Sustainable Community Media Policy

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Introduction to the Program

Community media characterize a third type of media in the sector different from private and public providers. As the latter two tend to focus more on global news and trends, they leave a gap in the coverage of local issues and often neglect the stories most important to many of their listeners. Community media fill this void by addressing key problems in the community and encouraging a culture of accountability. However, this localized form of media face numerous and significant challenges, particularly in terms of sustainability and strict regulation.

How is UNESCO promoting a healthy media environment?

Using the results of the “Community Media Sustainability: Strengthening Policies and Funding” summit at UNESCO, which brought together broadcasting unions, regulators, governments and other key stakeholders, the Organization published the Community Media Sustainability Policy Series. At the base of this UNESCO program, the series outlines a number of policy recommendations for member states to implement to encourage the healthy development of community media in their countries.

The program also builds upon the lessons learned from UNESCO’s previous project, "Empowering Local Radio with ICTs”, which built the capacities of radio personnel at 59 local radio stations from 2012 to 2018 in ten different African countries.

To find out more on what UNESCO is doing for community media sustainability, click here.

Where is the program working?

As a start to the program, UNESCO will expand its work in advocating sustainable community media in both Africa and Asia, specifically in the following countries:

For more information on this UNESCO program, please contact Mirta Lourenço, Chief of Section for Media Development and Society, at: m.lourenco(at)unesco.org