baseline study on rural radio...

GOVERNMENT OF THE PAGRICULTURE INFORMATION SERVICE

KHAMARBARI, DHAKA

RURAL RADIO INITIATIVE

RURAL

COASTAL CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (CCRIP)

June 2015

F THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANAGRICULTURE INFORMATION SERVICE

KHAMARBARI, DHAKA-1212

BASELINE STUDY ON

RURAL RADIO INITIATIVE The emerging effective means to improving rural livelihood

- The case of Krishi Radio, Radio Nalta, Sundarban & Loco beter

RURAL RADIO INITIATIVE A PROJECT OF


NGLADESH

The emerging effective means to improving rural livelihood Radio, Radio Nalta,

Loco beter

RADIO INITIATIVE A PROJECT OF


Acknowledgement

It is a great pleasure for me to express my heartiest gratitude to Md. Aminul

Islam Event coordinator-CCRIP –RRI part, Agriculture Information Service (AIS),

Khamarbari, Dhaka for his heartfelt support and continuous assistance throughout the

whole research work. His scholarly guidance shaped my idea that helped me much in

exploring diverse issues related to my research. Undoubtedly, his continuous

encouragement enhanced my morale to make this study a success. My Special thanks to

Md. Shahjahan Miah, Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Specialist,

and Tamanna Sharmin, Monitoring Assistant of CCRIP for their special effort who

contributed invaluable time with the whole process of shaping the study. I would also

like to take this opportunity to thank A.K.M Luthfur Rahman, Project Director, CCRIP,

Mr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, Director, AIS and Dr. Zahangir Alam, Deputy Director and

focal point (Mass Communication), Agriculture Information Service (AIS), Mohammed

Manzur Hossain Asst. Focal point & Information Officer (Agriculture), AIS & Saifuddin

Ahmed Bhuiyan Saifuddin Sabuj Lead Communication Consultants Comdev Specialist

and Radio Production Expert and for implementing such a study with a view to develop

the Rural Radio Initiative(RRI) program for the marginalized coastal people of

Bangladesh.

The research report would not be possible to get the present form without co-operation

from four radios and their patience during the research phase. Despite their busy

schedules, the broadcasters and staffs from those 4 radios provided valuable

information to the research team through active participation and I express our sincere

gratefulness to all of them. Similarly, I would also like to thank all the radios listeners,

volunteers and radio professionals in Krishi Radio, Radio Nalta, Radio Sundarban and

Locobetar who actively attended the focus group discussions (FGDs) and provided their

inputs, comments and feedbacks on the issues raised by the study team. They deserve

our very high appreciations and thankfulness.

Finally, we owe huge gratitude to our donors, International Fund for Agriculture

Development (IFAD) for financial support to accomplish this study program.

Md. Ziaul Huq Managing Director ZH Consultants

Executive Summary

The rationale for undertaking an audience survey in coastal area at this particular time

is many folds. One of the purposes of the baseline survey was to gather information on

the general patterns of radio listening, plus specific data on listener reactions to Rural

Radio Initiative.

The study reported here, due to applying qualitative and quantitative Survey Method,

required only two months' time to plan and field, which included conceptualization of

the survey method, designing a survey questionnaire, establishment of respondent

categories and sample-size quotas within each category, training of a 10-member

Baseline survey team, and collection of complete questionnaire returns on a sample of

1200 respondent, complete with quality checks on the returned questionnaires. The

survey was conducted in four locations: Amtali and Sadar Upzila of Barguna, Kaliganj of

Shatkhira and Koyra of Khulna. The selection of the four locations was intended to

provide a diverse representation of the sample, including rural listeners.

The results from the survey analysis indicate that Studio programs are well known and

recognized by the intended audience. Several of the respondents mentioned that they

like to see the Studio having its own radio station. In addition, the programs reach their

intended specific groups of audience. Young respondents, for example, recognized

cultural programs, while more educated, older respondents recognized news and

information related program. The levels of satisfaction with the programs were usually

higher among the intended groups of audience; this means that younger youth were

more satisfied with a program such as various types of songs; and, less educated

respondents were more satisfied with Magazine program. More profoundly, the Studio

is successful in presenting neutral and acceptable messages through its programs.

One major finding from this study is that the radio Loco Betar, “Rosher Adda” is a very

successful program that attracts all sections of the Burundian society. Respondents’

satisfaction with the content and accomplishments of the program is high. This program

was remarkable in terms of the scores it received for its success in delivering messages

of peaceful co-existence and conflict resolution. Respondents obviously viewed this

program as providing useful information, helping to bring people together, presenting

real situations and initiating discussions. Among respondents, the older, more educated

population seemed to be the least to express satisfaction with the outcomes of certain

programs- namely,; one is a musical program for youth, and the other is a soap opera.

Perhaps these types of programs, unlike news- and politically-focused programs, are not

presented in ways that appeal to the older more educated population. Further

interviews and discussion with this population may help in developing programs that

may meet their needs.

For the process of conducting this type of evaluation, the survey results proved that the

questions included were highly reliable and valid for addressing the issues of audience

listening patterns and opinions. Two key practices contributed greatly to the success of

this survey: Training local interviewers on conducting interviews, and; including local

informants from different backgrounds in the survey design stage.

Several sections of the survey may serve as baseline data for future programming and

efforts. Specifically, the issues raised by the respondents as problems and needs, and the

issues that the Studio could help with, are good examples of such baseline data. More in-

depth data analysis, application of qualitative research methods, and follow-up surveys

may provide useful ongoing tools for the Studio to assess how the programs are

connected to the needs of the people.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Background

Following an Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) which was signed in between Agriculture

Information Service (AIS) under Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government

Engineering Department (LGED), RRI started its journey in order to enhance the use of

radio in development initiatives in the project area. In the context of the IAA, CCRIP,

LGED and AIS agreed on a working plan for the years 2014 to 2015 aiming at enhancing

communication for development skills of rural broadcasters and improving access to

information for rural audience especially on climate change adaptation, market price,

cropping pattern, fishery, livestock, poultry production and food security. The media

will act as a two-way process, which calls for the active participation of the community

in the planning and production activities of the radio broadcasts. The initiative will

promote the exchange of views bringing people closer together by stimulating

information and enhancing the value of local knowledge.

Objective of Rural Radio Initiative: Rural Radio Initiatives (RRI) an innovative

approach of CCRIP has launched it journey following the signing of Inter-Agency

Agreement on 8th January 2014. The project will support the Rural Radio Initiative in

the Project Area to enhance the dissemination of important information for farmers,

small producers and other beneficiaries through four community radios now are

working in the project area such as Krishi Radio, Locobetar, Radio Nalta and Radio

Sundarban. AIS reached an agreement and signed a contract on 25th May 2015 with

three other Radio Stations except Krishi Radio which is owned by DAE to implement the

RRI under its direct planning with a view to provide integrated and demand-driven

communication services to the rural population.

Introduction

Communication is fundamental to human life in every part of the world. The evolvement

of modern technologies has made it more sophisticated and accessible than ever before,

greatly increasing potential for economic and social impact. Today, many groups are

working to harness the power of communication technology to bring social change. For

example, community radio initiatives around the world are giving poor people voice,

enabling them to instigate their own change such as advocating for rights or promoting

social learning and dialogue. For many remote communities, radio remains the most

accessible technological medium available. In the country of Bangladesh, community

radio has grown rapidly. Yet the needs of people remain pressing, with Bangladesh

ranking 142 from the bottom on the Human Development Index (HDI) (UNDP, 2014). It

is hard to measure the effectiveness of community radio in meeting needs, with little

documented primary evidence and few community radio indicators to assess change. To

address this information gap this survey reviews the effectiveness of a community radio

station in the poor and coastal remote area of southern Bangladesh.

Literature Review

In many countries and regions of the world, Community Radio (CR) is recognized as a

means of communication which has an important role to play in the development

process and the advancement of good governance practices. CR has proven particularly

useful as a tool to reach and give voice to the most disadvantaged sectors of society

which include the poor, women and children.

On March 8th, 2008, the Government of Bangladesh adopted the “Community Radio

Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy”. The main thrust of the policy is to

open up the radio spectrum to community broadcasting, in order to explore the

potential of this unique form of media. The GoB is taking the decentralization of

media reflected in the granting of licenses for community broadcasting and the policy as

a way to enable and promote people’s empowerment, in order to build a platform for

community-driven communication and sustainable development, through the

mobilization and channeling of communities’ energies, ideas, initiatives, and resources.

The GoB, through the Ministry of Information, has approved the establishment of

community radios in 13 districts. The stations is located primarily in rural areas

throughout the country, in districts considered to be the most backward in terms of

their socio-economic development: Chittagong, Shatkhira, Bogra, MouliviBazer,

Naogaon, ChapaiNababgonj, Rajshahi, Jhinaidha, Munshiganj, (2) Barguna, Kurigram,

Khulna, Cox’s Bazar. The first broadcasting licenses have already been issued to 13

NGOs and one government organization under the ministry of Agriculture. At the

moment 14 CR stations are in operation throughout country. They are: Radio Padma,

Nalta,Loko Betar,Pollikontho,SagarGiri, Radio Mahananda, Radio Mukti,Radio

Chilmari,Radio Jhenuk, Krishi Radio, Radio Barendra,Radio Naf,Radio Sundarban and

Radio Bikrampur. 02 new Radio stations have been added to the list after getting

licensee from the Ministry recently. The locations are 02 off-shore islands namely Radio

Sagordip Hatiya (Noakhali) and Radio Magna, Char fashion (Bhola).

Rationale of the study

Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project (CCRIP) has started a process of

conducting a baseline survey on Rural Radio Initiatives (RRI) in the project area. Several

research studies have been carried out to surface the need and demand for community

radio in Bangladesh (CRSC, 2004; National Broadcasting Authority, 1989; Kabir and

Bhattachargee (1994); Kabir et al., 2006). BNNRC carried out a baseline survey in 2009,

which included 1,000 sample respondents randomly selected from various upazilas in

10 districts of Bangladesh. The study found that there is a need and demand for

community radio. The respondents perceived community radio as a vehicle for

development and a means of good governance. They were keen to listen and participate

in CR programs regularly. But separate study title “Study on Rural Radio Initiative” has

not been done so far in four radio stations of Barisal & Khulna Division, it is quite

justified to do so to understand and assess the level and status of understanding of

community listening habits, preferences, information needs, mass media as well as

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use and participation in community

radio broadcasting. It was expected that the results of this audience study would

provide a general profile of the potential RRI-audiences specifically in Barguna, Satkhira

and Khulna area. This profile would be used in directing the thrusts of the community

radio station as well as in strategically planning the station’s programming.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The Baseline Survey Report is an Endeavour to provide the basis by which appropriate

steps can be taken into account while designing Planning Programme for Rural Radio

Initiative in the Target/Project Area through four Radio Stations.

To provide the basis while adopting program production so as to achieve

maximum benefit from the Program Planning by the radio station from the local

audience.

To enable to identify CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS & DEMANDS of the selected

listeners.

Specific Objectives

The objectives of the baseline survey are to:

Assess the status of the community radio stations prior to the start of the RRI

program (in terms of program and technical capacity, capacity and skills of staff

and audience perception

Assess the audience perception of the radio stations and content demands prior

to the start of the RRI program (in terms of content expectations, listenership

habits and frequency, and perception of the audience/communities of the

community radio as a platform to express opinions and enable dialogue with the

government over development policies).

The second purpose of the Baseline survey was to gather information on the

baseline patterns of radio listening, plus specific data on listener reactions to

Community Radio programs before starting “Upokuler Katha” programme

through 4 radio stations.

Measure listeners’ perceptions of the media in relation to quality of content and

diversity of products.

This study has been planned with the overall purpose to generate primary data

that represent the situation of four Radio Programs before starting RRI

programso that such data could be used at a later stage to compare the effect and

impact of the RRI program and in taking various measures to improve program

production.

Establish baseline information and data related to the above objectives, as well

as measurable indicators, which will be used to inform AIS in its interventions in

the media sector.

The main purpose of the study is to assess the status of the community radio stations

prior to the start of the RRI program that is planned to be started immediately after the

Baseline survey. A total of 1200 listeners were randomly sampled and surveyed from a

population of 1700 club members while 12 radio staff members were also purposefully

selected. In this study, a combination of interviews, questionnaires and observations

were used to collect data based on both qualitative and quantitative research

paradigms.

The previous chapter discussed the background, introduction rationale and of the

research. The following chapter will outline the research methodology employed. This

will include the details pertaining to the research design, target population, sampling

plan, survey instrument, data collection procedures, coding, data capture, data cleaning

and data analysis.

The CCRIP project includes a substantial component of evaluating and documenting the

impact that the rural radio programmes have on the well- being of community life and

livelihood of rural people. The Rural radio programmes are routinely monitored and

their content summarized and documented. This is the first of two listener surveys due

to be carried out during this project, and it covered 2 regions of the project area, and

was followed by key informants interview in these same areas, held with 249 listeners

to these Rural radio programmes. This report is a compilation of findings from these 3

different methods; however the main body of the findings is from the listener survey

undertaken in November and December 2015. The main purpose of the survey was to

answer the following questions:

• What is the reach of radio?

