Its exploration of community in the present and the future of community radio is a good synthesis of the ideas of community that the podcast requires, with the ideas of participatory culture that are examined at further length by the unit. Furthermore, your questions tie in well with each other and a logical progression is noticeable. Technically speaking, the sound quality is high, and both presenters are clear and audible.

Of particular note was the point Dani made, and you expanded upon, about small niche groups forming a large group of people, which to me spoke a lot about the long-tail economic theory, but took it beyond economics and making products available to people in an online shop, and articulated the same process in how it forms communities in a larger society.

Furthermore, the discussion on the relative ease for community members to join into the community formed by the radio station indicates again a good topic choice. By its sheer existence, broadcasting in as many languages as it does, it engages members of society with the radio who may not necessarily be involved with it. Especially if these are people who don’t necessarily have a good command of English, the radio station facilitates their connection with world news and events.

The topic of the digital stream presents an interesting irony, that the technology behind digital radio theoretically reduces the barriers for engagement, that is, making radio and broadcast more oriented to a participatory culture, yet the bulk of the digital channel is occupied by commercial interests, and potentially will squeeze out existing or potential community broadcasters. This concern was not one with which I was previously familiar, so your work in informing people of situations via the podcast technology has again been successful.

All in all this piece of work presented satisfies all criteria, in that it is technically well produced, engages the audience and ties together ideas of community in their existing forms, and presents them in a new manner, asking questions of them and their place in the future with new technologies.

However, there are raising concerns about the future of these community radios. With the advent of digital technology, it seems as if community radios will lose a place in society. Given that there are only small niches of groups supporting community radio and that digital channel mainly goes to commercial radios, the community radio would have to rely on word-of-mouth or some form of advertisement in order to keep itself going.

This podcast has efficiently demonstrated the idea of participatory culture and community through the relevant use of examples. It has also demonstrated the controversies of digital media and widened my knowledge in knowing that some radio stations still broadcast using analog channels rather than digital channels. This podcast has also portrayed professionalism and clarity. Lastly, it would be great to know more about what Dani has to say about the future of and what could be done to ensure the continuity of community radio!