This document discusses how mobile phones and radio compare to the internet as participatory media in developing areas. It notes that together, radios and mobile phones can serve as a broad-distribution network accessible to more people, including non-literate audiences, similar to some internet dynamics. The document also highlights examples of community radio stations in Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya and how they utilize volunteers. It asks questions about how new information and communication technologies impact public debate, political participation, citizen-state relations, and relations with other governance actors.

1. Sharath Srinivasan radio.frontlinesms.com @smsradio Centre of Governance and Human Rights University of Cambridge ss919@cam.ac.uk

3. Mobile v Internet in Africa (source: Appfrica Labs, Guardian Unlimited Jan 2010)

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7. “The only technology that compares to the mobile phone in terms of pervasiveness and accessibility in the developing world is the radio. Indeed, considered together, radios and mobile phones can serve as a broad-distribution, participatory media network with some of the same citizen media dynamics of the Internet, but accessible to a much wider, and non-literate audience.” Ethan Zuckerman, 2007

9. Radio still rules Nkhotakota Community Radio, Malawi Courtesy of DRP Nkhotakota Community Radio Station in Malawi

10. Community Radio and technology’s ‘long-tail’ Breeze FM, Zambia: Community volunteers with presenter (standing) Courtesy of DRP

11. PamojaFM, Kibera, Kenya Courtesy of Emil Graesholm

14. ResearchingICT innovations and citizen-led governance How do new ICTs impact upon: Public debate? People’s political capabilities? Citizen-State relations? Relations with other governance actors? Public goods?