[Community Radio] DCMS Press Release: Half a Million Pounds for Community Radio

[Chris Hewson]

Forwarded From: "Chris Hewson" <c.hewson at lancaster.ac.uk>
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020/04 
5 March 2003
Half a Million Pounds for Community Radio

Budding radio broadcasters across Britain will find it easier to set up 
a station in their local village, town or city thanks to a half a 
million pound Government grant, Media Secretary Tessa Jowell announced 
today.
 
The cash, which will be available in 2004/05, will help fund community 
radio stations - a new tier of not-for-profit radio, run by local 
people, for local people about local issues.
 
Community radio will complement existing local independent local radio 
stations. It gives the local community the opportunity to train and 
gain experience as broadcasters and learn other transferable skills.  
It can act as a conduit for getting messages across to otherwise hard 
to reach audiences about important community services.  It encourages 
volunteering and can boost real self-esteem.
 
Announcing the funding, Media Secretary Tessa Jowell, said:

"Community radio gives local people a real voice.  It will make a great 
contribution to British communities in years to come, because its 
strength lies in that it is run by local people, for local people, 
about local issues. This funding will help give community radio a much 
needed boost at an early stage in its development."

Ofcom, the new communications industry regulator, will administer this 
new fund.  People will be able to apply to Ofcom for a community radio 
licence.  Once awarded a licence, they will be eligible to apply for 
financial support for their station from the fund.
 
Notes to Editors
 
1. Community radio is a new tier of not-for-profit radio, which will be 
different from, and complementary to, existing independent local 
radio.  It offers potential benefits in terms of social inclusion, 
local education, training and experience and wider access for 
communities to broadcasting opportunities.
 
2. Since 2001, the Radio Authority and Ofcom have administered a pilot 
of 16 community radio stations (then known as access radio stations) 
across the UK.  The independent evaluation undertaken by Professor 
Anthony Everitt, on behalf of the Radio Authority, was published in 
March 2003 and showed that the pilot stations were generally performing 
very well. The report is available from Ofcom (telephone 020 7783 4319 
for a copy).  Anthony Everitt concluded that community radio 'promises 
to be the most important new cultural development in the United Kingdom 
for many years'.
 
3. The Communications Act 2003 allows for the creation of a new tier of 
radio and grants to be paid by Ofcom.  Ofcom can place a limit on the 
income, which stations receive from commercial sources.  The list of 
pilot stations can be found on the Ofcom website www.ofcom.org.uk
 
4. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently consulting 
on a draft of the Community Radio Order, which would introduce this new 
tier of very local, not-for-profit (or not profit distributing) radio. 
The draft Order and associated documents are available on the 
Department's website.  The closing date to respond to the consultation 
is 20 April.
 
5. Ofcom has recently published a consultation entitled 'Licensing 
Community Radio'.  This sets out its proposals for advertising and 
awarding community radio licences. It can be found on their website 
www.ofcom.org.uk
 
6. Community radio stations will be bound by the Ofcom 'News and 
Current Affairs Code and Programme Code', which includes rules on 
impartiality and accuracy of news.
 
 
Press Enquiries: 0207 211 6269/6267
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 0207 211 6200