Community media
Community media are any form of media that function in service of or by a community. It is the rise of all kinds of alternative, oppositional, participatory, and collaborative media practices that have developed in the journalistic context of ‘community media,’ ‘we media,’ ‘citizens media,’ ‘grassroots journalism’ or any radical alternative to on and offline mainstream journalistic practices. In other words, it is having access to or creating local alternatives to mainstream broadcasting, like local community newspapers, radio stations, or magazines.
Definition
Community media are generally defined as a distinct sector of the media for their independence, base in civil society and provision of a social service as opposed to seeking profits. They serve as a third sector of the media apart from private and public media and are important in giving communities a platform to express their concerns for local issues, engage in democratic debate, and deliver reliable access to information. However, there is no consensus on a definition as each region displays unique forms of community media. However, community media is also mass media but it aims to a much smaller population, unlike mainstream media.
Modes of community media
Community media can take all the forms of other conventional media, such as print, radio, television, Web-based, and mixed media.
Community radio is particularly widespread around the world with radio stations being founded to inform their listeners on issues important to the community.