were women. As for education levels, 57% of those who preferred community radio broadcast had primary education followed by those without formal education at 24%. However, contrary to the theory of community radio which asserts that community radios focus on local social economic development, the study found that the most dominant theme was music and general entertainment.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study found that community radio stations have enhanced information flow (news, current affairs and education). They are also most popular with local audience compared to other radios. This indicates that if tailored to address contemporary local development issues, community radio can have huge impact. However, the study found that, the most dominant themes in studied stations was music and general entertainment. This is contrary to the theory asserting that community radio should focus on local social development issues. This calls for further investigation on circumstances leading community radios deviation from the popular theory.

This research study focusses on assessing community radio as voice of the people: A case study of Chikuni Community Radio Station. In 1905, a French Jesuit, Fr Moreau, established the Chikuni Parish. Midway between Lusaka and Livingstone, the Chikuni Parish is a living example of the strength of community and how the people are grasping opportunities to develop themselves. Since the beginning, there has been a constant drive to help the local population, now some 25,000 Batonga farmers to develop themselves in all areas of human life. It was realized from the beginning of the mission’s existence that education is the key in achieving St. Augustine’s motto: “A human being fully alive”. Having this goal in mind over the years, the Jesuits have set up 48 primary schools, the Canisius Secondary School and the Charles Lwanga Teacher Training College. Today, the main problems faced by the rural communities are associated with their isolation. The radio station, whose mission statement is to 'spread the word of God in peace and unity,' was established by the Jesuit Missionary Congregation of the Roman Catholic to complement the church's efforts in evangelization of the word of God. The objectives of the research study included, among others, to find out the target audience of Chikuni radio and the programs that focusses on speaking on behalf of the people and promote Christian values. The study employed qualitative research design, with In-depth Interviews and Focus Group Discussions been used as data gathering instruments. Both instruments had two-fold advantages in that the researcher was able to rephrase questions for theclearunderslowupquestionsinordertohaveasoundunderstandingoftheresearchtopic. Community radio can be a conduit for transmitting information aimed at educating people on life’s skills, fostering behavior and attitudinal change, empowering grassroots. This study examined citizens’ participation in community radio programming at chikuni. Participatory communication and the uses and gratification theories were used for the study. Qualitative case study was used for the research and data gathering was conducted through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. Findings indicate varieties of programmes are broadcast by the community radio stations in the region. Among some of the interesting programmes are Community Affairs, My Home, Community Development and Farmers Time. The study further revealed that the formation of listener’s clubs and the need to get listeners involved in all programmes of the stations have created effective interaction between the communities and radio stations leading to greater citizens participation in community radio programming. The study concluded that community radio programming has generated enough interest for citizens active engagement in radio shows because such programmes are able to gratify the media needs of community radio listeners. The study therefore, recommends that the station continues to find new areas the production programs that speaks for the community.

Health communicators faced substantial challenges in effectively communicating COVID-19 among resource-limited communities due to the rapid changes of the pandemic. This article explores the possibility of communicating COVID-19 via community radio (CR) using entertainment education (EE) based strategies with host communities. A qualitative approach was adopted using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews to collect data, and reflexive thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the data. Guy Bessette’s ten-step participatory communication model was adopted as the theoretical framework to understand CR’s EE-oriented COVID-19 messages, if any. The study found that Radio Peace adopts EE-based messaging, which is often participatory, with listener involvement in the production and broadcast. The study highlights new possibilities for pandemic communication, specifically COVID-19, with CR adopting EE-based strategies among resource-limited communities.

