ABSTRACT
The Instituto Nacional Indigenista network of rural radio stations originated in 1979 with the establishment of one station in Ha pa, Guerrero, a small city in southwestern Mexico. For several years the responsibilities of each agency over the project were ambiguous, and such ambiguity contributed to a power struggle inside the stations themselves and to the lack of clarity with respect to the project's work and goals. Rather than being related to indigenous participation in the station or to its broadcasting, the closing down was due to a larger conflict between the state governor and the Chontal people. The trend involved attempts to achieve uniformity in programming and coordination among the stations, research efforts to understand station operations and audiences, and endeavors to centralize the production of news programs. The need for adequate support has seldom prevented staff members from finding ways of performing their tasks.
