Faith-Based Community Radio and Development in the South Pacific Islands

Abstract

Faith-based broadcasters comprise half of all community radio stations in the South Pacific islands. As such, they reflect the deep indigenisation of Christianity and its central role in Pacific cultural identity. But their position within the media environment is surprisingly contentious. For secular community media practitioners, Pacific faith-based media are seen to interject foreign voices and capital into island communities. For the international development sector, partnership with faith-based organisations around development agendas brings fears that aid funds will be used for evangelism. This article explores the role of faith-based community radio in the South Pacific, and argues that they have achieved levels of sustainability that have thus far eluded secular community media through application of culturally appropriate and self-defined development pathways.