[cma-l] Breakfast Show
Canalside's The Thread
office at thethread.org.uk
Wed May 20 14:21:12 BST 2015
Cat / Paul et al
To be honest guys, this boils down to both Cat and Paul being right and both
being wrong
I have learned over the past 12 years that circumstances are
different, and more so in Community Radio dictate the odds.
However, what I will do is make this sweeping statement (and I know for a
fact many others will relate to it) we have had failings, of course we
have
. We’re still here though, bobbing and weaving and doing our best
but, those afore mentioned failings – none of em have been our doings ---
they HAVE been the fault of others, some in authority and as also mentioned
circumstances.
I won’t go around accusing people or establishments of failings if it wasn’t
true. We do everything right the best we can whilst operating within the
rules. The downfall has been those very rules, lack of common sense and what
was mentioned on Monday, folk not supporting you who you would have stone
wall Banked on for supporting you.
So there you go, not our fault, but others. It ain’t an excuse Paul, it’s a
fact.
Anyway, let’s all make things better, keep battling and onwards and upwards
. Looking forward to the Conference in September, lots to talk about
Nick
_____
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Paul Golder
Sent: 19 May 2015 13:33
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Breakfast Show
I can't see that I can add anything to my last comment. I've made a
statement that some community radio stations have been mismanaged, backed it
up with examples, and suggested a simple way that stations could improve
their income - relying on presenters to pay all the bills might work for
some very small operations, but I don't feel it will take any station
forward.
Yet you've responded again, taking my words out of context and specifically
saying that I'm not considering other reasons and I'm "tarring us all with
the same brush" - I think it's quite clear from my emails that I'm talking
about examples and not the sector as a whole.
I don't know you and I didn't even know you'd been involved in a station
which had closed down, so maybe there is no need to be quite so defensive?
Community radio would be stronger if people stopped making excuses and
blaming other people for their failures, and maybe looking around to see how
others are fighting to make a success of what they do..
Regards
Paul
On 19 May 2015 at 13:02, @CatLakeUK <connect at catlake.uk> wrote:
Hi Paul
You're the third or fourth person in as many weeks to immediately refer to
stations being mis-managed first, as opposed to highlight an unfortunate
struggle with the local economy in their area; fail to secure grant funding
they were up against so many other charities in competing for; or be hit by
unexpected expenses.
We were hit by just that when the Rates Office decided we were no longer
eligible for our 50% discount when we had two locations (TX & Studio)
effectively quadrupling our Rates bill overnight from £3k to £12k a year. A
third of our original projected budget we got our licence secured on. So
just stop and think before you tar us all with the same brush.
1) No two stations are the same nor in the same financial environment nor
situation.
2) You've been lucky to have everything on your side.
Regards,
Cat Lake
Social Technologist, Writer & Broadcaster
<http://www.artinet.co.uk/> e-Commerce •
<http://www.artisanbroadcast.uk/> Broadcasting •
<http://www.transplanuk.com/> Transmission
Tel: 0333 37 00 250 • Mobile: 07973 400 423 <tel:07973%20400%20423>
On-line: <http://www.catlake.uk/> www.catlake.uk •
<https://www.twitter.com/CatLakeUK> Twitter •
<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008671474506> Facebook
On 19 May 2015 at 12:41, Paul Golder <paul at pvg.co.uk> wrote:
> I'm getting sick and tired of hearing people whitewashing failed stations
as mis-managed.
I don't see anyone saying all failed stations are mis-managed, which I
assume is what you're saying. I did say "Stations have closed because they
have been mismanaged", which is true. I can recall the station which closed
less than two months after going full time (you can't really blame the
economy for that), the station which was selling a year's advertising for
£100 before it folded, the stations which won a licence and didn't have the
team or equipment to start at all ...
> The stations that survive the longest are those who are already subsidised
by someone with the capital to invest in the project (because it's their
passion/toy) and those that don't have to have to fund premises or
transmission site rates. Even our minimal budget was too high in hindsight.
We've been full time for over 8 years and we don't have anyone subsidising
us - our biggest contributor pays us the equivalent of 8% of our running
costs. We pay rent for our premises and sites too.
Regards
Paul
On 19 May 2015 at 12:04, @CatLakeUK <connect at catlake.uk> wrote:
I'm getting sick and tired of hearing people whitewashing failed stations as
mis-managed.
We worked 155 hours a week between my partner and I to keep the startion
ticking over. Volunteers had constant training and guidance but in some
cases were only interested in doing their two hours and leaving again. We
probably ran our station at the worst point of the recession when businesses
saw radio advertising as a luxury/gamble, even at a local level, so refused
to spend any money on it. We also found that local authorities were happy
for someone else to launch a station but wanted to do little, even free and
in kind, to help get the message out to a wider audience and help ensure the
station's future.
It was never mismanagement on the stations side ... it was complete apathy
and selfishness in the local community we were trying to serve.
The stations that survive the longest are those who are already subsidised
by someone with the capital to invest in the project (because it's their
passion/toy) and those that don't have to have to fund premises or
transmission site rates. Even our minimal budget was too high in hindsight.
We learnt a great many lessons from trying and failing, but at least we
tried and now I share that experience with the stations I work with on a
consulting/engineering basis - proud of what I achieved in the past.
Regards,
Cat Lake
Social Technologist, Writer & Broadcaster
<http://www.artinet.co.uk/> e-Commerce •
<http://www.artisanbroadcast.uk/> Broadcasting •
<http://www.transplanuk.com/> Transmission
Tel: 0333 37 00 250 • Mobile: 07973 400 423 <tel:07973%20400%20423>
On-line: <http://www.catlake.uk/> www.catlake.uk •
<https://www.twitter.com/CatLakeUK> Twitter •
<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008671474506> Facebook
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