Redefining Community Broadcasting in Ethiopia: Towards Public Ownership and Engagement

This article scrutinises the nature of community broadcasting, in terms of ownership and public participation, in Ethiopia, using qualitative and quantitative data. While the qualitative data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions with media managers and journalists in nine community radio stations, and document analysis; the quantitative data were collected through questionnaires from 33 community broadcasting stations. Findings indicate that, despite the efforts of community broadcasting to expand in number and engage diverse audiences in various languages, a significant lack of public involvement in production, financing and running was observed. Also, ownership issues of the community broadcasting blur the lines between it and local/public FM stations and campus radio. Upon an examination of the licencing process, ownership, legal framework, geographical diversity, public participation and the practices of community broadcasting, the author advocates for either redefining community media in the context and practice of Ethiopia or reappropriating it in line with the ideal definition of community radio features. The author also suggests a community-centric model of community broadcasting in Ethiopia to ensure its ideal status and serve the larger public.