• Is Community radio listened to?

• Does Community radio reach the poor?

• Are the programmes used equally by both genders?

• Does listening to a radio programme benefit rural community? If so how?

• What are the weaknesses of rural radio and what can be done to improve it?

Throughout the months from November and December outsourcing consultant, in

cooperation with AIS will finalize methodology, respondents, survey area, questionnaire

and timeline of Baseline Survey. The chronological order of the survey tasks include:

orientation of the surveyors, data collection, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key

informant interview, data processing (classifying, coding, tabulating data and analysis),

writing/drafting the Survey Report, Report Presentation and feedback received from

the experts, submission of Final Report. A private consulting firm, a reputed research

institution based in Dhaka was assigned with the responsibility to accomplish the

baseline survey assignment. A group of young researchers, headed by Dr. Nabiul Islam, a

scholar Consultant of ZH Consultants Ltd. has taken charge of the task.

Research design

In accordance with the study objectives, the research design included a national

quantitative study using face-to-face pen and paper (PAPI) interviews. Both community

decision makers as well as the general public were surveyed. The research results will

serve as a baseline against which future results will be evaluated.

Survey Population

Face to face interviews were carried out with 1200 people above the age of 15 years.

Three areas of 4 stations were selected for baseline study from project areas of the

country, Barguna, Satkhira and Khulna. This area covered 4 radio stations broadcasting

on climate change adaptation, market price, cropping pattern, fishery, livestock, poultry

production and food security. In addition program producers of the 4 radio stations are

also covered under the survey.

The survey with the general public (household survey) targeted men and women aged

15 years and above living in the project area. The study recognized that media

perception could be obtained at cohorts lower than 18 years but only 15 years and

above were interviewed as this is the age at which one is considered as an adult.

Sampling Plan

The size of the sample and the way it is designed is one of the most important phases in

the research process. The main outcome of the sampling plan was to ensure delivery of

a quality sample that is representative of the CCRIP target population and one that

accommodates the reporting needs of RRI. With detailed population information it was

possible to design a sample that can be grossed up to estimate the opinions of the

defined target population. A multi-stage-stratified sampling method was used to achieve

a representative sample of the total population of 15 years and older.

Sample size

A requirement of any sample that is to be utilized for monitoring and evaluation

purposes is that it needs to be extremely robust. Detailed demographic analysis is not

possible without an adequate sample size and results produced based on inadequate

sample sizes are relatively unstable. A sample of 1200 was found to be appropriate for

the household study. Increasing the size has the desired effect of reducing the sampling

errors. Non-sampling errors on the other hand tend to rise with increases in the size of

the sample, since it becomes more difficult to control the quality of a larger field

operation. As such broad conclusions only should be drawn from these results.

The survey instrument

Qualifying question: The survey began with two qualifying questions which required

that prospective respondents be someone who is 1) willing to be interviewed, and; 2)

"sometimes listens to radio." If the response to either was negative, the interview was

terminated. However interviewers collected observational demographic data on the

interview candidate. This information was deemed useful for exploring any tendencies

towards refusing a survey among certain groups (i.e., females).

Radio Listening Questions: Four questions focused on radio listening, various

locations where the respondents listened to radio, hours of listening to the radio on

weekday and on weekends, and average listening time on a selected week day and in

the weekend.

Questions about Radio Programs: One question asked whether the respondent had

ever listened to "Upakuler Katha." This was followed by questions about the problems

and issues that the programs talk about. Another questions that was asked in all

program sets was “Do people like you discuss the issues raised in this program after

listening to it?”

DATE ENTRY, PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

The data entry process started with manual editing of the completed questionnaires.

This was followed by data entry into computers using MS Excel software package. All

completed questionnaires were entered twice to ensure that 100% verification is made.

MS Excel was used to analyses the data collected through the quantitative

questionnaire. Both descriptive and analytical studies were conducted, including the

production of cross tabulations between variables.

Methodology

This study made use of both qualitative and quantitative researches. For the

quantitative research, a survey was conducted to (1) Program Production &

Transmission ii) investigate community radio listening habit and reaction to radio

program iii) Role of volunteer in community radio iv) Community radio and ICT. On the

other hand, the qualitative research focused on the perceptions and expectations of

different stakeholders of the community radio to gain insights into the existing

problems in the community.

The study team has carried out in-depth interviews with 4 Radio Professionals

of community radio stations including Station Managers and program Producer of

Krishi Radio, Locobeter, Nalta and Sundarban. The interviewees were selected in

cooperation in consultation with AIS. A guiding questionnaire/Checklist was developed

and finalized in consultation with Com-Dev team. A skilled senior reporter of a

commercial radio was selected in a walk-in interview and oriented her on the process

and the guiding checklist.

This is the first of two listener surveys due to be carried out during this project, and it

covered 2 regions of the project areas, and was followed by focus group discussions

(FGDs) in these same areas, held with 249 listeners to these small business radio

programmes. This report is a compilation of findings from these 3 different methods;

however the main body of the findings is from the listener survey undertaken in

November and December 2015

FINDINGS ON PROGRAM

PRODUCTION AND

TRANSMISSION

KEY FINDINGS

STATUS AND CAPACITY OF SAMPLE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

INTRODUCTION

The study team has carried out 08 in

community radio stations including Station

Radio Amtali, Lokobetar, Barguna

The interviewees were selected in cooperation in consultation with AIS team, and

initiators of community radios in Barguna, Satkhira and Khulna.

A guiding questionnaire/Checklist was developed and finalized in consultation with

Com-Dev. team. 6 interviewers were selected in a walk

on data collection process with a guiding checklist.

INDINGS ON PROGRAM

PRODUCTION AND


The study team has carried out 08 in-depth interviews with 4 Radio Professionals of

community radio stations including Station Managers and Program Producer of Krishi

etar, Barguna, Radio Nalta, Satkhira and Radio Sundarban


initiators of community radios in Barguna, Satkhira and Khulna.


interviewers were selected in a walk-in interview and oriented them

on data collection process with a guiding checklist.


depth interviews with 4 Radio Professionals of

am Producer of Krishi

, Satkhira and Radio Sundarban, Khulna.



in interview and oriented them

RRI Implementation Flow Chart

RRI Implementation Flow Chart

LOCATION OF SAMPLE STATIONS

To have a fair understanding about the existing status, the baseline study was designed

to cover all the locations of the CR broadcast areas.

STATION PROFILE

EXISTING STAFF POSITION OF COMMUNITY RADIO

Type of staff

Staff strength (No)

Krishi Radio Radio

Locobetar

Radio

Sundarban

Radio Nalta

Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Femal

Station

Manager 1 - 01 - 1 - 1 -

Program

Producer 1 1 02 01 1 1 1 1

01 -

Technical

Producer

2 2 3 3

7 12 13 20 15

Presenters 6 5 3

Volunteers 35 20 152 155 23 4 30 20

Total 46 29 168 169 33 8 55 36

At the time of the study, Radio krishi has 18, Radio Locobeter -15, Radio Sundarban-

18, Radio Nalta employees. The expansion of the employees over the year shows the

radio’s availability in local community. It has 8-10 hours of daily operation and it was

established with the power of 100 watt and now is has upgraded to 250 watt. ‘Krishi,

Lokobeter and Radio Sundarban are our proud’ said one of the jolly board members in

the interview, followed by a hearty laugh.

The station manager leads the team, shouldering the responsibility of monitoring and

co-coordinating his team members. Apart from supervising the team, he also

communicates with local influentials, gathers ideas, etc. ‘A radio station is a platform

where accurate and productive information is disseminated,’ he says.

The program producer maps out different programmes based on the community’s

needs. He delegates the key player (presenters) to carry out the need analysis, and

assists in scriptwriting. He believes that ‘the bottom line of poverty’ is a lack of

productive information, and that a radio station can ‘facilitate the distribution of

dynamic information’.

The Technical Producer blends the whole programme, which is called ‘MIXDOWN’. He

crafts the script with background music before the programme is broadcast.

The Presenters

Each of the 10 presenters proactively plays the role of reporting from the field as well as

presenting in the studio. Their role entails a number of responsibilities. Typically,

presenters carry out a need analysis through an interview that forms part of their work

in the field. They identify farmers, teachers, school-going children, etc, who are willing

to share their experiences, challenges and interests. What they say is then incorporated

into a script that sets the context, before being broadcast.

But community radio’s effort to integrate women in the workforce and singled it out as

an encouraging female participation in broadcasting, program presentation,

management and operation. Many talented women are coming forward and associated

with the management of Community radio.

PRIMARY FREQUENCIES

Frequency

Capacity

Krishi Radio 250 watts, Range 42km, 98.80 MHz

Radio Lokobeter 100 watts, Range 17km, 99.20 MHz

Radio Sundarban 100 watts, Range 17km, 98.80MHz

Radio Nalta 250 watts, Range 42 km, 99.20 MHz

The output power of Community Radio Transmitter is 100 watt and its coverage area is

17 KM. Coverage is mainly depending on the output power. More people could be

served with information with more output power. As community radio serves in a

specific area, a plan has been taken to cover the whole of Bangladesh under three

spectrums, which are 98.40 MHz, 98.80 MHz and 99.20 MHz. Currently only two

frequencies were allocated for the community radios – 98.8 and 99.2 MHz FM.

AREA COVERED BY EACH RADIO STATION

Area covered by the station (km) No. of population

reached

Krishi Radio 17 km 400,000

Radio Locobeter 17 km 450,000

Radio Sundarban 17 km 400,000

Radio Nalta 42 km 520,000

Krishi Radio cover a radius of 17 km around the station at Barguna Sadar, The radio

station covers a radius of 17 kilometers reaching nearly 400,000 rural people of the five

sub districts of Barguna district broadcasting 8 hrs a day. At the present moment

Lokobetar is covering 42 Unions. About 50% people are directly covered by Lokobetar.

Now it is increasing day by day. It is expected that after set up of 250 transmitter and

tower coverage area will be reached at 42 km radius. The radio Sundarban is currently

covering 17 kilometer area, which include 7 Unions of Koyra upazila, 10 unions of

nearby Paikgacha upazila, one union of Dakop upazila and ShyamNogor and Ashashuni

upazila of Satkhira district. As per Government rule Radio Nalta Station covers a range

of 42 km from it’s center. Maximum limit for transmitter power is 250 watts and the

antenna tower’s height from ground level is 32 meters.

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT BY COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

Name of

Radio

Station

Year of

Establishm

ent

Location

district

Frequency

Capacity

Broadcasting

hours/day

Krishi Radio 1st January Amtali, Barguna 100 watts &250 9am to 11am &

watts,

Range 42km

98.80 MHz

3pm to 9pm

Radio

Locobeter

27th May

2011

BargunaSadar,

Barguna

100 watts &250

watts,

Range 51km

99.20 MHz

03pm to 10pm

Daily 07 Hours

Radio

Sundarban

Amadibazar,

UpazilaKoyra,

Khulna

98.80MHz 9AM to 11 AM &

8PM to 11 PM

Radio Nalta 13th July

2011

KaligonjUpazila,

Satkhira

250 watts, Range

42 km

99.20 MHz

9am to 11am,

2pm to 5pm &

8pm to 12pm

The location of Radio Nalta station is in Nalta of Kaliganj Upazilla of Satkhira District at

the South-East of Bangladesh. Radio started its transmission/ on airing on 13 July 2011.

Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) established Lokobetar 99.2 fm in Barguna District on 27

May 2011. On the other hand the station of Radio Sundarban is situated at Amadi

Bazar in Khula’s Koyra Upazila.

TRAININGS RECEIVED BY THE CORE STAFF

It was found that a large number of core staff and volunteers of the radio station

received a number of trainings while serving in this radio station. Majority of the

trainings were arranged and organized by BNNRC and sponsored by different national

and international organizations. Personnel most frequently took trainings are, Station

Manager followed by Program Producer, Technical Producer, Volunteers.

The initial of every community radio goal is to facilitate the media house to build

stronger relationships with their existing and potential target audiences in the rural

areas. Therefore, capacity had to be built within in-house production team to gather,

edit, and deliver relevant content responding to rural producer’s needs. The needs of

rural producers were assessed in the initial 2011, sector assessment and the media

survey done by the co-facilitator before initiating the radio program intervention. After

training 10 production staff members (2 female and 8 male), the staff became

committed, started collaborating more closely with the marketing department and a

better way of working in production team was witnessed as stated by the chief

producer.

