Curriculum for Community Radio Training in Nigeria

Published by Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO – formerly the Institute for Media and Society) and Panos West Africa, this 30-page curriculum seeks to provide skills that will enable the design, establishment, and management of community radio as a participatory communication tool to empower development at the local level. The curriculum includes the following modules.

• Module 1: Community Development - This module explains the concepts of community development and community broadcasting. It situates broadcasting within the context of community development. At the end of the module, participants will be able to explain the key community development concepts and the role of radio in community development.
• Module 2: Introduction to Community Broadcast - This module is a general introduction to the concept, evolution, and present practice of community radio broadcasting in Africa and in the world at large. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the development of community radio and its role in community development.
• Module 3: ICT in Broadcast - This module addresses the types of information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as their uses in radio stations. At the end of the module, the participants are expected to be able to identify, describe, and use various ICTs relevant to radio broadcasting.
• Module 4: Law and Ethics - This module covers the issues of policy, legislation, regulation, and ethics affecting community radio operations. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of and respect for the law and ethics of community radio broadcasting.
• Module 5: Use of Language - This module addresses the appropriate and effective use of language in community radio broadcasts. At the nd of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate the ability to recognise appropriate and inappropriate use of language on radio and to present information in an effective and efficient manner.
• Module 6: Archiving - This module deals with the organisation and storage of valuable broadcast materials in the community radio station. At the end of this module, participants will be able to demonstrate the ability to set up an effective and efficient archiving system for a community radio station.
• Module 7: Management - This module will equip participants with the information and skills required for the general management of a community radio station. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills required for the management of human, financial, material, and other resources used in a community radio station.
• Module 8: Marketing - This module addresses the challenges of marketing the station to potential volunteers, partners, listeners, funding agencies, and advertisers. At the end of the module, the participants are expected to be able to: demonstrate the capacity to identify and access relevant stakeholders; justify the station's reason for being; inform the development of programmes relevant to stakeholders' needs and thereby obtain stakeholders' commitment to the station.
• Module 9: Financial Management - This module addresses the generation and management of funds in community radio stations. At the end of the module, the participants will be able to demonstrate the capacity to raise funds, attract patronage from stakeholders, monitor, and control the disbursement of funds to meet the needs of a community radio station.
• Module 10: Programming - This module exposes participants to the issues that influence programming as well as the range of programming strategies and techniques. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of programming strategies and techniques; and to develop effective programme schedules.
• Module 11: Production - This module exposes participants to programme production methods and processes towards developing necessary skills. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate skill in the production of various programme formats.
• Module 12: Presentation - This module covers the qualities of a good broadcast voice and the uses of the voice as a vital component of the composite sound on radio. It addresses the techniques and skills of radio presentation. At the end of this module, the participants are expected to demonstrate the ability to recognise the qualities of a good broadcast voice and be able to describe and apply the techniques of radio presenting.
• Module 13: Radio Journalism - This module will address the gathering, processing, and presentation of news through the medium of radio. At the end of this module, participants will be able to report, write, edit, and package news programmes.
• Module 14: Technical/Engineering - This module will provide participants with the knowledge and skills required for the effective management of broadcasting equipment in a community radio station. At the end of the module, participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theory of radio propagation and audio processing, as well as skills in the installation, maintenance, and repair of broadcast equipment.