Understanding listener engagement with the community radio station of BAU, sabour

Abstract

Community radio serves as an inclusive and participatory medium that effectively addresses local needs and enhances rural communication. This study was conducted in the Bhagalpur and Patna districts of Bihar, focusing on the community radio station operated by Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour. A total of 120 respondents were surveyed using a structured interview schedule to understand their listening behaviour. The findings revealed diverse patterns of engagement among listeners, with 28.3% exhibiting medium listening behaviour, followed by 23.3% with low, 19.2% very high, 15.0% very low, and 14.2% high listening levels. Additionally, the study identified that most listeners preferred to tune in during the afternoon and primarily sought knowledge from the broadcasts, highlighting the educational role of community radio. While a significant portion of listeners engaged with the content while performing other tasks, nearly half did not take further action after listening, suggesting opportunities to enhance interactivity and application of information. Overall, the results emphasize that community radio remains a vital tool for fostering informed rural communities and supporting sustainable rural development through balanced audience engagement.