[cma-l] Frustrated campaigning
Peter Lewis
p.lewis at londonmet.ac.uk
Mon May 17 09:36:31 BST 2010
Dear all
The 'Sunday discussion' connects with an idea that I've been mulling
over. I should explain that I am an 'academic' as well as having been a
member of the CMA for years - and before that a founding member of its
predecessor the Community Communications Group at a time when I was a
practitioner (community TV). There are not many of us in the media
studies departments of colleges and universities who are interested in
community media, but, Mark Polden, we could play a part in helping
getting community media properly recognised and funded.
That's because our job includes research - something you guys have
little time to do - and research can cover a multitude of activities. A
great job is being done in Sheffield collecting info about funding
sources. I would like to combine this with a mapping exercise which
helps us (CMA members) see what the the needs and opportunities
(political, funding) are in different regions.
I hope to talk to Jaqui about this soon. Meanwhile what do you think?
Peter M. Lewis
Senior Lecturer in Community Media
Department of Applied Social Sciences
London Metropolitan University
Ladbroke House
62-66 Highbury Grove
London N5 2AD
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/dass/staff/peterlewis/
Marilyn Hyndman wrote:
> Someone probably needs to do a mapping exercise across UK, I am sure
> there are all sorts of anomalies re decentralised government, maybe look
> at the organisations it is crucial to lobby and pin point where they are
> on regional basis? We are only using Arts Council as an example... Film
> Lottery, isn't that more centralised through Film Council, we have
> different economic development boards here to what is in England too? I
> can't really answer this one as I don't know enough about the
> infrastructure in England.
>
> Yes, we do need to look at networking for local television but there may
> be a case for local radio as well... do community radio stations want to
> share some programming on a network basis? Decent funds could make this
> a possibility? What could that programming be? Ad hoc basis for radio a
> result of struggling to survive? What do the radio folks think?
>
> All the best,
> Marilyn
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 16 May 2010, at 17:50, Dave Rushton wrote:
>
>> Hi Phil
>>
>> Yes to sectoral identity - but you reminding radio folk its 'community
>> media' not just 'community radio' (changed in 1996 I think) misses the
>> structural difference of approach as well as thinking: radio has
>> adopted an ad hoc approach whereas fTV seeks a universal network
>> solution.
>>
>> For TV too the Ofcom PSB agenda beyond London has now become 'nations,
>> regions and localities' - and localities includes print as well as
>> Internet - the new collectivism is local public service/purpose media.
>>
>> I recall a very short-lived attempt to include community print with TV
>> when 'media' emerged to replace 'radio'. Somehow the Internet was
>> bundled into media without much thought (It appealed to some
>> technophiles in CMA) - but micro-newspapers, why are they not included?
>>
>> Also its not just a need to address in terms of a devolved Arts
>> Council scale - but to be at forefront of de-centralisaed government
>> and regulation - subsidiarity as well as devolution for local and
>> community media.
>>
>> Best
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>> On 16 May 2010, at 13:38, Phil Shep wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Marilyn
>>>
>>> Your input is always so on the money for me, I wish there were more
>>> opportunities to thrash all this stuff out. A pro active approach
>>> where we bring the funders to the strength of our idea rather than
>>> waiting for the next twist in the policy road would be great. And yes
>>> let's look at how we follow things up, mobilise support when the
>>> issues and opportunities arise, there is a tie in to regional
>>> structure there, once we know when and where the agm is - the detail
>>> of which is itself contingent on available resources - let's support
>>> Jaqui in creating an agenda which really gets to the nub of this (
>>> not that Jaqui won't anyway be doing just that!) and set a course for
>>> future which everyone can get behind and contribute to...
>>>
>>> Best wishes
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 16 May 2010, at 13:14, Marilyn Hyndman
>>> <marilyn at northernvisions.org <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Phil,
>>>>
>>>> Not suggesting that nothing is being done.. I have also been to
>>>> meetings and been promised that various things will be considered, I
>>>> guess many of us have, I understand how frustrating all of this is
>>>> and I know it often comes down to a few groups/individuals in a
>>>> sector to keep the torch alight, more is the pity.
>>>>
>>>> .....what I am trying to get at is how to make this process better.
>>>> For example, with Lottery, should there not have been an immediate
>>>> protest by the sector ... maybe there was an equality issue here,
>>>> other forms of activity/sectors are recognised... first I have heard
>>>> of all of this, always thought nothing had been done, perhaps that
>>>> is my fault and I didn't read the emails.
>>>>
>>>> So, process ... how is everything followed up, should there be an
>>>> automatic call on the sector, a rallying of the troops once a
>>>> decision has been made by some quango we are all beholden to?
>>>>
>>>> Not sure about these bids like EQUAL either, always contorting to
>>>> someone else's misconceived view of the world. Should we not be
>>>> pro-active and propose our own large scale project and then look for
>>>> a cocktail of funders? Perhaps that is where your regional idea can
>>>> come in?
