Gestión de la radio pública local: valores y retos en el actual escenario sonoro

María Luz Barbeito-Veloso; Estrella Barrio-Fraile; Ana María Enrique-Jiménez; Anna Fajula-Payet; Juan José Perona-Páez

doi:10.4185/rlcs-2026-2506

Authors

María Luz Barbeito-Veloso Autonomous University of Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3159-7423
Estrella Barrio-Fraile Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8047-4393
Ana María Enrique-Jiménez Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5902-403X
Anna Fajula-Payet Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6038-4224
Juan José Perona-Páez Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8256-9070

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2026-2506

Keywords:

local communication, radio, public radio, public service, proximity, dynamisation, participation, funding

Abstract

Introduction: This paper aims to assess the presence of public service values in municipal radio in Catalonia, as well as the challenges it faces. Methodology: The research is based on a mixed methodology articulated in two phases. In the first phase of a qualitative nature, a focus group of eight informants linked to the management of local radio stations was carried out. In a second phase, the findings are subjected to a quantitative analysis (a survey of 130 radio stations) to provide representative data that reflects the reality of the sector. Results: The detected challenges faced by local public radio are: 1) Lack of budget; 2) Lack of advertising resources; 3) Need to create audiovisual and/or crossmedia content; 4) Difficulty in updating technology; 5) Competition from social networks; 6) Lack of audience; 7) Loss of influence of FM; 8) Institutional independence; 9) Lack of professionalism of staff. Discussion: The need to reinforce the value of proximity as one of the main banners of its public service mission is evident. Conclusions: Local governments need to be aware of the important role that local public radio stations play as engines of municipal revitalization and as the backbone of the social, cultural, sporting and political fabric of small communities.

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Author Biographies

María Luz Barbeito-Veloso, Autonomous University of Barcelona

Mariluz Barbeito Veloso is a tenured professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She holds a PhD in Audiovisual Communication and is a member of the ComSet-Publiradio Group, where she has participated in research and development projects related to her main areas of work: sound communication and organizational communication. As a result of this work, she has published several scientific articles in indexed journals. She has been the academic coordinator of the Master's Degree in Strategic Planning in Advertising and Public Relations at the UAB, deputy director and secretary of the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication.

Estrella Barrio-Fraile, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Estrella Barrio Fraile holds a PhD in Advertising and Public Relations from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). She is a lecturer in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication (UAB) and a member of the ComSet-Publiradio Group. Her main areas of research focus on corporate communication, intangible values, corporate social responsibility, and audio branding. She has published several articles on these topics in indexed journals and book chapters with renowned publishers. She has also taught on the Master's Degree in Business and Institutional Communication Management (UAB) and been a collaborating lecturer on the Master's Degree in Corporate Social Responsibility (UOC).

Ana María Enrique-Jiménez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Ana Mª Enrique Jiménez is a professor in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and a member of the ComSet-Publiradio Research Group (consolidated SGR). Her teaching and research activities are linked to the field of corporate communication management, intangible values, CSR, and communication in crisis situations. She has been the academic director of the Master's Degree in Business and Institutional Communication Management (UAB) for 25 years. She is the academic director of the Master's Degree in Business and Institutional Communication Management taught at the UAB, a pioneering master's degree in Spain and Latin America in Dircom training. Previously, she was vice dean of Academic Planning and Employability at the UAB's Faculty of Communication Sciences and director of the DCEI research group (UAB).

Anna Fajula-Payet, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Anna Fajula Payet holds a PhD in Advertising and Public Relations (UAB). She is a tenured professor and member of the ComSet-Publiradio Research Group and the Center for Studies and Research in Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation (CREIS) at the UAB. Her main areas of work focus on creativity as a strategic communication value, audio branding, and the treatment of gender in advertising. She is Vice Dean of Faculty, Quality, and Teaching Innovation at the Faculty of Communication Sciences (UAB). Previously, she was communications coordinator at the Faculty of Communication Sciences (UAB), coordinator of the Advertising and PR degree program at the Faculty of Communication Sciences (UAB), and deputy director of internal and external relations at the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication (UAB).

Juan José Perona-Páez, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Juan José Perona holds a PhD in Information Sciences (Journalism) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Professor of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising, he is the principal investigator of the Research Group on Sound Communication, Strategy, and Transparency (ComSET, consolidated SGR). His main lines of research focus on sound communication and educational radio. Dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the UAB since January 2025, where he also served between 1999 and 2001, he has been, among other things, the rector's delegate for teaching quality (2002-2006) and director of the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication at the same university (2015-2018).

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