Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 20 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Prison Radio

0 comments
Prison Radio is a project of Radio for Development (RFD), a media consultancy firm that specialises in the design and implementation of public education campaigns in the UK and abroad. Since its inception in 1995, RFD has worked in partnership with disadvantaged communities in over 30 countries to build their capacity to access and utilise the media for their own social, cultural, and economic development.

The Prison Radio project is currently being piloted at Wandsworth Prison, and comprises 4 inter-dependent activities: The Learning Centre, the Broadcasting Unit, the CD Production House, and the Prison Radio Outreach Project (PROP). The director of RFD argues that radio projects such as this are ideal for engaging populations that are "isolated geographically and because of high rates of illiteracy," including those who are incarcerated.
Communication Strategies
There are four main components of the Prison Radio project:
  • The Learning Centre works with Lambeth College to enable Wandsworth prisoners to study for a BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council) National Award in Media (Radio). The BTEC is a six-unit course roughly equivalent to an A-Level course in the UK education system, though the trainers believe that the programme also can boost confidence and self-esteem.
  • In the main aspect of the project, the Broadcasting Unit, prisoners run a talk-based radio station for the whole prison community. The station aims to support literacy, deal with relevant social issues, and improve relations between prisoners and officers. It also gives the trainees the opportunity to put what they have learnt into practice. In the case of HMP Wandsworth, the station that participants run for the prison community is called Radio Wanno. While the trainees are not permitted to roam freely throughout the prison to gather source material a few have achieved trusted "Red Band" status, which gives them better access to different areas. This provides an additional form of incentive for good behaviour. A "Sponsor-a-Prisoner" scheme also offers trainees some information-gathering help from outside the prison.
  • An Induction CD is produced by the Radio Wanna team for new inmates that attempts to address the confusing and scary first few weeks in prison. It combines practical information from prison staff with advice and anecdotes from fellow inmates. The CD is issued to every new prisoner on arrival and aims to familiarise them with the prison regime. There are also plans in the works to adapt the induction CD for prisoners of different cultures, and, in the longer term, to produce a Resettlement CD, which will contain information for prisoners who are about to be released.
  • Finally, the Prison Radio Outreach Project (PROP) aims to help offenders back into education and employment and encouraging a more informed public debate through programming on crime and punishment. It offers prisoners support beyond their time on the BTEC course, building on what they have already achieved and encourages personal ambitions for further training or employment, and supports an individual in dealing with addiction, housing or other practical challenges they face.
Development Issues
Illiteracy, Recidivism, Crime.
Key Points
According to RFD, the key aspect of the programme is to help to reduce isolation of the prisoners, and to improve relations between inmates, and with prison staff. The project also helps to provide prisoners with useful skills and confidence in their ability to learn. While they may not find jobs in the broadcast field after their release, it is the process of learning that is considered to be most important.
Partners

Radio for Development, Wandsworth Prison, and Lambeth College.

Sources

Prison Radio website