Using media for community empowerment: A political economy perspective on collaborative media practices in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper explored the dynamics of using media for community empowerment from a political economy perspective while focusing on collaborative media practices in the contemporary digital world. The media is not only a platform for communication but serves as a viable tool for community empowerment and socio-political transformation hence the need to examine the interplay between media structures, ownership, and access, alongside the participatory process that enabled Owerri community to harness media for empowerment. The political economy and media studies frameworks foregrounded the study to inquire into media ownership, control, and regulatory environments as obtainable in Owerri municipality in engaging in self-representation and advocacy. The study depended on in-depth interviews and a survey with community media practitioners, participants and stakeholders to unfurl the ways in which collaborative media practices can engineer community empowerment, promote social justice, and contribute to democratic governance. Owerri community which serves as a case study, proves as a successful model collaborating with residents, local radio stations, and social media platforms to navigate the constraints of media systems, voicing their concerns, mobilize for social change, and influencing policy-making processes. The findings revealed how collaborative media practices can create alternative spaces for civic engagement, amplify marginalized voices, and challenge dominant ideologies, thereby supporting the potential of media as a transformative tool for community empowerment and social change.