![3.0 THE FIFTEEN PROJECTS
Cross Rhythms receive practical
support from Saltbox, an interdenominational
charity which promotes Christian events in
North Staffordshire. Saltbox welcomes the
Access Radio project on the grounds that it will
give added confidence to the church community,
offer practical help to local Christian groups and
foster hope and confidence in the city of Stoke.
3.32
At the outset of its licence the project
reported that it received great support from local
churches, although there was a mild criticism
from some traditionalists who found Cross Rhythms’
music policy too ‘youthful’. Some are hard-pressed
financially and in terms of available time and
energy. However, a large and growing number
are excited by Access Radio as a means of entry
into the media and are offering it their support.
The Access Radio experiment is also attracting
wide interest from Christian groups in the English
Midlands and perhaps nationally. Cross Rhythms
believes that if Access Radio emerges in due
course as a third radio tier there is likely to be
considerable demand interest from Christian
groups, as reflected in the Access Radio letters
of intent to the Radio Authority.
3.33
Cross Rhythms has warm relations with
the BBC and has acquired Radio Stoke’s former
premises, which it recently vacated for new studios.
3.34
Programming is predominantly musicbased (70-80% of output), but also addresses
such general social issues as crime (with input
from the police), education, health and
employment. It has sought to do so in an evenhanded way, even with subjects where it holds
strong views – for example, homosexuality.
The project increasingly sees itself as offering
a ‘community of place’ service from a
‘community of interest’ perspective. It gives
detailed coverage of the political scene and
won local praise for live broadcasting of the
local council and mayoral elections in 2002.
Shine FM is a part of Youth With A
Mission, an interdenominational world-wide Christian
organisation with branches in more than 200
countries, which offers training in ‘evangelism
and personal relationship with the Lord.’ However,
the project is looking at establishing itself as a
separate legal entity to give the local community
a greater sense of ownership. During the planning
phase, its leaders, Nathan Asiimwe and Annmarie
Asiimwe, consulted with the local churches –
Baptist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and
Methodist – as well as with the district council and
a local businessman with experience of commercial
radio. The police support Shine FM (awarding a
grant for its second RSL) and the project is a
member of the Banbridge Community Network.
3.36
Shine FM has run two RSLs, for the
first of which the Asiimwes provided training for
about twenty volunteers (who are expected to
assent to the project’s Christian ethos). A listener
survey for the first RSL suggested that 11,600
people listened to the service (from a catchment
of about 50,000); a more recent follow-up survey
(see Appendix 4) estimates 14,000 for the Access
Radio licence period. A very large majority of
respondents want the station to return to the air.
The number of volunteers rose to thirty for the
second RSL. 54 have been recruited for the
Access Radio scheme, of which about fifteen
form a core with previous RSL experience.
3.37
3.35
42
Ultimately, the Asiimwes want to win
a long-term licence and to establish Shine FM
as a permanent radio station. However, for the
Access Radio experiment they decided only to
broadcast for three and a half months, going on
air in September 2002. Shine FM’s music content
ranges from the 1960s to 1990s, chart music, a
range of Christian music together with specialist
music such as country, jazz and classical. Speech
output includes news, interviews and features:
programmes will cover community issues, crime,
farming, local sport and Christian topics.
3.38
A volunteer, Pamela Johnston, summed
up Shine FM’s aims as being to speak to the
community at large: ‘What I like about the station
is that its values are Christian, family-oriented
and moral, but it does not shove religion down
people’s throats. People just wouldn’t listen to
a station broadcasting Christianity all the time.
They wouldn’t have it.’
3.39
past. The project never broadcasts music
recorded after 1959 and has collected 70,000
records from the first half of the 20th century
(often donated by grateful listeners), of which
30,000 have been catalogued. The laborious
process of transferring the collection onto CDs
is under way.
In the past two years, the project has
trained more than 30 older people, mainly drawn
from its listeners, to produce and present
programmes, with funding from the South East
England Development Agency. It runs a cable
service for older people in the Isle of Wight,
managed by local volunteers.
