The community broadcasting library is being set up as an essential part of 16 community radio station in Bangladesh. Around 1000 rural broadcasters are directly benefitted from the library. Each library acts as a knowledge center to radio practitioners, development activists volunteers and the community people around the station areas with support from European Union, Free Press Unlimited and Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).
The will help their community broadcasters, trainers and volunteers to gain more knowledge and skill. As home-based knowledge source the library contributes in improving the existing management and program production quality of radio managers and producers which at the same time will positively influence the knowledge and skill of the future broadcasters. supporting and enhancing educational goals as outlined in the school’s mission and curriculum; developing and sustaining in community broadcasters the habit and enjoyment of reading and learning, and the use of libraries throughout their lives; offering opportunities for experiences in creating and using information for knowledge, understanding, imagination and enjoyment; supporting all community broadcasters in learning and practising skills for evaluating and using information, regardless of form, format or medium, including sensitivity to the modes of communication within the community; providing access to local, regional, national and global resources and opportunities that expose learners to diverse ideas, experiences and opinions; organizing activities that encourage cultural and social awareness and sensitivity; working with community broadcasters, station managers, local administrations and communities to achieve the mission of the community radio stations; proclaiming the concept that intellectual freedom and access to information are essential to effective and responsible citizenship and participation in a democracy; and promoting reading and the resources and services of the community rdaio library to the whole community and beyond.
Under the initiative, BNNRC has provided one book self and a set of books to each of the station. The library has included a set of books published by BNNRC on the topics like right to information, how to ensure participation and sustainability of a radio station, effective program making (using formats like development drama), financial management and capacity strengthening of radio practitioners etc. Apart from publications on community radio, this library includes other knowledge materials, information, newsletter, statistical book and research paper on issues of mass media and development.
The library will remain as an essential part of the station which will be updated continuously .It is expected that the library will provide community radio practitioners and human rights defenders with knowledge, tools and support to respond to freedom of expression, Right to Information, safety and protection of community journalists.
This will build awareness and strengthen understanding among the media practitioners which will effectively engage them in introducing media literacy at community level. Such a knowledge initiative will facilitate multi-stakeholder networks and support strategic linkages between national, regional and local level on the issues relevant to the lives and livelihood.
By bnnrc
AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR is Chief Executive Officer and founder Secretary of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). He has more than 20 years experience in leveraging community media and right to communication to create successful policy advocacy in Bangladesh in line with community media development. His areas of expertise straddle community media policy advocacy, training, project management especially in the area of community media.
He founded Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). BNNRC Devoted Entirely to Promote Community Media for Development (CM4D). BNNRC Leads Supports and Advocates for the Initiators to actively provide independent community broadcasting in Bangladesh since 2000. BNNRC represent the community electronic media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media, Academia and Development Partners from 2000. The BNNRC provides leadership and support for rural initiators to facilitate independent electronic community broadcasting services and to build and strengthen rural communities.
He actively works to improve recognition of the community electronic media sector [Community Radio | Community TV | Community Film] & its work in and involvement with the communities it seeks to serve. BNNRC's outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating Knowledge for Development (KM4D). In this backdrop, communication is recognized as an essential human need and, therefore, as a basic human right. Our working strategies are:
1. Communicating on the Public Sphere: The role of communication and media in exercising democratic political participation in society
2. Communicating Knowledge: The terms and means by which knowledge generated by society is communicated, or blocked, for use by different groups.
3. Civil Rights in Communication: The exercise of civil rights relating to the processes of communication in society &
4. Cultural Rights in Communication: The communication of diverse cultures, cultural forms and identities at the individual and social levels.
BNNRC now strives for the following core interventions to contribute in achieving 6th five Years Plan, UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through:
Right to Information- RTI for ensuring improved livelihood of the marginalized
ICT for Development- ICT4D for Bridging the Digital Divide in rural areas &
Community Radio/Community TV/ Community Film for amplifying voices for the voiceless and Amateur Radio for Disaster Risk Reduction
He graduated from University of Dhaka and Post graduated from Asian University of Bangladesh in the field of Social Science (MSS) in Government & Politics and Participated in certificate course on Development Management by Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) New Delhi, India
He currently founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) headed by Bangladesh Government, Community Radio Monitoring Committee of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum( UN IGF) Headed by Minister, Ministry of Information, Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (AP-RIGF) & Distinguish Fellow, Center for e-Parliament Research. Contact: ceo@bnnrc.net www.bnnrc.net
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