Defilement is a pervasive problem with devastating consequences for survivors, families, and communities worldwide. Despite efforts by various stakeholders to address the issue, rates of defilement remain high, leading to stigma, fear, and limited access to justice. Community radio has been used in the fight against defilement cases. The study aimed at establishing the effectiveness of community radio programmes in addressing defilement cases in Nyamira County. The specific objectives were to: examine the role of community radio programmes in handling defilement cases among community members in Nyamira County; and identify best practices for enhancing the effectiveness of community radio programmes in addressing defilement cases in Nyamira County. The cultivation theory anchored the study. The descriptive research design and the mixed-methods approach were utilized. The study aimed to encompass 226 participants as the target population; they were comprised of community members (109), local administration (8), victims of defilement (32), family members (52), and radio presenters (25). The sample consisted of 144 respondents, calculated using the Taro and Yamane formula (1967). A combination of purposive and random sampling techniques was employed to select participants for the study. Data were generated using questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGD), and interview schedules. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using statistical tools. Results revealed that 72.7% of the total variations in the dependent variable (Addressing Defilement Cases in Nyamira County) are explained by the independent variables in the model. The F-value (172.960) with a significance level (p- value) of 0.000 suggests that the predictors collectively contribute to the prediction of addressing defilement cases. Further, the findings revealed that any unit change in the impact of community radio programmes influences the addressing of defilement cases in Nyamira County by 0.549 units. Also, any unit increase in best practices increases the chances of addressing defilement cases by 0.233 units. Thus, the result indicated that all the variables are well employed and have a significant influence in addressing the defilement cases within Nyamira County. The research recommended that community radio stations must be built up in terms of capability for them to be effective.

This research explores the significance of local radio in preserving and assisting indigenous communities and languages in the tribal region of Jharkhand, India. The study highlights the involvement and engagements of “Asur Radio,” a community radio in the interest of the tribal community named – Asur. This study further explores how a community radio started by a primitive vulnerable tribe has kept the community together. The study employs a qualitative research technique using in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions with people closely connected to Asur Radio, including the Asur community. The findings through focus group discussions and in-depth exploration revealed that this newly launched community radio has a deep impression on community engagement and participation among the tribes benefitting the community and making the community radio more viable and justifiable.

Background: Unlike commercial radio, community radio works with local communities and helps in catering their specific needs and necessities and works as an innovative tool in bringing social change by using the participation of common man from the community in the program. Community radio stations are operated, owned, and influenced by the communities they serve. The objectives of the study were to describe the background information of the community radio services and to assess the perceptions of the rural community about the effectiveness of community radio and challenges in delivering its services.Methods: This study was designed on mixed method approach. Knowledge about health was assessed through a cross-sectional study. Perceptions about the effectiveness of community radio were gathered through focus group discussions. In-depth interviews with service providers obtained limitations and constraints that hinder the effectiveness. Villages surrounding an engineering college in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh which is being provided community radio services by the institute. People in the selected villages who were provided community radio services and the staff of the engineering college involved in the program.Results: Preliminary results indicate that the beneficiaries found that programmes on care during pregnancy and delivery related issues were most beneficial. Drop out of trained community personnel to provide the health education was a major drawback as per the service providers.Conclusions: This beneficial approach to community needs support from the Government to implement it in every remote corner of our country.

ABSTRACT
 This article is about community radio in Indonesia, and highlighting the huge potentiality as a medium for health communication relevant with the context of local community. The main focus is to community radio stations in the region of Pantura, West Java. Through field observation and interview with the management of the community radios, this article shows the community radio’s strategy and operation to struggle in their daily local community activities. When traditional communities are dying destroyed by the excesses of free market liberalism, community radio becomes the space to maintain the sense of local closeness, and when liberalization in health can be seen to local levels, community radio promises spaces to share, to make dialog, that grows self-awareness and joint perception concerning local reality appears from inside the community itself. The involvement of community in the management and programs put forward the communal point of view, overcoming government’s point of view, which is very needed to deliver complexity of the programs and promotions related with community health issues in a language comprehensible by poor and low-educated communities. Theoretical discussions concerning health communication explain that the existence of community radios is supposed to encourage health intervention models to be more democratic and sensitive towards the communities. Therefore, in the efforts to make the heterogeneous Indonesian people healthy, the empowerment of community radios and health communication perspective with local culture basis are important agenda.