BENEFITS AFTER RECEIVING THE TRAINING

The training programs are one of the critically important interventions for the

community radio; however these programs could have been designed based on sound

need assessments. In an answer, the core staff mentioned the benefit of training which

is stated below:

Type of benefit Percentage of opinion

Skill development 42%

Knowledge gathering 31%

Quality program 28%

Networking 14%

Confidence 26%

Empower 14%

NEW TRAININGS NEEDED BY THE CORE STAFF

Majority of core staffs along with volunteers of the radio station expressed that they

require the following new trainings to effectively improve the program:

Knowledge sharing

Script writing

Community Radio Management

News projector

How to relay live program from other Radio

Website Management

Sound editing

Technical

MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS

A community radio would require a host of equipment, machinery and tools to reach the

intended messages to the audiences3. As a result, setting up a community radio station

can be a daunting job. Everything from mixers to microphones, transmitters to tele-

balance units need to be procured / imported and it’s easy to become overwhelmed

with the sheer number of options available.

The exact equipment one can buy for a community radio station depends on a number

of factors such

as budget, the size of team, number of reporters that will be in the field, number of

hours a day the radio would like to be on air and if that will be broadcasting mainly live

content or also predominately pre-recorded materials. The above mentioned factors

directly influence the requirements of equipment to

suit the radio station. The simplest setup to get a radio on the air with limited budget

can still sound professional and have enough microphones for a host with two guests in

the studio, and two reporters bringing interviews and stories from the field. A 100 Watt

transmitter with a high gain antenna can broadcast up to 30 kilometres in all directions

depending on the height of the antenna and the surrounding terrain.

The primary equipment would include:

Sl # Primary Equipment Existing number

Krishi

Radio

Lokobetar Sunder

ban

Nalta

1 8 Channel Mixer (4 Mic/4

Line)

3 03 2 2

2 5 Dynamic Microphones 8 02 3 3

3 4 Studio Headphones 5 01 2 3

4 2 CD/MP3 Players 2 - 0

5 1 Laptop PC (with radio

Software

PC-4,

Laptop-

02

PC-05,

Laptop-

02

2 Laptop -3 PC_6

6 1 Long Play Cassette

Recorder

1 - 0

7 2 Portable Digital 1 03 1 3

Recorders

8 Voice Recorder 1 03 4

9 4 Microphone Stands 3 03 2 4

10 1 Pair of Studio Monitors 1 01 0

11 100 Watt FM Transmitter

and

2 01 3 2

12 Other Accessories LS - Printer,Scanner,

ETC

EXISTING PROGRAM OF FOUR RADIO STATION

Among the current program list of this radio - weather forecast, awareness raising news

on biodiversity, citation form holy books, life and profession related songs and

programs on safe drinking water are most important. Beside this, CR broadcasted and

celebrated special programs on national and international issues like World Radio Day,

World Press Freedom Day, Science Fair including all national days and events.

Following are the program of four sampled radio stations:

Sl # Radio Nalta Radio

Locobeter

Radio Sundarban Krishi Radio

01 Goodmorning

satkhira

Campus Goodmorning

Khulna,

Chana Sur

Chana Sor

02 Monoranjan SasthoSurokkha Sudarbane Ami Gun o Fun

03 Bondu borasu ShishuKantho BanojibirShukhDuk

kho

Hasi Adda

04 NazrulShangit-

Bulbuli

Khetkhamar AktiJibonerGolpo Dokhina

Ganala

05 Lalongiti-

Ochinpakhi

NariPakkho Vuth.com Bahuler Asor

06 Palligeeti- Ujanvati Pathshala ApnarSastho Harano Sur

07 ShahittyaShamver NaniNatirKercha Krishi o Krishok Saya Sando

08 Patabahar Sure

SureKichukhon

Khulnaritihasoithijh

yo

Nazrul &

Rabindro

Songit

09 Khola Math Surer Murchona lonamatilonaJol Dhadda Giri

10 Pusti kota Mogo Kota Mogo

Sur

KarigoriShikkha Mugo Katha

morakoi

11 RatjagaPakhi NurerAlo AmaderRannaghor Rater Adda

12 Fosolar mat Panchosur hoyeuthunAporupa Akanto alapon.

13 Nirapod jibon GaneGaneKichu

khon

Banglar Nari

14 Apnar doctor Gitali Chana Sur

Chana Sor

15 Present world Band Show Bahuler Asor

16 Jibon o jibika Sure SureLalon Etihaser

bateghar

17 Pordar aralay Metho Sur Dhadda Giri

18 Radio songlap KobitaGaneKich

ukhon

Mugo Katha

morakoi

19 Janbo sobai Surer Chowa Rater Adda

20 Bolte chai TathoJanoGanSo

no

Somprotik,

21 Potha prantoray Harano Diner

Gan

Sagor parer

manu mora

22 Sopno.com ChayaChando Akanto alapon

23 Potro mitale EsoRannaShikhi Khalar math

24 Safollo gatha DokhinaHawa Rangdhanu

25 Rong ba Rong RosaloAdda Hello Amtali

26 Alapone Hello Barguna Alor Desari

27 Ogrojatra Rater Adda Gagoron,

28 Sikkhaloy Din

BadolerGolpo

Amar Poribar

Amar Odhikar

29 Adorso jibon Dat.net Pusti Katha

Tusti Katha

30 Aso English Shikhi JibonJuddo Deho Mon

31 AinAdhikar Amader

Campus

32 EshoDeshGori Durjoge Amra

33 Kariar Amar Poribar

Amar Odhikar

34 Ward Paricroma Khat Khamar

35 Talk Show

36 JanotarMukhom

ukhi

37 Hello Doctor

Programming formats are used

Different types of program formats are used by the sample Radio Stations. Among them

5 types of formats are common in use in presenting programmes on the below

mentioned issues (messages, drama, songs, flashes, and interviews). The most common

format used is messages, followed by interviews, drama and flashes. For example in the

first half of 2015 the shares of different formats in the overall programme map were as

follows:

Programe format Percent

Messages 47

Interviews 13

Drama 12

Flashes 11

Songs 17

The general program formats are news and current affairs, informative programs, talk

shows, magazine-type programs, local entertainment and music. Specific program

formats are public service announcements, personal life stories, village debates, weekly

forum (weekly phone with panel discussions) Magazines, drama talk shows, current

affairs are the most preferred programming formats of most of the community radio

respondents.

Shares of different programmes formats

Space is also allowed for voices from the community in the form of feedback messages

or materials produced by community based producers, phone calls to the station.

Regarding the broadcasting schedule the 2 hours of airing time are divided into 2 parts:

During 70 minutes community radio broadcasts (on daily basis) programmes on

focus topics with 10 allowed for each topic.

The remaining transmission time is allocated for news, Open periods and

community Production.

Program contents of the Stations

Community radio stations often serve their listeners by offering a variety of contents

such as educational, social, health, women rights etc. These radios were created to

develop and reflect a sense of local identity, character and cultural diversity. Thus all the

contents are produced by the sample radio stations based on the sentiment of local

communities’ culture, identity and character.

How are programming decisions taken?

The programs produced by the community radio stations are designed to meet the

information needs of the target audiences, and using the skills acquired during the first

series of trainings. Each of the radio stations customized their programs to fit the

interests of the general and specific audiences in each region, taking into account the

area-specific context, experience and dialect. According to Station Managers different

organization provided guidance to the program producers by continuous field visit and

follow up. Programming decisions are made at production meetings and mostly with

input from the community with programmes manager giving direction and guidance

and station managers and presenters giving input where necessary.

How often are these programmes produced?

Most of the programmes are produced once daily, some once a week, some once a

month, once daily and twice a week is common.

How long are the programmes?

The duration of programmes is mostly 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes.

DURATION OF PROGRAM DELIVERY

Radio Nalta Radio Locobeter Radio Sundarban Krishi Radio

M A N M A N M A N M A N

9-

11A

m

2-5

PM

8-12

PM

03

PM

to 06

PM

6 PM

to 10

PM

9-

11AM

0 8-

11PM

9-11

AAM

3-6

PM

6-9

PM

(M= Morning, A = Afternoon and N = Night)

Programming Time

Each programming time was further analyzed by the researcher to see how the total

broadcasting hours were distributed for different types of programming. Figure 5.3.1

shows that a high percentage (43%) of entertainment programming is used in all radio

stations followed by informational (17%), educational (16%), edutainment (6%), other

(14%), and relatively lower percentage (4%) of women-centered programming.

Table: Broadcasting hours (%) for each

type of programming in community radio

stations

% Hours of programming by community

radio

Type of

programming

Krishi Lokobetar Nalta Sundarban

Entertainment 47 28 45 46

Educational 14 21 15 19

Edutainment 3 4 6 8

Informational 15 27 13 17

Women 4 4 5 4

Other 16 15 16 6

Total (%) 100 100 100 100

All stations allocated the most time to entertainment programs. However, among all

radio stations, Krishi Radio aired the most hours of entertainment programs. All radio

stations allocated less time for women-centered programming compared to other

categories of programming. Interestingly, none of the stations had allocated more than

five percentage of the total air time for women-centered programming. However,

stations staff and volunteers reported that other programs also aired information time

to time that met to the women‘s needs.

Type of programs that listeners prefer from community radio

They expect that male members should to listen these programs for their self-

motivation. Children’s program should be broadcasted in the afternoon. They want

more participation of children in Child related programs. Children participation will

raise children listeners and expect more time for child related programs, local news,

quality seed, impact of drug addiction, about their Upazilla and district. Community

radio should include some programs covering local heritages, culture, ritual, social

norms etc.

They want program without political influences.

Management of community radio

Participants are eager for participating in the community radio programs. They

expressed that if they get chance they will participate in producing drama, songs and

education related programs. They will send SMS and make phone call to the CR stations

for asking questions as their station starts airing newly. They want programs in their

local language. They also want a community radio in their area(where no CR stations

exists).

Radio listening habit:

Participants usually listen BBC and FM radio programs twice or thrice in a day and

enjoyed radio programs in the afternoon and night. Sometimes they listen in group.

They like FM radio programs very much. Their favourate programs are Islamic songs,

jokes, discussion on religion, corruption issues, terrorism, reciting poems, protecting

eve teasing, employment, songs, drama and agriculture related issues. During the Holy

Ramadan participants wants to listen program related to Islamic issues. They want to

listen program related to cooking, Mother and Child Health care, songs, agriculture etc.

Radio programs usually address the present situation, listeners’ need and the daily

needs of the community.

Rate the relevance of each of these topics to your local community

According to the station manager the listener has to find the content useful and

relevant. The radio program fulfilled this basic condition by adopting the agricultural

calendar as the main guiding tool for determining the topic of each episode. In this way,

the timely airing of relevant information was ensured.

According to them there is a growing demand for the services of community radio

program offered by sample radio stations among the community. Because some of the

programs are aired directly to assist rural communities. Recognizing that the CM

Program is offered for the listeners, it is apparent that there is a continued need for

expert involvement. The importance and relevance of each topic in the different

communities, rated at a score of ten indicates that all topics are regarded important by

the community broadcasters.

Most preferred program by the listeners?

When asked which program is most preferred by the listener? The Program producer

answered that news is the most favoured program to the audience. The following chart

shows the portion of respondents in relation to the type of program which they like

most. Here, for greatest portion of respondents (40%), News and Information Program

is the first preference and second to it stands Entertainment with 36% of the

respondents.

Programs Frequency Percentage

Community News 480 40

Climate Change 240 20

Program for children 210 18

Program for women 201 16

Information 480 40

Entertainment 432 36

Agriculture related

discussion 322 27

Music 274 23

Drama 204 17

Interview 114 10

Health 85 7

Agriculture 320 27

Discussion 102 9

Others 116 10

What are your stations policies and procedures, on producing sustainable

development content?

The station has a role to play in transforming the mindset of the community

2. To produce programmes that are of relevance that will improve and

change the life’s of our community, working with NGO’S around our

community

3. All topics including gender health, religion women related issues and

children and disability are catered for in the programming

4. Focus on community participation by giving freedom of expression /

speech and initiative on local development.

Out four radio station two stations indicated a general understanding of the

importance of the policies of community participation and involvement in their

programming, although rest two of them did not have any specific policies on how

the station should deal with sustainable programming.

BASELINE STUDY

ON

AUDIENCE DEMANDS AND EXPECTATION OF

COMMUNITY RADIO IN BANGLADESH

COMMUNITY RADIO

LISTENING HABITS,

REACTIONS TO RADIO

PROGRAMS

(Consciousness and Viewpoint of Listeners)

LISTENER’S PROFILE

INTRODUCTION

A community listeners’ club is “a group of men and women who wish to listen to radio

programmes actively and systematically with a view to discussing the content and

above all putting into practice the lessons learned”.

A total of 397 listeners’ clubs have already been formed by four radio stations, with

separate clubs comprising of people from various professions, including farmers,

fishermen, rickshaw puller, student, housewives, teenagers and children. In addition

initiatives have also been taken to form this sort of listener clubs in other surrounding

areas. The people who want to produce programs usually come through these clubs,

while programs are also made after taking opinions from the members of these

listeners’ clubs. The main function of Listeners’ Club is sending opinions, criticism,

feedback and reports regularly to the radio stations.

