[comradio-l] UK Community Radio Stations Celebrate Awards Success

[CMA-L]

*COMMUNITY MEDIA ASSOCIATION*



*PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release*

*25 November 2013*





Community radio stations from all over the UK are celebrating after
sweeping the board at this year's prestigious Radio Academy Nations and
Regions Awards.



The awards are judged by a panel of radio industry experts, and are given
to the station judged to be the best in its region over the previous year.
Winners automatically go through to the national Radio Academy Awards –
formerly known as the Sony Awards and widely regarded as the “Oscars” of
radio.


Director of the Community Media Association, Jaqui Devereux, says:


"The Nations & Regions Awards 2013 showcase some of the very best talent in
community radio broadcasting from the centre of their communities and, in
spite of reduced funding and adverse economic conditions, managing to excel
on delivering social gain objectives such as providing access to the media
for under-served groups, providing education and training opportunities,
and developing and strengthening community links.



Six out of the twelve winning entries are from community radio stations
located all around the UK and including London. The winning stations are of
all sizes - from small local broadcasters such as Somer Valley to the
larger urban stations such as BCB and Raidió Fáilte:



East Midlands: Siren FM <http://www.sirenonline.co.uk/>; London & South
East: NationalPrison Radio <http://www.prisonradioassociation.org/>;
Northern Ireland: Raidió Fáilte 107.1fm <http://www.raidiofailte.com/>;
South West: Somer ValleyFM <http://www.somervalleyfm.co.uk/>; Wales: Calon
FM <http://www.calonfm.com/105fm/>; Yorkshire: BCB
106.6fm<http://www.bcbradio.co.uk/>



After over ten years on the air, we believe that community radio is
maturing and becoming an integral and indispensable part of the broadcast
landscape. Our sector has found its voice producing confident and
innovative programming from and for local communities – and at last this is
being recognised.



We are especially delighted that all six winners are active members of the
Community Media Association demonstrating that the CMA as a member
organisation in its 30th anniversary year remains as relevant to the sector
today as when it was first set up to campaign for a community radio sector.



The community broadcasting sector is as healthy and vibrant as it has ever
been and there is no slow down in the growth of the sector with
thirty-eight applicants for the North-West and Yorkshire licence region and
a huge rush for licences anticipated in London and the South-East next year.



The CMA urges Government to recognise the wealth of talent in the industry
and the valuable work undertaken by the community radio sector in
delivering statutory social gain objectives and to look for ways to improve
funding conditions for community radio stations by, for example, increasing
the size of the Community Radio Fund and utilising the sector more for
Government media campaigns.



The CMA congratulates all participants in the Nations & Regions Awards 2013
for their commitment to passionate grass-roots community broadcasting and
we look forward to seeing more community radio winners in 2014.



NOTES TO EDITORS:

·         The Community Media Association (CMA) is the national membership
association for community broadcasters and those with an interest in
not-for-profit community media.

·         Based in Sheffield, it has been operational since it was started
in 1983 as the Community Radio Association.

·         The CMA offers a wide range of services to its members, including
help and support with operational, technical and licensing matters;
discounts on radio-related products and services and acts as an advocacy
and lobbying body on behalf of the sector.

·         Community radio was originally licensed by the UK broadcasting
regulator in 2002, as a pilot scheme of 15 stations called Access Radio.

·         There are now over 250 operational community radio stations in
the United Kingdom, covering specific geographical areas or communities of
interest such as cultural or religious groups.



CONTACT:

Jaqui Devereux, Director, Community Media Association

Telephone: 0114 279 5219

Email: jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk

\\

Community Media Association
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