COMMUNITY MEDIA CHALLENGE (CMC) 2023

BACKGROUND

Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), in partnership with UNESCO has been conducting the Community Radio Video Challenge Competition and has completed a decade of involving community radios to document and bring voices from the ground to the national level. This activity is to engage the Indian youth in CR and promote understanding and importance of CR as an alternative media for community’s self-expression, learning and development.

CEMCA has been working to promote the use of CR in learning for development since 2006. CEMCA has organized more than 50 workshops in the past to create awareness about CR. UNESCO also recognizes that the presence of CR is a sign of media pluralism, diversity of content, and the representation of a society’s different groups and interests. CR encourages open dialogue, local transparency and a voice to the voiceless. UNESCO’s CR initiatives have focused on: (a) policy development to promote a free and open environment for CR; (b) empowering community members to publicly express opinion, debate issues, act as citizen journalists, and become producers of media content; and (c) encouraging technological innovation in the CR space. The UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) has been promoting the use and establishment of low-cost media, including CR stations for the past several years.

As you are aware that CEMCA and UNESCO has been conducting Community Radio Video Challenge (CRVC) for learners (of any discipline) below the age of 25 years for the past 9 years. The competition gives students an opportunity to showcase the potential of Community Radios through the art of filmmaking.

The following is the list of themes covered so far: -

YEAR	THEME
CRVC 2014	Why Community Radio Matters?
CRVC 2015	Citizen’s Voices, Empowering Societies
CRVC 2016	Addressing Disasters, Saving Lives
CRVC 2017	Community Radio for Sustainable Development
CRVC 2018	Community Radio for Women Empowerment
CRVC 2019	Community Radio for Climate Action
CRVC 2020	Community Radio: Changing Lives
CRVC 2021	Community Radio for Healthy Communities
CRVC 2022	Climate Action: Climate change for Sustainable Development

UNESCO New Delhi

UNESCO New Delhi Office, the Organization's first decentralized Office in Asia was established in 1948. At its inception, it dealt with science and technology programmes in eleven South and Central Asian countries, i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

In time, it incorporated communication programmes, and still later expanded to include education and culture. As part of UNESCO's new decentralization policy, UNESCO New Delhi is presently designated as a Cluster Office and is a platform for delivery of activities in all areas of UNESCO’s competence, namely, education, the natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.

It implements a biennial Cluster programme that is integrated within itself and with the overall goals of the Organization. This is done through a fundamental operating principle - consultation and consensus with the National Commissions of the Member States, Regional Bureaus, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders and partners.

About the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)

In response to the needs expressed by the Commonwealth countries in the Asian region for a more effective utilisation of information communication technologies in the process of teaching learning, COL established the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) in 1994. An agreement was signed between COL and the Government of India in 1998 and CEMCA was established in New Delhi and the Government of India notified it as a diplomatic mission under section 3 of the United Nations (privileges and immunities) Act, 1947 (46 of 1947) vide The Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii) dated 10 February 2000

Community Media Challenge 2023

CEMCA, in collaboration with UNESCO is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) under the initiative Community Radio Video Challenge as Community Media Challenge 2023. As it is the tenth edition of Community Radio Video Challenge, CEMCA and UNESCO both are planning to conduct this edition at a grand level and wish to include all media formats eg audio and video for the competition.

CEMCA wishes to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) with all the communities and wishes to reach last mile to take the celebrations right up to the village level and to the entire rural population as well.

The "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" began 75 weeks before August 15, 2022, and it will last until August 15, 2023. The initiative's five pillars —Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75, and resolves at 75 — serve as compass points for progress while serving as an inspiration for ambitions and obligations.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations were formally launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat 75 weeks prior to 15th August 2022 i.e. on 12 March, 2021,

The Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means elixir of energy of independence; elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges; and elixir of Aatma nirbhar Bharat.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is a sequence of events organized by the Indian Government to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence. In addition, the Mahotsav will be marked as a Jan-Utsav in the essence of Jan-Bhagidari.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav under which several activities and events are organised:

Freedom Struggle: This theme anchors the commemoration initiatives under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which include commemorating milestones in history, unsung heroes, etc. The motive is to revisit the historical road leading up to 15 August 1947 and bring to life the tales of unsung heroes whose sacrifices have made freedom a reality for us. Major events celebrated under this theme were Birsa Munda Jayanti (Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas), Declaration of Provisional Government of Free India by Netaji, Shaheed Diwas, etc.

