Modern mass media was reinforced in the “third world” with high expectations towards rural development and has since been a cause of secret desillusion. However few know about the reality of media work for development. The key issue is to find relevant, participative programme concepts for rural people. This is the principal concern of “Tierra Fecunda” (fertile land) – a ten year old, nationwide peruvian radio project. The programme has been created by editors, well familiar with even the remotest and most abandoned regions, in cooperation with numerous grass root correspondants scattered all over this disperse and conflict torn andean country. They give voice to the villages, create a communication link between rural people and retreat national information according to peasant concerns. Other main topics are: reports on the self-initiative of village communities; self-portraits of communities about their musical and cultural traditions, bilinguality, agricultural policies as seen from a national and local perspective, farmers unions, advantages and disadvantages of cooperativism; councelling on legal matters; solidarity from emigrants associations with their home towns and villages. The article shows possibilities and limitations of involving the rural population in a radio programme. Over the years the editors developed professional routines and adapted to the increasing complexity of the countries situation. The programme’s emphasis has shifted from grass root participation to more political voices.
