Internet-based Community Radio and communication rights: A Chilean case study

Abstract

Introduction

On the International Day of Freedom of Expression 2012, the President of the World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC), Maria Pía Matta, called to encourage and strengthen the existence of a third communications sector in Chile, in particular in regards to the community radios. Furthermore, she highlighted the obligation of the state to create conditions that make greater plurality of voices possible, accounting for the cultural diversity in Chile.

For long has an increased concentration of media ownership been stimulating a powerful economic ignorance of local needs and an often assumed media revolution has in general been absent in Chile. But since the beginning of the 21st century, community media initiatives and new technological interventions have expanded and participatory communication and Internet based media portals have challenge traditional media constructions. This phenomenon has especially been present 2011, a year full of social eruptions and protest. New practices through Internet seems to have advanced new opportunities of distribution, giving the radio production through Internet a key position in regards of the reinforcement of the debate around communication rights. However, this is not emerging without certain consequences for the access to information. Different access to the use of communication platforms and Internet many times depend on the cost of access, education level or other social, cultural, economic or even political factors.