3.43
OLDER PEOPLE
Angel Radio in Havant, Hampshire,
only gradually came to focus its work on older
people. It has conducted nine RSLs since
1996. Shortly after they began broadcasting, its
founders, Tony Smith and Lorna Adlam (Smith)
were joined by Martin Kirby, who had spent the
previous four years running a short-wave station
which played rock, blues and folk with an
emphasis on ‘unusual fare’. He closed it down
because his listeners were mainly short-wave
enthusiasts. After visiting community radio
stations in Ireland, he became interested in
community issues.
3.40
In 1998 the project was approached by
Havant Borough Council to promote an arts
festival and broadcast its first programme for
older people, ‘Wartime Memories’. Its success
persuaded Kirby and the Smiths to consider the
viability of a radio station aimed at older people
and a little later they were approached by
Portsmouth Social Services which were looking
for just such a project; this led to a successful
RSL in 1999 for older people and a long-term
commitment to a social group to which local
radio characteristically pays little serious attention.
3.41
Angel Radio’s philosophy is ‘religious,
humanitarian and uplifting’. It believes that most
of its listeners are ‘old-fashioned’ Christians.
A key theme of its programming policy is to
celebrate, record and evoke memories of the
3.42
Angel Radio broadcasts for 24 hours,
automated at night (a station worker is always
available throughout the night to take telephone
calls from lonely or anxious listeners). Programmes
are predominantly music-based, but there are
informational strands and opportunities for
recollection; one highpoint was programming
following the Queen Mother’s death. A number
of presenters have studios at home, either their
own or provided by Angel. There has been
positive feedback to the pilot project’s Community
Focus strand of programming. The following
quotation from the project’s submission conveys
its overall flavour: in its Recipe Corner slot, ‘the
programme theme tune is the very, very old
music hall song, ‘Boiled Beef and Carrots’ by
Harry Champion. This instantly creates the
feeling of good old “real” food. The recipe is
read slowly by a motherly Irish voice… Fireside
Chats… are recordings of conversations with
Angel Radio listeners [interspersed with relevant
music]. A Fireside Chat takes the form of a
gentle meandering chat about the life of the
interviewee. It generally starts at birth and ends
at the present day. Fireside Chats can last for
two hours or as little as fifteen minutes.’
3.44
43](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/anthonyeveritt-newvoicesanevaluationof15accessradioprojects-131217120905-phpapp02/75/New-Voices-An-Evaluation-Of-15-Access-Radio-Projects-by-Anthony-Everitt-24-2048.jpg)
![4.0 PROMISES OF DELIVERY
4.1 RADIO REGEN
4
(INCORPORATING
ALL FM AND
WYTHENSHAWE FM)
4.1 6
3.1
LINGUISTIC IMPACT
4.1
4.3
4.1 7
3.1
ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL
PEOPLE
Targets
– Anyone who wants to play a part in the
station as DJ, presenter, researcher,
etc is welcome. Karimia asks listeners to
participate in helping to run the station
and operates an open policy. Nearly 30
volunteers are taking part running the
project. The management committee
is made up from these volunteers.
Outcomes
– 74 volunteers are taking part in the project.
– Anyone who wants to play a part in the
station as DJ, presenter, researcher, etc is
welcome. Karimia regularly requests listeners
to participate in helping to run the project.
Nearly the entire management committee
is recruited from these volunteers.
Targets
– Karimia broadcasts mainly in Urdu and
English; there are regular weekly (1hr)
programmes in Gujrati, Bangla and Mirpuri.
Arabic is also used throughout most
programmes, the lingua franca of Muslims.
– The project believes that the use of Urdu
has a positive impact on young third
generation Pakistani and helps to bridge
the intergenerational gap. The use of English,
on the other hand, will help many women
working at home to improve their English.
Outcomes
– The project believes the use of Urdu has
a positive impact on young third generation
Pakistani and helps to bridge the
intergenerational gap. The use of English,
on the other hand, will help many women
working at home to improve their English.
– The building of confidence in new presenters.
New presenters are encouraged, mentored,
coached, and fully supported to develop
into confident speakers. Many are now very
assertive, and use colloquial language
whether it is English or Urdu.
– Radio Faza has been very successful in
attracting volunteers not only training but
retaining them as well. So far 3 volunteers
have succeeded in getting jobs with BBC.
