[cma-l] FW: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
Office - ccr-fm
office at ccr-fm.co.uk
Sat Jan 29 13:30:01 GMT 2011
Steve n' all
Erd nowt' ?? ...... to be honest, I didn't expect a reply. The problem I
have is that due to events over the past 7 years I have unfortunately become
tactless and back people into corners without any room for them to manouvre
unless they of course openly insult me ...... It is all to regular an
occurrence now whereby they never reply or they try to avoid you. In
otherwords, the majority of them them are spineless prats ! I'm
not really saying that this girl is (she seems quite pleasant) and I ain't
having a pop at her ...... But what I am having a go at is this general
perception regarding community radio.
It is very frustrating for us / me at the moment as I feel very assured that
I know exactly every nook and cranny that there is regarding community
radio. Remember there are others in our fraturnity who I KNOW have
experienced exactly the same and they want something doing about it, but
they are fearful of matters arising !??
We have a different view :-
All of this radio venture has gone exactly the way I new it would .... and
without sounding arrogant there ain't many tricks that I have missed.
1) We start off with the restrictions. We know that they are going to
cause problems but hey . we roll our sleeves up and get on with it.
2) We deliver everything that we said we would (and more) and become a
big hit in the area.
3) Good enough to the extent that as well as the restrictions the
local commercial station decide that restrictions are not enough and go into
a dirty tricks campaign. No worries there ....... because of the type of guy
I am (British Bull-dog) it has the opposite effect and instead of putting
me off it fires me up and the rallying cry to our volunteers gets their
peckers up as well .. bad move by Mr commercial radio
4) Everything is new, it is fresh and it is a novelty .. but, we make
such a success of it against a lot of adversity the novelty runs the
distance and individual sponsors hang in with us. Our grant success is not
brilliant, so technically we have run at least half the project on goodwill
from private donors .... Many of whom I know personally (lots of contacts
and all that jazz) I think thus far it is a familiar story
for most
5) However, it now starts to get tricky. Recession hits and bites ..
Things get a bit tight and firms start drawing their horns in. Thet want
more for their money --- but ! the restrictions do not allow us to give them
more ....... All along this journey the same COMPLAINTS keep coming back at
us ......Well you are only small ! yep we are only small because we
daren't have anymore that 25 watts even if in our own community we have
interference from the bully boys .. Also, why can't we have an advert ??
even if it is just an ickle one ------------------ sorry --- not permitted
due to restrictions.
6) As we continue along the community path all the parasites and
vultures keep decending upon us wanting their pound of flesh and yet our
revenue sources which are basically there for our mere survival and not to
make profits are going down, down, down, down.
7) Still the Government don't budge ... the CMA (bless em') do their
very best --------------- they negotiate on our behalf, they get little bits
and bobs like volunteer time etc etc .... which is a good thing but only
adds to more and more uneccessary admin and when the 50% gets fired off it
becomes pointless anyway.
8) Through the years a perception develops ....... Hence the reason
for my e-mail ........ THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT IN FEBRUARY 2011.
Our perception is that we are a FREE-RIDE ! Our funding streams are
now albeit EXHAUSTED unless we can offer our supporters a touch more, and
the same complaint keep hitting our doorstep ...... The signal is POOR !
listeners will only complain for so long and then they will SWITCH OFF.
The problems can all easily be solved without anyone getting hurt or harmed.
I would be massively grateful if a government spokesman could give their
opinion on my rants and/or Ofcom ..... With of course coming back stating
the black and white rules ....... GREY AREAS are what we need right now, so
that there can be a bit of room for manouvre.
How long can one bang on and bang on and bang on about these issues?? Whilst
at the same time give 100% to our own project. It is exhausting, it is soul
destroying ..... BUT ! the old British Bulldog won't
roll over ....... we still stand up and face it head on.
What's good enough for the pirates (who now have licenses) is certainly good
enough for me ....... We will always keep our nose clean and we will not and
never have break the law ........ HOWEVER ! if we end
up down to our last penny and the end is nigh ..... we will stand up and be
counted and we will do whatever it takes before rolling over and dieing !
As I have said a thousand times before ...... I am not 100% certain that the
man in the silly wig would actually back the governments stance in a court
of law ...... the loopholes in the trading standards and fairtrading have
been broken ten times over ..... they may end up with egg on their faces.
This e-mail is yet again very longwinded, but I believe it is the ''sorry''
side / the ''sad'' side of community radio compact and rolled into a short
essay. We shouldn't even be here .... we should be focusing on the successes
......... Times are tough, times are hard ...... we are looking for a little
bit of common sense and a lit bit of help ....... We have been honest,
clear, precise and upfront .. We cannot do anymore ........... the e-mail at
the beginning of this e-mail regarding ONE incident at the college, sums it
up for me.
