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RESSOURCE / RESOURCE - RESOURCE / BIBLIOGRAPHY |
| Auteur / Author : | ONLINE | |
| Titre / Title : | Mobile Tech in Community Radio - Still Ad Hoc and One-Off: A State-of-Mobile Report | |
| Collection / Series : | ||
| Editeur / Publisher : | EN | |
| Année / Year : | 2010 | Nbr. Pages : Taille / Size | ||
| URL : | http://www.comminit.com/en/node/326419/376 | |||
| Evaluation / Book review. | ||||
| This 2010 report, a follow-up of a 2008 report on the integration of mobile technology in community radio, "summarises existing projects and success stories, highlighting the most popular uses of mobile technology. It concludes with a discussion of the challenges that community radio stations face in adopting SMS [short message service - text messaging] and mobile technology. Mobile technology integration in community radio stations is described here as an "ad-hoc" enterprise, used in different ways in community versus commercial radio. Community radio is described as: more participatory; non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian; reflecting the special interests and needs of the community whilst promoting accessible information; and managed by the community. The report describes four ways that mobile phones can help community radio stations: 1. Mobile phones being used to record audio material for broadcast - a form of citizen journalism allowing for "audio capture" which can be disseminated to community radio stations. [...] 2. Mobile phones being used to listen to the radio (without a radio) - via the inclusion of FM radio receivers in mobile handsets (not currently available in all handsets). [...] 3. Mobile phones being used to generate income - Premium SMS is a service that can generate income through collection by a phone/internet connection of pay-for-service dedications and messages. [...] 4. Mobile phones and SMS messaging being used to foster participation and reach specific listeners. [...] Radio developers can now provide "plug-and-play" radio kits or servers to help community radio stations "get off the ground." A next step may be SMS integration features to allow for more efficient processing of text messages to stations. The challenge of staff time for integrating texted information is a barrier, as is staff training on software, particularly that which relates to mobiles - for example, software for sending bulk text messages. Financial support to develop, launch, and maintain mobile processes related to radio is another barrier. According to this article, solutions may lie in external funding and/or communication between community radio stations for idea and resource sharing and development. Source: The Soul Beat Issue 170: Radio for Social Change in Africa, 23 Feb. 2011 |
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