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CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0. Introduction Community media has been defined by different scholars in many different ways to reflect varying opinions and understanding of the concept as it has been developing over the years. The concept of community is generally new, especially in Zambia where Community media have only been in existence for just over two decades. Despite this, there are assumptions that community media are beginning to benefit local communities through gradual removal of barriers to social inclusion, stimulation of poverty alleviation through access to knowledge of better health, education, resource management, agriculture practices and the creation of new livelihood opportunities (UNESCO Evaluation Report 2006). But there was need during the study to critically examine whether this assumption reflects the situation on the ground in areas where the concept of local community media has been implemented in Zambia. This chapter, therefore, defines community media in general from a variety of perspectives and further gives an overview to the background of the study. The background of community media in Zambia with regards to newspapers, television and radio is also examined in general. The study is, however, about community radio hence the focus will specifically be on community radio. The chapter will give the background to community radio in some parts of the world in general and in Zambia in particular and further look at the history of Chikuni Parish as well as Chikuni Radio station in the context of the broader study theme. 1 1.1. Background of the study 1.1.1. Community media As earlier stated, community media has been defined by different scholars in many different ways to reflect varying opinions and understanding of the concept as it has been developing over the years.
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