The Limits of Community Broadcasting in Nigeria: Connotations for South-North Conversations

Abstract

Governments around the globe always desire to put policies in place to guide the operations of the communication sector.  Scholars have maintained that since the advent of alternative media, community-based media have ensured media pluralism, diversity of content and the representation of society’s different groups and interests.  Hence, this paper investigated the extent to which government actions and inactions limited the development of appropriate channels of community broadcasting in Nigeria; and the implications of the issues for South-North conversations.  We adopted the theories of change as framework because community media create the atmosphere for audience participation in relation to issues of rural and national development.  This study adopted a qualitative approach making use of focus groups from different communities around Nigeria. Further, the questionnaire was used to generate quantitative data from a sample of media workers; to ascertain their perceptions of the issues surrounding community broadcasting.y. The results revealed that government’s actions/inactions – ranging from legal constraints to delays by policy makers – are the major limits to community broadcasting in Nigeria.  Therefore, recommendations are made to create conducive environment for the operation of community broadcasting.

Keywords: community broadcasting, community participation, community education, media pluralism