Community Radio Network Association of Magdalena Medio (Asociación Red de Emisoras Comunitarias del Magdalena Medio - AREDMAG)
AREDMAG is a non-governmental community organisation that promotes community participation and implements cultural and educational activities to contribute to "sustainable human development" and to "dignified peace" of the communities of the Magdalena Medio area, one of the regions of Colombia most affected by armed conflict. AREDMAG's main objective is the development of participatory "social" communication within community radio broadcasting as well as within other media.
AREDMAG was launched as an integral part of the Communication and Culture Strategy of the Programme of Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio programme oriented to impede the advance and reduce the effects of armed conflict in the zone.
This Communication and Culture Strategy was designed to enhance culture and communication in the region, to support those civil society organisations that were managing and executing projects to have the capacity to influence development decisions on both local and regional levels. All with the final objective of creating "conviviality"/tolerance and peaceful cohabitation, conditions that are based supporting and recognising independent voices of the communities, cultural and historic heritage and the development of the talents within the communities.
Within the framework of the Programme of Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio, an initial inventory showed that in 18 of the 29 municipalities of the Magdalena Medio there were some initiatives, projects or radio stations functioning and if there was no radio station, there was a great desire within the communities for establishing one. The existing radio stations which originally launched AREDMAG were in the municipalities of Betulia, El Carmen, San Vicente de Chucurí, Sabana de Torres, Puerto Wilches in Santander, Yondó, Puerto Nare and Puerto Berrío in Antioquia, San Alberto, San Martín, Gamarra, Aguachica and La Gloria in Cesar and San Pablo, Morales and Río Viejo in Bolívar.
AREDMAG has the following objectives:
AREDMAG was launched as an integral part of the Communication and Culture Strategy of the Programme of Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio programme oriented to impede the advance and reduce the effects of armed conflict in the zone.
This Communication and Culture Strategy was designed to enhance culture and communication in the region, to support those civil society organisations that were managing and executing projects to have the capacity to influence development decisions on both local and regional levels. All with the final objective of creating "conviviality"/tolerance and peaceful cohabitation, conditions that are based supporting and recognising independent voices of the communities, cultural and historic heritage and the development of the talents within the communities.
Within the framework of the Programme of Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio, an initial inventory showed that in 18 of the 29 municipalities of the Magdalena Medio there were some initiatives, projects or radio stations functioning and if there was no radio station, there was a great desire within the communities for establishing one. The existing radio stations which originally launched AREDMAG were in the municipalities of Betulia, El Carmen, San Vicente de Chucurí, Sabana de Torres, Puerto Wilches in Santander, Yondó, Puerto Nare and Puerto Berrío in Antioquia, San Alberto, San Martín, Gamarra, Aguachica and La Gloria in Cesar and San Pablo, Morales and Río Viejo in Bolívar.
AREDMAG has the following objectives:
- Contributing to strengthening of community radio stations of the region of the Magdalena Medio and other regions of the country.
- Promoting the participation, management and community self-management of its associates.
- Working for the respect and integration of the right to the information of the inhabitants of the Region of the Magdalena Medio and other regions of the country.
- Promoting the cultural development, protection of the environment and "conviviality"/ tolerance or peaceful cohabitation in the Magdalena Medio and other regions of the country, by means of cultural, sports, musical and informative programmes, through its associated radio stations.
- Advancing education, consultancy services and research that contribute to the protection of the environment, the promotion of citizenship, family life, gender equity, community participation, and other themes of regional interest.
- Prompting in the associated radio stations and in the communities artistic, economic, recreational, cultural, and educational actions that affirm a local cultural identity.
- Advancing activities, to negotiate and to execute projects, that permit the social and financial sustainability of the network and its associates.
Communication Strategies
AREDMAG works to promote the development of communication projects that support community processes within radio stations of the Magdalena Medio. This has triggered the positioning and local recognition of the community radio projects, based on the awareness of their social responsibility as communication media.