Community radio in our country is a boon to many of the communities it enables many of the vulnerable people in these communities to participate in the decision making activities which can bring in a constructive change in the matters of the community .This very dynamic medium has been extensively used in many of the remote places of the country by various communities to educate, influence and evolve themselves to form a better tomorrow . This voluntarily medium, has been attracting the members of the remote areas in a big way. In a developing country like ours, where rural populace stills lacks basic education, awareness and involvement, this Community radio has given a fresh lease of life to many to sustain themselves in all spheres of their lives. It has helped the civil societies to move towards self sufficiency and also retaining the best in the communities through the array of programs which are conceptualised and presented by the community members only. It has really played a pivotal role at the grass root level which is emulated in other countries too. Community radio, has become a crusader in the lives of many across the country, this medium which has been supported by the community it serves , has emerged in a big way in developing countries. Other Voices (Kanchan Malik and Vindod Pawarala, 2007) has assessed the role of this alternative media as on eof the best tool for the communities and the underprivileged at the grassroots level . It has become a window for the remotest communities to integrate themselves into global economies and also develop as knowledge based economies. It has been playing a great role as a force multiplier in effective delivery of programs needed for the community on all development sectors. Each and every station has a great role in conceptualizing and executing these programs which has to come from the community members only. The indulgence of the members and to sustain themselves in running the station is a uphill task. Trainings imparted by the government and funding agencies at the various level has been instrumental in its popularity. The community radio stations in the country has been facing a lot of difficulties in sustaining themselves once they are established. The support and the encouragement of this station keep losing the fizz after few years of their inception. Many reasons has been identified such as lack of technical inputs, lack of creativity, financial crisis , lack of encouragement from the community, diminishing participation of members and so on . But, still, there are many CR stations which have proved and stood all the odds by proving their capacity to perform and bring in the change . Such CR stations are those which are under the leadership of women , who have given their best to sustain in the race by facing all the problems and overcoming it. The present paper, tries to focuses on the participation of women, with such positive outlook, who have driven the medium to a next level , in the development of community radio stations. The study has been done in the state of Karnataka, which has 13 CR stations. A multiple sampling technique has been used to select the best 4 community radio stations for the study. Keeping in view the gender perspective, the study highlights and dwell upon the role of women, in particular in the development of these community radio stations. The key roles played by the women as station managers, the content developers, the presenters and as listeners has been investigated through a systematic Focus group discussion , which has helped to elicit the information by these duty bearers . The role play of these women in the community radio has been very promising, and not only they contribute but also strive hard for the development of CR stations in the areas of their operations. The women members have been doing various experiments in the content and output which has not only yielded positive side of the medium, but also has empowered these women employees to do more though this medium. The result has been positive and thus many of them feel that the CR has become a integral part of their life and can has been instrumental in making their life more empowered. The study establishes that these community radio has worked in favour of these women to improve knowledge of solutions, in areas like health and hygiene, culture retention, rural development, participation in democratic process, education to local governance, employment opportunities and awareness related to social taboos.

This article explores how local values and social identities can be integrated into Ghana’s formal COVID-19 public health communication interventions using community radio. The study adopted a qualitative approach using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and reflexive thematic analysis. The ten-step participatory planning and action model to involve the community in the social change process is employed as the theoretical framework for this article. The study found that Radio Peace’s COVID-19 communication intervention is participatory due to the involvement of listeners in its programming. Also, local narratives and values were considered in designing locally relevant COVID-19 interventions through the audience’s access to the station’s activities. We suggest that dominant narratives about the COVID-19 pandemic be adapted to local realities by recognizing marginalized voices through listener involvement and access to local community radio stations.

