RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

rather than for the community" . (Frances Berrigan , "Community Communications: The Role of Community Media in Development", Reporters and Papers of Mass Communication #9O, UNESCO , Paris 1979) Vitlage radio may be totally inf ormal, f eaturing the voices , interests and concerns of community members , Programming might include music performed live or recorded in the field on a portable tape machine as vvell as commercial records and cassettes . An interview might be helđ with the village chief, a health worker , the local midwife , or a visiting agricultural specialist. Community members with opinions on some issue might gather to điscuss them over the air . Loca! announcements , news and greetings could be broadcast. Most important is that village radio become an institution in and of its community . Operating expenses can be minimal. In some cases , the station might be operated by a village council, service club or similar organization on a volunteer basis; in others , one person or family might provide the shelter for the station and keep in оп the air in return for a small remuneration . Other ехрепзе items might total $lO. to $lOO. monthly, including recorđs, tapes and other program material, eguipment repair and battery maintenance . Village radio could be supported by public funds or commercial revenues , receiving payment for announcements and greetings , or from • sponsors in the community . Obviously , in view of its $2OOO. capitalization anđ $lOO monthly operating ехрепзе , village radio represents a radical đeparture f rom traditional broadcast models , whether public or commercial. To compare a 3-watt village station to a 1000 watt conventional AM operation : 1. Eguipment cost is approximately 1/50: $2,000. vs $lOO,OOO 2. in similar conditions , coverage is about 1/12; 2,000 km 2 vs 23,800km 2 3 . Annual operations ппау be IУ. with volunteer staff : $ 1 , 200 . vs $120,000.

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