community radio Written by Bill Reader Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE Encyclopedia of Journalism (2022) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Bill Reader Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 23, 2026 •History The term “community radio” means different things in different contexts, but in general applies to small-scale terrestrial radio broadcasting featuring content created by and for distinct communities. Community radio is generally considered distinct from “commercial radio” and “public radio,” and its purpose is to provide a third tier of radio broadcasting that emphasizes public service programming and/or public access to radio airwaves. This entry further defines community radio and then discusses its origins and its...

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