OBJECTIVE OF FORMING LISTENING CLUB

The objective of forming listening club is in creating awareness at the grassroots level.

These clubs have worked as effective tools to disseminate messages aired through radio

programs and implement them in real life. They had become the ‘value-added’ medium

of broadcasting. Likewise, their participatory roles in community helped producers

achieve the objectives of the program.

CONSCIOUSNESS AND VIEWPOINT OF LISTENERS

The study revealed that quite a large number of people regularly listens to radio.

Moreover, the recent campaign and regular broadcast of community radio in the locality

have increased interest among the local people. This interest has substantially increased

listening rate in the local area which is recent phenomenon. Following text gives a detail

picture of listeners’ habit, taste, demands and expectations.

REASONS FOR LISTENING TO THE RADIO

The primary reasons for listening radio are to get authentic information specially

certain government news, directives, weather and cyclone information, etc. It may be

mentioned here a large number of population do not have radio set. However, majority

of the cell phones have radio options, because of the large mobile phone penetration the

listening has increased significantly. In the rural area, majority of the households do not

have other sources of media such as TV, Video players, etc. As a result the “mobile

phone” related entertainment is one of the primary sources. As such it is increasingly

being seen that people listen to and watch movies and songs through mobile phones.

There are shops in the rural areas which transfer or upload songs and movies in the

mobile phone SD card at a fee (Tk10).

KEY FINDINGS

Major Variables/Indicators for Listeners

PARTICULARS OF LISTENERS

A total of 1200 listeners are covered under the survey. Majority of whom are regular

listeners/members. The table below shows that the listeners of the radio are mostly

men. Similarly, listening to CR was different between the male and female respondents.

Higher than 95 percent of the male respondents listened to CR as compared to only 05

percent of their female counterparts. The female listeners are less than male because

the area is very much religious and female are not interested before male for interview.

Another reason is that female listeners are not common and they are not interested in

agriculture or climate related programmes except entertainment.

MALE/FEMALE RATIO OF THE LISTENERS OF RADIO

Table-1: Sex of the respondent

Gender Frequency Percent

Male 1140 95

Female 60 05

Total 1200 100

AGE OF THE LISTENERS

Table-2: Age of the respondent

Age group in Years No. of Respondent in each

group

Percent

0-17 150 12

18 - 24 540 45

25 – 40 342 29

41 – 50 120 10

51 and above 48 4

Total 1200 100

Radio reaches 45% of adult ages listeners, they listen an average of 30-50 minutes per

day. Radio reaches also school and college going students each week, they listen and

average of 40 to 65 minutes per day.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF THE LISTENERS

Table-3: Education of respondent

Gender Frequency Percent

Up to class V 320 27

Class VI to X 750 62

Class XI – XII 126 10

Post graduate 4 01

1200 100

The table gives the information about the listener’s educational qualification. In terms of

the educational level, most of the respondents (62%) have secondary education; 27%

has primary education; 10% higher secondary level education while only 01% has

postgraduate degree. We see that the qualification of maximum listeners is between

class six to ten and the percentage is 62%. It indicates that this type of people listen FM

radio over the airwaves and spent some of their time each day with the radio program.

OCCUPATION OF THE LISTENERS

Table-4: Occupation of the respondent

Category of respondent Occupation & No.

No. of Respondent in each

group

Percent

Student 275 23

Farmer 410 34

Businessman 123 10

Service 64 05

Fisherman 275 23

Others 53 05

Total 1200 100

More than 34% respondents are engaged in farming directly or indirectly. While in

coastal area agriculture is at the top of all occupations. Here the participating

households possess cultivable land. Among non-agricultural activities student is 23%

following fishermen 23% respectively. Survey represents nearly 23% of the fishermen

spend one quarter of the time with media during catching fish in sea or deep river

water.

STATUS OF MEDIA USE

Table-5: Mobile use

Sl # Items Frequency Percent

1 Radio 276 23

2 TV 300 25

3 Internet 12 01

4 Mobile 540 45

5 Newspaper 24 02

The study revealed that the media use (listening to radio and watching television) was

not homogeneous across people living in city and their counterparts in villages as well

as among people from different caste/ethnic origins. Survey represents nearly one

quarter of the time rural peoples spend with media each day. The breakdown is as

follows:

o Television – 25%

o Radio – 23%

o Newspapers – 2%

OWNERSHIP OF COMMUNICATION MEDIA

Table-6: ownership of Media

Sl # Items Frequency Percent

1 Radio 120 10

2 TV 180 15

3 Internet 12 01

4 Mobile 492 41

5 Other(Specify) - -

This indicates that majority of the families in villages still do not have a FM radio set.

These – one-fourth of the rural people – are the most marginalized sections of the

population. Besides, electricity is scarcely available in the rural areas. Hence, most of the

families don’t afford to procure batteries on regular basis. Those who listen radio they

listen at a neighbors’ place or at a teashop or at a newspaper stall, these families do not

have the means to listen to their local radio station. In contrast 15% families owned TV

set. Television sets are not used on a wide scale due to inadequate power supply and

high costs. On the other hand, mobile is owned by 41% respondents which are widely

used as a means of listening radio in their mobile set.

LISTENING HABIT

The study shows that 60% respondent expressed that they listen to radio “sometimes”

while 34% expressed that they listen to different radio programs “always”.

Table-7: Listening habit of the respondent

Sl

#

Items Frequency Percentage

1 Always 289 34.4

2 Sometimes 500 59.5

3 Never 47 5.6

4 Total 836 99.5

5 Not answered 4 0.5

840 100

LISTENING FREQUENCY

58% respondent expressed that they listen to radio “sometimes” while 32% expressed

that they listen to different radio programs “always”. A few people expressed that they

are not regular, however, they listen when time and opportunity permits or during any

special events such as a national issue, disaster, sports, election, etc.

Table-8: Listening Frequency

Sl # Items Frequency Percentage

1 Always 384 32

2 Sometimes 696 58

3 Listen but not

regular

240 20

4 Never used 24 02

5 Not getting time 180 15

3rd concentration is 20% and 4th one is not getting time following at least 2% per cent

have never used radio.

PLACE OF LISTENING RADIO

Table-9: Place of listening Radio

l # Items Frequency Percent

2 Home 180 15

3 Work place 36 03

4 Hotel/Restaurant/Shop 276 23

5 Tea-stall 240 20

6 Boat 480 40

7 Others 24 02

Where is Audience listening? Radio usage (in Adults ages 18 to 64) still heavily favors

car listening, at a time when 79% of adults travel by car an average of one and a quarter

hours per day:

o Home – 15%

o Work – 03%

o Hotel/Restaurant/Shop – 23%

o Boat – 40

o Others – 02

PARTICULARS OF TIME OF LISTEN

The community people generally listen to National broadcast about 40% prefers

listening to local radio stations. The local radio provides much detail information of the

local area, even the drama, songs and news are focused more on the local issues. This

shows a demand for even more local content of radio broadcast. It can be seen from the

table below that there is quite a large number of people (9%) who listen to the radio

very early in the morning. However, people generally tend to listen to radio more from

2pm onwards till 10pm. The largest concentration is around 4pm to 6pm.

Table-10: Time of listening

Sl

#

Preferred Listening Time Frequency Percent

1 06 am to 08 am 146 9

2 08 am to 10 am 115 7

3 10 am to 12 pm 129 8

4 12 pm to 02 pm 141 9

5 02 pm to 04 pm 212 12

6 04 pm to 06 pm 241 15

7 06 pm to 08 pm 229 14

PREFERRED PROGRAM FORMATS

The community people expressed that they generally listen to songs (35%) followed by

news (33%). Radio drama is the next popular program (14%) people prefer. Radio

Magazine and Discussion or Talk Show is the least preferred program. A few people

expressed religious program, sports and agro based programs.

Table-11: Favourate Program

Sl # Preferred Program Type Frequency Percent

1 Songs 292 35

2 Drama 118 14

3 Magazine 59 7

4 Discussion/Talk Show 62 7

5 News 273 33

6 Others 36 4

Total 840 100

LISTENER’S TASTE

The following table shows the portion of respondents in relation to the type of program

which they like most. Regarding the listening patterns the study had revealed that

informational programs such as news and agricultural programs were the most popular

radio programs. The second most popular was educational programs, not the

entertainment programs (“Radio listening,” A study in in 2015 revealed that most of the

uneducated people listened to entertainment programs whereas most of the literate

people listened to news (46%). Farmers tended to listen to the agriculture programs.

The study revealed that the 2nd highest percent (36%) of the listeners listened to

entertainment programs. The proportion of listeners tuning to other programs was less

than 10 percent: health (8.8%), human rights (5.5%), awareness programs (4.5%) and

good governance (3.5%).

Table-12: Taste of the respondent

Sl # Items Percentage

1 News program & information

program

46%

2 Songs and music 36%

3 Agricultural program 46%

4 Educational program 37%

5 Climate related program 25%

6 Entertainment 36%

7 Health 8.8%

8 Human rights 5.5%

9 Awareness raising 4.5%

10 Good governance 3.5%

Programs that they want to hear from CR include songs, drama, Jatta, etc. as recreational

program. About traditional media, survey revealed that songs/music such as Bahwaiya/

Vhatiali/ Jari/ Shari/ Baol/ Polligiti/ Spiritual, etc. songs at festival gathering (36%). All

those programs have been supported by more than 36 per cent of the respondents.

Level of benefit of the Radio Programmes to the Farmers, as perceived by

listeners

Radio has continued being an important source of information to farmers; about half of

the farmers interviewed in baseline survey give radio as a source of agricultural

information, 80% of farmers view radio as an important channel for passing

information to rural households. With fewer farmers receiving information from

agricultural extension workers, alternative sources of information, like rural radio, are

particularly useful and needed.

AUDIENCE’S IMPRESSION ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Table-13: Impression about the program

Sl # Impression Percentage

1 Highly beneficial 56%

2 Quite beneficial 36%

3 To some extent 26%

4 Radio can solve any problem 15%

The baseline survey also indicated that listeners appreciate the program. When asked

about how they rate the program, 77% of the listeners want the program to continue

and 78% appreciated the easiness of the language used in its presentation. These results

indicate that the program has achieved its objective of providing relevant information to

producers. 56% of listeners felt the programmes were “highly beneficial”, with most of

the rest stating that they were quite beneficial. On the other hand some of the

respondents believe that radio can solve any problem (15%)

Change of practices and improvement of livelihoods

According to the baseline survey 200 HH in the survey area had listened to the program

within the past seven days prior to the survey. However, in order to change practices

and improve livelihoods, the information heard on the radio has to be applied. Rural

Radio provided them with technical agricultural information which contributed to

increase their farming skills, techniques and ultimately output.

Opinion regarding community radio

• “Radio programmes have acted as schools where people learn without paying

fees, teaching us on a whole range of things”

• “Many people who cannot afford newspapers can access radio. They learn and

get information, and develop through the radio”

• “Radios educate all, and all can participate, not just the educated or those in

towns”

• “Even the illiterate can receive knowledge and are assisted”

• “Everyone is equal on radio and the peasant farmers are not left out”

• “The ideas for small businesses makes us realise we can try and do something”

This indicates that small business radio is reaching at least two thirds of the poorest

members of rural society, and is highly valued as an educational tool by the poor.

Listeners are not merely passive, but feel involved in the programmes and many put

into practice what they hear on these programmes, for example saving their money,

changing their farming practices and introducing crop rotation to increase yields. This

makes small business radio programmes a very powerful development tool for reaching

and impacting both rural and urban poor.

Table-14: Expected programs from CR

Programs Frequency %

Music 420 35

News 325 27

Weather forecast 300 25

Disaster preparedness measures 200 17


New technology related to agriculture 170 14

Market price 112 9

Family planning 147 12

Gender aspect 163 14

Gender violence 178 15


Disaster management 160 13

Terror/ corruption 130 11

Migration 125 10

Others 100 8

While asking which programs are being expected by the audience. In answering the

question most of the respondents mentioned new technology related to agriculture

35% followed by climate change and adaptation (27%).

Table-15: Preferred language to be used in CR

Languages Frequency Percentage

Local language 842 70

Standard Bangla 530 44

Mixed 420 35

No response 201 17

Total

Community radio very localised in its approach. Speak in the local dialects and are well

aware of the social issues of their areas.

Using one’s Mother Tongue is less strain on the brain, so children can learn with less

stress. Through our native language we understand our identities and relationship with

our environment.

FINDINGS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Participation of Community in the Community Radio Station

Participation of local people in managing and operating community radio is a

fundamental characteristic of community radio. Therefore, this section tackles the

intention of the community people to participate in the CRR, the underlying causes

behind their participation or nonparticipation, the programs they are willing to

participate in, how frequently they like to participate, and which specific activities they

wish to perform.

