Community Media provides a voice for the voiceless and powerless in society. Community Media is for the people, by the people and of the people.

1. Tasha - Gaye Davis
Community
Media

2. Community Media (community
communications)are important
alternatives to mainstream media
in giving voice to the voiceless
and powerless. Argue for and
against Community Media. In
doing so, cite examples in the
Caribbean.

3. Community Media are adaptations of media for use by
the community, for whatever purpose the community
decides. (Berrigan, 1979)
Media operated and controlled by a community by
purposes defined by members of the community.
Separate from commercial media, state run media or
public broadcasting.
Community Media Defined

4. Mainstream Media Defined
Those media disseminated via the largest distribution
channels, which therefore represents what the majority of
media consumers are likely to encounter. (Chomsky, 1997)
Television Jamaica (TVJ)
CVM Television
New York Times
CW
Disney
Examples:

5. "Voice to the voiceless & powerless"
Providing representation for marginalized
groups, partly those who are never
considered in the decision making process by
the capitalist group.
Community Media provides an avenue for
them to be heard.
Inclusion is key.

6. Types of Community Media
Community Newspaper01
Community Radio02
Community Theatre03
Independent Publishing04
Online Communications05

7. Examples of Community
Media
The Western Mirror -
Jamaica
01
More FM - Jamaica02
Radio TOCO - Trinidad03
Observer Radio - Antigua04
WJC Insider - Jamaica05
Prison Radio06

8. Community media put the tools of communication into the hands of its
people, particularly women and marginalized groups, allowing them to
create their own means of cultural expression, news, information and
dialogue.
Community media contributes to peoples’ empowerment to improve their
social and economic conditions.
Provides an alternative to mainstream commercial content.
It is a non-profit any surplus made is reinvested in the station and the
community at large.
For Community Media

9. For Community Media
Participation is possible for all community members and at all levels –
programming, operating and even financing. Bulk of work carried out by
volunteers.
Promotes unity within the community.
Local concerns/ topical issues are addressed which are usually overlooked
in mainstream. May even be done in the dialect of that community.
Educates, informs and entertains.

10. Against Community Media
Personal or political agendas - in some cases, some involved in community
media may also pursue predominately private interests or indirectly
support political groups.
Persons volunteering did not receive formal training.
High staff turnover - Volunteers leave the stations once they have
gathered the basic skills.

11. Conclusion
Community media has its place in society, especially in its
aim to provide representation for the voiceless and
powerless. Not to be overlooked, Community Media has its
share of disadvantages, many of which the mainstream
media strives to correct.
notwithstanding, Community Media has a distinct right to
take up space, once the interest of the people sits at the
forefront of its mandate.

12. References
Berrigan F.J. (1977,1979). A manual on mass media in population and development.
United Nations Educational.
Chomsky N. (1997). "What makes mainstream media mainstream". Z Magazine.
Howley K. (2005). Community Media: People, Places and Communication
Technologies. Cambridge University Press.
Howley K. (2009). Understanding Community Media: SAGE Publications
Rennie E. (2006). Community Media: A Global Introduction. Rowman & Littlefield
Publishers, Inc.