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

Thu Sep 18 09:43:14 BST 2014

I agree - for example for a while the old community radio toolkit forum
(the one before the one that's there now) was available as an archive.
There was (is) a wealth of information available there - and much of the
information is the type that does not rapidly go out of date.  Lots of
advice from people with hands-on experience, lots of ideas, suggestions
etc.

A bulletin board/forum with good search options seems a great way to file
this kind of information.  The difficulty is, how to build an active forum
up from the current, rather stale situation?   I think Community Radio
Toolkit website is the right direction, but perhaps with better execution
and more promotion.   It does not have to cost money - there are lots of
people - Like Alex and me, who give information and advice for free!

This email forum is fine for some tasks, but to me I feel "blind" if I
wanted to reference something I recall seeing 6 months or a year ago for
example.

-- 
Glyn Roylance - Principal Consultant
Associated Broadcast Consultants <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/>

On 17 September 2014 21:47, tlr at gairloch.co.uk <tlr at gairloch.co.uk> wrote:

>  I wouldn't advocate the use of  the mailing list - bulletin boards work
> far better for mutual help/advice etc, and are much easier to find relevant
> past discussions and review them - email is just not suited. Nor in my
> opinion is Facebook - it has no decent user control of archiving, public
> searching etc, recategorizing of posts etc.
>
> I have come across numerous BBs that have proved of enduring value when
> searching for answers to a specific problem in various fields. Facebook
> posts would not appear in such searches, and the 'conversation' can be very
> fragmented, with parts of it only available to its participants or
> followers of wherever it was posted. It needs quite an advanced mental
> model of Facebook to be able to track third party postings and threads.
>
> And of course, Facebook does not automatically alert
> followers/friends/members to all posts on a particular page or topic or
> from a particular person, even a 'friend' -  a lot of people think that it
> does, but it is selective through highly opaque algorithms that change form
> time to time. Fine for a social network, but not for a professional or
> long-term support forum.
>
> But no reason not to use FB as one of several ways to bring it to people's
> attention.
>
> Alex
>
>
> On 17 September 2014 at 00:33 Alan Coote <alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>  I absolutely agree an email list such as this works and it saves logging
> into yet another forum, many of which have suffered over the years from
> lack of use; Media UK for example used to be the place to go for us radio
> nuts!
>
>
>
> However, I wonder how many new subscribers there are to an email list like
> this as it's difficult to find?  Would it be useful for the strategic use
> of landing pages and Facebook etc to be used for attracting new subscribers.
>
>
>
>
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Alan
>
>
>
> Hear Alan Every Week on Let's Talk Business The UK's Premier Radio
> Programme For Current and Future Entrepreneurs - Now Broadcast To 4.3
> Million People <http://www.letstalkbusinessonline.com/>
>
>
>
> Email - alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk
>
> Phone - 0800 949 6655
>
> Mobile - 07801 518858
>
> Twitter - @TheAlanCoote <http://www.twitter.com/TheAlanCoote>
>
> Web - http://www.5digital.co.uk
>
>
>
> [image: cid:image001.gif at 01CE03CD.223AC920]
>
> The Media Production, Broadcasting and Training Company
>
>
>
> *From:* cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:
> cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] *On Behalf Of *Bill Best
> *Sent:* 16 September 2014 16:05
> *To:* cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] the Community Radio Toolkit Needs You!
>
>
>
> Well... We currently have an active forum supporting people who do
> community radio - and you're using it!
>
> At the Community Media Association we've thought long and hard over the
> years about setting up an alternative forum - but then we would be moving
> the conversations away from this list to another location and splitting the
> conversation.  I think we've all seen plenty of user forums that have died
> a death through lack of activity.
>
> We still use Mailman for this list because basically email works.  We
> could have a secret members-only forum run from the website using the
> latest technology - but we prefer to run open mailing lists as it fits with
> our ethos to facilitate the free exchange of knowledge and information.
> Email is quick, simple, cheap and everybody knows how to use it.
>
> This list receives no funding and is run on a 'best endeavours' basis by
> the CMA - the cost of which is borne by the organisation.
>
> These days there are so many competing forums and channels, especially
> when social media is also considered, that we think it is a good idea to
> stick with a tried and tested reliable technology such as email. And we
> will occasionally use Twitter to draw attention to something on this
> mailing list - if you're not already one of the 7500+ followers that we
> currently have on Twitter <https://twitter.com/community_media> then do
> follow us.
>
> I think we have an excellent resource with the CMA-L mailing list - let's
> continue to use it well!
>
> And stay tuned for some upcoming news exclusive to this mailing list of
> an opportunity to tender for producing some radio advertisements for a
> careers event to be broadcast commercially. You won't get to hear of this
> anywhere else!
>
> Best regards for now
>
> Bill
> --
> Operations Manager
> Community Media Association
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/
> https://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video
> http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> https://twitter.com/canstream
>
>
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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 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 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
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>
> >>>> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> >>>>
> >>>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> >>>> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> >>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> >>>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> >>>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>
> >>>> Mailing list guidelines:
> >>>>
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>
> >>>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
> >>>> visit:
> >>>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> >>
> >> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> >> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> >> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> >> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >> Mailing list guidelines:
> >> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
> >> visit:
> >> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> >
> > The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> Media
> > Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> > Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> > http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> > Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Mailing list guidelines:
> > http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
> visit:
> > http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> _______________________________________________
>
> Mailing list guidelines:
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> _______________________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
> visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> _______________________________________________
>
> Mailing list guidelines:
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> _______________________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>

 <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/index.html>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20140918/54dee0f4/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 5394 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20140918/54dee0f4/attachment.gif>