Abstract

This thesis will draw upon radio production, specifically community radio, to examine how the participation of the audience can empower participants and offer a voice to the voiceless. By embedding the values of community radio into community/rehabilitation projects, can radio improve lives for those participating in the production?

This research will explore what is meant by the term minority community, and how those within a minority community can be better represented through the medium of radio. Radio produced ‘by the prisoner for the prisoner’ is beginning to draw academic interest as a means to help prisoners with their rehabilitation process. This thesis will explore the nature of the media within minority communities, and will specifically examine how radio production can be used to connect with the more challenging to reach communities such as prisoners and patients within a high-secure hospital. Are prisoners a minority community? If so, what defines them as such? By focusing on one element of minority communities; those who are incarcerated, this body of work examines the broader implications for other minority communities.

It is necessary to examine the impact that radio has on the producer to analyse how radio can improve lives. By drawing on the theory and practice of media production, as well as the impact on participants, a conclusion can be made on how the lives of those involved are improved.

The DiGi DBT (Digital Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) project will act as a case study to test the theory that radio production can improve lives. Through an observational research approach, the project will look specifically at patients diagnosed with personality disorders, living in a high-secure hospital. By encouraging patients to engage with community radiobased projects, can they be empowered? If empowerment takes place, can this aid the patients’ rehabilitation process?

DiGi DBT was initially a two-year project, funded by Knowledge Transformation Partnerships (KTP), which was later extended to three years. DiGi DBT was observed first-hand by the researcher and author of this thesis, while being employed as the Media and Therapy Developer responsible for leading the programme. The project saw the University of Lincoln and Rampton High Secure Hospital come together to use radio as a medium to help patients diagnosed with personality disorder redesign Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for future patients through radio production. This thesis uses ethnographic, observational and qualitative research techniques to evaluate the success of the project, the project aims and how this project can be used as a case study to evidence how radio can improve lives in minority communities