There have been many more and I know that others in our fraturnity have gone
through exactly the same thing.
Perception is a problem, restrictions are no longer restrictions they are
'items' that could destroy smaller stations and signal strength is losing us
listeners which in turn gives you less clout when trying to gain sponsors
........ it is all to do with number crunching.
Nuff said
Regards
Nick
_____
From: Steve Suttie [mailto:stevensuttie at aol.com]
Sent: 28 January 2011 21:04
To: Office - ccr-fm
Cc: CMA-L
Subject: Re: [cma-l] FW: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
At the risk of stating the obvious Nick, theres no reply to your e-mail. So
I feel like I just watched an episode of Eastenders and was robbed of the
duh duh, duh duh duhs.
What did the college say in response?
Steve
Sent from my iPhone
On 27 Jan 2011, at 19:22, "Office - ccr-fm" <office at ccr-fm.co.uk> wrote:
Dear All
You may remember my e-mail a couple of days ago regarding the ''no money''
situation and the census ....... In otherwords, the Community sector being
voluntary = loosely meaning free-ride / gratis / second fiddle /
nonentity / poor perception etc etc .... this situation must clearly exist
!?? mustn't it ? I continue to rack my brains to find an answer ..
But can't.
I get the odd direct response from my postings, but they are odd. My
personal perception of this, is that I actually hit on a nerve, point out
the facts and the reality ..... I state the things that people are thinking,
but they don't want to get involved for fear of rocking the boat.
My approach is coarse, rough at the edges and at times unprofessional ......
however, as I have pointed out if this is the only way I know to stand up
and be counted, then so be it.. We all have our own cross to bear and none
of us are perfect. I can though tell you that my heart is in the right place
and I am loyal.
With all of this in mind, I would like to send you an e-mail exchange that I
have just had with our local learning zone college. It is VERY RELEVANT and
could be an interesting read.
First of all though, I need to set the picture and briefly give you all some
history.
1) In 2004 we approached the college to see if we could work together.
After being passed from pillar to post for about three months we gave up as
we very busy fund raising and setting up CCR.
2) In 2005 we approached again offering training and placements in
return for ' a little tickle' we were running an RSL ...... as it
happened, they did send us 6 students. We thought the students would be
coming down to our place with a teacher ...... they didn't, and proceeded
to 'DUMP' these students onto us for 4 weeks ......... May I say, we
received no money at all ! to make matters worse, the
students had got about as much chance of making it in the media industry as
I have of becoming Prime Minister ! yes they were that useless !
sorry, but a fact.
3) Another approach was made in 2006 with further approaches that year
regarding our internet etc and then in 2008 / 2009 we really turned the
screw and tried to get them onboard ...... we did even try a marketing
approach as well as the community softly softly catch a monkey approach.
4) 2010 came along and we basically GAVE UP ............
5) 2011 arrives and suddenly out of the blue we receive an e-mail from
their marketing department wanting us to give them air-time to promote the
learners / apprentice weeks. (we have done this before by the way)
Please be mindful that we have NEVER received a sausage from the college
...... in fact, I would go so far as to say they have been overall downright
rude over the years .not returning calls or e-mails etc you may not
believe it but these were polite e-mails and polite calls ... I can be very
polite when needs be.... also remember that they have during all this time
been LOBBING money at the local commercial station and local paper etc .....
remember, this is the station (silk) that gets restrictions put on us and we
can't get the money but they do get the money and we are the ones with the
restrictions ............. ER ------ How the hell does that work then ?
(anyway, I digress)
So ...... this is where we are up to ..... Regardless of what you may think,
we are letting these people come along, and we will continue to do so, I do
a lot of barking, but I'm a big softy at heart .... we always give people
the community ethos .. It is what we do
Trouble is ... whilst we are ALL doing it, we are at the same time ALL being
treated like something that gets stuck under a shoe ......
Please read the e-mail exchange now that the picture is set :-
I truly believe it sums up where most of us are at this particular Big
Society time .. bearing in mind that we have been Big Societying it for 7
years already.
I know it hurts, but I would be grateful of any observations or thoughts on
this matter please, be it via the message board or straight to us.
If I appear rude, then please accept my apologies ... I just feel that these
things need to be pointed out.
Start at the bottom and work back. You don't have to agree and if you do
disagree then tell me. Ian and Phil and a few of the others have taken me to
task ovewr the years on the odd things .. I do not have an issue with that
...... jolly good I say well done chaps ... no hard feelings.