One works as a senior journalist in BBC
Asian Network, another as a trainee journalist
with BBC York and the third has been
sponsored by BBC to do an MA in
journalism.
90
TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 6 MAY 2003
OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003
AIM
To create a mass audience
platform for the views, hopes, fears and
abilities of Wythenshawe and the A6
Corridor that will promote community
pride and participation as well as lowering
barriers to unemployment.
4.1 1
4.
4.1
4.2
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Targets
– The stations will provide 24 training weeks
(30 hours each week), giving an introduction
to radio skills and transferable workplace
skills (e.g. teamwork, problem solving, ICT,
professional work practice, communication
skills and self-esteem) and the chance to
progress to other training opportunities
with Radio Regen and other providers.
Outcomes
– Radio/transferable skills delivered as a
mandatory induction for all volunteers: 12
30-hour training weeks for ALL FM. and 14
for Wythenshawe FM. Five volunteers have
enrolled at Radio Regen for an Introduction
to Radio Course.
– The existing induction is soon to be
accredited with the Open College Network,
giving a qualification to volunteers and
resources for trainers to the stations. Radio
Regen’s Training From Volunteering project
[LSC funded] will also develop accreditation
from programme making.
WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES
Targets
– 40 Radio Regen trainees will receive
substantial work experience (including
‘real time’ broadcasting) at the stations.
Outcomes
– 11 BTEC and 9 others at ALL FM and 5
BTEC and 14 others at Wythenshawe FM.
– The BTEC trainee take-up was not as
successful as had been hoped because the
stations arrived part way through an existing
course. Other work placements came from
employment schemes and colleges.
– New Radio Regen trainees will now ‘graduate’
during their course to take up increasingly
significant roles in the stations. They will also
produce feature material for the stations from
Radio Regen’s city centre base.
4. 4.4
1
CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION
Targets
– No specific targets set.
Outcomes
– The stations have become major centres for
volunteering in each area, with 76 volunteers
making programmes every week on ALL FM
and 86 doing so in Wythenshawe. These
people are not ‘community activists’ but they
are now helping sustain one of the biggest
community projects in their areas. This level
of demand has stretched resources on the
stations and Radio Regen is working with
them to ensure that support for these
volunteers is resourced and sustainable.
91](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/anthonyeveritt-newvoicesanevaluationof15accessradioprojects-131217120905-phpapp02/75/New-Voices-An-Evaluation-Of-15-Access-Radio-Projects-by-Anthony-Everitt-48-2048.jpg)
![5.0 OUTCOMES
While accepting that ‘Access Radio
could be a popular and acceptable form
of broadcasting’,13 CRCA has consistently
argued that it should not be allowed to source
commercial revenues. However, little anxiety
was expressed by larger ILR operators about
possible commercial consequences for them,
if, as is the case with the pilot projects, Access
Radio stations were allowed to sell advertising.
Chris Hughes, Managing Director of Radio Trent
and Leicester Sound, remarked: ‘For stations
such as Trent and Leicester where over 60%
of our revenue is now “national” there will be
little or no competitive effect; on the contrary
low entry costs for the new stations will mean
that if campaigns are effective business might
be encouraged to “grow” on to our stations.’
5.7.3
Nevertheless, all respondents were
agreed, with the CRCA’s concurrence, that the
financial impact on small commercial stations
could be serious. It is difficult to offer a precise
definition of ‘small’ in this context, but such
stations fall within Category D, the last of four
local radio divisions employed by the Radio
Authority, which comprises stations with a
coverage area of less than 400,000 adults.14
In this category much advertising is local; on
average for stations with an MCA of up to
300,000 adults national advertisements usually
amount to about 10% of commercial earnings.
According to CRCA, about one third of local
5.7.4
commercial stations broadcast to communities
of fewer than 300,000 people, a quarter to
areas with fewer than 200,000 and a fifth to
communities of fewer than 100,000.
The bottom of this scale coincides
with the population catchments of some of
the Access Radio pilot projects. Thus, New
Style Radio is aimed at the African-Caribbean
population in Birmingham and the West
Midlands and may be able to reach up to 80,000
listeners from this ethnic background; Forest of
Dean FM serves 75,000 people; Angel Radio
broadcasts to the elderly of Havant, which has
29,000 inhabitants over the age of 60; Radio
Faza’s audience is Nottingham’s South Asian
community of about 16,000 people.
