[cma-l] CMA Proposals for Jeremy Hunt - Secretary of State for Culture, O...

Sat May 15 07:29:24 BST 2010

You may have noticed my sometimes vociferous emails on here too. You are right we all have some truly great ideas but these do not bring themselves into action. Ultimately we get the organisation that we deserve, I dont want to declare UDI but really CMA could be/do more. I think I am gonna take up your suggestion and stand

Mark Polden

Flame 1521

From: Stevensuttie at aol.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 15:20:48 -0400
To: trevor at felixstoweradio.co.uk; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] CMA Proposals for Jeremy Hunt - Secretary of State for Culture, O...

Hi Trevor,

I think that if you feel so strongly about this - then you really must stand for CMA council.

I once felt that this CMA list was an excellent forum which enabled like-minded individuals with a common goal to come together, share ideas, support each other and ultimately - to bolster and reinforce a solid network of community media practitioners up and down the UK. But my view has changed.

In the past 12 months, I've read so many passionate and enthusiastic e-mails and debates here from various members, suggesting fantastic ideas and initiatives - from setting up a CMA annual awards event, to top slicing the BBC license fee - and loads of great topics inbetween. Unfortunately though, in my opinion - these ideas and passionate discussions just end up as old e-mails in my "old e-mails" folder. It doesn't turn into action. I really don't think that any of this energy is used for any real purpose and that's a real shame.

You said "Instead of moaning like Minnies, or suggesting we are all doomed, let's get out there - and support a new government that suggests it wants greater public participation. It's what we do best - better than anyone else - and given a modicum of support we can make any government look better than even the very best sliced bread. Any government must recognise our value, or face the consequences." 

We are all up to our necks in our work, as we all know - so its very difficult to form a "united front" really. I think that last years ill-fated Prime Ministers Petition episode demonstrates this point very well. The petition did more damage than good.

On the most recent debate on this forum, (BBC Top Slice) I suggested that it might be a good idea if we came up with a USP for the sector, and that we collated all of our information about volunteer numbers and other key information so that we could present a national "in a nutshell" overview of what the sector is actually delivering. I recall Jaqui sending an e-mail to this list that said she was happy to collate the info.

And then it all goes quiet. 

In the time that has elapsed since Jaqui made that offer - I'm sure that we could have all sent her our info, (not just FM licensed stations, but the entire community media sector) and that this info could have been calculated and made public. If that was the case, I'm sure that Jaqui's letter to the in coming Secretary of State for DCMS could say that "for X pounds per annum, our sector provides X opportunities for X people, whilst X charities, community groups and third sector companies benefitting from X in-kind support, throughout the UK."

I can only guess what each X stands for - and I'm guessing that each X represents very significant numbers.

Its also true that I can only guess how many responses Jaqui has had to this initiative too. And I'm guessing that its few.

So Trevor, by all means show your passion and commitment to the sector, and stand for the CMA council, I will support your endeavour 100%. I think that your first major job should be to try and enthuse all of the sectors managers and directors to view any notion of a "united front" with a bit more enthusiasm. I don't really think that it is the CMA's responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders are pitching in - and its grossly unfair to lay any blame at the CMA's door - as some members appear to be doing in recent e-mails.

Kindest Regards
Steve Suttie
Station Manager, 94.4FM Salford City Radio
office 0161 793 2939 
mobile 07772 355 852
: ::: WWW.SALFORDCITYRADIO.ORG ::: :
WINNERS - Community Award - Salford Business Awards 2009

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