A Study on the Practice of Kombolcha Community Radio
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the practice of Kombolcha Community Radio
(KCR). The theory of participatory communication as articulated in the UNESCO’s
debates of the 1970s and the dialogical or critical pedagogy of Paulo Freire served as the
theoretical frameworks in this study. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were
employed in the study. Questionnaires, interviews, documents and observation were the
tools employed for gathering the data from residents of the community and KCR staff.
Probability sampling (i.e., random sampling) and non-random sampling (i.e., purposive
sampling) methods were used to select the subjects.
Based on the information obtained, it was found that KCR focused on entertainment (i.e.
music), educational, phone-in and discussion programs. It provided good access, but the
quality of the signal and the representation of the community culture in the output of the
station’s programs were found to be poor. The participation of the community was also
found to be poor in the overall activity of the station. Even though the community was
assumed to participate in decision making process through their representatives, the
representatives themselves didn’t participate in the station’s activity. Similarly, the study
revealed that the station gave independent platform were the community members
discuss of issues of concern to them.
Finally, it was recommended that the station focus on participatory programs, use modern
transmission equipment and give much emphasis to the Kombolcha Community’s culture
as well as creating a mechanism for soliciting feedback
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Keywords
Kombolcha Community Radio