From Alternative Media to Citizens' Media

The basic idea is that traditional analyses of alternative media are still trapped in essentialist concepts of democracy, power, and citizenship; I developed a new theoretical perspective to look at alternative media and their transformative power; such theoretical framework is inspired by feminist scholarship and the theory of radical democracy developed by Chantal Mouffe. On the basis of Mouffe's theory, I break away from essentilized categories of the political subject, the political action, and the citizen. From this new angle, the political potential of citizens' media becomes visible as new ways to understand social change and empowerment become available. It is my belief that my research and scholarship should always reach people and groups who are trying to change things; in 1996 I presented these ideas to a group of communication activists in Ecuador. My audience, members of the Women's Network of AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Stations) received my ideas with strong enthusiasm.

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