5.7.5
(It should be noted that a few Access
Radio pilot projects have fairly large catchments.
Northern Visions broadcasts to Belfast, which
has about 300,000 inhabitants and Bradford
Community Broadcasting to Bradford with
500,000 inhabitants. Sound Vision covers much
of East London. It may be assumed that this
range of coverage areas would be replicated
in the event of Access Radio becoming a
permanent third radio tier, but with the great
majority lying at the less populated end spectrum.)
5.7.6
Lawrence, Managing Director, Forever Broadcasting plc and Lisa Kerr, Public Affairs Manager, CRCA, Thursday 17
January 2002
14 Category A is for coverage areas of more than 4.5 million people; Category B where the adult population
exceeds 1 million and is less than 4.5 million; and Category C where it exceeds 400,000 and does not exceed 1
million. It should be noted that, for licensing, the Radio Authority refers to Measured Coverage Areas (MCA), a
term denoting a catchment within which there is an agreed high standard of reception. For marketing and
listener survey purposes the industry refers to Total Survey Areas (TSA), larger catchments where a station can
122
In order to test the thesis that, if Access
Radio were authorised to raise income from
advertising and sponsorship, the financial
sustainability of small ILR stations would be
damaged, evidence was sought from four
commercial stations/groups selected for the
purpose by the CRCA –Neptune Radio,
Waves Radio Peterhead, the Tindle Group
and Lincs FM plc.
5.7.8
The financial economy of small
commercial stations is variable and sometimes
loss-making and could be endangered by a
serious commercial challenge. To cite one
example, the Tindle Radio group is a privately
owned company that operates six stations
serving communities of between 59,000 and
212,000 adults above the age of fifteen. Costs
vary according to regional circumstance, but a
Tindle station such as Bridge FM (in Bridgend)
has an estimated break-even income point of
between £35,000 and £38,000 per month,
a figure broadly typical of a commercial
5.7.9
While some small commercial stations
recruit staff locally and, either on occasion or
5.7.7
13 Note of a meeting between Professor Anthony Everitt and Chris Carnegy, Managing Director, SouthCity FM, Eric
be heard, but with poorer reception on their peripheries.
regularly, give local people themselves the
opportunity to broadcast, most of them differ
from Access Radio stations in the important
sense that they do not foster participation as
a primary goal and do not prioritise social gain
targets. However, commercial broadcasters
argue that they cater for community needs
through the provision of information, the
coverage, and indeed celebration, of local
events and partnership with local bodies of one
sort or another. Kevin Stewart, Chief Executive
of Tindle Radio, observed: ‘We believe that our
strength is that each station [in the Tindle group]
is part of the local community and by “super
serving” our respective communities we have
managed to be financially successful, albeit
marginally in some cases.’ There is, then, a
degree of potential overlap in broadcasting policy.
broadcaster of that size that runs a fully
professionalised and salaried operation.
This is equivalent to annual earnings
of more than £400,000, something which even
commercial stations at the upper end of the
Radio Authority’s Category D may struggle to
attain in practice. Those which are members
of groups containing at least one larger,
comfortably profitable station in Category C
may benefit from cross-subsidy. During an
advertising downturn, as now, viability is only
maintained by keeping variable, namely staff,
costs at a bare minimum.
5.7. 0
1
5.7. 1 Less than 3% of Tindle Radio’s
1
revenue is derived from national advertising, and
most of its earnings come from local advertisers
who often place orders worth between £50 and
£100. The company reports that sponsorship,
most of it local, forms up to 40% of its stations’
revenue. Rutland Radio, a member of the Lincs
FM group, seeks to reach an adult population of
about 50,000 (although its MCA is 26,000); its
sales policy is to build long-term relationships
with local businesses and to tailor advertising
rates to suit the smallest enterprise (such as
pubs, sub-post offices and florists).
