[cma-l] Finding and Funding Voices: the Conference Report

[Salvatore Scifo]

++With apologies for cross-posting++

Finding and Funding Voices: the inner city experience.

A one-day international colloquium on community media was held at London
Metropolitan University on 17 September 2007.

The report of the Colloquium is now available at
www.communitymedia.eu/events/finding-and-funding-voices/Finding_and_Funding_Voices-Report.pdf

You can also view/download the presentations and a selection of pictures
of the event following the links from www.communitymedia.eu

-------------------------------------------------
Extract from the Report's Executive Summary

The event
The colloquium, attended by over ninety delegates, launched the Community
Media Research Group based in the Department of Applied Social Sciences
(DASS).

The event brought together community media practitioners, regulators and
industry representatives (Ofcom, the Community Media Association (CMA) and
AMARC, the World Association of Community Broadcasters); government
departments (DCMS and DCLG, London Mayor's Office), and academics from
fourteen UK Universities.

The Programme
Invited speakers from Austria, France, Ireland and The Netherlands
provided an international context with their experience of regulation,
funding and production. Workshops discussed case studies from London and
Wales, and what action is needed in the areas of policy monitoring,
training, research, programme sharing, and funding for both individual
stations and projects and the sector as a whole.

The action required
Delegates strongly urged central and local government to recognise the
contribution community media are making to social inclusion, community
development and regeneration. The Community Radio sector in particular,
now expanding rapidly, needs more support than the DCMS's Community Radio
Fund can provide. Ways must be found, through a range of programmes and
through inter-departmental co-operation, to find funding that enables the
delivery of the social gain community radio so manifestly provides.

London was seen as particularly problematic: its large size and the
relatively few analogue frequencies available mean that many communities
lack an on-air voice. The London Mayor's Office does not at present
recognise community media as relevant to its responsibilities and it was
recognised that giving 'a voice to the voiceless' requires supportive
policies and funding from a range of departments in central and local
government, not just ministries of media or culture.

Delegates agreed that support should be given to CMA to raise awareness of
community media in London through lobbying and strengthening links with
Government ministers and departments including the Prime Minister and
London Mayor's Office.

Future tasks for the University's Community Media Research Group were seen
as:
- the collation and publication of research into community media and
examples of best practice in the field;
- the provision and/or co-ordination of training for workers in the sector;
- the provision of introductory courses in community media for those in
the field of community development who were potential partners with this
form of media.


For further details about the event please feel free contact Salvo at
S.Scifo at londonmet.ac.uk or Peter at P.Lewis at londonmet.ac.uk


With our Best Wishes for the forthcoming festive season,

Peter & Salvo



-- 
Peter M.Lewis/Salvatore Scifo,
Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Community Media
Media Information & Communication
Department of Applied Social Sciences
London Metropolitan University
Ladbroke House, Room LH 326
62-66 Highbury Grove
London N5 2AD

W: www.communitymedia.eu


Companies Act 2006 : http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/companyinfo