Colombia. Two pieces of good news were issued by Colombia's ICT Ministry for the country's community broadcasters. The first is the announcement of 107 community radio stations benefiting from the first edition of the call 'Territorios al AIRE'.
Through this program, the realization of sound content will be financed with a total investment of $ 2,533 million (about US $ 616 thousand). These stations will also be able to access a training process to strengthen the skills of their work teams thanks to the alliance with the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge.
"Through 'Territorios al AIRE', for the first time in history, the ICT Ministry will finance the production of sound content to feed the programming of community stations in our country. We will continue to deploy actions that strengthen these important community media, as they are an engine of peace, preserving our customs and forging a Colombia Power of Life," said ICT Minister Mauricio Lizcano.
For this call, up to 127 stimuli were projected and 152 proposals were received, of which 107 met all the participation requirements and are pioneers in the creation of sound content with 'Territorios al AIRE'.
The second news is the authorization for the concessionaires of the Community Sound Broadcasting service to broadcast political advertising and electoral propaganda.
"With this circular we announce that community and ethnic radio stations will be able to engage in political advertising, without falling into proselytism. It is very important to comply with the standards and requirements that are in that document, "said the ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano.
Proselytism, understood jurisprudentially as the activity tending to gain followers or supporters for a faction, partiality or doctrine, is prohibited in the programming of Community and Ethnic Community Stations.
Community radio programming, in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of Resolution 2614 of 2022, must be aimed at generating spaces for expression, information, education, communication, cultural promotion, training, debate and consultation that lead to the encounter between the different social identities and cultural expressions of the community, within the scope of citizen integration and solidarity.
It is important to remember that the jurisprudence of the Council of State established that community radio must promote local democratic participation, with issues of public interest, and with spaces for participation, which represent their interests and needs.
The circular specifies that community and ethnic community radio stations may disseminate and broadcast advertising and electoral propaganda subject to compliance with the law, as provided by the National Electoral Council, and taking into account their status as non-profit entities.
To read Circular 020 of August 2023, click here.