Not unreasonably, this kind of station
fears direct commercial competition for the
same class of advertiser from newcomers who
also have access to public funds. However, it
is important to emphasise that many in the ILR
sector would not object to competing with
Access Radio stations for listeners. With their
freedom of manoeuvre and their experience as
entertainment providers, they feel that the market
place is large enough to accommodate both
themselves and a new form of broadcasting
whose philosophy was distinctively and primarily
determined by a social gain agenda.
5.7. 2
1
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![5.0 OUTCOMES
One exception should be made to
this principle. There are a few very small
stations, where the pool of potential listeners
may be insufficient to sustain the presence of a
second broadcaster. 15 ILRs have MCAs of
fewer than 40,000 adults. Six, mainly in Scotland,
have catchments of fewer than 15,000 (down to
Lochbroom FM with 1,972 adults).Unsurprisingly,
such stations make extensive use of volunteers
and their programming responds very closely
to community concerns. In these senses they
resemble Access Radio and it may be that,
given the chance, a number of them might
consider migrating from commercial to Access
Radio status. In such small coverage areas, it
would be equitable to disallow the arrival of an
Access Radio competitor during an existing
licence cycle (although micro-Access Radio
stations serving a village or a small housing
estate would be acceptable). Equally, though,
it follows from an even-handed approach that
in due course ILR and Access Radio applicants
should compete against each other in coverage
areas of fewer than 40,000 adults and that
Ofcom should decide whether to award a
commercial or an Access Radio licence.
5.7. 3
1
Many in community media disagree
with the commercial sector and argue that there
are good reasons to allow Access Radio stations
to sell advertising. First of all, they make a
general point, as clearly articulated by Steve
Buckley of the CMA. ‘On the one hand the large
commercial radio groups are campaigning
vigorously (and successfully) for maximum
liberalisation… and a move to competition policydriven regulation. On the other hand, the smaller
stations wish to hold onto the reverse – retain a
protected local monopoly [and] maintain market
5.7. 4
1
management by the regulator to prevent new
entrants even where frequencies are available.
By comparison, anyone can set up a local
commercial newspaper… and anyone can set
up a community newspaper.’
More particularly, plural funding, it
is claimed, will help to protect Access Radio
stations from undue dependence on a given
source of income (especially when it comes from
local public agencies) and will also demonstrate
the degree of non-institutional local support they
are able to attract. Advertisements could be said
to enhance the localness of the output and add
to an Access Radio station’s credibility, for
listeners appreciate the local information that
they contain. The Community Media Association
states: ‘Advertising and sponsorship are a key
part of the funding mix for many community
media organisations although they are not
generally anticipated to be the predominant
source … Government must ensure that
community media do not face undue restriction
in raising funds and are able to raise funds from
a variety of sources, including advertising and
sponsorship.’15
5.7. 5
1
There may be occasions when an
Access Radio station will wish to sell advertising
or sponsorship to different classes of advertiser
than a small ILR station does. Thus, an Asian
station may promote Asian cultural events or
travel agencies specialising in flights to the
Indian subcontinent and would be able to
do so without adverse consequences for its
commercial counterpart; or one could envisage
a local authority which has not previously
advertised on local radio using an Access Radio
station for disseminating community information.
5.7. 6
1
15 Memorandum to the Joint Committee on the draft Communications Bill, Community Media Association, 2002.
Paragraph 18.
124
More importantly, an Access Radio
station, where its MCA is much smaller than that
of a commercial broadcaster, would be likely
to appeal to a new, more local class of local
advertiser who was not able to afford the
commercial station’s rates and, in any event,
for whom a larger marketplace was inappropriate.
On the similar basis that allowed the Radio
Authority to licence Category D town-sized
stations within the MCA of a Category C
station,16 so an Access Radio station with a
5.7. 7
1
catchment of (say) 35,000 might well cater to
advertisers who could not afford the charges
of a ‘small’ commercial station with a catchment
of 350,000. (However, in cases where an Access
Radio station of this kind occupied the ‘heartland’
of a larger ILR station, it could possibly inflict
some damage).
As noted above (see Chapter 5.5.11),
only one Access Radio project has generated
significant commercial income, Desi Radio.
