[cma-l] £130 million per annum media fund

[Steve Buckley]

That is what is at stake!

The government is consulting this month on plans 
to invest £130 million per annum in public 
service broadcasting content outside the BBC.

Under the catchy title "Sustainable independent 
and impartial news in the nations, locally and in 
the regions" government is proposing a fund of 
around £130 million per annum. And, despite the 
title, it is not only about news.

The consultation paper argues that a plurality of 
news provision in the nations, regions and at the 
local level is the top priority for new public 
funding, but it also asks whether such funding 
"should potentially be available to fund other 
forms of essential public service content or .. be limited to news?"

It is vital the community media sector respond to 
this consultation by the deadline of 22 
September. Among other points that could be made are:

1. Community media can add a new and innovative 
tier in news provision through networks of 
citizen reporters and community correspondents. 
Funding for just  one news editor/trainer in 
every community radio and community television 
station would be a highly effective way to add to the plurality of news.

2. Beyond news, community radio has proved 
already that it can make a unique and *essential* 
contribution to public service broadcasting 
content. It is time now for government to make a 
serious contribution to the Community Radio Fund, 
and in future to extend it to include support for community television.

The consultation document is here:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6245.aspx

Lets make September a month of action for community broadcasting!

We have over 2000 signatures already on the 
community radio fund petition. It is vital we 
continue to mobilise friends and supporters to keep them coming in.

It's even easier now to sign on, just go to http://allthevoices.org

And lets use the community radio airwaves to 
promote public debate and discussion on the 
funding arrangements for public service broadcasting.

Keep up the campaigning!

Steve
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