Table-16: Existing status to participate in community radio

Response Frequency Percentage

Yes 150 12.50

No 1000 83.33

No response 50 4.17

Total 1200 100

The study revealed that only 12.5% listeners are participating in the radio program.

Majority 83.33% do not know how they can participate in the radio program.

Table-17: Whether they are interested to participate in community radio or not.

Response Frequency Percentage

Want to participate 937 78.08

Are not interested to

participate 384 32.00

No response 263 21.92

Total 1200 100

78.08% have shown their interest regarding to participate in radio program. 22% on

the other hand remained silent in answering the question. Majority of the respondents

want to participate in if they get any chance. However, the program planners must take

care of the 32% who say they are not willing to participate in the community radio.

Table-18: Reasons behind willingness to participate

Reasons Frequency Percentage

Want to participate in presentation or creative

works 816 68

Want to participate in planning radio program 780 65

Getting money 180 15

Note: Multiple responses

But Most of the people believe that radio can solve any problem (68%), they want to

participate in any radio program (65%), if trained then they want to participate in

presentation or creative works, and want to participate in planning of radio program,

etc. Indeed, most of the people are keen to participate in CR activities if they are

oriented.

Table-19: Reasons for not being willing to participate


Busyness and lack of time 150 57

Far from home 140 53

No response? 30 15

Majority (57%) of the 150 community members willing to participate but they do not

find any time to concentrate in radio program. Some 53% stated that they want to

participate but their resident is far away from the station.

Table-20: How community members would like to participate

Manner Frequency Percentage

Program delivery 536 57

Hosting 620 66

Music 120 13

Drama 85 9

Talkshow 45 5

Others 30 3

Note: Multiple responses

Multiple answers were given by the respondents. 57%e wants to be involved in

program delivery. A sum of 13% wants to participate in music program followed by 9%,

5% and 3% in drama, talk show and others.

Table-21: Frequency of participation

Frequency of Participation No. of Respondents Percentage

Daily 55 6

Weekly 65 7

Monthly 41 4

No response 63 8

In a question how often they want to participate. In answering the question 6%

mentioned they want to participate in daily program followed by 7%, 4% and 7% in

weekly and monthly program respectively.

Children, guardians, teachers, experts, physicians, psychologists, actors and icons are

usually taken part in the child related radio programs.

Mothers, physicians, university teachers, Govt. officials for women affairs, lawyers,

athletes, journalists and women entrepreneurs have participated in the women

related programs.

The listeners’ have scope to share their opinions and ask questions directly; they usually

want to know the solutions of their problems and about the service providers and posts.

Highest audiences’ reaction through SMS and letters come from males listeners.

Listeners’ requests are mainly for entertaining programs, magazine program and phone

in, Mother and Child Health care, women, agriculture, etc. Community Radio addresses

the requests of the listeners by broadcasting their favorite programs, disseminate

information and continue some serials and episodes.

CHALLENGES OF TODAY

Media in general and community radio media in particular is comparatively a young

industry in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi media in general suffers from low ethical standards

and a lack of qualified journalists resulting in poor overall quality of the media. This

leaves the public deprived of accurate and relevant information. On a regional scale, the

lack of journalistic skills and training is even bigger, not many journalists (and citizens),

know about the details of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and about their right to

gather information for investigative journalism. In addition, both access to information

and participation in media remain problems in rural communities. High illiteracy rates

(50% of our people are illiterate) and a large number of drop-outs are among the

potential causes for low levels of access to information and participation in media. 85%

of the Bangladeshi population lives in rural areas. These areas lag far behind in terms of

development, exemplified by lack of basic services such as education, health clinics,

infrastructure and electricity. As the voice of rural citizens is not reflected in

mainstream media, they have less opportunity of participation in the developmental

process of their respective locality and remain isolated. Despite the recent media boom

in Bangladesh, rural citizens continue to have very limited access to media. In 2014,

35.9% of rural people did not have regular access to Radio, TV, Newspapers or

magazines and were therefore effectively “media dark” (on an average 28.5% in

Bangladesh).The situation is the worst in the case of women. They have limited access

to sources of information and income and their participatory levels in government,

decision-making and the economy are very low as well.

VOLUNTEERING IN

COMMUNITY RADIO

VOLUNTEERING IN COMMUNITY RADIO

Introduction: Volunteers are an essential part of

community media – without their dedicated,

enthusiastic voluntary teams, community radio

stations would not be able to provide their service

alone. The sample stations have so many

“volunteers group” drawn from the community,

who plan programming, production, gathering of

news sources, etc., provide management back-up, contribute towards policy-making

and development planning, etc. These activities are co-ordinated by a Volunteer.

Altogether 415 volunteers are working with 4 Radio Stations under survey of whom

250 are active.

The graph below shows the number of active volunteers for the survey period. The no.

of volunteers per station as shown below.

Table-1: No. of Regular Volunteer in Radio Station

Krishi

Radio

Radio

Lokobeter

Radio

Nalta

Radio

Sundarban

Total Grand

Total

M F M F M F M F M F 415

56 19 94 31 79 26 83 28 311 104

Just as with staff, just over (75%) volunteers were men. During survey it was observed

that most of the volunteers are students from high school to post graduate level. No

prior experience of radio is required to join in community radio as volunteer.

Reasons behind willingness to participate as volunteer

Table-2: Reason of Volunteering in Radio Station


Become an independent programmer,

providing alternative news, analysis,

debate and music

88

21

For serving the society 160 39

To discover hidden talents that may

change my idea on my self-worth

170

41

To make a difference 50 12

Friends/relatives and community

people will listen my voice

180

43

It promotes my growth and self esteem 150 51

To gain professional experience 210 48

I can get a chance to give back. 200 49

We can learn a lot. 205 52

To add some value in my career 215 43

Be part of the diversification of media 180 48

They are not idle people either who just

their voices to be on air

200

51

(Multiple responses)

When asked what are the reasons of coming here as a volunteer multiple answer were

given by the volunteer.

In fact, while taking interview it was observed that there are some silent reasons lagging

behind the volunteering activities towards radio stations. In short it is highlighted in the

above table.

Volunteers are usually not paid for people who have

interest in and do provide contents in community

radios. Their main interest is to provide information

that they feel are needed. Because they have an

interest in providing contents that they feel will

meet the needs of the listeners of that community

radio.

They seem that volunteers are the integral part of any community radio station of the

world and they are the working force that ensures the community participation. But

who are the volunteers? Are they persons used to spend their times for the community

radio or who have a clear aim or objective to serve a community using any media of

communication? Or simply a volunteer is an unpaid labour? Can we define volunteer as

individual, organizational or in the as a whole?

Community radio typically relies on volunteers to

produce and present stations’ programming.

Volunteers are generally drawn from stations’ target

communities and are seen as “representatives” of

those communities.

However we did not fail! While we see. 415 young

boy and girls are now working as rural broadcasters

in community radio stations. A total of 125 (98 male

and 27 female) are now involved in community radio

station management committees from the rural

community and trying to achieve the ownership at

the local level. The government officials and civil

society at upazila/district level have joined in CR station Advisory Committee and

started motivating the mass people to take part in local development and entertainment

by using community radio as a platform for mutual learning. In this way, these officials

are taking a great role to build a knowledge-based society at rural level. Therefore our

effort for 6 years was not mere wastage, says a Station Manager.

FINDINGS ON ICT BASED

INTERACTIVE PROGRAM

POSITIONING OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN THE ICT WORLD

ICT as technologies that provide an enabling environment for physical infrastructure and

services development of applications for generation, transmission, processing, storing and

disseminating information in all forms’. says Palash, Radio Sundarban

The project has enabled an expansion of the news coverage with local and relevant

content. Improved ICT skill give communities a real voice on Local radio, says Roni,

Locobetar

“Phones make it easy and help to cut distance that a caller would have otherwise endured

to the station to present or get directly in person whatever information in question. To

enable the community to contribute views or give feedback, the journalists use the

following ICT enabled channels: SMS, Data base, 6868, D-mark, direct calling-in, social

networks/media like Facebook, Twitter and emails.” SMS help in sending short messages

on phone while Data base receives the messages and handles them in bulk, says Salim,

Radio Nalta

KEY FINDINGS

Community radio journalists of the study area are increasingly using new and social

media to improve their professional and personal networks. Most community radio

journalists are computer literate. In terms of telephone platforms, journalists use

mobile phones. Use of ICTs influences the production capabilities of journalists and

staffers working for rural and community radios. This study looked at ICT access and

how ICT has been integrated in community radio in project area. All four Community

radios do have ownership of ICTs (computers, laptops, internet or mobile phones). It

was revealed that in study area, the mobile phone is, principally, a major

communication facility. Two stations except Krishi Radio have wave site through which

listeners enable to visit various program and can witness the transmission directly.

To facilitate community participation the community radio stations have set up

interactive programs like phone-in, questions to experts in various areas, policy

makers, government officials, NGOs or others. To enable the community to contribute

views or give feedback, the journalists use the following ICT enabled channels: SMS,

Data base, D-mark, direct calling-in, social networks/media like Facebook, Twitter and

emails. Another facility, low cost phone service that receives messages without relying

on the computer to read them while D-mark is a computer-powered SMS system.

Through the ATOI project of Prime Minister the last year 27 May 2014 community 2

radio website has been designed. Lokobeter is one of such who are provided with the

websites. Every month more than 1 million visitors visit website. Not only that everyday

more than 1 thousand listeners directly joined the radio program through SMS and over

telephone. Through community radio’s (Locobeter) Facebook and Twitter link many

listeners listen the broadcasted programs. ICT facilities of 4 community radios are

shown below:

Table-1: ICT Facilities of the Sample Radio Station

Name of sample

Radio Station

ICT Facilities

Krishi Radio Website, Internet, Facebook, SMS, mobile, phone in live

Radio Locobeter Website, Internet (Grameen, Tele Talk, City Cell), Facebook,

SMS, Twitter, mobile, phone in live

Radio Nalta Website, Internet Facebook, SMS, mobile, phone in live

Radio Sundarban Website, Internet (Grameen,Banglalink), Facebook, SMS,

mobile, phone in live

Table-2: No. of daily user of ICT facilities

Name of

sample

Radio

Station

ICT Facilities

Website Internet Face

book

SMS Mobile Phone

in live

Total

Krishi

Radio 1500 40 100 350 90 80 2160

Radio

Locobetar 2500 50 200 500 150 100 3500

Radio

Nalta 2000 15 120 800 100 130 3165

Radio

Sundarban 1350 30 120 400 120 110 2130

Total 7350 135 540 2050 460 420 10955

Web site contains extensive information on broadcast radio station. The visitors of

Locobetar websites are worldwide both in home and abroad. Tune in to Locobeter

Radio to hear local voices with information on local events, interesting interviews and

entertaining music. Local news is very much popular to them specially to the

Bangladeshi listeners. SMS is simple way that would allow radio to read SMS from their

laptop when facilitator is on the air. This would help them balance their shows, since

they could easily read them and not have to scroll and get distracted. On average daily

500 SMS is recorded by Rony, Program Producer of Locobeter related to various

program.

“Frontline SMS has helped us reduce travel costs, as we used to have to go out and do

audience surveys on our programming. Through Frontline SMS we learn the listener’s

needs and get feedback on our programming trends. By using Frontline SMS, we receive

SMS that are well organized by date and I am able to analyze them with ease. I use one

central SMS phone number for a number of programs, and I use specific keywords to

help organize the SMS received without problems”, says by a program facilitator.

Moreover, listeners regularly send text messages giving their feedback which is a sign

that people listen to the radio. The authority informed that they emphasize listener’s

opinion in producing the program.

1) Listenership: Is community radio station programming taking into account

audience’s preferences and improving their access to information?

2) Participation: Are the increasingly popular methods of interactive radio

broadcasting—including text-messaging and call-ins—sufficiently engaging

audience and providing a platform for information and dialogue that meets

their interests?

3) Frontline SMS: Could implementing an SMS mobilization program like Frontline

SMS increase audience’s interaction with radio programming?

In general, from observation and interviews with station staff, interaction between

listeners and the station is significant. The answers to these questions depend on

listener's access to mobile phones themselves. Apart from this those who own their own

radios are also more likely to decide what they listen to (93% of owners decide what to

listen to, compared to only 28% of non-owners), meaning a higher likelihood of

listening to that which motivates them to participate.

Audience’s particular listening habits and preferences are being taken into

account during community radio programming, including during programs that

are meant to specifically-target women, farmers and young listeners;

Methods of audience participation – text-messaging and call-ins – are currently

being adopted by women, farmers, youth and thus not meeting their needs;

Adopting a more interactive form of broadcasting through the use of Frontline

SMS could

encourage greater participation of women, farmers and young in community

radio.

Community participation and feedback system

Three types of community participation in projects activities were observed:

(i) Groups meetings for listening to programmes: Meetings are usually organized in

a public place at the time of programme transmission.

