Community radio has emerged as a vital tool for social inclusion, local knowledge exchange, and participatory communication. Across South Asia, however, its operation and impact are shaped by complex intersections of policy frameworks, sociocultural realities, institutional practices, and technological change. This book critically examines how community radio stations, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, navigate regulatory frameworks, funding constraints, local participation, and emerging technologies. It explores the opportunities community radio creates for grassroots communication, community empowerment, and local development, while also addressing the structural, institutional, and cultural barriers that shape its effectiveness and sustainability. Bringing together critical perspectives on policy, practice, participation, and technology, the book offers valuable insights into the evolving role of community radio in South Asia. It will be particularly useful for researchers, academics, media practitioners, policymakers, development professionals, and students of media and communication seeking to understand the transformative potential and continuing challenges of community media.

Dr. Amit Verma is an Associate Professor in Journalism and Mass Communication at the Centre for Distance and Online Education, Manipal University Jaipur. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Communication and Management and is the elected Vice Chair of the Participatory Communication Research Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). He is also an Associate Editor (Media Studies section) of Cogent Social Sciences, and an Adjunct Faculty Member at VAAL University of Technology, South Africa. Dr. Verma has authored seven books and published more than 50 research papers and book chapters with nationally and internationally recognised publishers, including IGI Global, Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature, and Taylor & Francis.