>>>>
>>>> But nothing less than several £million as a target.....?
>>>>
>>>> All the best,
>>>> Marilyn
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 16 May 2010, at 12:55, Phil Shep wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Marilyn
>>>>>
>>>>> We did approach Lottery about three years ago arguing for a
>>>>> dedicated funding stream for community media. I met the head of Big
>>>>> lottery to that effect and was promised that it would be considered
>>>>> in what is now their recent review. Nothing came of that. All these
>>>>> initiatives - as we know from the local TV campaign - require
>>>>> concerted and long term input to stand any chance of success.
>>>>> Digital switchover is another and again it's not that nothing's
>>>>> being done, but arguably as much as is feasible with limited capacity.
>>>>>
>>>>> How to increase capacity? It's argued by some that CMA should focus
>>>>> more on large scale funding bids like Equal of old. They are of
>>>>> course very time consuming and success uncertain at best. We do
>>>>> have several financial irons in the fire right now which if
>>>>> succesful wll free up time to add strength to the policy arguments
>>>>> we are making. Yes community media does need to become recognised
>>>>> as a legitimate sector in it's own right and from my experience bit
>>>>> by bit that is becoming the case. It's nowhere near fast enough,
>>>>> it's not teanslating into pund notes and progress is patchy.
>>>>>
>>>>> Incidentally and to answer another point raised in the list today
>>>>> academic support is critical to that profile raising - vital to
>>>>> being taken seriously in the wider world. We welcome that input to
>>>>> Council.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best wishes
>>>>>
>>>>> Phil
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 16 May 2010, at 12:25, Marilyn Hyndman <
>>>>> <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>marilyn at northernvisions.org
>>>>> <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Phil,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Perhaps it might be easier to gauge if there was a breakdown of
>>>>>> what is happening in each 'region' already.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I can see how strategic alliances could be formed to lobby
>>>>>> regional bodies, arts councils, screen commissions, economic
>>>>>> development bodies etc, those bodies that have a regional or
>>>>>> nation set up but there are hidden dangers in this because what
>>>>>> you really need is a national (UK) recognition of the importance
>>>>>> of community media... these bodies all have differing policies and
>>>>>> criteria already, none of this is uniform when it comes to
>>>>>> community media and quite a lot of times community media does not
>>>>>> figure in any of this, and/or is not understood very well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Does community media not need to be accepted as an 'activity',
>>>>>> 'sector' call it what you will, the same way independent film or
>>>>>> literature or drama or even community development is and with a
>>>>>> funding stream, preferably a dedicated funding stream.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One area we have plugged for a long time is Lottery but no one in
>>>>>> CMA has thought it important to take up. A unified policy and
>>>>>> criteria with Lottery for community media as a good cause would
>>>>>> help, similarly with Skillset, Arts Councils, economic development
>>>>>> boards ... though easier if this was agreed with DCMS and filtered
>>>>>> down to these bodies as a directive rather than a massive
>>>>>> undertaking by a sector lobbying in their own areas and already
>>>>>> under pressure?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The other area is the Digital Switchover fund ... again surely
>>>>>> best done on a UK basis? Where is the strategy on this, does this
>>>>>> not need to be sorted pretty sharply?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All the best,
>>>>>> Marilyn
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 16 May 2010, at 12:02, Phil Shep wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Marilyn
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I take your point and like the idea of communitiesof interest. I
>>>>>>> think the regional thing I'd important too though -when regional
>>>>>>> events have occasionally taken place they have always proved
>>>>>>> valuable - asides and information exchanges, as sources of
>>>>>>> inspiration for the embattled - inculcating a sense of engagement
>>>>>>> and ownership which us important in a membership organisation. I
>>>>>>> think this feeds back to the centre too, active support on the
>>>>>>> ground manifesting for example through joined up approaches to
>>>>>>> MPs surgeries etc. It's about the local agenda too, not just
>>>>>>> because our new gov tkd about it but because it has to be the
>>>>>>> future surely.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's not an either / or - communities of interest would certainly
>>>>>>> be good.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Phil
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 16 May 2010, at 11:02, Marilyn Hyndman <
>>>>>>> <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>
>>>>>>> <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>marilyn at northernvisions.org
>>>>>>> <mailto:marilyn at northernvisions.org>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Whilst regional and local strategy is important, the CMA is a UK
>>>>>>>> organisation and is it not the strategic development between
>>>>>>>> government and organisations nationally which has stalled and
>>>>>>>> caused so much frustration?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Would it not be better for us all to understand why that is and
>>>>>>>> if anything could be done better ..... before going off in other
>>>>>>>> directions which may lead us up blind alleys?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> For example, how do regional strategies key into the big picture
>>>>>>>> if the big picture is not understood or is failing?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> All you would be doing in that scenario is adding another layer
>>>>>>>> of frustration as the centre fails to deliver with far more
>>>>>>>> chance that the sector will fracture?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I wonder if it would not be better to have communities of
>>>>>>>> interest rather than a regional structure which given the nature
>>>>>>>> of the sector will surely be very uneven across the country.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Groupings which take up issues important for the whole UK sector
>>>>>>>> and put their energies into that?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> M
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 15 May 2010, at 09:51, Phil Shep wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> There has long been a need for more joined up regional
>>>>>>>>>>> working within CMA and this fact has not been lost on staff
>>>>>>>>>>> and council. Our great frustration in recent years has been a
>>>>>>>>>>> lack of capacity to do more to make this happen on the
>>>>>>>>>>> ground. Jaqui and the team go well beyond the call of duty on
>>>>>>>>>>> a daily basis to hold the line for the sector, to make sure
>>>>>>>>>>> we are represented at the key conversations, to provide the
>>>>>>>>>>> tech and information support which is so useful to us all.
