Mapping community media organisations in Cyprus: A methodological reflection. Issue 1 (1st April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voniati, Chris; Doudaki, Vaia; Carpentier, Nico
• Is Part Of: Journal of alternative and community media. Volume 3:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2018-04-01
• Subjects: Alternative mass media -- Periodicals; Local mass media -- Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1386/joacm_00037_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2206-5857

Abstract

Identifying grassroots or below-the-radar organisations, such as community media organisations, is a challenging task that is not always supported sufficiently by methodological literature. The objective of this article is to address this challenge by proposing a structured approach to mapping analysis: (1) driven by an (operational) definition of the social entity; (2) that allows for a population-based mapping process; (3)that uses a particular registration instrument (labelled a Mapping Index Card, or MIC); (4) to process data from multiple sources; and (5) to analyse the information registered in these MICs. By zooming in on the only divided country of Europe the island of Cyprus this article then illustrates how to design and conduct a mapping research of community media organisations on a national scale. Other than giving an overview of the community media operating in Cyprus, this mapping exercise aims to provide a methodological guide for mapping civil society and below-the-radar organisations in general.