COMMUNITY RADIO AS AN AGENT OF SOCIAL CHANGE – A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SANGAM AND NAMMA DHWANI

Book excerpt: There exists no doubt, considering the proactive role of mass communication in gathering, disseminating and gauging the public opinion and motivating them towards a desired change. This role by mass media is more important, particularly, in India where citizens are being seen as information starving and being deprived of much required knowledge to better their lives. Studies in the past have pointed out that, media have and continues to play an important and decisive role in nations that are categorized as third world countries, in bringing about development and leading to a predetermined social change. Furthermore, media can play an independent and objective role in a democratic political setup in India, by bringing forth various opinions and ideas, thereby nurturing an informed citizen about the polices, developments and issues concerning them.