(ii) Discussion of programmes contents and sending of feedback: At the end of

programme transmission the group discusses its contents and the facilitator

records the proceedings in a format specifically designed for feedback. The

facilitator delivers the recorded feedback to the station.

(iii) Community-based programmes production: Community producers are trained

and provided with necessary equipment for their work.

During the last 6 years a steady increase in feedback was observed. This reflects

the active interaction of listeners with community radio and their increasing

interest in its programmes. It proves at least two facts: that community members

are listening to the programmes and secondly that the radio messages are

understood by them. Feedback served as a guidance that allowed the producers

to respond to the needs of listeners.

HOW LISTENERS ARE ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY RADIO

THROUGH

MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGIES

KEY FINDINGS

By better understanding the role that various forms of Mobile use can and do play in

rural poor households, and in institutions which work with the rural poor, donors,

practitioners, policymakers and information providers can tailor ICT projects to the

needs of a historically underrepresented segment of society.

The section is structured as follows: Section-1 gives an overview of mobile use and

Section-2, looks at the state of mobile use in listening radio today. Section -3, provides

an overview of two case studies. Sections -4, give a scenario of some opinion of mobile

users in listening the radio program and its benefit in the study area.

Radio

Radio is ready for further growth and is one of the best modes of sharing knowledge in

Bangladesh. It is easily accessible by the people because of its affordability and low

maintenance costs. In Bangladesh, cell phones equipped with FM features are available

and are growing in popularity.

Use of Mobile phone

The most utilized ICT for journalists in rural

areas is the mobile phone. The integration of

mobile phones into community radio is

particularly useful as a fast means of sharing

information about events, particularly those in

the local community. When people call into a

program, they are often first requested to give an

update of the latest happenings or event that will take place in their local area. On the

other hand, listeners who are tuned in, get to know about different events, and they in

turn pass on to others. Integration of ICT into community radio has thus greatly

contributed to facilitating social contacts and rapid exchanges of information, through

reducing distances amongst the community members themselves, on the one hand and

between communities and the radio, on the other. In terms of telephone platforms,

journalists use both landline and mobile phones. The former is used especially during

programs when people call into the studio. Journalists utilize the phone as an important

tool in community participation in the station activities and for sharing information as

well as social networking. The mobile phone is used for several functions, including:

making and receiving calls as well as sending and receiving messages (Short Message

Service) to and from listeners, newsroom personnel, sources or other work-related

activities. Even the listeners use mobile set to listen the various program whatever they

like to hear at any place what so ever.

The important aspect however was that for those who own the phones, they use them

for receiving not for calling or sending messages since most cannot afford to buy airtime

for their phones. The phones that are often used in the rural areas also have capacity for

mobile Internet access.

Why the use of Mobile in listening Radio instead of Radio Set.

According to our findings, there is higher community radio listenership among males

(than females). In most of the households covered under the study have no electricity

access. With no electricity in most of the areas in the village, the radios largely use

batteries. The owner of the radio buys the batteries. The batteries are not replaced

within the same day in 64.1% of the cases and within 3 days in 81.7% of the cases.

Sometimes are not replaced over a long period of time. Moreover, cost of batteries is not

affordable in most cases. Female listeners have to depend on male counterpart to

procure the batteries from the market. But male are always busy to their own works.

Hence they don’t find time to procure it. This hampers the listening of the radio. But

listening Radio Program by mobile is convenient, less expensive, friendly and like to

hear at any place what so ever.

MOBILE PHONES

Table-3: Ownership of mobile phone

No. of Respondent Mobile owner Non-mobile owner

Male Femal

e

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

1140 60 1200 462 30 492 678 307 708

Overall, out of the total 1200 respondents interviewed, the ratio of mobile owners to

non-mobile owners was found to be 41:59. And out of the 492 mobile owners, 94%

were male while 6% were females. On the other hand, the analysis revealed that the

proportion of cell phone owners among female respondents was lower than in the case

of males (94%).

Table-4: Radio access in Mobile set

Ownership of Mobile Percentage

Yes 82%

No 18%

Total 100%

Usage of mobile phones to listen to radio is slowly gaining grounds. Of the 462

participants who own cell phone; 58.5% of these use their phones to listen to radio

while 36.4% don’t and 5.1% have no FM facility in their mobile. The regularity of using

mobile phones to listen to radio varies. About 23.5% of the respondents who listen to

radio on their phones do so daily, while 13.2% only listen to radio on their phones 2-3

times weekly. 16.8% sometimes do so and 5% of respondents each either listen to radio

on their phone once a week or seldom do so.

In another study it is found that in Bangladesh radio access is most mobile. The study

shown that 73% Bangladeshi radio listener is replaced by mobile phones.

Status of SMS in Community Radio

Highest audiences’ reaction through SMS and letters come from males listeners.

Listeners’ requests are mainly for entertaining programs, magazine program and phone

in, Mother and Child Health care, women, agriculture, etc. All four radios address the

requests of the listeners by broadcasting their favorite programs, disseminate

information and continue some serials and episodes.

Moreover, listeners regularly send text messages giving their feedback which is a sign

that people listen to the radio. The authority informed that they emphasize listener’s

opinion in producing the program.

When it comes to sending SMS messages, this is difficult to use by some of the

community members who are not literate due to the complexity in manipulating the

functions on the phones. Calling is much easier for some community members than

sending text messages as the latter has a lengthy process that includes instructions in

English even when the message is to be typed in the local language. Nishi a volunteer of

Locobeter FM said that most of her listeners complain that during her program, they

would like to contribute but they don‘t know how to send messages and yet the lines for

calling are jammed. Those who have burning questions for her to answer during the

program therefore wait at her home to deliver the questions in person.

Table-5: Experience of SMS and its exercise

Experience of SMS Percentage

Experience has and they use it 71.5%

Experience has but they don’t exercise it 21%

Having no experience 2.4%

Total 100%

On the knowledge on the use of SMS; 71.5% of the respondents say they know how to

send SMS from phones while 21% don’t, and 2.4% don’t know if they can send SMS or

not. Of those who say they send SMS from phones 40.8% do so daily and 18.3% do that

about 2-3 times weekly, while 14.8% each sometimes send or don’t send at all. 5.1%

send only once a week and 6.1% seldom send SMS on phones. The number of those who

know how to access SMS on their cell phones is 76.4% while 56 respondents (16.1%)

say they don’t know how to access SMS on their phones, and 10 (2.9%) can’t say if they

can access SMS on their phone or not. Illiteracy was found to be the major cause of

respondents' inability to access SMS on phone, with 41 persons (53.9%) attributing this

as a cause.

In an interview with some of the respondents when they were asked why you contract

with the community radio? And what are reasons laying behind that? The answer of the

question is stated below:

Response to giving answer

25% says I want to contribute to the programme/share my views

20% says I like to hear my voice on the air

15% says to find out information on a question

10% I feel proud and comfort to share my views

15% want to know new ideas which can add my values

To win prizes or money

Don’t know/refuse to answer

Reasons why are not interested to give answer

10% shows no interest

10% non-access to a phone

05% no phone credit/cost of credit too high

05% don’t feel comfortable sharing view

03% I don’t know the call –in number

Community radio stations in Bangladesh already play a valuable role in informing public

opinion, but have even greater potential to reach their audience as they begin to

converge with rapid innovations in information and communications technologies

(ICTs), in particular via mobile phones and short message service (SMS).

Mobile phones now represent the most used form of two-way communication over

distances and text-messaging. Mobile devices have become the most widely-used form

of data communication. Bangladesh's poor fixed-line infrastructure, coupled with

increasingly low mobile phone costs due to robust competition amongst service

providers, has paved the way to the so-called ‘mobile revolution.’ The rate of mobile

phone usage is growing day by day. Enormous further potential remains, with market

penetration standing at little more than 20%.

Bangladesh currently has four mobile communication service providers – Grameen

Phone, Bangla link, Rabi, Air-tell, City Cell and the government owned Tally Talk. Of

these service providers, Grameen Phone has the highest penetration level of 35%. It is

thus not surprising that the survey result shows that Grameen Phone cell is the most

frequently used network; 44.6% (146) while City Cell com is 17.1% Tale talk has the

lowest level of usage.

The Value of SMS in Radio

According to Shahnaj program producer of Krishi Radio “they feel honored and a bit

famous once their name is mentioned. This attracts other listeners to give their views by

sending SMS to be read during shows. Hence combining radio with mobile phones

makes radio programming more participatory as the mobile phones help us get

feedback from listeners.” Frontline SMS gives that magic of receiving and sending,

managing contacts and storing “received” and “sent” SMS’s in an easy way and I can also

export the information to spreadsheets for reporting. Adding Frontline SMS to radio lets

us interact with our audience; it empowers our listeners and improves our

programming said Shahnaj.

Limitations

Though mobile phones are being heralded as the new mechanism for participatory

broadcasting (considering that phone access and usage was higher than the three

countries), it was however revealed for those who own the phones in rural areas, they

use the phone sets for receiving and not for calling or sending messages since most

cannot afford to buy airtime for their phones.

A major impediment in the use of ICT by journalists at the community radio stations

remains the non-availability of regular and reliable power supply (electricity). It is

common to find that community radios are located in remote rural areas with no access

to a reliable power supply and with poor telephone network. Where power is available,

this is not stable, sometimes forcing stations to run on generators.

The problem of lack of power and irregular power supply as well as high costs for

service provision of network connections/airtime affect other community stations,

which impinge on the efficiency of their operations.

Insufficient operational revenues, which put them in a continual state of stress over lack

of funds. Because of the financial constraints Community broadcasters have no better

transmitters, programming resources, more qualified and professional and sufficient

journalists. Study finds that in most cases they have to rely on other local media

journalist or other sources or volunteers to collect news. The consequence is that

community radio journalists are content producers when it comes to local news and

information, but function more as content aggregators when it comes to general

development news.

For most of the journalists, there is no formal training in ICT/computer use organised

by the radios. This experience is shared by journalists elsewhere. As finds in his study

on ICT use by journalists in newsrooms, most journalists are self-trained, although they

were assisted by their peers in the process to acquire the necessary ICT skills.

Out of four community radio all are computerized and have access to the Internet that

facilitated them to access of information but only Locobeter have IT based

knowledgeable staff.

Conclusion:

Community radio is increasingly being seen as a tool to facilitate not just appropriate

and much needed information to local- often rural –communities, but as a tool to

facilitate participatory development and spurring local development action. Community

radio is thus referred to as a central means to arrive at the Millennium Development

Goals, and it is being promoted as a way of ensuring a local population’s right to access

information and as a channel to realize ordinary and marginalized people’s need to

express themselves, thus having a chance to influence the development agenda and

ultimately impact on decisions important to their own lives.

Community Radio Stations in Bangladesh will be a wonderful platform for dialogue of

the rural people. This dialogue will help the community to discover their own voice. For

them, this will ensure helpful social, economic and cultural conditions and the freedom

of opinion in the realm of politics.

TRANSMITTED PROGRAM

ON

CLIMATE RESILIENT

CLIMATE CHANGE AND COMMUNITY RADIO

Broadcast Program on Climate resilient

Climate change is a long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns

over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. While talking to the

Program Producers of four sample stations it was revealed that climate change issues

get the highest priority in their program production. According to them Bangladesh

coastal zone could be termed a geographical ‘death trap’ due to its extreme vulnerability

to cyclones and storm surges. Nearly one million people have been killed in Bangladesh

by cyclones since 1820. This is why they produced various programs on temperature

rise, salinity increase, crop production, river erosion, soil fertility and natural disaster.

Following are programs those are covered by four radio stations related to climate

change.

Climate Change

Krishi Radio Durjoge Amra,

Radio Locobeter GureDarai, UpokulerJibon, NaniNatirKercha

Radio Sundarban lonaMatiLonaJol

Radio Nalta Nirapod jibon,Ishamotir kanna Krishikotha,Krishi songlap,

In Nirapod Jibon programmes climate change specialist come to the studio and discuss

different issues on climate change. They play a vital role to create awareness among the

listeners about climate change. It is a magazine format programme so some songs and

drama related to awareness also broadcasts in the programmes. They discuss the bad

effect of temperature rise in the atmosphere, how the coastal belt will be affect by the

temperature rise and how can we adapt with it. Soil salinity is a major problem in

Satkhira. How salinity increased due to climate change and how can produce more food

by soil tolerance species also discussed in the programmes. The specialist talkers

discuss the preparedness about flood and cyclone. Not only in that programmes but also

in the news, in the songs programme at night and other times weather signal are

broadcasted every day.

Radio Nalta broadcasts 2 hours and 35 minute’s everyday on climate change issies.

Paribesh o Shastha Sangbad (Environment and Health news), programme on climate

change, weather forecast and disaster management suggestions named 'Nirapad Jibon'

and a part of 'Fashaler Math' programme named 'Pratidin Mather Shasthya' are the

other programmes produced jointly by Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit

(CCHPU) and Nalta Hospital and Community Health Foundation.

