The Role of Radio in Transitions to Democracy

The episode explores the role of locally embedded news and media organizations in facilitating citizen participation in societies seeking to further democracy. In the age of misinformation, can the patient and steady pace of radio journalism prove to be a much-needed democratic corrective? In the discussion, Caroline Vuillemine and Said Nazir examine the role of the radio and the opportunities facing this medium of public communication.

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GLOSSARY

Glossary for episode 5 Caroline & Said

What is Fondation Hirondelle?

(00:1:03 or p.1 in the transcript) 

Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit organization which provides information to populations

faced with crisis, empowering them in their daily lives and as citizens. Founded in 1995 and based in

Lausanne, Fondation Hirondelle currently implements media programmes in 8 countries in Africa

and Asia.Through our work, millions of people in war-affected countries, post-conflict areas,

humanitarian crises, and societies in democratic transition have access to media that speak to them

and give them a voice.Fondation Hirondelle practices and defends responsible, independent,

accurate journalism in conflict and post-conflict situations, in humanitarian crises and countries in

democratic transition. Our information covers the news in the countries and regions where we work,

as well as key issues that connect societies.Our debate programs bring together all political and

social components of society. They facilitate the participation of ordinary people in public debate,

and create a platform where everyone has a voice and people can seek common solutions to

problems. Source

What is TNN?

(00:1:22 or p.1 in the transcript) 

Founded by broadcast journalists, TNN provides balanced and accurate news coverage of events

particularly in KP and tribal districts providing local people with local news and information that

affect their social and political lives.TNN has just become digital-first where it reports first for online

audience and then reversions those stories for 10 partner FM radio stations in the region.

TNN was established to serve radio audiences through partner FM radio stations in 2014, but with

the passage of time it has evolved itself as an online multimedia news organization catering to the

needs of online audience in the Pakhtun areas. TNN also produces and broadcasts telephonic

bulletins in Pashto since September 2016 that provide latest stories to unique audience of 100,000

that are registered with TNN. The news can be heard by dialing a local number from mobile phone.

TNN also produces daily five-minute long radio bulletins in Pashto on the most important news

events for broadcast by a network of 10 partner radio stations across KP and tribal districts. News

stories, features and interviews are also published on the TNN website in Pashto, Urdu and English

to tell national and international audiences about events in our region. TNN also accommodates

news and views of interest to Pakhtun audience in other parts of Pakistan and also in Afghanistan.

Source: