COMMUNITY+MEDIA

Community media is defined by any resources and means that individuals and communities (community can be seen as geographical, language, interests, cultural, religious, sexual orientation, etc., etc) can generate and utilize to express views, ideas, and opinions to others in the same community and beyond. This is achieved through the participation of staff, volunteers(essential to community building), listeners, readers, and viewers. It is consumer participation in the digital age (Rennie). Community media is the manifestation of civil society and the application of civic duty and responsibility that transcends politics and philosophical beliefs. It is simply a means by which to engage in dialogue that one would otherwise be unable to do in the mainstream media. As Ellie Rennie puts it, community media is "community communication." It is facilitated in large part by the advent of digital new media, but can also be in the form of radio, microradio, print, cable, and DIY ventures. **-Steve**