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This book is the result of a research
project covering eight countries in South and South East Asia examining
the role and impact of alternative media. The definition of alternative
media depends very much on the political, social, cultural and economic
environment you live in. Thus, this book gives the reader an idea of
the diversity of alternative media sources available across Asia, which
is very much a result of the different media regulatory regimes in the
countries we have included in this study.
While Bangladesh has had alternative media, in the form of community
theatre and other artistic expressions for a long time, yet, community
radio, which is fast becoming one of the most effective forms of alternative
media in Asia, is slow to take off, because the regulations still do
not allow it. Meanwhile in Indonesia and Thailand, community radio has
taken off rapidly, with regulators struggling to come up with a formula
to help regulate the sector while not shutting it down. In the Philippine
community radio has existed legally for many years and is thriving,
thus, there may be lessons others can learn from this experience. In
Malaysia, where legislation tightly controls the establishment of media
outlets, there are yet, some interesting examples of how alternative
media could be effectively operated via the Internet. Sri Lanka, offers
an interesting model where elements of community broadcasting could
exist within a public service broadcaster.
Thus, this book, gives you interesting examples from Bangladesh, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand of how
people are getting their voices heard—or are struggling to make
that happen—using a variety of media and methods of expression.
This publication should be a useful text for students of mass communications,
community media practitioners, media / human rights activists, development
planners and who ever is interested in alternative media and its operating
models.
Introduction
by Kalinga Seneviratne, pg iv
Chapter 1
Bangladesh: Much Scope for Alternative Media, but is there Political
Will?
by M Golam Rahman, p 1
Chapter 2
India: Regulations Need to Catch Up with Technology
by Ashish Sen, p 28
Chapter 3
Indonesia: Alternative Media Enjoying a Fresh Breeze
by Shita Laksmi & Ignatius Haryanto, p53
Chapter 4
Malaysia: Alternative Media ... only on the Internet
by Kalinga Seneviratne, p 86
Chapter 5
Nepal: Picking up Steam, but Political Bottlenecks Ahead,
by Binod Bhattarai, p 132
Chapter 6
Philippines: Free Environment Encourage Diversity
by Theresa M Rivera, p 176
Chapter 7
Sri Lanka: A Thin Line between “Government Service” and
Alternative Media
by Sameera Tilakawardana, p 215
Chapter 8
Thailand: Community Radio Takes off, but ...
by Lucksana Klaikao (assisted by Thianchai Isaradej and Prof Glen Lewis),
p 242
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