It reports that most of its advertisers are small
local enterprises and shops, together with some
professional organisations. About two thirds
of its current advertisers, it estimates, have never
advertised on the London-wide Asian station,
Sunrise Radio; those which have done so,
generally maintain their commitment while also
advertising on Desi. Interestingly, the project
claims not to solicit advertisements, but simply
to respond to demand. By contrast, Sunrise
asserts that only 10% of Desi’s advertisers have
never advertised with Sunrise Radio and that 40%
used to do so, but have swapped to the
newcomer. Whatever the truth of these conflicting
claims, it does not seem that Sunrise has suffered
greatly from Desi’s arrival, although the company
says it has enlarged its ad sales force in Southall;
5.7. 8
1
however, it would fear for the future if a variety
of Asian Access Radio stations, allowed to sell
advertising (especially if without a cap), were to
come into being across the capital. Star 106.6,
serving Slough, Maidenhead and Windsor, runs
an evening Asian service; it argues that Desi
Radio competes with it for Southall advertisers.
However, the two broadcasters’ coverage areas
do not overlap. It may be supposed that
businesses in Southall prefer to advertise on a
station that broadcasts directly to their locality –
reasonable enough preference which, pace Star’s
interests, they should not be prevented from
exercising. So far New Style Radio has earned
about £20,000 from advertising and sponsorship,
mainly from clubs and other entertainment outlets
and for arts and cultural events. It believes,
perhaps optimistically, that after three or four
years of operation it could free itself from the
need for public subsidy and be commercially
self-supporting.
However, other Access Radio pilot
projects which have projected income from
advertising and sponsorship sales have found
the going to be much more difficult than they
had expected. To a certain extent the speed
with which they were brought into being and
the short-term nature of their licences may have
made it impractical to attract large quantities
of advertising. Also the groups possess few
marketing skills. In the future it is possible that
these deficiencies could be rectified.
5.7. 9
1
However, a more important cause
of their failure to attract large amounts of
commercial income has to do with culture rather
than competence. In many cases, people involve
themselves in radio from motives of social
5.7.20
16 An example that comes to mind is 2Ten FM, inside whose territory Kick FM serves Newbury, Kestrel Basingstoke
and New City Reading.
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Uploaded byGrant Goddard
'New Voices: An Evaluation Of 15 Access Radio Projects' by Anthony Everitt
The document evaluates the 'New Voices' pilot scheme of access radio projects in the UK, which aimed to explore the viability of community-based broadcasting. It recommends that access radio be established as a third tier of broadcasting to enhance local community engagement and social gain. The evaluation highlights the variety of projects, their impacts on local communities, and the financial and management challenges they face.
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'New Voices: An Evaluation Of 15 Access Radio Projects' by Anthony Everitt
- 1. NEW VOICES ANEVALUATION OF 15 ACCESS RADIO PROJECTS NEW VOICES Access Radio, or community-based broadcasting where local people produce and present their own programmes, promises to be the most important new cultural development in the United Kingdom for many years. This is the claim made by New Voices, an independent report which evaluates a pilot scheme, established by the Radio Authority, to test Access Radio’s viability. It concludes that the Government should introduce Access Radio as a third tier of broadcasting alongside the BBC and commercial radio. NEW VOICES AN EVALUATION OF 1 ACCESS RADIO PROJECTS 5 BY ANTHONY EVERITT
- 2. FOREWORD 2 PREFACE 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 INTRODUCTION 9 WHAT ISACCESS RADIO? 23 THE FIFTEEN PROJECTS 020 7405 7062 info@radioauthority.org.uk www.radioauthority.org.uk 93 APPENDICES FACSIMILE 85 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TELEPHONE 020 7430 2724 79 REGULATORY ISSUES 14 GREAT QUEEN STREET LONDON WC2B 5DG 49 OUTCOMES HOLBROOK HOUSE 29 PROMISES OF DELIVERY The Radio Authority licenses and regulates independent radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the independent radio industry and its listeners. 97 ANTHONY EVERITT is a writer, teacher and cultural consultant. He is Visiting Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Nottingham Trent University. His publications include Joining In, an investigation into participatory music in the United Kingdom and The Governance of Culture, a study of integrated cultural planning and policies commissioned by the Council of Europe. He advises arts councils and ministries of culture on cultural planning and management. He has written a life of Cicero and is working on a biography of the emperor Augustus. He was SecretaryGeneral of the Arts Council of Great Britain. The Foundation’s UK Branch gives grants across four programmes – arts, education, social welfare and AngloPortuguese cultural relations – to charitable organisations in the UK and Ireland, and has a reputation for recognising and initiating innovative ideas. 98 PORTLAND PLACE LONDON W1B 1ET TELEPHONE 020 7636 5313 FACSIMILE 020 7908 7580 info@gulbenkian.org.uk www.gulbenkian.org.uk DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY WPA LONDON PRINTED BY EMPRESS LITHO PUBLISHED BY THE RADIO AUTHORITY
