The Role of Community and Campus-Based Radio in Filling the Gaps of Latin American Programming in Canada

• Author / Creator

  Vilchis Sanchez, Laura

• Canada is a multicultural country, and different commissions, acts and policies have been created to protect its multiculturalism. Nevertheless, scholarship has demonstrated a disconnection between what is stated in the multicultural acts and policies and what is being reflected in the media, particularly in terms of the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of ethnic minorities. Latin Americans are one of the largest visible minorities in Canada, yet there are few studies regarding Latin American Media in Canada. This research aims to fill the gaps of Latin American radio programming in Canada by evaluating community and campus-based radio stations and their Latin American programming. It aims to respond to the following research question: What is missing on the airwaves of the Latin American community and campus-based radio programming in Canada? The study is based on a qualitative method, using content and comparative analysis that evaluated 51 Latin American community and campus-based radio shows in the largest cities and capital in Canada. Some cities with big Latin American communities, such as Edmonton, demonstrated that there are very few community-based Latin American radio shows. It is essential that Latin Americans create their media in Canada through community and campus-based radio, to enhance relationships among the Latin American communities, to create content that connects people with their local context and to promote Latin American representation in media through the airwaves. Specifically, this study evaluated four radio programs located in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal and Calgary. Essential community and campus-based radio elements, as well as Latin American characteristics, were found in the programs. These findings could serve as a guide for creating a Latin American community-based radio program in Canada.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • multiculturalism
  • representation
  • community and campus-based radio
  • ethnic media
  • Latin Americans

• Graduation date

  Fall 2023

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-jd5v-6c09

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.