[cma-l] the Community Radio Toolkit Needs You!

Tue Sep 16 15:52:00 BST 2014

I've set up lots of phpBB-type forums in the past - really popular 10 years
ago, but I think they've had their day now.

What's wrong with setting up a Facebook Group?  Minimum of fuss / people
familiar with the formats / probably not going to die out in the next few
years etc

Paul
Phoenix FM
www.phoenixfm.com

On 16 September 2014 15:20, Associated Broadcast Consultants <
info at a-bc.co.uk> wrote:

> I agree to a certain extent - the problem occurred with the move to the
> "new" format website.  From what I recall you had to re-register on the
> site, and it seemed many active contributors were lost at that point.
>
> Another problem is the landing page on the new site after login.  Even
> though you may have clicked on the Forum tab at the top, after login you
> are redirected to another page called "Activity" which actually seems an
> oxymoron because it does not seem very active!  At this stage I reckon new
> sign-ups might give up - assuming the forum is not active.
>
> I agree there should be an active forum supporting people who do community
> radio.  I have at times thought about setting one up myself, but really I
> think it's best if such a forum is hosted on an independent website like
> this one or CMA.
>
> Having said that, even the Media UK forum seems less active than it used
> to be - maybe Forums are not "where it's at" nowadays?
>
> Glyn
>
> --
> Glyn Roylance - Principal Consultant
> Associated Broadcast Consultants <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/>
> <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/index.html>
>
>
>
> On 15 September 2014 19:34, Bruce Rodger <bruce at celticmusicradio.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Phil,
>>
>> I hope my comments will be taken as constructive criticism - as you will
>> remember I was a regular participant in the original toolkit forum, but
>> since the re-vamp my contributions - and pretty much everyone else’s - have
>> mostly dried up. We need to fix that, and I’m not convinced funding will
>> resolve that.
>>
>> I do support what we’re trying to do with the toolkit - it’s a very
>> worthwhile project (note the “we” there….)
>>
>> The one thing that surprises me about the community radio scene in the UK
>> is that there is no active web forum. Think about just about any
>> hobby/sport/pastime/activity, search around a bit, and you’ll find a wealth
>> of volunteer-run web forums. Whether it’s Land Rover maintenance, or
>> theatre technology, or skateboarding, or hillwalking, or photography, or
>> people who live in a certain town, or one-legged blind naturists….. you get
>> the idea.
>>
>> I’m involved with several, and they’ve grow from being initially a place
>> where like minded people could chat, through being a repository of useful
>> information and knowledge, to being the de-facto reference site for any
>> technical or non-tech queries on that subject. In one that I am involved
>> with, we have an active membership ranging from school kid know-it-all
>> wannabe’s through to industry professionals at the apex of their profession.
>>
>> It’s not funding that makes these work - the web hosting is often paid by
>> google adverts, or out of the pockets of the admin team. There are no paid
>> admins, authors or moderators - it’s done by the community, simply because
>> it’s THEIR community.
>>
>>
>> The toolkit is never going to happen without formal funding - but what
>> our community lacks is a community forum. Which is a bit sad, bearing in
>> mind that community is what we’re all about! It doesn’t take money, it just
>> takes a bit of time and some community buy-in.
>>
>> Bruce.
>>
>> (ps - I made up the bit about one-legged blind naturists. I don’t think
>> it exists - unless one of you know different?)
>>
>>
>> Bruce Rodger
>> Celtic Music Radio 95fm
>> bruce at celticmusicradio.net
>>
>>
>>
>> On 15 Sep 2014, at 16:11, Phil Korbel <phil at radioregen.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Bruce
>>
>> The site is un-funded and we've not had the resources to support new
>> content or the forum.
>>
>> Watch this space for the re-launch...
>>
>> Would hate to see you when you're being critical ;)
>>
>> best wishes
>>
>> Phil
>>
>> Phil Korbel FRSA - Director, Radio Regen, charity no. 1077763
>>
>> www.radioregen.org
>> www.communityradiotoolkit.net
>> www.connecttransmit.org.uk
>>
>> Please note that I work at Radio Regen under 2 days a week so responses
>> might not be as quick as we'd like.  Many thanks.
>>
>>
>> On 15 September 2014 14:51, Bruce Rodger <bruce at celticmusicradio.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Phil writes: "...The much loved Community Radio Toolkit
>>> <http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net/> is re-launching soon "...
>>>
>>> I really don't want to be a wet blanket here - but I've got to ask. Is
>>> it really "much loved"? The document itself is fine, but the website aint.
>>>
>>> The "Forum" section - which is potentially one of the most valuable and
>>> useful areas - has had 3 posts this year, the last one 3 months ago. The
>>> "News" section has had 3 posts this year, and the "Feature" section - which
>>> claims "Every now and then we put the spotlight on a different community
>>> radio subject. These features allow us to look at particular topics in more
>>> depth, with articles, website links and interactive contributions from
>>> members" - has not been updated in four and a half years.
>>>
>>> I don't find it a particularly user-friendly experience.
>>>
>>> Before the last "rebranding", it was quite a useful resource, with an
>>> active forum. But I'm now just a very occasional visitor, and any time I do
>>> visit, I get the feeling that the only footprints in the sand are the ones
>>> I made last time I visited.
>>>
>>> It's a concept with great potential, but needs more buy-in and
>>> participation from the community to make it work.
>>>
>>> Bruce.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 15 September 2014 11:04, Phil Korbel <phil at radioregen.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi colleagues
>>>>
>>>> The much loved Community Radio Toolkit
>>>> <http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net/> is re-launching soon -
>>>> allowing far easier access to our huge free library of 'how to' resources
>>>> for the sector.
>>>>
>>>> As you'll know if you've delved there - it has a lot of writing in it -
>>>> which looked great on the printed page and pdf's but frankly runs the risk
>>>> of looking a tad dull on a web page so - we need more pictures!  If you'd
>>>> like a name-check on the new site and have a photo or cartoon that really
>>>> says something about community radio would like to share it with us - and
>>>> the sector?
>>>>
>>>> No prizes - this is just about sharing.  Please send images by email to
>>>> this address in the next couple of weeks along with a short caption and
>>>> photographer credit if required.
>>>>
>>>> More news about the re-launch soon
>>>>
>>>> best wishes
>>>>
>>>> Phil
>>>>
>>>> Phil Korbel FRSA - Director, Radio Regen, charity no. 1077763
>>>>
>>>> www.radioregen.org
>>>> www.communityradiotoolkit.net
>>>> www.connecttransmit.org.uk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
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