This study is an investigation into the operation on the ground of community radio (CR) in Bangladesh. The thesis argues, on the basis of fieldwork conducted at various CR sites, that the heavy involvement of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) poses a number of problems. Their domination of the sector, and their formative influence in the campaign for the introduction of CR in the first place, has tended to reduce the potential of the medium to generate democratization of communication. Simultaneously, the initiator-NGOs’ dominant role and protectionist approach to operations has generated a lack of active community participation and reduced community access to the medium. We have not, therefore, witnessed the emergence of an alternative public sphere in any meaningful way. Indeed, their efforts to institutionalize programing and broadcasting are indicative of a process moving towards the ‘NGO-ization’ of CR. This process is setting limits to the democratic potential of the medium. The study is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in selected community radio station (CRS) areas, supplemented by qualitative research methods such as interview and focus group discussion (FGD). In practice, the NGO-guided CR only partially reflects the key values that constitute this participatory medium. The marginalised and excluded are yet to own and manage a CRS or have any decision-making authority. In the current status quo, local communities are unable to use the stations as a discursive arena in which to challenge dominant socio-political discourses. Nonetheless, initiator NGOs have trained local volunteers and the contributions of the CRSs during natural disasters is noteworthy. Furthermore, CR has demonstrated its utility as a means to support local development, i.e. as a form of local development radio. This, however, falls short of the true potential of CR. Thus, the thesis concludes with the overall observation that NGO involvement is failing to facilitate the proper democratic development of CR in Bangladesh.

Community radio represents the opportunity of placing the means of communication in the hands of grassroot people. In the particular case of this study, it was seen as a tool for rural participatory development. It thus provided the need for a study into how community radio is used for sustainable rural development. The study utilized a qualitative research approach to understand the role of community radio in sustainable rural development in Ghana. As a result, two community radio stations were selected for the study. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select participants who were interviewed with the aid of semi-structured interviews. In all, qualitative data was collected from 34 participants comprising two programmes’ managers, two radio producers, two radio presenters and 28 listeners. The qualitative research approach enabled in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study. The study found that both community radio stations allow community members access to information services that addressed their livelihood challenges. In addition, the study found that the community radio stations provided the platform for community members to make inputs into programming which specifically addressed their aspirations, perceptions, and desires. The study establishes the need to resource community radios to embark on more livelihood programmes on radio.

Community radio has emerged as a powerful grassroots communication tool that bridges the information gap in marginalized, rural, and underrepresented communities. Its accessibility, cultural relevance, and participatory nature make it an essential medium for advancing climate action, improving public health, and promoting inclusive education. Unlike mainstream media, community radio stations are locally owned and operated, allowing them to address community-specific issues in local languages and dialects, and tailor content to meet the immediate needs of their listeners. In the current era of global challenges—ranging from climate change and health crises to educational inequalities—community radio plays a transformative role in fostering resilience, awareness, and sustainable development. In the domain of Climate Action, community radio serves as a crucial channel for environmental education, early warning dissemination, and the promotion of sustainable practices. By broadcasting localized weather updates, climate change impacts, and environmental protection strategies, these stations empower communities to adopt adaptive behaviors. For example, farmers can receive real-time updates on monsoon patterns or drought conditions, while coastal communities can be alerted to cyclones and floods. Community radio further enables dialogue between citizens, local governments, and environmental organizations, fostering community-based responses and environmental stewardship. In Health Communication, community radio significantly enhances public health outcomes by providing timely, culturally appropriate, and easy-to-understand information. Especially in regions with limited access to formal healthcare systems, radio programs can address topics such as maternal and child health, hygiene, nutrition, mental health, vaccination, and disease prevention. During health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, community radio stations were instrumental in debunking myths, promoting safe behaviors, and ensuring that accurate information reached even the most remote populations. Furthermore, radio facilitates health literacy through interactive segments such as call-ins, interviews with medical professionals, and community testimonials. Regarding Education, community radio acts as an inclusive platform that promotes lifelong learning and bridges educational disparities. It supports non-formal education through content tailored to various age groups and learning levels, including early childhood programs, adult literacy, and vocational training. During school closures—such as those experienced during the pandemic—community radio offered an alternative learning medium, ensuring educational continuity for students without internet access. Moreover, it promotes gender equity and the education of marginalized groups by creating safe and supportive spaces for learning.