One of the most significant contributions of the network to the community of the Magdalena Medio has been that of permitting, through its radio stations, the democratisation of communication and of the local mass media. It has set in motion a new perception of the region based on the cultural projects and it has created awareness of and within the local people towards the regional project that the network is pursuing. Additionally, the work of the community radio stations has allowed bonding between and supported collaboration among the diverse municipalities that make up the network.
AREDMAG has also played an important role in the processes of strengthening political culture in the region, facilitating processes of civic participation in popular elections to City Halls and Councils.
One of the most significant contributions of the network to the community of the Magdalena Medio has been that of permitting, through its radio stations, the democratisation of communication and of the local mass media. It has set in motion a new perception of the region based on the cultural projects and it has created awareness of and within the local people towards the regional project that the network is pursuing. Additionally, the work of the community radio stations has allowed bonding between and supported collaboration among the diverse municipalities that make up the network.
AREDMAG has also played an important role in the processes of strengthening political culture in the region, facilitating processes of civic participation in popular elections to City Halls and Councils.
Development Issues
Conflict, Rights, Democracy and Citizenship.
Key Points
The Association has a long-term strategy of strengthening radio stations in programmatic and technical aspects of production as well as a long-term aim of strengthening of its presence as a local voice of the people and a gradual establishment of relations with other networks in Colombia.
The projects noted below are just some of those initiated and supported by the network as a result of their empowerment and capacity to design and execute initiatives:
On All Fours, songs and stories for a better breeding (A Gatas, cantos y cuentos para una crianza mejor): a radio series that speaks of the experiences of children from the region, of children's capabilities and development as human beings, and informs about and promotes children's rights.
Radio for Life (Radio para la vida): regional radio series with 5 key themes: right to life, rights of children, cultural rights (right to the diversity), right to communication, and "arguments for hope". 8 community radio stations participate.
Regional Communication and Children Node (Nodo Regional Comunicación y Niñez): proposes the creation and strengthening of radio spaces for children through the production of children's programmes that motivate the expression of the children and in this manner, aims to play an important role in the development of strategies that support the rights of the children in the Magdalena Medio.
National System of Communication for Peace - SIPAZ (Sistema Nacional de Comunicación para la paz - SIPAZ): aims to implement a news agency which highlights peace building events and processes that occur, that are produced in different regions throughout Colombia.
TeleUIS Group: Industrial University Communication System of Santander (Convenio TeleUIS: Sistema de Comunicación Universidad Industrial de Santander): cooperative group that seeks the exchange of programming and radio training to achieve higher quality programming in participating radio stations. Radio programmes , such as The Voice of America, whose broadcasting rights are ceded to Teleuis, are transmitted / broadcast thru the AREDMAG network
The projects noted below are just some of those initiated and supported by the network as a result of their empowerment and capacity to design and execute initiatives:
On All Fours, songs and stories for a better breeding (A Gatas, cantos y cuentos para una crianza mejor): a radio series that speaks of the experiences of children from the region, of children's capabilities and development as human beings, and informs about and promotes children's rights.
Radio for Life (Radio para la vida): regional radio series with 5 key themes: right to life, rights of children, cultural rights (right to the diversity), right to communication, and "arguments for hope". 8 community radio stations participate.
Regional Communication and Children Node (Nodo Regional Comunicación y Niñez): proposes the creation and strengthening of radio spaces for children through the production of children's programmes that motivate the expression of the children and in this manner, aims to play an important role in the development of strategies that support the rights of the children in the Magdalena Medio.
National System of Communication for Peace - SIPAZ (Sistema Nacional de Comunicación para la paz - SIPAZ): aims to implement a news agency which highlights peace building events and processes that occur, that are produced in different regions throughout Colombia.
TeleUIS Group: Industrial University Communication System of Santander (Convenio TeleUIS: Sistema de Comunicación Universidad Industrial de Santander): cooperative group that seeks the exchange of programming and radio training to achieve higher quality programming in participating radio stations. Radio programmes , such as The Voice of America, whose broadcasting rights are ceded to Teleuis, are transmitted / broadcast thru the AREDMAG network
Partners
Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Comunicación de Yondó (ADECOY); Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Comunicación de San Pablo (ADECOSAN); Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Comunicación y la Cultura de La Gloria (ADECOGLORIA).
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