[cma-l] Pathways for community media in London

[Donald McTernan]

A series of 3 seminars organised by London Metropolitan University

12th May, 12th June, 1st July, 2009

Following last summer's meeting, the Community Media Research Group of 
London Metropolitan University is organising a further series of three 
seminars to bring together community media practitioners to identify the 
needs and aspirations of London's many disenfranchised communities and 
discuss a way forward that will give them a voice over the airwaves and 
the internet. The meetings have the support of the Community Media 
Association, BBC London and Ofcom. Project Coordinator Donald McTernan 
and Peter Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Community Media will be organizing 
the events.

Background

Across the UK there are communities who have been demanding access to 
the airwaves for over 30 years. These communities are mainly in major 
urban cities - the places where demand for licences (or spectrum) is at 
its highest. Nowhere is this typified more than in our nations capital, 
the most complex, diverse and multi-racial city in the UK, yet one where 
disenfranchised communities are under-represented in every corner of the 
city. There is a need for some form of action and collaboration to get 
their voices heard. Their situation needs to be discussed both by 
policy-makers and within the communities and neighbourhoods themselves.

The three sessions:

(1) Who's out there? What's happening in Community Radio, who are 
community radio's allies and collaborators? Tuesday, 12 May, 2pm – 6pm, 
hosted by BBC London at Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 
6LA (http://www.richmix.org.uk/visitor.htm)

(2) Sustainability Funding sources and a 'manifesto' draft. Friday, 12 
June, 2pm – 6pm, hosted by Ofcom at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge 
Road, London SE1 9HA. (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/contactus/ )

(3) Ways forward for the future. Presenting a 'manifesto' for Community 
Media in London. Wednesday, 1 July, 2pm – 6pm, hosted by London 
Metropolitan University at The Graduate Centre, 166-220 Holloway Road, 
London N7 8DB (http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/about/graduate-centre.cfm)

The meetings will be of interest to

- Community Media practitioners
- Community Radio licensees and aspirant groups
- those working for Local Authorities in fields where community media 
can have an impact - health, youth, social inclusion, regeneration, 
community arts, minority ethnic groups, etc
- students and lecturers studying community media

Places will be limited. For further information please contact Project 
Coordinator Donald McTernan via donald at donaldmack.co.uk