Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has organized an orientation on National Community Radio Listeners Survey on 29th November 2017 for the participation of 17 Community Radio stations in Bangladesh with support from Free Press Unlimited.
The orientation brought together more than 35 participants, and its primary focus was audience engagement, taking into account of the results of the listener’s survey that was carried out on the title, National Community Radio Listeners Survey report 2017.
Participants of the orientation were introduced to various ways in which they can get involved themselves with the community for conducting the National Community Radio Listeners Survey 2017 in line with community radio programs and more importantly how they can support community Radio stations to enhance its sustainability in the future.
Speaking during the opening of the orientation, Dr. Nazeen Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) intimated that such orientation is very important and useful as they help to promote, enhance and ensure active community participation and ownership of the community radio stations in line with organizing National Community Radio Listeners Survey 2017 .
The overall aim of this survey is to provide information that will assess the perceptions, Attitudes, opinions, likes and dislikes of Community Radio listeners, as well as their listening behaviour. Specific research objectives included: Estimate the number of community people who listen to the community radio in general, and when they listen to radio, assess the awareness of community radio stations in general and with prompting, calculate the percentage of people who have listened to Community Radio Service, and when they listened to Community Radio Service. Estimate the coverage/reach of the Community Radio Service; i.e., the percentage of average weekly Community Radio Service listeners; Identify the typical place and environment of radio listenership. Establish the quality of reception and clarity. Find out the listening habits, attitudes, perceptions, likes and dislikes of Community Radio Service listeners. Determine the level of radio participation, determine the level of listener’s access to community radio program, Measure access to and consumption of other media, Determine the time of day when people commonly listen to community radio service. Estimate specific program reach and listener profiles etc.
Assessment reactions to program content based on the following attributes: Relevance, Credibility/trustworthiness, Quality, Importance, Appreciation, Favourite program(s), Favourite language(s).Listeners awareness and preference of presenters. Measure the impact of Community Radio Services listening on behaviour change and Knowledge – covering civic education, agricultural, health, and educational issues. Perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of Community Radio Service. Assess demographic profile of listeners: age, gender, educational level, languages.
Dr. Nazeen said “I am so proud and happy to be a part of the process of first national Community Radio Listeners Survey 2017 in Bangladesh and I urge the beneficiary community to make use of it for the further development of Community Radio Stations in Bangladesh.
The participants who attended in the orientation lauded the event and called for organizers to conduct more audience research training sessions, as this will help nurture a closer working relationship between the community radio and its target audience.