All four community radios embrace active community participation in creating

awareness about natural disaster, salinity, production of agriculture, and temperature

rise etc. They are trying to disseminate the information about climate change related

programmes through advertisement. About 65% listeners agreed that the Nalta Radio

and Krishi radio is playing good role in awareness creation about salinity and river

erosion among the listener in the locality. Radio station broadcast news every two hours

following daily weather forecast. More frequent contact is maintained between

transmission hours are extended as and when Danger Signals or Great Danger Signals

are hoisted.

“Krishi Radio has become a friend to the people of Barguna’s coastal belt in disaster and

distress. The station is airing news on natural disaster regularly. The medium is being

used to disseminate information on climate change in the language of the people and

bring it down to their level. Indeed community radio can serve as effective channel

through which farmers, economic operators and other citizens can access information

on global warming” says Shamim program producer, Krishi Radio.

ACCESS TO EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

When looking at the access of households to early warning systems, over half in both

groups were warned in advance of a disaster. Over 60% of households in both areas

received radio announcements from their respective radio station.

Cyclone “Mahasen” was addressed by the Community Radios

As part of addressing the risk of

Cyclone Mahasen, all sample Community Radio

Stations in coastal region of Bangladesh have

broadcasted 514 hours program for 5 days

continuously from May 11 to May16. In times of

emergency the community radio stations

broadcasted latest weather bulletin and other govt. directives after every 15-30

minutes. The directives from Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Upa Zila Nirbahi Officer

(UNO), interview of experienced Red Cross officials have been broadcasted.

“15 fishing boats with 70 fishermen from Shyamnagar upazila's Koikhali union retreated

safely from sea after hearing news of inclement weather”, on Radio Nalta says a

fisherman. Returning safely, the fishermen said their lives were saved by Radio Nalta's

weather forecasts. The most striking fact is that about 80 thousand fishing labors of the

area regularly listen to the radio.

Fishermen Demand Mobile, Radio Network in the Deep Sea

Following the storm of 17 September 2006, the trawler owners‟ association demanded

that the government modernize the weather forecast and warning systems, and provide

cell phone and radio networks in the deep sea in order to reduce loss of life during

natural calamities.

Fazlu Gazi and Nimai Chandra, president and secretary of Mohipur Fishing Trawler

Owners' Association, announced the demand while talking with local journalists in the

association’s office yesterday. They said about 50,000 men were involved in fishing.

About 200,000 mounds of fish, including Hilsa, are netted annually in the Kuakata area

alone, all of which is exported, but the sector is ignored by the government.

They demanded a mobile network covering 50km offshore, which would allow fishing

trawlers to maintain communication with law enforcers and trawler owners, as most of

the piracy take place within 50km of the beach.

They also demanded a radio network for the same area in order to listen to weather

forecasts and warnings without

Interruption. Now, fishermen cannot listen to radios because of poor networks in the

deep sea. They also demanded a modernised warning system, as the current one is hard

for the fishermen to understand. They said the measure would enable them to reduce

the number of deaths and destruction caused by such storms.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation program

Climate change mitigation and adaptation program also broadcasted by the community

radios simultaneously. The stations make their own local version of a programme.

Community radio show broadcast special programmes focusing on resilience-related

issues such as deforestation.

The shows explore topics such as "climate-smart" farming and livestock practices – for

example, drought-resistant crops– and ways people can diversify their incomes.

Following are the topics are broadcasted through the radio stations:

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation program

Krishi Radio Amrao pari

Radio Locobeter Nani Natir Kercha, JegeOtho

Radio Sundarban Banojibir Sukh Dukho, lona Mati Lona Jol

Radio Nalta

Agro forestry as a climate adaptation strategy.

Effects of climate change on water resources

Rain water harvesting and water efficient irrigation practices

Organic composting for improving soil health

Renewable energy use in villages such as use of biogas plants

Prevention of soil erosion and conservation of soil quality

Impacts of climate change on livestock rearing

Krishi Radio anchors regularly discuss best practices and encourage farmers to stay put

on their lands in the face of climate change impacts that are already being felt.

Mohammad Haroon, a local farmer says: “I cultivated ‘BINA-7 dhan’, a saline resistant

rice variety, successfully. I was encouraged to grow the new rice variety after I heard

fellow farmers on Krishi Radio say they too got a good harvest from it.”

Local residents are planting trees which can adjust with climate change, and are getting

directions on how to take preparations for natural disasters through Radio Nalta’s

programs.

Broadcast program on local language

Programs on four radios are usually being broadcasted in regional language, but some

common programs intended for all communities are broadcasted in standard Bengali

language. This is serving the interest of majority of the listening public because it

promotes culture. Another advantage is that it encourages high level participation given

the high illiteracy rate in the catchment area. The listeners enjoy the program when

they heard the voice using local language. Slogan of Radio Sundarban “AMAGO KOTHA

AMRA KOBO”. Slogan of Krishi radio “Amar Radio, Amar Kotha Bole”.

Program Production:

Radio is one of the most popular, cheaper (sets) and friendly media to create an easy

accessible environment for the community in line with the Right to Information (RTI) as

well as educating the listeners. Four Radios broadcasts forty hours every day, between

7am to 9pm, a wide range of programs in the local language of Barisal and Khulna. The

programmes are scheduled according to the listening habits of different groups such as

children, youth, women and mixed adults. Topics include agriculture, fisheries, climate

change, gender issues, livestock, disaster risk reduction, health, youth programs, as well

as local songs and folk stories. The people of the community are also provided with

news on different recent issues. Following table gives an overview of entertainment

programs produced by four sample Radio Stations:

Entertainment

Entertainment programs

Krishi Radio Chana Sur Chana Sor, Gun o Fun, Hasi Adda, Dokhina Ganala,

Bahuler Asor, Harano Sur, Saya Sando, Nazrul & Rabindro

Songit, Dhadda Giri, Mugo Katha morakoi, Rater Adda, Akanto

alapon.

Radio Locobeter DokhinaHawa, RosaloAdda, Hello Barguna, Rater Adda, Din

BadolerGolpo, Dat.net, JibonJuddo, AinAdhikar, EshoDeshGori,

Kariar, Ward Paricroma, Talk Show, JanotarMukhomukhi, Hello

Doctor.

Radio Sundarban Goodmorning Khulna,SudarbaneAmi,AktiJiboner

Golpo,Vuth.com

Radio Nalta Ratjagapakhi,Goodmorning,

satkhira,BondhuBorasu,Monoranjan

The programs of community radio mainly feature music

from popular Bangladeshi singers, bands and musicians.

Most of the listeners stated that they liked the musical

programmes and other entertainment programmes.

Moreover, a program is also aired, where listeners can

listen to their requested songs.

Sweet voices of many shahnaj makes private radio station famous entertaining media,

students and others professional people listen direct or online radio round the clock. If

you hear any program live with any shanaj you can’t off your radio, it’s amazing, their

voice, quick pronouncing many words without any mistake, giving answer to any SMS,

receiving from any areas of Bangladesh instantly.

Cultural program

Cultural program

Krishi Radio Banglar Nari, Chana Sur Chana Sor, Gun o Fun, Hasi Adda,

Dokhina Ganala, Bahuler Asor, Harano Sur, Saya Sando,

Nazrul & Rabindro Songit, Etihaser bateghar, Dhadda Giri,

Mugo Katha morakoi, Rater Adda, Somprotik, Sagor parer

manu mora, Akanto alapon, Khalar math, Rangdhanu,

Hello Amtali, Alor Desari.

Radio Locobetar Sure SureKichukhon, Surer Murchona, Mogo Kota Mogo

Sur, NurerAlo, Panchosur, GaneGaneKichukhon, Gitali,

Band Show, Sure SureLalon, Metho Sur,

KobitaGaneKichukhon, Surer Chowa, TathoJanoGanSono,

Harano Diner Gan, ChayaChando, EsoRannaShikhi

Radio Sundarban KHULNAR ITIHAS OITIJHO

Radio Nalta NazrulShangit-Bulbuli,Lalongiti-Ochinpakhi,

ShahittyaShamver,Palligeeti- Ujanvati

Among the recreation based programs, Shilpir Kotha and Gan Valobeshe have provided

platforms to the local singers to present the local songs, as well as inspired the local

singers to a great extent.

The program Jhenuker Kontho is usually arranged with the songs by local singers, while

young generation exposes their thoughts through the program Tarunner Uchchhas. A

magazine program on different issues is also aired in the afternoon, which is a recorded

program. Moreover, a program is also aired, where listeners can listen to their

requested songs.

News Program

Its news and programs have already created a good impression among the people of

Boguna. Listener's choices are given top priority in producing the programs of Radio

Sundarban, specially news programs based on local problems & possibilities have

earned most popularity. Moreover, Barguna related national programs also get enough

importance in the news, while listeners eagerly tune the radio at 6.30pm and 9.30pm to

listen to the news programs of the radio.

Suicide

The tendency of suicide is high in Satkhira, while concerned people of the radio

informed that they are giving special focus to this issue, and expressed hopes that Radio

Nalta will be able to play a vital role in reducing suicidal tendency in the community.

“Addiction”, an anti drug awareness program is also very popular in the community.

Law enforcers, Madok Niyontron Odhidoptor & their activists and representatives from

the young generation are participating in the program to raise awareness regarding the

bad effects of drugs in the community.

Different programs like “Narider Kotha” have exposed many stories of women victims of

torturing, which played a very significant role in raising awareness among the people

against women torture. Moreover, Aiyeen-Adalot, Protibondhi, Rannaghor, Tech update,

Shastho Kotha, alongside recreational programs like Ar Ki Chai, Shunte Ki Pao, Bondhur

Khoje, Ho-Jo-Bo-Ro-Lo, Bandhu Adda Hashi, Shonali Adda, Shilpir Kotha and Gan

Valobeshe Gan have also earned huge popularity in the community.

Liza, a ten year old girl of Barguna, has been working as a house made for a long one and

half year. She was suffering inhumane torture at the house - through this long time. A

report, describing the unending woes of Liza, was aired on Community Radio Locobetar

99.2, which created a stir among the people. Law enforcers then took instant actions

against the accused individuals. Many such examples put Locobetar Radio 99.2 in the

core of peoples’ mind within a very short time.

The program, “Accountability of Local Government” anchored by Mahfuz Faruk, has

made the people of the remote area – conscious regarding their rights. Local people,

participating in the program, are outlining their views on the local government, while

elected local government representatives are directly answering different questions at

the program. As a result, transparency of the local government and accountability

practice has begun in the community through the program.

Dowry/ Early Marriage

Child marriage and other Violence

Krishi Radio Gagoron, Amar Poribar Amar Odhikar, Tarunno

Radio Locobetar ShisuKantho, NariPakkho, Amar Paribar Amar Adhikar

Radio Sundarban BalloBiyerKufol,RadioDramam,Spot

Radio Nalta Bolte chai,Songrami nari songlap,

Community Radio Stations has created its position among local community through

broadcasting programs on child marriage, family voices, and eve-teasing. Being located

in coastal districts, thousands of impoverished and social problems affected rural

people are currently under the network of these radio stations. All these radio stations

are prioritizing interests of local residents, and working as a spokesman of the country.

The stations are broadcasting regular program against eve-teasing, child marriage,

dowry and other social curses such as violence against women. Meanwhile, Radio

Sundarban made the listeners able to inform their views on different issues of the

society, while the program “Idea” exposes the peoples' thoughts on developments. The

station has become able to stop three child marriage, and provide three lac taka aid to a

nine year girl for her heart treatment – through these constructive programs.

My uncle wanted to give my cousin in marriage to his friend- and she is 14 and he is 42.

He began preparing the marriage. He talked to us, me and my brother, about his plans. I

told him: No, my uncle …that’s not normal. Your daughter is going to have to stop

studying ………and the man already has one wife. Your daughter is not mature yet 14. I

told my uncle that his daughter was risking her health- because she is too young, and

her body may not support having a child.

“ My family listened to me. I told them about how I heard on the radio the Dowry and

child marriage program. They talked about early marriage, and they talk about letting

the child mature before getting married so that she doesn’t have problems …and about

how girls should Finnish school.

Health care

Health care program

Krishi Radio Hello Doctor, Pusti Katha Tusti Katha, Deho Mon,

Radio Locobetar SasthoSurakkha, SukhiSangsar

Radio Sundarban ApnarSastho

Radio Nalta Apnar doctor,Pusti kota,

Residents of the community are also receiving primary health care suggestions by

talking to doctors through the radio station. For all this above stated reasons, Radio

Nalta is gradually becoming popular and trustworthy among the local residents. While

several other programs on agriculture, rural community development, adult and

children education, health care of coastal people, mother and child's healthcare and

family planning are also aired.

Educating program

Krishi Radio also hosts a youth club to educate children about different issues and

involve them in the production of radio programs.

