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About ObsMedia
Community radio plays a crucial role in enabling public participation, strengthening cultural and linguistic diversity, and promoting gender. In addition, it supports freedom of expression throughout the world, giving voice to the poor and marginalized, and helping to build a more equitable information society.
However, community radio stations struggle with the lack of government recognition and legal frameworks. In Latin America, for instance, community broadcasters have a precarious status and continuously face threats of closure. Longer-term stability requires legislative and regulatory reform to recognize their status and role. In other areas of the world such as Asia and the Middle East, community broadcasting is yet to emerge because it is prevented from becoming established. Only a small but growing number of countries have public policy, legislative and regulatory commitments to community broadcasting.
ObsMedia is an initiative of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). The main purpose of this site is to help monitor alerts on freedom of expression affecting media worldwide, and to inform on regulations advances and setbacks in the recognition of community media. By providing updated information on the status of community radio and fostering information sharing, ObsMedia supports the development of community broadcasting as well as the action towards their recognition.
Chile’s community radios have key role in disaster response
Montreal, March 6, 2010. AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, applauds the rapid response of Chile’s community radios to the recent earthquake and calls on the incoming Chilean government to expedite legal measures to facilitate community broadcasting.
Tune in to the International AMARC-WIN broadcast for Women’s International Day on March 8!
March 5, 2010 Montreal – This March 8th, the Women’s International Network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) will celebrate Women’s International Day with a Webcast starting on March 8th to March 31st, dedicated to women and gender issues. The Webcast will begin at 1:00 am GMT on Monday March 8. Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean will participate at this broadcast campaign. To listen the multilingual programs visit our website: http://march8.amarc.org
AMARC expresses solidarity with those affected by the Chile earthquake
Montreal, 1 March, 2010. AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, expresses its solidarity with the people of Chile and its condolences to those who have lost family and friends in the earthquake of 27 February 2010. Steve Buckley, President of AMARC, said: "We are shocked to hear news of another devastating earthquake in the Americas. We stand ready to assist in any way possible."
Community Radio Broadcasters of Asia Pacific call for placing people’s communications rights at the centre of development
Bangalore, India, February 24, 2010. Community radio broadcasters from 20 countries of the Asia Pacific region have demanded to place people’s communications rights at the centre of development. The Bangalore declaration issued at the conclusion of the regional assembly of community radio broadcasters held in Bangalore, India from 20-23 February 2010 has also called for supporting initiatives that aid access to digital and other technological opportunities to enable community broadcasting in an ever-widening scale, while calling for creating spaces on the airwaves for diverse and marginalized voices, irrespective of caste, creed, race, colour, gender, sexuality, faith, and differently-abled or other differences.
The 2nd AMARC Asia Pacific Regional Conference is Launched in Bangalore, India
Bangalore, India, February 20, 2010. More than 200 community radio practitioners and stakeholders from 20 countries are participating from February 20-23 in Bangalore, India in the 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Conference “Voices for a Sustainable and Sound Future” organised by the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC, and hosted by Voices. The Conference is an occasion for knowledge sharing and capacity building activities, as well as for defining of strategic directions to be taken by the sector.
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