Urban Unrest

10 September 2007 | World | Ernesto Aguilar

Community Radio Training Workshop
Organised in collaboration with Ideosync Media Collective,
Nomad India Network and Free Radio Berkeley
September 27,28,29th 2007
Dahanu, Maharashtra, India

One of the fundamental issues groups are grappling with in the Community Radio movement in India is the choice of technology and its costs. Despite the fact that technology forms only a small component of a Community Radio Station (CRS), more important ones being social mobilization, several dilemmas and concerns are being expressed in terms of the setting up,
running and maintenance of a CRS by a local community.

In an attempt to demystify the technology and provide a hands on experience of working with radio equipment, a Community Radio Training workshop has been organised in Dahanu, Maharashtra from September 27-29th, 2007.

Agenda

September 27th, Thursday
11 am Arrival at Tamarind Tree Farm, Dahanu

11.30 Introduction of participants

12.00 Introduction to the Community Radio Movement in India (Seema Nair, UNESCO)

1.00- 2.00 Lunch

2.00 Global Micro Power Radio Movement and Electronic Civil Disobedience (Stephen Dunifer, Free Radio Berkely)

3.00 Experience sharing from Latin America (Stephen Dunifer) and Radio for Peace, Worldwide (Jean Parker)

4.30 Tea

5.30 CR Application Process and Guidelines

Open Session at Dinner

Day 2 September 28th

The second day will be dedicated to understanding and demystifying technology and the running of a CRS. Activists will get hands on experience and work with RF equipment.

9.30am Technical Session on RF Equipment Required for a CRS Assembling a 1 Watt Transmitter [Session facilitated by Stephen (Free Radio Berkely), Hemant and Amarjeet
(Nomad)] Discussion

1 pm Lunch

2 pm Assembling a Tunable Dipole Antenna

4 pm Tea

4.30 Studio Equipment Options [Session by N. Ramakrishnan – Ideosync Media Collective]

Making a programme

Open session with dinner

Day 3 September 29th

9.30 Concluding Session

Technical Training and Capacity Building of community groups

Lunch and departure

Logistics

Dahanu is located approximately 120 kms north of Mumbai towards Gujarat. The best route to Dahanu is by train from Mumbai which takes approximately two and a half to three hours. It is on the Western line and several trains going to Gujarat stop here. There are also shuttles starting at Virar. By road, a private taxi would have to be hired. This too takes about three hours from Bandra/Andheri.

Food and Accommodation would be provided at Tamarind Tree Farm, Dahanu. Given that this workshop is not supported by any agency, we request activists and NGO’s to contribute Rs. 600 for all three days to cover basic food and accommodation costs. Grassroots activists unable to bear this expense can write to us for a waiver.

For more details, contact
Michelle Chawla
Nomad India Network
Mob- (0) 9860030888
email: michelle@nomadindia.net

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