Education program

Krishi Radio Amader Campus, Chader Kana, Patshala, Tattho batayon,

Quitz, Kabita Gane somai Par.

Radio Locobetar Pathshala, Campus

Radio Sundarban Campus Adda,KarigoriShikkha

Radio Nalta A to Z, Asmanidar Rosulpur,Shikkaloy,

Many people opined that the number of educational program should be increased. They

stressed upon making educational programs with the participations of students from

different institutions. It is important to raise people’s interests towards radio, and let

them know that the stations are working as a united voice of the common people.

Agricultural programs have also earned much popularity.

Agriculture related program

Krishi Radio Khat Khamar, Goal Ghar, Motso o Gebon

Radio Locobetar KhetKhamar

Radio Sundarban Krishi o Krishok

Radio Nalta A to Z, Asmanidar Rosulpur,Shikkaloy,

Listeners are being able to know different

agricultural information, while local

agriculturalists and agricultural officers

answer to the listeners’ quarries at the

programs. Among the listeners from all

classes of the community, the number of

student & young listeners is relatively

higher. Regular 400 to 500 sms are proof of the station’s popularity. Moreover, people

sometimes are found listening to Radio Sundarban in loud speaker at different

marketplaces, Auto-rickshaws and rickshaws.

A report on the possibilities of disease free shrimp cultivation has created a great

interest among the local farmers, and many of the farmers contacted to the station to

know details on disease free shrimp cultivation -following the report.

In addition, farmers are receiving information on the use of fertilizers and improved

extensive culture system, as well as how to get more profit from fish cultivation.

Reporter Fahim Rahman meanwhile informed that not only interested farmers, but also

top agricultural officers talked to the station regarding the report, and congratulated

them. Reports also suggest that local farmers listen to radio programs for receiving

advice on applying seed and fertilizer on their farmland. Farmers also make phone calls

to the station to know necessary information.

Market price

Farmers are receiving latest market price of their crops through four community radios.

One of the listeners added that, the radio is prioritizing agriculture– in producing their

programs. For this reason, the station has become massively popular in the local arena.

Moreover, listeners regularly send text messages, giving their feedback, which is a sign

that people listen to the radio. The authority informed that they emphasize listeners’

opinion in producing programs for Radio Krishi Radio.

Lecturer of Amtoli Degree College said residents of the area were about to forget radio,

but now a large number of people are listening to Krishi Radio. He also added that local

farmers are reaping the highest benefit from this community radio, as they receive

regular updates of prices of their produced grain. Meanwhile, CNG-Auto Rickshaw

driver Ramzan Ali said “the radio speaks very well, and we are now listening to the

radio, and coming into contact with many unknown things.”

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous program like Jibikar Janala meanwhile provides news on different jobs,

and ICT Bishwo has also stirred the IT worm listeners.

Impression of a listener

Specially, the live and spontaneous participation of the listeners through sms or calls -

prove the popularity of the station. Authorities informed that they get around 50 calls in

10 minutes during the Phone-In program. To encourage community participation the

program “Listener’s Letter” broadcasts criticisms and suggestions from letters sent by

the audience. Local people have cleaned and repaired their old radio sets, as they now

eagerly wait to listen to the news and programs of Community Radio. This community

radio has given rebirth to the radio sets in this community - through its programs of

self-development and culture.

Listeners also focus on the specification quality of a product/service especially noise

free programme, rich content, and present of resource person in the programme.

Program format

Some of the radio does not provide live coverage of events, but relies on talk shows,

current affairs, interviews and coverage of traditional ceremonies for its programming

format. Further, drama was found to be a major part of its programming.

Problems

Despite such successes, Sundarban’s Radio’s main challenge is economic problem. The

station is yet to be self-sufficient, while more training on producing standard programs

and news are essential for the station.

However, Radio Nalta is facing different challenges. For example, the station faces 2-3

hours of load shedding during transmission hours. As a result, the radio has to bear

extra expenses in using a generator to run the station uninterruptedly.

Moreover, maintaining the station's equipments is another big problem, as concerned

technicians are not available at the local community. Meanwhile, trainings are being

provided to the employees and volunteers of other sectors of the station to

overcome the current crisis.

Volunteers are not getting any payment, although they are working earnestly for the

station. So, the question remains that how long they will work for the station without

any payments. Another big problem is lack of commercial advertisements.

Though community radio regulations include that development advertisements can be

broadcast, local advertisements are not available yet. As a result, self-sufficiency has

now become a huge challenge, as regular subsidies are being spent to run the station.

Meanwhile, the radio cannot be listened clearly at the main city area, due to congested

population and presence of large trees. So, maintaining sound quality is yet another

challenge for the station.

Moreover, Trainings on writing ‘Dharona’ letter & program planning, script writing,

editing, program producing, as well as technical aspects are essential for the employees

and volunteers of Radio Sundarban are essential for the station's employees and

volunteers, while training on news writing & package formation and news presenting

are also necessary.

The data showed that Nalta FM was facing transport problems and as such it could not

reach out to all the community in the area to gather news and information. Its

equipment include a CD writer, cassette recorder and a mini disk, which were said to be

not enough to produce programmes on sustainable development themes which require

a lot of travelling and research

Economic challenge is the main challenge of the radio, as the station is being run by

fundings from the mother organization - due to lack of self-earning sources. Concerned

authorities have already raised demands to permit them using a 250 watt capacity

transmitter.

On the other hand, the station has a scarcity of skilled manpower in technical sector,

although employees and volunteer have been trained in different other aspects.

Moreover, special training on news, to produce regular news, is also essential for the

station.

The station is in badly need of making some field level programs, mass campaign in

educational institutions and studio based programs with active participation of listeners

in order to attract listeners. A website for the radio is a demand of time, for which

special training is needed. Moreover, discussion with local artists could help the station

increase the standard of entertainment programs.

However, electricity crisis is the toughest challenge of Rado locobetar, as power usually

goes off during programs. In addition, volunteers are leaving the radio for not getting

remuneration for their labor. At this moment creating a source of income is the only

way to save the radio.

Staffs and volunteers of Radio Nalta have received training on different subjects, but

more training is necessary for news making, editing and other technical and vocational

issues.

However, additional skilled manpower is needed to produce more programs to meet

listeners’ demands. In this regard, training is most important for the staff, while a

guideline for news broadcasting is also needed to be prepared. Week long training

workshop on technical matters is also necessary. There is also financial scarcity, which

is barring the station from producing more and more programs. Moreover, additional

studio equipment is also necessary, with the shortage of electricity remaining as one of

the main obstacles.

Despite the above findings, the radio program is instrumental in sparking interest of the

rural producers into other sub-sectors. However it is difficult for farmers to practice

what they hear on the radio program without complementary assistance. In cases when

an episode stimulates the listener’s interest in another sub sub-sector, the adoption

happens usually with further assistance, such as an extension officer.

1 Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project

(CCRIP)

2 Study on RRI

3 Baseline Survey Questionnaire for the Listeners

4 5

6

7 1. Particulars of listeners

8

9 Name of the Respondent: ......................................................

10 Village: ............................................... Upazila: .................................District: ..............................

11 Age: ................Sex:.....................Education (year):......................Occupation: ..............................

12

13

14 2. Have you ever heard Studio Program ? Yes/No. If Yes, how often?

15

One/two/three times everyday

16 Every week

17 Occasionally

18

19 3. Where do you listen to Radio? Home/Premise of the enterprise/outside

20

21 4. When are you likely to listen to Radio? Morning/noon/afternoon/evening/ night

22

23 5. How many hours do you listen to the Radio on the following days?

24

25 5-10 minutes

26 11-15 minutes

27 16-25 minutes

28 26- Above

29

30 6. What problems and issues do these programs deal with? 31

32

33 7. Which media do you use to listen the radio program?

34 Radio

35 Over Mobile phone

36 8. Among the two which one you like best?

37 Radio/Mobile

38

39 9. What are the contents of the program?

40 News

41 Agriculture related

42 Health & Family Planning

43 Environmental

44 Human right

45 Gender

46 Democracy

47 Food security

48 Drama

49 Songs

50 Education

51 Hygiene & Sanitation

52 Magazine

53 Social crime (Dowry)

54 Advertisement

55 Women and Child

Others

56 10. Which program is most popular to you? And why?

57

58 11. Please give your comments on the quality of the program. Give your score on the following

points out of 10 specifying the content.

59 Relevant -

60 Significant -

61 Accurate -

62 Lively -

63 Clear -

64 Appropriate -

65 Effective -

66 Adoptive -

67 Monotonous -

68

12. Are listeners are aware of the message which was broadcast from the Radio? Yes/No

69

13. If yes, do listeners use this message? Yes/Not, If not, why not?

70

14. If yes, Is the messages demand led?

71

15. Is it disseminated timely? Yes/Not, If not, why not?

72

16. Do the messages serve your purpose?

73

17. Does listening to a radio programme benefit listeners? If so how?

18. What are the weaknesses of rural radio initiatives and what can be done to improve it?

19. Is there any kind of communication exist in between RRI and listeners club or individual

listeners?

20. Did you ever make any type of contact with the RRI? Yes/ No

21. If yes, did you give any feedback to the program producer of RRI.

22. Do they make any change in the program upon getting feedback from the listeners? Yes/No

74

23. How does listening to the radio make you feel?

24. Which kinds of programs do you prefer to listen to?

25. What does the radio have to offer you?

26. Which of these topics are heard on the radio in this community?

27. Which topics are not heard, but should be heard more often?

28. Have you ever heard something on the radio that has helped you in your activities?

29. Which are the topics that are heard most often?

30. Which topics should be heard more often?

31. Which of the topics that you have just listened to are the most relevant in this community?

32. Do you feel that what you have to give personally and professionally affects the quality of

this station’s programs?

33. Besides your own experience, what Fuentes do you utilize in creating program content?

34. What barriers exist in the programming process that prohibit the airing of certain topics

Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project (CCRIP)

Study on RRI

Baseline Survey Questionnaire for the Rural Radio Program Producer

1. Particulars of Rural Radio

Station Profile

(Please type information in the box to the right)

Items

Name of Community Radio

Station:

Year of receiving license

Year of installation

No. of Staff Male: Female:

Station Frequency/Band:

Geographical location:

Number of years

broadcasting:

Coverage area / number of

kilometers:

Capacity of the station

Languages:

Mission of the Station:

Vision of the Station:

No. of people in the

advisory committee

Please provide programming information for each of the Programs that you listed above.

Times per month:

Name:

Topic:

Audience:

Duration :

Time of Day:

2. Do you have any listener club? Yes/No. If yes, how many members are there in the club: .............

3. What type of production facilities does your station have? (Please name them)

Programming Content

4. What type of programmes does your station produce related to Agriculture Information?

Business

News

Sports

Culture

Nature

Environment

Agriculture

Others

5. How are programming decisions taken?

6. What audiences does your programming take into account? (Indicate with an X where

appropriate)

Children

Adolescents

Young Adults

Adults

Mature listeners

Men

Women

Others

7. What programming formats does your station use? (Indicate with an X where appropriate)

Talk show

Interview

Current affairs

Drama

Magazine

Live coverage of events

Others

Thematic Areas of Programming/Sustainable Development

8. Does your station produce any programs on the following sustainable development themes?

(Indicate with an X)

Food Security

Environment

Market price

Livestock

Poultry

Fishery

New Technology related to Agriculture

9. Please provide programming information for each of the Programs that you listed above.

Times per month

Name:

Topic:

Audience:

Duration :

Time of Day:

10. How relevant is each of the topics to your Audience? (Rate topics on a scale of 1 – 10)

HIV/AIDS -

Sanitation -

Climate change -

Gender -

Market price -

Livestock -

Poultry -

Fishery -

Culture -

Agriculture

Technology

Family Planning

Others

How often are these programmes produced?

once daily

once a week

Twice a week

once a month

11. How long are the programmes?

10 – 15 minutes

16 – 25 minutes

26 – 30 minutes

1 hours

2 hours or more

12. How are programming decisions taken?

13. What type of topics / subjects on the above does the station cover?

14. Rate the relevance of each of these topics to your local community

15. Which Program is the most popular to the listeners

16. What are your stations policies and procedures, on producing sustainable development

content?

17. Is the messages delivered through your programme useful to the listeners? Yes/No

18. If yes, how much of them are adopted by the listeners? Answer in percent.

19. If they adopted the message what type of benefit they derived from adaptation of the

advices.

20. Does it make any change in the behavior of the listeners?

21. Do you ever conduct any audience survey?

22. What are the feedback you have received?

23. Do you adjust your program according to the suggestions of the listeners

24. How many volunteer you have?

25. Does small business radio reach the poor?

26. Are the programmes used equally by both genders?

27. Does listening to a radio programme benefit farmers? If so how?

28. What are the weaknesses of small business radio and what can be done to improve it?

29. What are the constraints you face? Please explain

30. What will be solution you think

Please give your comments to improve the community Radio Initiative

baseline study on rural radio...

Documents