Media ownership is considered to be a key indicator and measure of the plurality, diversity and autonomy of media and its content. Mainstream media has had its struggle with ownership and transparency but alternative media also has its pitfalls. In the Community Radio sector, it is often assumed that because of the extremely explicit application criteria, the ownership is transparent. In a research study conducted by Maraa, we question if alternative media, such as community radio, is immune to influences like politicization and corporatization of media. The study investigates whether community radio stations in the country are indeed ‘community based’. Initial findings of the study observed trends of indirect politicization and corporatization and direct ownership by several religious groups in the sector, flouting both the letter and spirit of the community radio guidelines.
Here are the links to the three part study-
http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/community-media/community-radiowhere-is-the-community-9743
http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/community-media/community-radio-where-is-the-community-part-ii-9819
https://www.im4change.org/Anushi-Agrawal-and-Devi-Leena-Bose/Article-3-Community-Radio-give-it-back-to-the-community-Part-III-Devi-Leena-Bose-The-Hoot-3-January-2017.pdf