[cma-l] Ofcom publishes reasons for the award of four new community radio...

[matt at freshwatford.com]

Hi All,

The problem with community radio stations in my opinion - people 
automatically think by doing a list of RSL's means they should get a 
licence. Some jocks I had on Fresh RSL's were coming to me saying if we 
do a class sounding RSL we may get a licence - it really is not like 
that and to be honest I am quite glad it isn't like that. Anoracks have 
hospital and internet radio to play around with - community radio even 
though it's primarily there to provide a community service, to me it 
should still be run in a business (albeit not for profit) sense.

I still today hear a lot of community stations which to me need a good 
kick to be honest. People gaining licences because they fancy playing 
radio...this really annoys me and I could list a load of stations which 
in my opinion do nothing to serve the community - but likewise I could 
also list a lot of good stations...ones that regularly post job adverts 
for 'youth officer' etc...these are good examples of good community 
stations there to actually do something with the community, rather than 
sit around arguing about what jingles, equipment etc to buy.

I remember ages ago seeing a particular station on the south coast for 
sale. I had a listen and it sounded like a commercial station down there 
from the 90s...what is the point?

Another thing with community radio. I see no reason really why there 
couldn't be a basic community radio brand that stations take, but then 
implement social gain on a local level. For example, with my Fresh FM 
brand - there is no reason why every city in the country couldn't have a 
type of station like we do as our three main objectives are equal to 
social gain - this can be the same everywhere. It could work being done 
on a similar model as the GCap One Network - anoracks wouldn't like it, 
but to be fair community radio isnt supposed to keep anoracks happy.

Harsh I know, but it's true!

Matt Cadman
Fresh FM Watford
Ocean FM - myoceanfm.com

On 6 Mar 2008, at 12:10, Michael Fryer wrote:

 >
 > One great failing in the organisation of community radio has been
 > that, although the Government built into the granting of licences that
 > social gain was an essential element, it failed to fully inform other
 > Government departments.  Community radio should be regarded on a par
 > with other community groups, which are there to improve areas of
 > deprivation e.g. social problems, discrimination, disablement, lack of
 > employment and/or education etc. and should be working alongside the
 > relevant agencies.  At a stroke this would remove one of the main
 > barriers to funding and co-operation within community radio, i.e. the
 > widespread idea that it is just a group of people playing music and
 > therefore not to be taken seriously.  National and local government
 > should ensure that community radio is included alongside other
 > departments as one of the tools for disseminating information and
 > attaining improvement targets in the afore mentioned areas.
 >
 > The more community radio stations work together, the stronger will be
 > the message to Government.
 >
 > Regards,
 >
 > Michael Fryer