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 Campcaster in action At the same time, it also allows stations using Campcaster to easily exchange program content, both over the Internet and offline.  Such software, referred to as a playout and automation system, used to cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, but Campcaster is offered as free and open source. 
Such software, referred to as a playout and automation system, used to cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, but Campcaster is offered as free and open source. And while that means stations can download and use Campcaster for free, in the long run it also means they are also free to make their own modifications to the software if they want – the only catch is that if a station makes changes to the programming code, they must share those changes with others. MDLF has worked to implement Campcaster among radio stations in the Cornet radio network in Sierra Leone. At present, four Sierra Leonian stations are using Campcaster, as is West Africa Democracy Radio, a station broadcasting across West Africa on shortwave on 17875 khz and in Dakar on 94.9 FM. A complete list of Campcaster users can be found here. A number of other stations are testing Campcaster or are in the process of implementing it for their broadcasts. Part of Campcaster's goal is also to build local capacity to provide service and technical support. In Sierra Leone, the project is working with the Sierra e-Riders, a local group charged with providing tech support to NGOs and media organizations. Similar arrangements are in place in other countries as well. The BBC World Service program 'Digital Planet' did a feature on Campcaster on 9 January 2007, which you can listen to here. A news report on the broadcast is here. The next step for Campcaster is to integrate it with the other software offered in the Campware Initiative, including the Campsite newsroom management system. This integration will allow Skala Radio, a station in Kotor, Montenegro, to adopt free and open source software in their entire operation: - journalists write their reports and program scripts using Open Office
- sound files are edited using Audacity
- the reports are put into the Campsite system, where they are edited and prepared for broadcast
- the items are broadcast using Campcaster
- all PCs at the radio station use the Ubuntu Linux operating system
- the station's website runs Campsite, and sound files from the station's Campcaster archive can be easily linked to website articles.
Radio Skala became interested in open source alternatives after businesses in their region were raided by police looking for pirated software; the move to legal and free alternatives to commercial software will save the station money as well as allow it to upgrade to future releases of the software for free. For lack of a better name, the joint Campcaster-Campsite release is being called the 'Radio Package', and will be released on 31 January 2007. The release will include the 2.7 Campsite release as well as Campcaster 1.2, which is code-named “Kotor.” Campware is dedicated to develop, distribute, support and implement useful tools for independent news media in emerging democracies. All Campware software is released as open source and under the GNU General Public License. To find out more about Campware, visit the website at http://www.campware.org/. You will find links to manuals, support mailing lists and chat rooms at the Campware site.
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