Ideas @ 75: This theme focuses on activities and gatherings motivated by concepts and principles that have influenced us and will serve as our compass during this Amrit Kaal (the 25-year period between India@75 and India@100). Popular, participatory activities that help highlight India's distinctive contribution to the globe are included in the events and programmes that fall under this category. These include occasions and programmes like Kashi Utsav, which honours Hindi literary giants from the Kashi region, and Post Cards to the Prime Minister, in which more than 75 lakh kids express their visions for India in 2047 and their impressions of unsung independence fighters.

Achievements @ 75: This theme focuses on marking the passage of time and all our milestones along the way. It is envisioned that it will develop into a public record of our combined accomplishments as a 75-year-old independent nation with a 5000+year-old legacy. Initiatives like Swarnim Vijay Varsh, which honours the victory of 1971, the opening of the Shreshtha Yojana during Mahaparinirvan Diwas, etc. are just a couple of the events and projects that fall under this theme.

Actions @ 75: The aim of this pillar of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is to highlight steps being taken to implement policies and actualise commitments. This theme emphasises the actions being done to put policies into effect and fulfil promises in order to assist India assume its proper place in the new global order emerging in a post-covid world.

It is propelled by Prime Minister Modi's clarion call, "SABKA SAATH, SABKA VIKAS, SABKA VISHWAS, SABKA PRAYAS". It includes pledges from corporations, NGOs, and civil society that help us realise our ideals and work together to build a better tomorrow. It also includes government policies, initiatives, and action plans. Initiatives like Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity are among the programmes falling under this theme.

Resolves @ 75: This project aims to strengthen commitments to particular targets and goals. This subject focuses on our shared resolve and commitment to influencing the course of our motherland. Only through collective resolve, well-laid-out action plans, and determined efforts will ideas translate into actions. Events and programs under this theme include initiatives such as Constitution Day, Good Governance Week, etc. that help bring alive the commitment towards the ‘Planet and People’ (a UN initiative).

BROAD OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES

The Community Media Challenge is aimed at facilitating a short audio/video bites/documentation of aspirations, ideas, actions on the Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav. The key idea is to enable the common people from the students of any standard/stream to produce a audio/video programme on the above subjects and showcase their creativity. The competition will begin from May 2023 and end in July 2023 and the selected programmes will be facilitated in an award function in August 2023 in New Delhi.

One day workshop will also be organised on Production of Audio/Visual content prior to award function on first come first serve basis maximum for 25 participants.

THEMATIC FOCUS of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM):

In its 10th year, the CRVC has partnered with UNESCO to move to a next level of community

media’s power of empowerment as turned into community Media Challege.

The 2023 campaign, shall invite audio/video entries from the students of any college/university/institution/school from India (in any local dialect/language, with a supporting documentation in state/national languages), to be submitted online at the link – www.cemca.org/crvc

Sub-themes

Remarkable rural women
Jan Bhagidari in village community
Indian arts, handicrafts, textiles and other local products
Make in India products
Yoga and Ayurveda
Local culture and heritage
People’s perception of 'Azadi'
Voices of courage and action
Transgender and Divyang persons
Local innovations
Improving lives through Sports and Teamwork

Proposed Dates

Last date of submission: 31^th July 2023
Submission of documents: 04^th August 2023
Announcement of Awards: TBD
Workshop on Documentary Filmmaking: TBD
Screening of Entries and Distribution of Awards: TBD

Criteria

The films will be judged based on the following guidelines /criteria for award.

