UNESCO Chair on Community Media

The Model United Nations (MUN) conducted by schools and colleges worldwide is almost a 100-years old tradition, going back to the time of the League of Nations in the 1920s. It has been a popular event in India since the 1990s. The UNESCO Chair on Community Media, Prof. Vinod Pavarala was the Chief Guest at the MUN convened by the Sadhana Infinity International School, Hyderabad on August 1. More than 100 9th and 10th graders from about 15 schools assembled there to debate some of the urgent problems facing the world. As they took on the roles of different countries in the UN, they made their respective cases on issues of security, drugs and crime, human rights and international aid, economic and social development, and the repatriation of artifacts 'stolen' from the former colonies (a topic for the UNESCO group at the MUN). At a time when multilateralism in the real world is under considerable strain, it was heartening to see the faith in international dialogue among young and bright people. Photos courtesy: SIIS, Hyderabad.

The UNESCO Chair on Community Media organised a workshop titled ‘Transforming MENtalities: Engaging Men and Boys through Community Radio’ jointly with the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, UNESCO New Delhi Office, and International Center for Research on Women at the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad on 19 May 2025 and 20 May 2025. The workshop’s objective was to deepen the understanding of masculinities and to encourage community radio stations (CRSs) to develop preliminary ideas to produce a radio programme series on topics related to masculinities.

Read more about the workshop and the participating CRSs in the report below:

https://herald.uohyd.ac.in/unesco-workshop-calls-on-indian-community-radio-stations-to-rethink-masculinities-on-air/

Photo Credits Krishna Pothuru

UNESCO workshop calls on Indian community radio stations to rethink masculinities on air | UNESCO workshop calls on Indian community radio stations to rethink masculinities on air May 26, 2025 How can community radio empower men and boys to become allies in advancing gender equality? That question took centre stage at the ‘Transforming MENtalities: Engaging Men and Boys through Communit...

Prof. Kanchan K. Malik, Faculty Fellow with the UNESCO Chair on Community Media, participated in the 8th National Community Radio Sammelan, held at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Organised under the banner of WAVES 2025 by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, the event brought together key stakeholders in the community radio sector.

Prof. Malik was a panellist in the session on Financial Sustainability for Community Radio, where she shared her insights on sustainability as a multi-dimensional, culturally grounded, and evolving practice—one that extends beyond purely financial considerations.

The Sammelan took place on May 3, 2025.

Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad
University of Hyderabad

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The UNESCO Chair on Community Media team -- Vinod Pavarala Kanchan K. Malik Vasuki Belavadi -- had an informative meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan with Ms. Sonam Pem, Executive Director of Tarayana Foundation, along with another of its representatives, Ms. Sherab Wangmo, on the future of community radio in Bhutan. Tarayana, a two-decade old NGO, founded by the Queen Mother, played a pioneering role in establishing two community radios in the country -- EDI Community RADIO. and Lhop Community Radio 91.1 FM. We were accompanied by Mr. Tshering Dorji Tee De and Jambay Tshering of Edi CR. PC: Saranya Pavarala

The UNESCO Chair on Community Media team -- Vinod Pavarala Kanchan K. Malik Vasuki Belavadi visited EDI Community RADIO. station in Decchen Pelri, Sarpang Dzongkhag (district), near Gelephu, close to the Indo-Bhutanese border, and interacted with the passionate and gritty Jambay Tshering, the all-in-one community broadcaster who runs it. During the visit, we were treated to a live performance of Boedra (classical) songs in Dzonghka by Zomba Lhamo and Nidup Tshomo, both also committee members. The station founded by the Tarayana Foundation in 2015, broadcasts in Dzonghka and Khengkha languages for 4 hours a day. We were accompanied to the station by Tshering Dorji of Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority- BICMA.

The UNESCO Chair on Community Media team-- Vinod Pavarala Kanchan K. Malik Vasuki Belavadi-- returns to Bhutan after 8 years to understand the status of community radio in the country. On a UNESCO mission supported by UNESCO New Delhi Office and in association with Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority- BICMA.

Announcing a new scholarly publication on community radio and disaster communication in Odisha by Dr. Manas Kanjilal (our former Ph.D student and now faculty at Reva University), Prof. Kanchan K. Malik, Faculty Fellow, UNESCO Chair on Community Media, and Prof. Priya Kapoor of Portland State University.

Fostering resilience: Community radio and disaster communication in Odisha, India - Manas Kumar Kanjilal, Kanchan K Malik, Priya Kapoor, 2024 Local voices carry tremendous weight during natural disasters, yet the possibilities for employing participatory communicative practices for disaster management...

Entries open for the 4th Jai Chandiram Memorial Community Media Film Festival. Organised by the Community Media Trust of Deccan Development Society, with support from UNESCO Chair on Community Media and UNESCO New Delhi Office on Nov.11-12, 2024. Deadline: October 7. Click on the link for details and entry form

Entries open for Jai Chandiram Memorial Community Media Film Festival | Deccan Development Society Entries are open for the 4th Edition of the Jai Chandiram Memorial Community Media Film Festival. The annual festival is organised by the Community Media Trust, Deccan Development Society. This edition is being co-organised with the UNESCO Chair on Community Media with support from UNESCO, New Delhi...