Community Radio: Social Process and Democratic Intent

Abstract

What is community radio? There is both an evocation and expectation that the term community radio elicits—namely, that a degree of accessibility and welcome will exist to those who wish to participate. And importantly, community members within a community radio setting are primarily considered as active media citizens as opposed to passive media consumers. This chapter outlines community radio’s historical context, positions it within the field of ‘community media’, and addresses the complexity of the term ‘community’. It also introduces the reader to the theoretical framework of critical political economy of communication (PEofC). PEofC is presented as a critical framework that enables better understanding of the social, cultural and economic functioning of communication under capitalism.