This publication on community media is focused on democratic and sustainable development. It discusses participation as the main interest of those who support or are active in community radio.  The publication contains articles, audio, and video documents by practitioners, decision makers, and scholars.

From the Introduction by James Deane:

"...This publication is not designed to be an exhaustive analysis of community radio in the 21st century. It is designed to provide perspectives on a rapidly changing and increasingly relevant movement within the context of contemporary development debates. It does not suggest that community media offer a panacea to all society’s ills, nor to argue that other forms of media do not have critical roles in development. It does argue that current evidence and experience should prompt a major re-evaluation and increasing interest in community radio by development policymakers and specialists. We suggest that what is also needed are strong efforts to create more enabling policy and regulatory environments for community media."

This publication includes the following contributions:

• Communication for Development in the 21st Century: ICT-enhanced Empowerment of Poor and Marginalised People. A Foreword by Walter Fust, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

• Preface by Marcelo Solervicens, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

• Introduction by James Deane, Communication for Social Change Consortium (CFSC Consortium)

• The Rescuing of Democracy: The Contribution of Community Radio in Nepal by Kunda Dixit, Nepali Times

• The Role of Community Radio in the Nepali Crisis: An Interview with Raghu Mainali by James Deane, CFSC Consortium

• Perspectives on Community Radio in Latin America by Alfonso Gumucio-Dagron, CFSC Consortium

• Community Radio at a Crossroads: A Perspective from Francophone Africa by Fatoumata Sow

• Perspectives and Experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa by Grace Githaiga, Econews

• Community Radio, New Technologies and Policy: Enough Watching, It’s Time for Doing by Bruce Girard

• What is Community Radio in the 21st Century? A Perspective from UNESCO [the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] by Wijayananda Jayaweera

• WCCD Statement on Community Media

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World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters website and RFPA News, Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa (RFPA) Issue 006, September 10 2008.