Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.4 (2008 = 3.1; 2006 = 3.0) 3.12 Community broadcasting enjoys special promotion given its potential to broaden access by communities to the airwaves. Somehow it seems a miracle that there should still be so many – 96 – community radios on air in South Africa, as well as three community television stations. Many “are starving at the fingertips of government” which is paying for the airing of government sponsored programmes and often trying to dictate content. Donor funding is drying up after 15 years of support. The only community radios that are doing well are those that serve religious communities because they are backed by faith organisations. The only real resource community radios have is their frequency – but most non-governmental organisations refuse to pay for the airtime they get. They approach donors directly for funds to produce programmes and then demand that community radio stations air them for free. Often these programmes tackle subjects that are irrelevant to the communities they are produced for. Many stations have to pay the signal distributor SENTECH transmission rates which are regarded as exorbitant – Cape Town-based Bush Radio (dubbed “the mother of all community radios, because it was the first to go on air in South Africa, in August 1994) is sitting with a huge bill which has accumulated over a long period. Many community radio stations operate solely on “sheer willpower” of their management (which is admirable) and through volunteerism. Volunteers are usually younger than 25 years old, mostly with no (chance of ) other employment and hoping for a job of a kind. In reality, though, apart from getting some work experience, they are being exploited – and leave after a few months. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2010 55