Radio Media Village @ 90.8 FM

Contact Person: Vipin Raj

Broadcasting Language: Malayalam, Hindi, English and Tamil

Genesis: Radio Media Village 90.8 is the first FM community radio service in the Kottayam district of Kerala, and started its broadcasting on 10th February 2012. This radio station is licensed to St. Joseph College of Communication, which is the first university affiliated media college in South India. Radio Media Village is a radio station of the community in every sense, with strong community participation in every aspect. The CRS broadcasts its programmes throughout the day, and is supported by a large number of community volunteers. Through its programmes, the CRS has been able to positively influence the lives of those around it.

Thematic Focus: Awareness and interventions in Agriculture, Health, Women and Children, Education, Law, Charity, Disaster Management, Rural Development and economic growth  

The major focus areas of Radio Media Village are agriculture, health, women empowerment, protection of children, rural development, disaster management, legal empowerment, and economic growth of the local community. The CRS also actively supports charity events and philanthropic initiatives for the welfare of the marginalised and impoverished members of the community.  

Sustainable Development Goals: The SDGs that the CRS focuses on are: 

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Primetime Programmes: The primetime programmes that are broadcast on Radio Media Village are Morning Cafe, Music Hungama, and Enjoy Enjami. Other signature programmes include Radio Help Desk, Health and Life, Road Safety, Hrudayamozhi, Naadum Naatarum, Ente Naadu Nammude Radio, Kannadikazcha, Nattumukku, Vartha Veekshanam, Thudithalam, Job Banking, Children’s Park, MLA on Live, Radio@Panchayat, Friday Movies, AJ Talks (Current Issues). Loud Speaker, and Doctor’s Live.

These programmes are a combination of various formats that educate, entertain, and empower the society. The  programmes even feature local representatives and political figures who discuss various concerns and try to find solutions through collective efforts. This promotes transparency and accountability in the work of the local administrative bodies. 

Innovations in format or any other way: The vast range of innovative programmes at Radio Media Village attracts many listeners. The CRS narrowcasts its programmes and initiatives by organising camps and events in collaboration with the local educational institutions, hospitals, and NGOs. Active social media presence and promotion is another way through which the CRS engages with the audience and community at large.

Core Team: Radio Media Village has a large and extensive team. The governing body consists of fifteen members, the programme management committee is constituted of thirty members, and there are eighteen additional staff who manage different responsibilities. There are three hundred volunteers who actively participate and promote the activities of the CRS.

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Media Village has been involved in numerous projects which include the International Day of Yoga campaigns in association with CEMCA and the Ministry of Ayush, the election awareness campaign in collaboration with SMART and the Election Commission, and the Disaster Management campaign in association with Ideosync. The CRS has also been a key contributor in various campaigns on nutrition, health, organic farming, and waste management.

Sustainable Strategies: Radio Media Village is fully funded by its parent organisation St. Joseph College of Communication. The CRS is able to generate revenue through funded collaborations and advertisements. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: The CRS broadcast its programmes to parts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Idukki districts in Kerala, and has an outreach potential of nearly three lakh people with an active listeners base of one lakh listeners. 

Major concerns in the Community: The major concerns in the community are seasonal health concerns and disasters due to erratic rainfall. Effective waste management strategies are the need of the hour to protect the environment from being polluted and water resources from being contaminated.