Community Radio 2.0

At this conference session from the 3rd National Community Radio (CR) Sammelan held on February 9-11 2013 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, India, Osama Manzar, Director of the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) shared his views on how CR stations can be empowered with digital media tools. The annual conference brings together about 200 CR stakeholders, including key government ministries and departments, policy makers, representatives of stations, United Nations (UN), and other international organisations working in the CR domain.

Participant interest focused on digital technology: for archiving; for outreach - both asynchronous, like Facebook, and real time broadcasting; for increasing an advocacy base; for participation; and for integrating video, among others.

The session then covered the use of the following digital tools, in capital letters below [Editor's note: the original online document includes reference organisations for help in developing each of these tools - see the "Click here" link below.]:

    "MOBILE: For phone in programs; use Mobile as FM Radio, Use as Reporting Tool, Use as Camera, Call back on Tollfree numbers, Can be many possibilities if Smartphone is targeted as Mobile users.

    SMS [text messaging]: The target community, these days would have more mobile users than even community radio listeners; Reach out to them all through SMS Newsletter by having meticulously aggregated subscription and their numbers with their news and requirements and accordingly send them periodic SMS. It can be called SMS Newsletter.

    INTERNET: Web presence with Web 2.0 technology; Integrate all social media like Facebook, Twitter, Slideshare, Flickr, Podcast, and many more.

    eNGO [non-governmental organisation] Program of DEF - Free Unlimited Website

    FACEBOOK: Have individual Facebook Page to engage in sharing news, stories, developments, photos, videos, and generate community including interests in facilitating NGOs and their other works also. The same Facebook page could be embedded in the main website.

    YOUTUBE: Have all programs also shoot in videos using camera, mobile, etc. and start individual XYZ Community radio Channel. Video Channel at YouTube would also help having video broadcasting and can be embedded in main website.

    TWITTER: For those who would like to play in 140 characters and want to share thoughts and programs among outside world, especially with journalistic bent of mind, can use Twitter]

    TEXT: To transcribe all radio programs in textual format also and have them available on the website so that the programs could be consumed in text also without playing video or audio or podcast.

    PHOTO-STREAM: Since most of the CRs take lots of pictures, as per programs and content, it is a must-have to share them through photo stream with captions as each photo or a series of photos could be a story telling. Photo stream could be done through Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Google+, Slide share, Instagram, and so on.

    CLOSED CIRCUIT BROADCASTING: If your area has local cable wala, you can use them to broadcast your programs locally also to reach through TVs in household.

    PUBLIC SCREENING: Using photos and voice overs and video stories, one can also organise public screening of the programs in the evening and organise discussion over that, which could again another program to broadcast. Public screening can reach to those also who do not listen to CR program and may not have radio sets. This is can be done through LCD/LED projector and a computer or even with Smartphone.

    PODCAST AND AUDIO STREAMING: Since all the programs with all CRs are available as digital file, they can be uploaded as podcast files. If necessary, even live streaming could be possible through Internet. The available resources for Podcast, Air Streaming and Live Streaming, please refer software like AirTime (Linux), Amarock (Linux & Windows), VLC, IceCast, Audacity and so on. These softwares help in play-listing, editing, scheduling, playing, and streaming.

    CD, DVD, PEN DRIVE: Major programs or those having serious impact could be edited as package and could be made available on CDs, DVDs and Pen Drive for distribution among authorities, occasions, events and for better outreach and public screening.

    APPS: Smartphone based App could be a good idea to reach worldwide easily. But it would require expertise in Android development.

    BLOGS: The reporters of CR could have their own Blog to share their experience, their thoughts, and their reports. Blogs can be linked to website and social media. Its valuable as individual can write anything they want, which they may be able to do on the CR. The blogs can be done on Facebook, Google Blogerspot, IndiBlog, and so on.

    E-RADIO/E-BOOKS: Programs broadcasted on CR could be converted into playlist kind of files and can be made available to be downloaded or on Pen drive. Similarly, even digital books, either as PDF or e-books, could be created by transcribing the CR programs into a textual format.

    ONLINE WEBINAR & DISCUSSION FORUMS: To organise online discussion forums and Webinars (Seminars on the Web)"