How does a CMC give radio listeners access to online information?
Radio Browsing of the Internet is a type of programme in which the radio presenters gather information in response to listeners’ needs and queries from reliable sites on the Internet, on CD-ROMs or other digital resources. During the programme, the presenter “visits” these pages of information on the computer screen together with a local expert (for example, a doctor for a health question) and together, they describe, explain and discuss the information directly in the languages used by the community. Radio browsing is already used in Asia, Africa and Caribbean. It has demonstrated radio’s potential for overcoming language barriers to access, discuss, select and assimilate information available in a limited number of languages on the Internet. Moreover, being a participatory radio programme, Radio Browsing of the Internet, has taken into account the desires of rural communities to assimilate knowledge collectively as against the prevailing modality of individual access to the Internet.
Community databases for development utilise the capacity of the community collectively to produce knowledge and to package and disseminate it in an appropriate manner to meet the immediate needs and priorities of the community. Through the radio browsing programmes, the community becomes aware of the importance of online information and understand that it remains available for them to consult in the CMC. By developing a computer database, the CMC ensures that the whole community can access a pool of easily-assimilated knowledge in a language which is understandable to the community. “Step by Step: a Guide to RadioBrowsing” is available in the CMC website in English and French, and also on CD-ROMs in Spanish and Portuguese.
