Prisoners’ Radio

Abstract

This study examines prisoners’ radio and its ability, as an alternative media platform, to enhance the lives of prisoners behind bars. It demonstrates the power of prisoners’ radio in providing an alternative platform that allows prisoners to connect with the outer world to enact their suspended citizenship and sustain relationships with family and friends. The study examined how Lebanese mainstream media, alternative media in the MENA region and international prisoners’ radio covered prisoners struggles over healthcare and lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study explored the current communication and media restrictions in Lebanese prisons and examined how prisoners’ radio could potentially be introduced to Lebanon’s prisons. The study applied a qualitative mixed method approach utilizing Media Framing Analysis (MFA) and in-depth interviews. Overall, results from MFA covering 10 Lebanese mainstream media outlets, 10 alternative media outlets in the MENA region and nine international prisoners’ radio programs (29 in total) show that most of the Lebanese news outlets provided predominantly positive stories endorsing the measures taken by authorities to combat Covid-19 in prisons while alternative media in the MENA region and international prisoners’ radio presented negative stories highlighting the lack of sufficient measures, reinforcing the need to do more to combat healthcare risks and increased isolation of prisoners. On the other hand, results from 10 in-depth interviews revealed the benefits of alternative media and highlighted the importance of alternative media production in keeping people behind bars informed and connected to the outside world e specially during a crisis like Covid-19 when prisoners’ isolation was heightened due to strict lockdown measures. Results also revealed the benefits of introducing prisoners’ radio in Lebanese prisons to reaffirm part of prisoners lost identity, exploring, and outlining practical guidelines covering the various genres and content of prisoners’ radio. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to studying prisoners’ radio content and practices, an area with limited research and great potential, reinforcing the importance of communication and active involvement of prisoners. Additionally, the study provides a potential plan of action to facilitate prisoners’ radio in Lebanese prisons which future research that centers praxis can build on.