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The following is some updated information on the Pulsar
project that AMARC and CEDEP have established in
Latin America. Pulsar's news bulletins are in Spanish
and are prepared for Latin America's radio stations.
Pulsar will soon be introducing a new service for the
print media, NGOs and individuals.

To subscribe, send an email message to pulsar@pulsar.org.ec
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Pulsar: Impulso informativo

At  the Seminar on Communication Media and Democracy in Latin
America and the Caribbean, held in Santiago, Chile in May 1994,
a Plan of Action was adopted that placed emphasis on the
growing importance of community media in the region's
democratic process. The Plan highlighted the importance of
supporting projects seeking to strengthen community media-
particularly media directed at women, youth, indigenous
populations and minorities. For these sectors, radio is the
most accessible mass medium and what has come to be known as
community radio is the most responsive to their needs.

In March of 1996, AMARC and CEDEP began offering Pulsar, a news
service for Latin American community radio stations. The
service consists of a daily bulletin with 10 to 15 stories and
is distributed via the Internet. Sources include radio
journalists in ten Latin American countries, independent news
services and specialised information agencies (IPS, ERBOL, IFEX
and others), and Latin American newspapers consulted via the
Internet. Future plans include incorporating thematic
correspondents who will report on particular themes
(environment, women, youth, indigenous peoples, etc.). The
bulletin features information from Latin America and is
presented from a regional and community perspective.

At the end of its second month of operation, the service has
more than 125 direct subscribers including radio stations,
national associations of radio stations and radio production
centres. The actual number of stations receiving the service is
closer to 200, due to the fact that Pulsar had agreements with
national radio associations in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico
and Venezuela, that were redistributing the bulletins via fax,
satellite or other media.

The number of subscribers has been increasing steadily. It is
estimated that the service will have between 500 and 1,000
subscribers within a year, including both commercial and
community stations and independent radio production centres.

Pulsar has begun training radio broadcasters in the use of
computer and communication technologies in order that they can
maximise their use of Pulsar's information services and the
potential offered by computer communication technologies. By
the end of 1996 one international workshop and five national
workshops will have been offered (April, Peru; June, Ecuador;
July, Bolivia [national & international]; August, Peru;
September, Chile).

In September 1996 Pulsar will incorporate audio clips into its
radio service and, beginning in January 1997, it will expand
its information services to include a weekly summary providing
background and analysis to issues and events and special
dossiers dealing in depth with specific themes related to
democratic development and freedom of expression. Internal
bulletins for the use of radio stations and featuring
programming ideas, information about developments in broadcast
technology and legislation, etc. will also be introduced.

In addition to providing information services, Pulsar will
stimulate and support the development of regional, sub-
regional, national and thematic networks. These networks will
link radio stations according to their geography and their
interests. Networks of indigenous radio broadcasters, women,
radio stations in the Andean region or in Central America,
producers with an interest in environmental issues, youth, etc.
will be encouraged and supported. These networks will be able
to exchange news and information, commentaries, and even
complete audio programs via electronic mail.

Objectives

Pulsar's rapid acceptance by the region's community radio
stations emphasizes both the demand for alternate sources of
and the potential of communication technologies such as the
Internet for linking radio stations. That said, it must be
noted that Pulsar's long-term objectives do not involve being
an information provider. Pulsar seeks to contribute to the
modernisation of Latin America's community radio stations, to
facilitate their assimilation and adaptation of modern
communication technologies, and to contribute to the
development of participatory regional, sub-regional and
thematic networks. These objectives are inspired by the
following articles of the Plan of Action adopted at the
Santiago meeting:
1.B     [to strengthen] "existing community media in accordance
with international norms, especially those media serving
women, youth, indigenous populations and minorities."
1.C     "to encourage community media to exchange information
among themselves and with other media."
4.A     "to advise small media, especially in rural and marginal
urban areas, on available technology optimal for their
needs.
4.B     "to support the creation of networks, documentation
centers and data bases in the Latin American and Caribbean
countries in order for journalists and broadcasters to
have access to international information."

The next steps

In order to meet the above objectives, Pulsar has adopted a
five-point strategy.

1. To further develop its information services. At the
present time there is a shortage of appropriate
Spanish-language information in the Internet. As new
information sources appear in the Internet, Pulsar
initiatives will concentrate on providing guidance for
radio stations using the Internet, providing research
assistance and advice and producing thematic dossiers
to be used to support programming about particular
issues and events;

2. To provide training in the use of new technologies in
radio, including training for trainers. A series of
national workshops will concentrate on providing
broadcasters with the technical skills necessary to
make use of the new communication technologies. A
program of training for trainers will ensure the
multiplication of these workshops;

3. To provide technical assistance and advice to radio
stations. Pulsar will keep abreast of technical
innovations and advise and support broadcasters in
their use of the technologies. Support will be
available at a distance, via email and fax, and on a
national level through Pulsar's national
representatives. A series of publications will provide
advice and answers to broadcasters' frequently asked
questions;

4. To stimulate and support the development of
decentralised thematic and regional networks. These
networks will enable the exchange of information and
programming among broadcasters in particular regions
and sub-regions and broadcasters representing specific
sectors. Special attention will be given to networks
linking women, youth, indigenous populations and
minorities, the priority sectors identified in
Santiago;

5. To stimulate discussion and reflection on the
implications of the new technologies for community
broadcasters. As a first step towards this, Pulsar is
proposing to organise an international seminar on
radio and technology in Latin America.

________________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
AMARC - Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.apc.org/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +(593-2) 525-521    Fax/Tel: +(593-2) 542-818
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador