the community radio toolkit

Edited by Janey Gordon, University of Bedfordshire, UK

Peter Lang Books, Oxford, UK have indicated their interest in publishing this collection.

In the first decade of the 21^st century there has been a significant global expansion and appreciation of community radio.  These small radio stations, that are not run by the state or commercial ventures but give a voice to views and expressions other than the mainstream and cultures other than the ‘norm’, have started to open up in many countries where the authorities had hitherto proved reluctant to legitimise this ‘third tier’ of radio. For example in the United Kingdom legitimate, on air, community radio only started in 2002, but by 2010 there were over two hundred. Europe, Australasia and North and South America, have long had community radio advocates, broadcasters and listeners. But since 2000, laws have been enacted to provide for community radio in many more countries, such as the UK, India and Georgia; growth and development has been encouraged in places such as Hungary and South Africa and the importance and impact of long standing community radio stations in countries such as Australia has been researched and evaluated.

This book of edited chapters, “Community Radio in the 21^st Century”, celebrates the most positive and successful outcomes of community radio globally over the first years of the 21^st century. It also seeks to critically examine the issues that have proved problematic.

The book has an international perspective and is a collection of chapters for students studying mainstream and alternative media and also practitioners involved in the community media and radio sectors.

The editor is seeking abstracts from academics and practitioners for chapters that examine the following themes,

• Recent developments and research in the community radio sector globally. Case studies are welcomed from areas where community radio is a new phenomenon.
• The histories behind community radio.
• Social impacts; for example, information, knowledge, training, language, culture, music, social inclusion and democratic processes.
• What constitutes a ‘community’?
• What happens when community radio goes bad? The effects of ‘Hate’ radio.
• Managing a community radio station; listeners and volunteer broadcasters, funding and commercialism, ‘ethical’ behaviour and the law.
• New technologies and future developments; where does community radio go from here? Other community media platforms; community social networking; DAB; mobile technologies.

These areas do not constitute a comprehensive list and proposals on related themes, particularly where case studies and actual examples are cited, are welcomed.

Selection will lay emphasis on work that is accessible, clearly written, and exemplifies the issues in the community radio sector.

Submission deadline for abstracts is: 1^st October 2010, with the final chapters of 5000-7000 words, being completed by 1^st March 2011.

Abstracts of 200 words and biographical details of 50 words should be submitted to: Dr Janey Gordon, University of Bedfordshire, UK, email – janeygordon@beds.ac.uk

In: News | tags: abstracts, academics, book, janey gordon, notions of community, practitioners, university of bedfordshire. | #