Local Radio Stations Reach Out to Georgia’s Minorities
Southern Georgia is home to large ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. Due to their remote geographic location and the fact that mainstream media is broadcast only in Georgian, these communities find themselves isolated from the larger Georgian society.
To increase access to information and confront broader problems of societal integration, EF Georgia, together with the BBC’s World Service Trust (BBCWST), provided a large grant to Association Studio Re for the establishment of two local radio stations in the Marneuli and Ninotsminda districts.
Local residents now enjoy several hours of broadcast programming a day in their native language, currently played over loudspeakers set up in local town squares. Both stations are awaiting approval of their broadcasting licenses.
In a recent article by the BBCWST, one station manager remarked, “Even though few people are yet able to listen to us, the importance of this radio station cannot be [overestimated]. They come to us, wanting to voice their opinions and share their problems. They feel that we are part of this community.”
EF’s grant to Studio Re is part of its broader effort to promote better-informed citizen participation in political and economic decision making. Having a low start-up cost, radio stations are increasingly seen as an effective means for providing easily accessible information to isolated communities. This, in turn, can serve as a catalyst for enhanced public participation and dialog.
Association Studio Re, a Georgia non-profit organization, has gained extensive experience in the development of media programs and instruction seminars since it began operations in 1995. As part of their program to establish the local radio stations, Studio Re has not only set-up the necessary equipment and facilities, but has also provided trainings for local personnel and volunteers. Topics for the trainings range from effective management practices to basic skills in producing programs.
