This book explores how community radio contributes to social change. Community radio remains a unique communication platform under digital capitalism, arguably capable of expanding the project of media democratisation. Yet there is a lack of in-depth analysis of community radio experience, and a dearth of understanding of its functionality as an actively transformative tool for greater equity in society. This project combines the theoretical positions of the political economy of communication with a citizen's media perspective in order to interrogate community radio's democratic potential. By presenting case studies of two radio stations in Melbourne and Lospalos, and applying multiple research methods, the book reveals community radio's amplification of media participation, communication rights, counter-hegemony and media power in effect, its distinct regenerative voice.

Contributes to an undertheorized field within radio studies, adopting a Communication for Social Change approach Draws on a rich sample of data including 40 qualitative interviews, 70 questionnaires and 215 hours of on-air content analysis Focuses on two case studies of community radio stations, 3CR Community Radio in Australia and RCL Vox Populy in Timor-Leste

Autorentext

Juliet Fox holds a doctorate from the University of Melbourne and works at 3CR Community Radio in Melbourne, Australia. She has worked in community radio for over 25 years.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Community radio: Social process and democratic intent.- 3. Social change: Active citizens and the value of voice.- 4. Critical participation and mediated solidarity.- 5. Cycles of transformation and community radio agency.- 6. Reality reconstruction and resistance to hegemony.- 7. Regenerative voice.- 8. Conclusion.