Collective Memories of Disaster through Community Radio
From the time a disaster strikes to the time of restoration and recovery, community FM broadcasting can be an important information source at the time of the disaster and for the restoration efforts in the affected region. While the value of community radio for information transmission during a disaster has been welldocumented, most previous research has not considered its role in the memory of disaster. This study shows that community FM broadcasting in disaster-stricken areas can play a supportive role in the making of a collective memory of the disaster, which can be important for future disaster resilience. In-depth interviews were conducted with staff members from 11 community FM radio stations in areas that suffered severe damages by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The study also analyzed regular programs related to the disaster and special programs on the Memorial Day of 3. 11 aired by 27 community FM stations in the region in 2018 and 2019. This study illustrates how FM broadcasting can create a ritual space for the intergenerational transmission of memories and, in this case, the re-imagining of a collective identity of “Us, the disaster-survivors’ community.”
From the time a disaster strikes to the time of restoration and recovery, community FM broadcasting can be an important information source at the time of the disaster and for the restoration efforts in the affected region. While the value of community radio for information transmission during a disaster has been welldocumented, most previous research has not considered its role in the memory of disaster. This study shows that community FM broadcasting in disaster-stricken areas can play a supportive role in the making of a collective memory of the disaster, which can be important for future disaster resilience. In-depth interviews were conducted with staff members from 11 community FM radio stations in areas that suffered severe damages by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The study also analyzed regular programs related to the disaster and special programs on the Memorial Day of 3. 11 aired by 27 community FM stations in the region in 2018 and 2019. This study illustrates how FM broadcasting can create a ritual space for the intergenerational transmission of memories and, in this case, the re-imagining of a collective identity of “Us, the disaster-survivors’ community.”