Evaluating the Development Potentials of Community Radio

Abstract

Most developing nations lack the means of disseminating worthwhile information required for physical and human development. This, particularly, has contributed to the issue of marginalisation and low development Africa. This study, examined the development challenges facing most Third World countries, the media options available, and identified community radio as most vital to development. The study utilized the Democratic-Participant and the Development Media theories and evaluated the effectiveness of community radio through literature search, interview, observation, and empirical survey of the programming and operations of the University of Lagos community radio. Findings indicated that community radios are efficient means of carrying development messages to the grassroots. This idea is realized through participation in conception, packaging and communication of information. This in-turn serves to engender community development process through the provision of localized information, training and skills. These qualities delineate this radio form as distinct from other media form.