[cma-l] Article 19 backs community radio campaign

[Steve Buckley]

Published at:
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/press/united-kingdom-over-200-community-radio-stations-at-risk-of-closure-due-to-g.pdf

>ARTICLE 19
>
>
>PRESS RELEASE
>
>For immediate release – 17 August 2009
>
>United Kingdom: Over 200 Community Radio 
>Stations At Risk of Closure Due to Government Inaction
>
>Community radio stations across the United 
>Kingdom are at risk of closure due to highly 
>restrictive funding arrangements and the failure 
>of government to fully implement a public 
>funding mechanism that was established in law in 2003.
>
>ARTICLE 19 requests all readers to sign the 
>online petition at: 
><http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/allthevoices/>http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/allthevoices/ 
>calling for the United Kingdom government to 
>commit to supporting community radio in line 
>with their own 2003 estimates and the 
>recommendations of the Everitt report, "New Voices".
>
>In the United Kingdom, the Community Radio Order 
>2004 restricts community radio to raising a 
>maximum of 50 per cent of revenue from 
>advertising and sponsorship. Some stations are 
>prevented from raising any revenue from these 
>sources. These rules were to be complemented by 
>around £30,000 per station per annum from the 
>Community Radio Fund, which the government 
>estimated would cost £3-4 million per annum. In 
>the first year of the fund, £500,000 was 
>provided, when there were just 14 stations, but 
>today there are over 200 stations and the fund has not increased.
>
>ARTICLE 19 is supporting the “All the Voices” 
>campaign, which is organised by a coalition of 
>over 60 radio stations. The campaign calls for 
>the United Kingdom government to commit to a 
>substantial increase in the Community Radio Fund 
>in order to secure the long-term sustainability 
>and growth of an important resource.
>
>Over 200 community radio stations in the United 
>Kingdom serve local listeners with content that 
>is often neglected or ignored by mainstream 
>media. They operate on a not-for-profit basis 
>and are owned and controlled by local 
>communities. Community radio is vital in 
>creating a diverse media landscape, serving 
>disadvantaged and minority communities and 
>adding different voices that may not otherwise be heard.
>
>
>NOTES TO EDITORS:
>
>•For more information please contact: Oliver 
>Spencer, Advocacy Officer, 
><mailto:oliver at article19.org>oliver at article19.org +44 20 7324 2500
>
>mini logo
>  ARTICLE 19
>ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights 
>organisation that works globally to protect and 
>promote the right to freedom of expression. It 
>takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal 
>Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees 
>free speech. For more information on ARTICLE 19 please visit www.article19.org
>
>Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA, United Kingdom
>Tel: +44 20 7324 2500 - Fax: +44 20 7490 0566 - 
><mailto:info at article19.org>info at article19.org - www.article19.org
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Support Community Radio! Sign The Petition! Tell Your Friends!
<http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/allthevoices/>http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/allthevoices/