Unlike television, radio's low costs make it by its very nature democratic. It is a highly accessible means to promote pluralism and decentralisation. Free expression through independent radio, which does not cost much to set up, can force government organisations to become more responsible to public needs and demands.
But as a free medium which reaches a wider population than print - for example because of broadcasting in local dialects, or because of high illiteracy rates - radio can also arouse the mistrust and hostility of political leaders. Hence in many countries their inclination to maintain a government monopoly on broadcasting to foil an independent media that is often virulent and close to the opposition.
To cite two examples: Chad has only six private radio stations, while Mali boasts 100… What explains this tremendous disparity? The two countries are similar on several counts. They are the same size, and neither has access to the sea. Both were French colonies and lived through long years of military dictatorship after achieving independence in 1960. And last year, they ranked among the world's poorest countries, with a per capita income of $261 for Mali and $240 for Chad.
A country's political context rubs off on its airwaves. On the one hand, Mali, which held free elections in 1992 and has set up democratic institutions that function reasonably well, launched its first private radio station in March 1991. Radio Bamakan paved the way for a host of others, including Radio Liberté, Radio Kayira and Klédu FM.
On the other hand, in early 1993, Chad settled for a parody of a "national conference," generally intended as a broad policy consultation. Yet it only strengthened the power of President Idriss Déby, who took the reins through armed force. As a result, even religious stations found it difficult to make a breakthrough. The first Catholic station, La Voix du Paysan, started broadcasting in 1996. The lay station Dja FM followed suit only three years later. Other stations, including FM Liberté, Radio Brakos, and the brand new Duji Lokar FM came later.
Neither is democracy necessarily a condition for the development of independent radio, nor is independent radio necessarily a condition for the development of democracy. But in which ways can and do the two affect each other? What role can independent radio play in a process towards democracy?
What are the particular responsibilities that independent broadcasters have to assume in order to contribute to plurality, objectivity, freedom of speech, participation, integration and democratisation of a society?
The MITIL panel will discuss these and other questions linked to the topic, give examples from various parts of the world and let radio representatives among the audience share their own experience in this matter.