Adriana Cedillo
The current outlook for community radio in Chile is not easily captured in a context of prevailing economic interests of large commercial media over the popular communication and dissemination of social movements . Hence, now is undertaken from the local, a fight to improve hedging techniques, recognize the freedom of expression and access to additional funding.
"In Chile there are two major difficulties: the incredible power they have the commercial media, which has to do with powers that be (almost like the power of the Catholic Church twenty years ago) and, the lack of political will with lawmakers and officials of the Coalition and right now, to legislate the plurality in the media system, "said Juan Ortega, representative of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC ) in Chile.
The challenge is to reopen the debate of community media: Ortega
"The issue of communication in Chile is out of debate mainly because there is a strong lobbying from business groups and, after 20 years of road towards democracy, the audience changed. We have an audience that is accustomed to receive content reflective and is accustomed to receiving immediate, "said Ortega Fuentes.
In an interview, President of AMARC, said "the government always remains to leave the table the issue of community communication, not as a human right, not a right to the edge, organizations or local development ".
"has never been seen as a communication tool, I do not think there is only an oversight, but a strong intention not to take it into account. Touched me know the subject of community radio in other countries where there is indeed a development and progress that is much higher too, "he said.
added that "in Uruguay and Argentina achieved a coalition for the democratization of communications involving universities, colleges of journalists, awards, teachers and what they did was that the State regulation on radio spectrum and broke it into thirds : one third for public sector, one third for the private sector and one third for the community sector, with development playing field. In Chile we are far from that. "
"In broadcasting, it happens that we have 60 percent of the FM spectrum in Santiago English consortium owned by Prisa, which is not consolidated into a dictatorship but democracy is consolidated, thanks to the terrible contributions made by the government through government advertising with the owners of the consortium, "he said.
Currently, the group owns radio W, Top 40, Kiss, Activa, sum Concert, Pudahuel, Heart, FM2, Imagine, Rock & Pop, Future and Hit FM. Six of these, among the top ten highest-rated stations and it is estimated that half of the national advertising expenditure goes to this sector.
Chile AMARC President also explained that "during the era of the dictatorship, there were many attempts to achieve a journalism alternative media and communication role very different, however, All these magazines were killed not only because the state of drowning but also because the private company imposed a neoliberal model of communication that ate the reflective model. "
"Now the problem is that social movements have not developed communication strategies to doc with the times. Then these movements are in speech, in the great ideological slogan that declares that the state is repressive, that the state is killing, etc., Which is fine because actually speak of a truth, but fails to cross the field of believe, can not pass the level of those who are following the movement and the media that have great hearing, to be renewed.
"One example is the use of social networks, which are eager for new forms of communication and I believe that the challenge of social movements is how to enter the logical approach to permeate the national public agenda," he said. Plurality vs.
economic interests
"We know that today handles almost all the information through the media concentration of some clusters that are there, on radio, TV or newspaper. So we believe to be at least one alternative function, "said Alberto Cancino representative of the National Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and Citizens of Chile (ANARCICH).
The activist stated that "the Chilean community radio stations are located in disadvantaged sectors, are in all parts of the country and in all communes. We therefore believe that the people behind us, the people of communities and ordinary citizens looking for a different media involved as actors interact on the radio. "
"We have always said, suggesting that this project is in terms of establishing a pluralistic media, diverse, participatory. I think that's the feature, identity with these so-called media and community which we play for her, really secure spaces for diversity, for participation, for tolerance in matters that may not belong in the mainstream media "he said.
"In this respect, he added, community radio has given and given the possibility that through their microphones, they could send their demands, their proposals."
In 1990 comes the community radio movement in Chile and was formed in 2000 when the ANARCICH (National Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and Citizens of Chile) that currently integrates over 300 frequencies throughout the country.
For nine years, until 2009 community broadcasters gathered in assemblies consisting of networks, throughout Chile, with the aim to realize the current community broadcasting law.
"proposal was built on the broadcast that was delivered in 2007 through an act that President Michelle Bachelet made in the currency and that is where an act for the filing of this bill in Congress and thus is like in May 2010 approving the law, "Cancino.
"Mainly, he added, the proposal is create better conditions for community broadcasting, especially in legal and technical matters and on the other hand, given a legal status to community broadcasting, which allows it to be recognized as a social actor within the topic of communication in Chile. "
In this regard, stressed the importance that the new law may disseminate advertising. "We uphold the importance of community radio can sustain itself, can sustain because you have to pay taxes and personnel who may be charging for the development of the costs involved in maintaining these means, because otherwise we could not continue our work. "
The new law on community radios
Last May, the Senate approved the new Community Radio Act which provides, among other things: the awarding of radio spectrum, the parameters for acquiring concessions and the possibility of including advertising.
Thus, the granting of a special segment of the radio spectrum (between 107.1 and 107.9), the radiated power is 1 watt and maximum of 25 watts. Another point is that the term of the concessions, will be 15 years and the licensee shall have a preferential right to renewal.
addition, "only may be holders of a concession, legal persons of private non-profit and you are set up in Chile and domiciled in the country. The organs of state administration may not participate directly or indirectly in the operation of services, "says the document of law.
And finally, it was determined that organizations may broadcast service concessionary trade terms or service that is in its coverage area to support the needs of broadcasting, while allow political and electoral propaganda.
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