The Andalusian Communication Forum as a case of civil empowerment against the future law on audiovisual communication at a regional level

Abstract

Twenty-five civil groups have constituted a

communication forum in Andalusia in order to

demand the regional government their participation

in the drafting of the future regional law on

audiovisual communication. For this purpose, since

last May they have been carrying out an informative

campaign consisting of several activities, such as debates

among their members, workshops and local

gatherings with the aim of raising awareness among

local citizens about the need for a free access to the

media and in-formation. One of their main objectives

is to achieve a participative law that regulates the

society’s right to have its own media to ex-press

itself, agreed between government and civil

representatives. This forum also wants this law to end

with the monopoly of li-censes owned only by a few

and request the Andalusian Government a definition

of the television as a public service. Lastly, they

demand the local authorities more licenses to civil

organizations and the regulation of community radio

stations that would allow them to develop in a

dignified way.