The Historical Overview of Community Radio in the US

The Historical Overview of Community Radio in the US
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The Historical Overview of Community Radio
Introduction
Alternative media constitutes different media categories, encompassing other media organizations that position themselves against the mainstream media in various dimensions. The research on alternative media is deeply rooted in the media skepticism of the 1970s. The aim of alternative forms of journalism was construed to challenge the mainstream media, which appeared to be more dedicated to the “bourgeois” (Haller, Holt & de La Brosse, 2019). Alternative media producers wanted to give voice to minority groups and other special categories of people that the mainstream media disregarded. Community radio is an alternative media because it is different from commercial and public broadcasting radios which are majorly for profit (Cibin, Teli & Robinson, 2019). While commercial and public radio seeks to reach a diverse audience, community radios focus on a local, specific audience. Community radio tends to be operated and owned by the communities they serve. Unlike mainstream radio stations requiring a relatively huge amount of capital investment, community radios are amateur and require much less capital investment. The insignificant capital investment is crucial because it implies no need to invest much money when commencing the project. This paper delves into the historical development of community radio in the US. In particular, the paper will demonstrate the challenges community radios have faced and how they have overcome them.
Meaning of Community Radio
The “community” in the case of community radio denotes a geographical area in which the signal of a particular radio can be heard. However, it is not enough for geography to define a radio station as a community radio. The particular radio station needs to broadcast to a geographic region with an understanding of the various ethnic and social groups in the area. In particular, the particular radio station should have its airwaves open to the members of the community who are not heard by other media. Community radio has unique aspects that differentiate it from mainstream radio. Firstly, a community radio exists to provide access to community members who have not previously had such access (Tucker, 2013). In other words, community radio gives a voice to the voiceless and those who may not get opportunities in public forums. Here, all public members can speak and discuss issues of concern, even where the mainstream media has marginalized them. Secondly, community radios must demonstrate the participation of the community members. They are supposed to ensure the maximally participatory of the local citizens in all aspects of their operations. For instance, the management, planning, and production should mirror the community and allow the members to participate in running the radio station.
Thirdly, community radios are not-for-profit entities. While they may receive business funding or organize fundraisers and make sales to increase their funding, the proceeds should be channeled to the station itself or the foundation that manages it. Additionally, community radio should be communi...