>>>>>>>>>>> But holding the line is necessarily where we have been at for
>>>>>>>>>>> quite a while and as a sector we need to look at how we can
>>>>>>>>>>> work more effectively together to addresss this - and for me
>>>>>>>>>>> the key is in regional working.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Again, capacity rears its head - yes we're all busy - but
>>>>>>>>>>> also at times we are short-sighted when we build alliances
>>>>>>>>>>> with others and fail to key in our collective strength to the
>>>>>>>>>>> bigger picture .
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> As has been observed, there is too often a disconnect between
>>>>>>>>>>> the passionate ideas expressed and the ability of the tiny
>>>>>>>>>>> over- stretched core to follow up the ideas - the ones
>>>>>>>>>>> couched in reality at least! If we were meeting regularly at
>>>>>>>>>>> a regional level we could do much more to mobilise grass
>>>>>>>>>>> roots campaigning.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Just here in Somerset we have at least six CR stations and
>>>>>>>>>>> other CM projects within a fifty mile radius and while there
>>>>>>>>>>> is at times I know, good and positive communication flowing
>>>>>>>>>>> between projects this rarely translates into joined up
>>>>>>>>>>> campaigns which key into the bigger picture. Let's really
>>>>>>>>>>> tackle this one at the AGM this year - it's overdue and would
>>>>>>>>>>> I think obviate some of the frustrations expressed recently
>>>>>>>>>>> on this list. I've got a year left at most as Chair and
>>>>>>>>>>> would like to to do as much as possible in that time to put
>>>>>>>>>>> the beginnings of a working regional structure in place.
>>>>>>>>>>> Let me know what you think.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> And yes to echo others, if you've got time and energy to
>>>>>>>>>>> give,please do consider standing for council. We need all
>>>>>>>>>>> the expertise and energy we can muster to help take us all
>>>>>>>>>>> forward.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Best wishes
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Phil
>>>>>>>>>>> Chair of Council
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> cma-l mailing list - <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>> <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>> <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>>>>>>>>> <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Community Media Association - <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>> <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>> <http://www.commedia.org.uk>www.commedia.org.uk
>>>>>>>>> <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Marilyn Hyndman
>>>>>>>> Northern Visions/NvTv
>>>>>>>> 23 Donegall Street
>>>>>>>> Belfast
>>>>>>>> BT1 2FF
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tel: 028 9024 5495 ext 207
>>>>>>>> Fax: 028 9032 6608
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> NvTv
>>>>>>>> Belfast Community Television
>>>>>>>> Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
>>>>>>>> Live on line: <http://www.nvtv.co.uk> <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>>>>>>>> <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>www.nvtv.co.uk <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>www.northernvisions.org
>>>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Marilyn Hyndman
>>>>>> Northern Visions/NvTv
>>>>>> 23 Donegall Street
>>>>>> Belfast
>>>>>> BT1 2FF
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tel: 028 9024 5495 ext 207
>>>>>> Fax: 028 9032 6608
>>>>>>
>>>>>> NvTv
>>>>>> Belfast Community Television
>>>>>> Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
>>>>>> Live on line: <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>>>>>> <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>www.nvtv.co.uk <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>www.northernvisions.org
>>>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Marilyn Hyndman
>>>> Northern Visions/NvTv
>>>> 23 Donegall Street
>>>> Belfast
>>>> BT1 2FF
>>>>
>>>> Tel: 028 9024 5495 ext 207
>>>> Fax: 028 9032 6608
>>>>
>>>> NvTv
>>>> Belfast Community Television
>>>> Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
>>>> Live on line: <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>www.nvtv.co.uk
>>>> <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>>>>
>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>www.northernvisions.org
>>>> <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>>
>>> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
>>> <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:
>>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>>
>
> Marilyn Hyndman
> Northern Visions/NvTv
> 23 Donegall Street
> Belfast
> BT1 2FF
>
> Tel: 028 9024 5495 ext 207
> Fax: 028 9032 6608
>
> NvTv
> Belfast Community Television
> Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
> Live on line: www.nvtv.co.uk <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>
>
> www.northernvisions.org <http://www.northernvisions.org>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
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> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:
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