Timely and need-based information is a crucial precursor in informed decision-making. Community radio serves as a vital avenue for farmers who lack access to mainstream media. However, the use of community radio by farmers for agricultural purposes remains unclear due to a paucity of empirical information. This research investigated the use of community radio (CR) for delivering agricultural information to farmers and the associated factors influencing its use. Therefore, the study employed a mixed-methods approach and randomly selected 278 respondents from the coverage area of a community radio station in Barguna District, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also conducted with purposefully selected samples. The use of CR was measured adopting a five-point rating scale (Always 5…… Never 1) against 14 items. The findings reveal that, despite being mandated to provide need-based agricultural information, the time allocated for agricultural programs on the radio is minimal, averaging only 2 hours and 35 minutes per week. Among respondents, 71% listen to CR agricultural programs from rarely to very regularly, while 29% do not listen at all. According to the respondents, the participation of community members, particularly farmers, in radio programs is virtually non-existent. They primarily use CR information for decision-making regarding disease and pest management (WM = 0.633), determining fertilizer doses and application methods (WM = 0.546), and receiving weather information (WM = 0.543). Logistic regression results indicate that age, cultivable land, income from agriculture, access to CR radio, and the network strength of CR significantly influence respondents' usage of CR. This research recommends increasing the number of agricultural programs on community radio (CR) through consistent budget allocation while incorporating more farmer-participatory initiatives. Additionally, a targeted campaign aimed at elderly farmers should be implemented to enhance their interest in CR, ultimately improving their access through a strengthened network. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 23(3): 366–376, 2025

The battle for access to free speech and information flow in Ghana occurs within a context of popular resistance, struggles for national liberation and the control of power, knowledge and free expression. This still resonates within Ghana’s radio broadcasting sector. Unlike dominant approaches to communicating development, where change outcomes are exclusively based on quantifiable indicators such as message recall and engagement, communication for social change (CFSC) inspired intangible outcomes are more nuanced. The literature further reveals a paucity of CFSC approaches that focus on ‘intangible outcomes’ for sustainable development among resource-limited communities in Ghana. The literature on the legacy of CFSC in Ghana is limited, and even more scarce is the application of CFSC via community radio (CR) in Ghana. Our study explores the progressive development of CFSC via CR in Ghana, focusing on intangible outcomes. Our paper reflected on the legacy of CFSC via CR in Ghana from historical and contemporary perspectives. We set out to answer the following questions: do listeners genuinely own the content circulating on the CR medium, amidst the threat of over-standardization and quantification of communication outcomes in Ghana? How has the practice of CR offered an alternative approach to evaluating communication and development outcomes, rather than mainstream media quantitative measures of change in Ghana? This paper makes a case that CFSC’s legacy in Ghana via CR is categorized into three intangible outcomes: access to the medium, participation in its activities, and social capital. While this analysis can be criticized for its subjectivity, it should also be recognized for its often-intangible outcomes, which usually have a more meaningful impact on the communities, not those who drive the communication agenda. These intangible outcomes build social capital, making communication real, sometimes messy, but mostly inclusive.

The main problem researched in this thesis was the existence of community radios in villages, that was about the roles of function of them correlated with the escalation of democratization in communication. The research was conducted in two Kecamatans that had different characteristics, that was Kecamatan Cisewu which was minim in any information exposure and geographically closed (blank spot) and Kecamatan Wanayasa which was relatively open to access any information. The theory used to study the problem were Habermas Communicative society theory and Uses and Dependency theory. The theory explained the correlation between social system and communication media system at a community. The democratization of communication was explained by Communitarianism Democracy Theory – Tehranian. The research method used was qualitative method with etnography communication. Data were collected through depth interview and focus group discussion. The key informan woman were formal and informal social leaders and the person who managed community radios. Focus group discussion was conducted to group of women, men, youths, and others ot both of kecamatans. Analysis of etnography of communication try to explore the native language, that was sundanese, used by the member of community, wether with or without community media. The result of the research is accordance with research question.The availability contribute awwarness about communication and information right for the community members. The public community process through radio community is the implementation of the daily public behaviour pattern of the community. The process of democratization communication run slower in the closed area, yet it is more dynamic in the opened area.