- Title
- Sustainability challenges and community broadcasting media in Eastern Cape : a comparative study of Forte FM and Vukani FM
- Creator
- Mbombo, Nothemba
- Subject
- Community radio -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Radio stations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Radio in community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Date Issued
- 2018
- Date
- 2018
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- Communication
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9330
- Identifier
- vital:34325
- Description
- This study is a qualitative study focusing on the sustainability challenges affecting the performance of community radio stations in Eastern Cape using Forte FM and Vukani FM as case studies. For the purpose of this study, in-depth interviews and focus group interviews were used to collect data and the researcher had in-depth interviews with the station managers of both radio stations. Another interview was conducted with the programme manager of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA). In addition, this study conducted one focus group interview with purposively selected participants for each community radio station to get their views on the functioning and sustainability challenges facing each of the radio station and how they see them helping their communities. The findings of the study revealed that the major sustainability challenges faced by the stations are finances and lack of resources. The lack of resources is a major problem as it reflects a lack of political will and policies that have failed to recognize the importance of communication as a social process that can help to bring change and development (Fraser & Estrada, 2003:3). As revealed by the findings of this study, the most serious challenge that both stations face is financial sustainability as they had said they struggle to function because they do not have money to pay their staff, and to pay the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) in order to be kept on air and to deliver their content to the targeted audiences. This study also found out that the stations are not able to train their reporters while they are not getting a regular assistance from the Minister of Communications. The radio stations noted that the Department of Communications used to assist them some years ago but now support only comes from the MDDA. On the other hand, the study also revealed that the MDDA do assist the community radio stations by providing them with necessary broadcasting and transmission equipment and facilities to make sure that they stay on air. This study therefore, concludes that despite the several sustainability challenges faced by these community radio stations, they are still able to contribute to the development of their communities
- Format
- 87 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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UFH Department of Communication
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