The Usage Pattern of Community Radio for Fulfillment the Farmer InformationNeeds.

Abstract

Farmer’s community radio is organized by, from, and for farmer community, expected can be exist as an institution of broadcasting that be able to fulfill their information needs. It can be achieved when its existence is utilized by community members who are joined in the establishment of the community radio. The aims of this research are to analyze the usage pattern of community radio in fulfillment the farmer information needs, and to analyze the fulfillment rate of farmer information needs through community radio. This research was designed as a correlational descriptive survey i.e. the research that was described the farmer action in using the community radio, analyzed and explain the factors related to the usage patterns. Research was conducted in December 2012 – May 2013, to Radio Remaja and Radio Whisnu listeners. The size of sample was 25 % of each listener’s community. Hypothesis test used Spearman Rank correlation and Chi Square. The results showed that 42% of respondents have listening frequency very high, and 31% of respondents have listening duration to the community radio was high, while their participation was low. The most popular program was the entertainment program and interspersed with information, such as Selamat Pagi Petani and Latar Pantura. The factors that significantly correlated with the usage pattern of community radio were age, education level, farming status, and ownership of the mass media. There was 98% of respondents selected information about the experience of fellow farmers as a motive that drive them in listening to community radio. The rate of fulfillment information farmer needs through community radio is high. There were 60% of respondents declared that the obtaining information through community radio was adapted to their needs.