By: Dr Brijender Singh Panwar & Nikita Joshi

In today’s digital world of hashtags, GIFs and reels, communication has expanded across a variety of mediums. Large parts of India today cannot think of a world without the internet and the quick communication it has enabled. Yet one would be misinformed to imagine that effective communication is restricted to unilateral means. A study of target audiences and their cultural contexts allows one to explore the different communication mediums that have been initiated and adopted by individuals and communities to suit their circumstances. The Community Radio is one such creative medium that is flourishing in different parts of the country today including educational institutes and rural heartlands. A radio set is the most frugal commodity often owned and operated by even those at the bottom of the pyramid. At the heart of this communication medium lie the values of community led ownership and grass root expression. It is a platform which allows communities to express themselves in their language and discuss issues that lie at core of their existence. Mediums such as these therefore not only create partnerships and develop communication and management skills but also become catalysts of social change. Governments hence play an important role in recognizing and encouraging these local communication efforts that also help build robust communities.

The Community Radio is set to truly make ‘Radio Waves’ at the “World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), 2025” which is to be held in Mumbai from May 1 to 4, 2025. WAVES is being organized with the vision of connecting India’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry with the global markets, fostering growth, collaborations and innovations. The key objectives of WAVES is to drive industry growth, nurture innovation, empower........

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