Radio Digital Comunitaria y Desarrollo Local: Cocreación Socioeducativa para la Alfabetización Digital y la Participación Ciudadana

In a context characterised by a persistent digital divide and limited opportunities for citizen participation in rural areas, community digital radio emerges as a key tool for democratising access to information and strengthening local development. This article presents the results of an intervention project developed within the socio-educational setting of undergraduate students in the Online Communication degree, in collaboration with rural communities in Ecuador. The general objective was to enhance access to local information and citizen engagement through the co-creation of a community digital radio platform between academia and the community. The adopted methodology was qualitative, grounded in a socio-critical approach and framed within a participatory action research model. Surveys, training workshops, collaborative content production and monitoring strategies were implemented in three phases: ex ante, during, and ex post. Among the most significant outcomes were the technological training of 333 direct beneficiaries, the production of over 20 locally focused radio programmes, the creation of complementary multimedia content, and the strengthening of community identity and sense of belonging. Furthermore, a decrease in the use of traditional media and an increased appropriation of digital tools among participants were observed. The experience demonstrates that community digital radio can serve as an effective and replicable mechanism to empower communities and promote a more active, inclusive, and territorially connected citizenry.