Influence Of New Media Technologies On Participation In Community Radios

This paper investigates the influence of new media technologies on participation in community radio stations.The research acknowledges the increase in adoption and usage of new media technologies in the global south.The consequence of the increase in its adoption is that what was previously considered a normal way of life is no longer normal.This development in the new media circles prompts the need to investigate the influence of new media technologies by focusing on community radios that are a relatively old media conceptualized to bring on board the assumed disadvantaged and alienated sects of societies’ agenda into the public discourse.By adopting the new new media theory by Paul Levinson and the communication for development(C4D)framework,the paper firstly investigates what Mudziwathu community radio is doing to make sure that it expands participation opportunities in the wake of new media technologies.It also examines the extent to which activities of radio listening clubs(RLCs),which are participation focal points for the community radio,have been influenced by new media technologies as they are considered participation focal points,and finally,it investigates the manifestation of new media technologies used in the radius of the community radio.Through the use of deep interviews,focus group discussions,and observations,the paper discovers that though new media technologies have had an influence on participation,most of this is undertaken mostly among the younger people who have been organized into youth radio listening clubs(YRLCs).In addition,the paper discovers that older people are still clinging to older methods of participation like a basic phone for making phone calls and sending messages.It also recognizes the influence of letters to the radio station manager.The paper observes that there still exist room for continued adoption of the new media technologies as mobile phones are becoming increasingly cheaper and Internet infrastructure is being upgraded to be at par with the latest communication technologies.The paper recommends further studies on the viability of using social media for civic education and also understanding the influence of national and commercial broadcasters on community radio as while community radios suffer technical and financial challenges,the other party can deliver broadcasting services effectively and efficiently in the same area thereby undermining the whole essence of community radios.