WOMEN´S COMMUNITY VOICES

Community Radio is a radio in which the community has control over the programming and decides what are their priorities and needs, that is, the community is the main actor. It is characterized as an independent media that works local contents as it is originated and nourishes with the life of people; it promotes dialogue, participation and interaction; it has present its audience throughout the communication process as it involves its listeners in the planning, production and evaluation.

 

It provides a mechanism to facilitate individuals, groups and communi­ties to tell their own diverse stories, to share experiences, and to become active creators and contributors of media.

 

The radio is the dominant media in low income countries. In many countries it is the only reliable communication media that reaches large portions of the rural population, physically isolated, illiterate and poor. In many cases, it replaces the press, television and mail, as it is cheap and easy to use. 

 

For ethnic minorities, women, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups, community radio is an important tool, since it guarantees the right to communicate for many who are denied access. That is, it gives voice to the voiceless and creates a dialogue between citizens and between citizens and institutions.