Community Radio's Amplification of Communication for Social Change

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

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

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