Expanding access to information and countering information deserts: The vital pulse of radio





In vast stretches beyond cities, the resonance of the radio fills a void. It offers access to information, to education, and to connection. In many parts of the world, and certainly in the Americas, radio has become more than a medium — it is a lifeline. Latin America provides a compelling testament to radio as a potent vehicle for information dissemination and education, especially in rural areas. But it is under threat.The omnipresence of radio in non-urban areas is no accident. Designed to reach remote corners, radio bypasses the need for internet connections, telephones, or even electricity, at times.Often the first to report incidents, these radio stations amplify the voices of agrarian leaders, providing perspectives on acts of violence and conflict that might otherwise remain unheard. The same is true for other local communities and groups dedicated to serving them. In some cases, radio stations are part of non-governmental organisations, functioning as their communications arm. They spread the word about services, gather reports and complaints, and connect listeners to people who can help them. This subjects those holding the microphone — or speaking into it — to a variety of risks. For many of these communities, merely expressing themselves can be deemed illegal. Indigenous communities know this well. Recent incidents in Bolivia have shown how local indigenous radio stations can be targeted by different groups. Since August, in Bolivia, one station has complained to the National Association of Journalists (ANP) of a raid, and three more were taken off the air when their permission to use the airwaves (which in most countries in the region, belong to the State) was revoked — without much explanation.