In the context of the 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) has joined forces with the FAO to launch an awareness campaign targeted at farmers’ organizations and the rural population. The main objective is to use community radio as a platform to share information with the farming community and involve them further in the discussion regarding the key role family farming plays in economic and social development. The campaign starts today and is set to continue throughout the entire 2014. It will consist of a series of radio programmes produced in connection with consultations, policy dialogues and events organized by FAO and AMARC in different regions.

The programmes, which last a total of 60 minutes, are accessible to local radios through AMARC’s regional web platforms and website. Audio tracks are easily downloadable together with additional documentation regarding the IYFF. The spots have been recorded in English, Spanish and French. We encourage AMARC’s members to produce and broadcast in local languages depending on their requirements. The programmes will be broadcast through AMARC’s network and the campaign will continue during all the IYFF in close collaboration with our regional offices in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe as well as the regional platforms: Onda Rural, ComDev Asia and Kenkasa Africa.

The campaign’s main messages include:

1. The IYFF and the contribution of family farming to the eradication of hunger.
2. The role of communication and community media in family farming and as drivers for social change in rural areas.
3. Results of family farming Regional Dialogues highlighting the importance of partnerships to end hunger.

This information campaign is part of the initiative “Communication and community media in family farming and food security”, which aims, among other things, to facilitate dialogue between stakeholders and to promote communication for development guaranteeing the communication rights of the rural population.
We hope you will help us broadcast the audio coverage, as well as the other activities that are part of this initiative, and we thank all those who wish to collaborate.

The student radio “bit express” in Erlangen in cooperation with Fraunhofer IIS is from December 11 is broadcasting their new transmitter on 87.9 MHz using DRM+.

This frequency was assigned for test transmissions by the Bavarian regulatory authority BLM. With the set-up of the final hardware, “bit express” will be on air with DRM+ on a regular basis. For the first time the new enhanced codec xHE-AAC is put into operation.  – “Bit express” is also on-line.

Radio and TV Authority has granted DEK 17,5 Million (2,35 Million Euro) to 175 associations operating non-commercial local radio (community radio) for 2014. The maximum grant per association is DEK 105.365 (14.124 euro) and is based on rate per program hour of DEK 135,08 (18,11 euro).
In total the community sector will receive DEK 43,8 Million (5,87 Million euro) for 2014 of which 40 % for radio and 60 % for television. The grants are funded by the media licensee fee (former tv receiver licensee fee).

The signing, on December 13th, of a partnership convention with JEKTISS is a new step in the commitment of the radios members of the community radio federation of Languedoc-Roussillon (FRANC-LR / franclr.fr) to solidarity with the radios of the South.

Last August, Radio Escapade (St Hippolyte du Fort) welcomed the delegate of Radio  Ciwara (Bougouni – Mali). This first step was part of the framework of the twinnings initiated by the French National Confederation of community Radios (CNRA) in accordance with a convention with its Malian federation, URTEL.

Thanks to the support of the french Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Embassy in Bamako), the south of France part of this exchange was a success, both from the point of view of human relationships and for the programs offered to the listeners.

The commitment in Tunisia is developed as part of the policy of decentralized cooperation pursued for a long time by the Council of the Département of Hérault and the Governorate of Médenine (south of Tunisia, close to the Libyan border).

The objective is twofold : accompanying the cooperation actions with a media, in Médenine area as well as in south of France, in order to promote the local actions and achievements at the service of the populations. Favoring the development of local, free and citizen media in Tunisia.

On Friday 13th December 2013, the signing of the convention between the Jektiss for free media in Tunisia and the FRANC-LR constitutes a first venture. It aims at going beyond the declarations of good intentions and at giving the opportunity of sharing experiences, of know-how, of contents, and of promoting long-term training offers.

This signing was hosted by the Mayor of Montpellier, and took place at the Espace Martin-Luther-King, the House of International Relations of the city. The representatives of the Department of International Affairs of the Département of Hérault expressed their great interest in a process they had made possible by supporting the preparatory mission carried out by Sébastien Nègre on behalf of the FRANC-LR.

The General Secretary of the Regional Audiovisual Council (local office of French regulator) and Jean Kouchner, the General Secretary of the French-speaking Press Association were also present at the signing. Both mentioned again their interest in this initiative and in the prospects it offers for future exchanges focusing on democratic and citizen-concerned expression.

