A situation paper on the privately owned radio stations in Mauritius

Radios can be used for the direct and unabashed manufacture of public opinion. Having established themselves as entertainment, they can pass smoothly and almost imperceptibly into a propaganda and by means of carefully edited news and carefully contrived talks can do more than any other known agency to convey palatable doses of truth or of untruth to the public. Moreover, radios can be depicted as being the most efficient way to communicate with the poor and illiterate. Radios provide citizens with access to information, conduits to decision makers, opportunities to build local capacity, and can promote community empowerment. In Mauritius, the emergence of private radios since 2002 has somehow created a platform for ordinary people to voice out their concerns and views through programs that highlight irregularities within the societal system. However, a research has to be conducted to analyse what kind of space has been formed and what voice can now be heard and finally whether the former has been able to ignite a positive change in the society.

Autorentext

is a young ambitious social development thinker who has participated in many prestigious forums revolving around social issues both locally and abroad; one of which is the World Economic Forum in January 2007 where she shared the same platform as Gordon Brown and Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan.

Klappentext

Radios can be used for the direct and unabashed "manufacture" of public opinion. Having established themselves as entertainment, they can pass smoothly and almost imperceptibly into a propaganda and by means of carefully edited "news" and carefully contrived "talks" can do more than any other known agency to convey palatable doses of truth - or of untruth - to the public. Moreover, radios can be depicted as being the most efficient way to communicate with the poor and illiterate. Radios provide citizens with access to information, conduits to decision makers, opportunities to build local capacity, and can promote community empowerment. In Mauritius, the emergence of private radios since 2002 has somehow created a platform for ordinary people to voice out their concerns and views through programs that highlight irregularities within the societal system. However, a research has to be conducted to analyse what kind of space has been formed and what voice can now be heard and finally whether the former has been able to ignite a positive change in the society.