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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>COMMUNITY MEDIA ASSOCIATION</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>25 November 2013</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">Director of the Community Media Association, Jaqui Devereux,
says:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">"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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">East Midlands: <a href="http://www.sirenonline.co.uk/">Siren FM</a>; London & South East: <a href="http://www.prisonradioassociation.org/">NationalPrison Radio</a>; Northern Ireland: <a href="http://www.raidiofailte.com/">Raidió Fáilte 107.1fm</a>; South West: <a href="http://www.somervalleyfm.co.uk/">Somer ValleyFM</a>; Wales: <a href="http://www.calonfm.com/105fm/">Calon FM</a>; Yorkshire: <a href="http://www.bcbradio.co.uk/">BCB 106.6fm</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NOTES TO EDITORS:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>The Community Media Association (CMA) is the
national membership association for community broadcasters and those with an
interest in not-for-profit community media.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Based in Sheffield, it has been operational
since it was started in 1983 as the Community Radio Association.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Community radio was originally licensed by the
UK broadcasting regulator in 2002, as a pilot scheme of 15 stations called
Access Radio. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jaqui Devereux, Director, Community Media Association</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Telephone: 0114 279 5219</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:jaqui.devereux@commedia.org.uk">jaqui.devereux@commedia.org.uk</a></p>
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