Media Democratization at the Crossroads: Community Radio in Thailand and Malaysia

摘要

Community radio can serve as an important national resource, giving local voices access to media and providing an alternative to mainstream broadcast-ers. This study examined the status of community radio in two contrasting settings: Thailand where community stations number in the thousands and Malaysia where community radio has so far not been allowed. Although Thailand's community broadcasters started their operations without formal authorization, successive governments have not taken action to force their general closure. However, steps to create a legal status for them have moved at a sluggish pace. In Malaysia, authorization for community radio stations seems never to have been seriously considered even though public groups have expressed enthusiasm for the idea. In both nations, political considerations have been major factors governing the slow development of policies for community radio.