Campus radio station and local communities interrogating ATL FM’s role in local community development in the Cape Coast metropolis

Abstract

This study presents an exploratory analysis of ATL FM, a campus-based radio station at the University of Cape Coast, focusing on its role in the development of local communities within the Cape Coast Metropolis. Guided by the Democratic Participant Media Theory and Participatory Development Paradigm, the study employed semistructured interviews with both the management, staff of ATL FM and community members to gather insights into the station's role in the development of the identified communities. In addition, the study used observation to collect data regarding programming and other initiatives geared towards community development. Findings of the study revealed that while ATL FM’s programming and content generation were deemed satisfactory, there is a critical need for greater community involvement in all stages of its programme development, from conception to production. The study concludes by recommending that regulatory bodies, specifically the National Communication Authority and the National Media Commission, implement regulations mandating campus radio stations to allocate a quarter of their programmes to address developmental issues affecting the communities within the catchment areas of university campuses in Ghana.