Citizen-concerned media at the service of Democracy. The 3 local community radios EKO, FM+ and RPH Sud clearly focused on this aspect  when they welcomed the Tunisian delegates, before the agreement was signed, thanks to the  support of the French Embassy in Tunis.

The numerous programs produced by these three radio stations, especially the collective multibroadcast program, transmitted from the studios of FM+, on the very day of the signing.

Civil Radio, Budapest was founded in 1993 as a result of a collaboration of NGOs, local communities and civil organizations. The aim of the founders was to give voice to civic initiatives and strengthen civil control.

The principle of the radio is that the programme makers, editors and presenters should be volunteers and a board plus a small paid staff manage and provide the necessary background for them. The radio is not a medium that works with paid, professional journalists but with active citizens with real issues which are not presented in the mass media. The two decades behind it proved that it was a good idea to do it this way. The small radio station broadcasting only a few hours at the start now has expanded to a “big” radio, in which 150 volunteers make their radio shows for a 24 hour day broadcast.

The political leadership in Hungary in the last few years has slowly and systematically pushed back every bottom-up grassroots civil initiative. They have narrowed the open tenders, grants and other funds, while purposely creating administrative obstacles for the NGOs and other small community organizations. These new legal regulations reflect the political thinking in government which does not tolerate alternative and different opinions and perspectives. The new laws are written, approved and changed without a consultation with civil and professional societies.

And this is why Civil Radio is today in a desperate situation. Civil Radio is one of the last independent community radio stations still standing in Hungary. The radio launched a campaign in which it turns to its audience, to all the people who still believe in values the station believes – mutual understanding, tolerance, the power of discussion and cooperation, inclusion, freedom.

An extraordinary funding campaign has been launched.

“Do not let us be silenced! We do not ask for hundreds of thousands of Euros and Forints. We can continue broadcasting from the 5% of an ordinary media service provider’s annual budget — therefore every Euro and Forint counts, every little bit of help is appreciated.”

https://sos.civilradio.org/en/

Radio Civil , Budapest fue fundada en 1993 como resultado de una colaboración entre organizaciones no gubernamentales , comunidades locales y organizaciones civiles . El objetivo de los fundadores era dar voz a las iniciativas cívicas y fortalecer el control civil.
El principio de la radio es que los creadores de programas , editores y presentadores deben ser voluntarios y un grupo más pequeño de personal remunerado para gestionar y proporcionar la infraestructura necesaria. La radio no es un medio que trabaja con  los periodistas profesionales remunerados pero con ciudadanos activos con problemas reales que no se presentan en los medios de comunicación . Las dos décadas pasadas demostraron que se trataba de una buena idea. La pequeña radio que comenzó con sólo unas pocas horas de emisión en el inicio se ha expandido a una radio “grande” , en la que 150 voluntarios emiten 24 horas diarias cada semana .
El liderazgo político en Hungría ha actuado lenta y sistemáticamente contra las iniciativas de base ciudadana en los últimos años . Se han reducido las licitaciones públicas , donaciones y otros fondos , se han creado deliberadamente obstáculos administrativos para las organizaciones no gubernamentales y otras organizaciones comunitarias pequeñas . Estas nuevas normas legales reflejan el pensamiento político en el gobierno que no tolera las opiniones y puntos de vista alternativos y diferentes. Las nuevas leyes se escriben , aprueban y modifican sin consultar con la sociedad civil y profesionales.
Y esta es la razón por Civil Radio se encuentra hoy en una situación desesperada. Civil Radio  es una de las últimas estaciones de radio comunitarias independientes aún en pie en Hungría. La radio puso en marcha una campaña en la que se vuelve a su público , a todas las personas que todavía creen en los valores de la estación cree – la comprensión mutua , la tolerancia, el poder de la discusión y la cooperación , la inclusión, la libertad.
Una campaña de financiación extraordinaria se ha puesto en marcha .
” No nos dejemos callar ! No pedimos para cientos de miles de euros y florines . Podemos continuar transmitiendo desde el 5 % del presupuesto anual de un proveedor de servicios de comunicación ordinaria – por lo tanto, cada Euro y Forint cuenta, se aprecia cualquier ayuda. ”
https://sos.civilradio.org/en/