Community Radio Stations as Community Technology Centers: An Evaluation of the Development Impact of Technological Hybridization on Stakeholder Communities in South Africa

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of using community radio stations to extend information and communication technology (ICT) benefits to poor communities in South Africa. Six community radio stations in six rural South African communities were studied, using face-to-face interviews, community conversations, and observation method. The study found these radio stations have ICT presence, but because of a lack of resources they are only able to allow their stakeholder communities' indirect access to these technologies. It concludes that for these stations to realize their full development potential of extending ICTs to poor rural communities in South Africa, collaborative innovative strategies will have to be instituted. The author thanks Andy Alali and several anonymous reviewers for their assistance and suggestions. An earlier version of this work was presented as a top research paper to the Human Information Technology Division at the 97th annual meeting of the Eastern Communication Association in Philadelphia, April 2006