_____
From: Office - ccr-fm [mailto:office at ccr-fm.co.uk]
Sent: 27 January 2011 18:45
To: 'Vicky Harvey'
Subject: RE: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
Vicky
Seeing as it is January and you are saying that the budget is committed for
the next 12 months, does this mean that the earliest you can look is
December ?? as I have pointed out, this isn't just a marketing
exercise it is an offer for you to send some students as well. Perhaps some
who wish to add another string to their bow. Or, do the students at the
college have no courses for radio media ??
We are also in the same boat but with no funds to commit anywhere ??
Just as a matter of interest and with a view to helping us get our approach
correct could you be so kind as to let me know as to why when you were
committing those funds, you didn't consider Canalside Community Radio. This
is a question that by answering it would infact give us some guidance
regarding our 'perception' in the wider community.
Clearly, when you were looking around for places to promote learners week /
apprentice week we were on your radar, but so far as funding is concerned
(or advertising if you wish to use the marketing term) we were not ....
or should I say we drifted off the radar and out of sight.
For the sake of our future we need to get to the bottom of why this happens.
We do believe it is perception ?!
The perception appears to be getting worse since the government started
banging on about the 'Big Society' ..... The idea that we are miniscule /
small / unimportant / voluntary / free / an afer thought
----------------------------------- we are battling at present with all of
these. They simply are not true.
If you could point us towards any of these or away from these we would be
very grateful.
The problem with the Big Society is that it seems to be saying to Community
Groups like ours that we are a free-ride ...... the problem is, we have
electric to pay, rent to pay, part-time staff and trainers, equipment ...
etc etc in other-words, when your guys come down in a couple of
weeks time, they will be sat in a warm studio, with microphones, lights on
and broadcasting because we have paid thousands of pounds in licence fees.
If Mr Cameron wishes to pay these bills for us then we will willingly do
everything for free !
Do you catch my drift ?? in otherwords .....
the Private sector get paid and the Voluntary sector doesn't .... however,
both sectors get bills !
As a marketing expert can you shed any light on our dilema, it would help us
a great deal. Perhaps your Manager may be able to help ?? In otherwords,
Why does a College that is only 4 miles away from it's Community Rdio
Station not run courses for students ..?? Most stations in the Country
(217) have a relationship with their local learning zones and colleges, but
we don't. What are we doing wrong ? You would be helping us a great
deal if you could enlighten us. No money, but at least some good advice.
Many thanks
Regards
Nick ......... See you in two weeks.
_____
From: Vicky Harvey [mailto:Vicky.Harvey at macclesfield.ac.uk]
Sent: 27 January 2011 12:16
To: 'Office - ccr-fm'
Subject: RE: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
Nick,
I have passed the tariff sheet on to my manager as well as the e-mail that
you sent to me. As you can imagine our budgets are very tight this year and
we have already set out what we intend to spend and where, so unfortunately
we cannot commit to any advertising with you. My manager has said that he
will definitely keep hold of the information though to look at again at a
later date.
Kind Regards,
Vicky
Vicky Harvey
Marketing Officer
Macclesfield College,
Macclesfield Learning Zone,
Park Lane,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire, SK11 8LF
Tel: 01625 410000 ext. 515
Web: <http://www.macclesfield.ac.uk> www.macclesfield.ac.uk
From: Office - ccr-fm [mailto:office at ccr-fm.co.uk]
Sent: 27 January 2011 12:10
To: Vicky Harvey
Subject: RE: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
Vicky
That's fine and it is all booked in. We can record the interview and play it
out a number of times also.
On a slightly different front, was there any development regarding the
funding ?? it opens up another avenue for the youngsters on the media
courses and we can provide the training and the air-time ..... we can also
promote anything that is happening at the College.
Regards
Nick
_____
From: Vicky Harvey [mailto:Vicky.Harvey at macclesfield.ac.uk]
Sent: 27 January 2011 10:30
To: 'office at ccr-fm.co.uk'
Subject: Apprenticeship Slot 8th Feb
Hello Nick,
Could we please go for the 11.45-12.30 slot with you on Tuesday 8th
February. The lady coming down will be Liz Delight, she is the
Apprenticeship Co-ordinator for the College and will be able to talk about
National Apprenticeship Week and the benefits of Apprenticeships to
individuals and businesses.
Kind Regards,
Vicky
Vicky Harvey
Marketing Officer
Macclesfield College,
Macclesfield Learning Zone,
Park Lane,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire, SK11 8LF
Tel: 01625 410000 ext. 515
Web: <http://www.macclesfield.ac.uk> www.macclesfield.ac.uk
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