Border radio: prospective roles in strengthening the relationship between Thailand and Malaysia. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Polnigongit, Weerapong
• Is Part Of: Media Asia. Volume 43:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: listening -- border radio -- roles -- Thai–Malaysian relations -- participatory international communication; Mass media -- Asia -- Periodicals; Médias -- Asie -- Périodiques; Mass media; Asia; Massacommunicatie; MASS COMMUNICATION; COMMUNICATION RESEARCH; ASIA; Periodicals; 302.23095
• DOI: 10.1080/01296612.2016.1169693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0129-6612

Abstract

Abstract : Although participatory communication theories are conventionally applied to both community radio within countries and to participation in the production and presentation of such media, the UN's Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding (1978) specifically promotes the concept of cross-border participation in media, while the UN's Research Institute for Social Development considers "encounter" to be a dimension of participation. This brings border radio under the UN's Declaration, while incorporating listening as a dimension of participation. A recent survey conducted on border radio on the Thai–Malaysian border reveals that both Malaysian and Thai residents listened to border radio one way or another and for a variety of reasons, and that almost all of them thought that this form of cross-border communication was useful. This suggests that radio programs employing participatory forms of international communication theory in radio programming that are specifically aimed at strengthening Thai–Malaysian relations may be viable along the border. A crucial obstacle to strategies based on these kinds of communication theories, however, is not the lack of interest by local residents but the lack of collaboration between governments.