25 points: Overall impact (persuasive, informational, educational)
25 points: Originality and creativity (concepts, ideas, format)
25 points: Relevance and clarity of message
25 points: Technical proficiency and quality

Short films on the above-mentioned topic will be invited from students. Entries could be in any language but must have English subtitles. The acceptable entries will be evaluated by a distinguished jury. The winning films will be received receive awards and the filmmakers will be felicitated at a ceremony organized by CEMCA in collaboration with UNESCO New Delhi.

The length of the audio/video programme submitted for the competition will be between 3 minutes to 5 minutes in duration. The entry can be in any language. Entry in any language other than English should have proper English subtitles.

Who will apply:

Age- Maximum 30 years as on May 1^st, 2023

Student- Student from any college/ university / institution/school

Awards

There are eight awards for the competition as follows:

One 1^st Prize - INR 50,000
One 2^nd Prize - INR 30,000
One 3^rd Prize - INR 20,000
Five Special Recognitions - INR 10,000
Participation certificate for all accepted films.

Terms & Conditions

Please read the following document to understand the terms and conditions of the contest. Participants in the competition will have to download the document, and submit it along with the script of the video to CEMCA. No submission will be considered for the award without this documentation.

Declaration for Participating in CEMCA - Community Media Challenge 2023

Photo Gallery

Contact Us

Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)

7/8 Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi- 110016, India Ph. +91-11-26537146/ 47/ 48
E-mail: project@cemca.org
website: www.cemca.org

Community Radio

Community Radio (CR) is said to be a medium by the people, for the people and of the people. It has emerged as a low-cost alternate to the mainstream media in the age of Internet to create opportunity for the marginalized and disadvantaged groups of people in remote parts of the country to participate in the development process. In various parts of the world, CR has played significant role in enabling participation of communities in local governance and decision-making, preserving local languages and cultures, and increasing access to better learning opportunities for the oppressed. The right to express one's thoughts and to communicate freely with others affirms the dignity and worth of each and every member of society, and allows each individual to realize his or her full human potential. As of April 2013, there are 148 operational CR stations, operating under the “Policy Guidelines for setting up Community Radio Stations in India” issued in 2006 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Since the release of the policy, it is anticipated that India would have 4000-5000 CR stations. Currently there are over 800 applications at various stages of the licensing process. Free speech and freedom of expression are the raison d’être of CR anywhere in the world and they are going well beyond their mandates to do so in India.

CR Video Challenge

The CR Video Challenge (CRVC) is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), New Delhi, to engage the Indian youth in CR and promote understanding and importance of CR as an alternative media for community’s self-expression, learning and development. CEMCA has been working to promote the use of CR in learning for development since 2006. CEMCA has organized over 30 workshops in the past to create awareness about CR, and runs a help-desk entitled “CEMCA Community Radio Facilitation Centre” to support new applicants and serve as a clearing house for information on CR. UNESCO recognizes that the presence of CR is a sign of media pluralism, diversity of content, and the representation of a society’s different groups and interests. CR encourages open dialogue, local transparency and a voice to the voiceless. The UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) has been promoting the use and establishment of low-cost media, including CR stations for the past several years. In 2011, UNESCO established the Community Media Chair at the University of Hyderabad, India, which is the only UNESCO chair covering the CR sector.

World Radio Day Celebration

UNESCO proclaimed February 13 as the World Radio Day in 2011. The best videos will receive awards in a function organised by the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) on the World Radio Day 2014. AIMC is one of the leading media training institutes in the country, which offers Post Graduate Diplomas in Advertising, PR, Event Management, Broadcast Journalism & Production, and Web Journalism. The Institute has been ranked No 1 in the entire Delhi-NCR region in the category of private institutes by the reputed research agency Cfore and Hindustan Times.

COMMUNITY MEDIA CHALLENGE (CMC) 2023

BACKGROUND

UNESCO New Delhi

About the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)

Community Media Challenge 2023

The Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means elixir of energy of independence; elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges; and elixir of Aatma nirbhar Bharat.