Functions of Community Media in the Slums of Nairobi

1
Functions of Community Media in the Slums of
Nairobi
2
Context - Media Situation and Social Divides

• From colonial media to state media to commercial
  media
• A city of great contrasts
• More than 50 live in informal settlements
• 5 of the citys land

3
Four functions of community media

• Contesting mainstream content
• Creating a public space
• Amplifying the voice of the voiceless
• Providing role models and employment
  opportunities for the youth

4
Contesting mainstream content

• The perception of everybody else the ghetto
  is just gutter. Outside it is viewed as hell on
  earth. So the perception from the viewership and
  the listener is like Ghetto is hell. Nothing good
  can come out of the Ghetto. So the perception
  coming out of the reflection by mainstream media
  is people in the ghetto are losers.
• Alternative media producer

5
Contesting mainstream content

• The major goals and driving force of producing
  media
• Positive images - giving the slum dwellers
  something to be proud of
• Self-representation
• Kiswahili

6
Creating a public space/Amplifying the voice of
the voiceless

• You can see even the location of the X, it is
  strategic. It is next to the people. You find
  that the other radio stations are in town and the
  people are not living in town. The people are
  living in the slums, in the estates. So actually
  it is strategic placed to give information, to
  get the views of the common man living in the
  slums their ideas, their opinions about their
  political, social, and economic development. Its
  main goal is to raise, to disseminate information
  to the common man.
• Alternative media producer

7
Creating a public space/Amplifying the voice of
the voiceless

• A platform for debate - exchange ideas and
  opinions
• Network creator - linking different groups
  together
• Provide useful information - empower the people
• Remove sensible information
• The importance of location
• Local content
• Close relationship with community
• Common mans impact over the content
• Open door policy
• feedback

8
Providing role models and employment to the youth

• Youth from the slum
• Gain experience and learn a profession
• Voluntary work
• Give something back to the community
• Celebrate status
• Role models

9
Concluding remarks

• Democratisation of the media
• Democratisation through the media

10
What to do next?

• This study part of my PhD-project
• Focused on the producers perspective
• The audience perspective needed
• More observations to understand the interaction
  with the community
• Survey and group interviews with youth living in
  the slums
• Examine linkages between different spheres and
  groups in society
• Community media vs. Mainstream media