A study about community radio in the South Pacific Islands argues that community radio is on the crossroads of Western development theories and ideas, and the cultural sensibilities about development of the Pacific Islanders themselves. Linda Susan Austin’s thesis, titled Talanoa Radio: Exploring the Interface of Development, Culture and Community Radio in the South Pacific, asserts that development models in the Pacific are also making its way in the implementation of community radio projects. The study looked at five community radio broadcasters in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
“Pacific community radio is emerging as a distinctive form of development communication that is informed by Pacific indigenous development models,” Austin articulates. She added that community radio stations should also be integrated with their audience’s and community’s “communicative ecology” to become sustainable.
You may view Austin’s study here.