- 3. NEW VOICES AN EVALUATIONOF 1 RADIO PROJECTS 5 BY ANTHONY EVERITT FOREWORD PREFACE 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 4 INTRODUCTION 1 2 WHAT IS ACCESS RADIO? 28 THE FIFTEEN PROJECTS 36 PROMISES OF DELIVERY 54 OUTCOMES 1 08 REGULATORY ISSUES 1 36 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1 50 APPENDICES 1 56 PUBLISHED BY THE RADIO AUTHORITY © RADIO AUTHORITY 2003 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
- 4. FOREWORD Radio has manyenduring talents. Foremost among those is its ability to re-invent itself in every age, responding to whatever new media or technical challenges arise, whilst still remaining of the highest relevance to listeners and to society as a whole. The present age is no exception. Radio is once again rising to the technical challenges presented by the new media in a response which harnesses digital radio and the internet. At a social level, despite the consolidation of the traditional radio industry, new challenging forms are arising to offer an innovative, meaningful, and at times creditably subversive, response to new directions in our communities. Over the past dozen years, the Radio Authority has facilitated this new social relevance by licensing small-scale commercial radio stations, issuing short-term licences for trial services and events, and substantially expanding longer-term special licences for individual institutions. But in 2000, with the likelihood of new Communications legislation, we were seized with the vision that more could be done. Building upon the experience and enthusiasm of genuinely local commercial radio, and the community media sector, and evidence from other countries, and in the awareness that this might be the crucial time to innovate, we proposed that Government should make possible a new third tier of radio in the UK. This would provide social radio for specific communities, mostly geographically defined, on a non profit-distributing basis. It would build on the achievements of short-term licences in getting ordinary people involved in large numbers in making radio, by offering an entire 2 new sector within the medium where access would be the raison d’être. Thus the sound broadcasting spectrum would be deployed for specific social gain, especially in areas of particular deprivation whether economic, ethnic, cultural or social. To test the validity of that vision, we persuaded Government to allow us to license a batch of experimental stations on a pilot basis. To ensure that the pilot could be properly assessed, and with the extensive help, support and encouragement of the Gulbenkian Foundation, we commissioned Professor Anthony Everitt to undertake an independent evaluation, at arm’s length from the Authority and from Government. This is his report. Anthony Everitt has plunged into Access Radio with energy, enthusiasm, keen perception and wise judgement. On behalf of the Radio Authority, I thank him warmly for being our Evaluator. Particular thanks are due to the Gulbenkian Foundation for supporting and guiding this work, and also to all those who have been so generous with their time and views. PREFACE This report is my evaluation of the Radio Authority’s Access Radio pilot scheme. While noting in Chapter 6 the need for long-term, multi-year research into the impact of Access Radio on local communities, I have found more than enough evidence of its capacity to attract numerous volunteers, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, and train them in broadcasting and other transferable skills and have been favourably impressed by the active engagement with Access Radio of many kinds of local institution and agency. I hope that my conclusions will encourage the government to pursue its plan to introduce Access Radio as a permanent addition to the radio scene. In my judgement, it promises to be the most important cultural development to take place in this country for many years. I would like to thank all those who have facilitated my work. They include, first and foremost, the Access Radio projects themselves, whose members have been extraordinarily co-operative and tolerant of my demands. I am grateful too to Tony Stoller, the Radio Authority’s Chief Executive, and his colleagues for their unstinting support; I owe a special debt to Soo Williams, my assiduous official point of contact with the Authority. The Access Radio Steering Group, which Mark Adair chaired until September 2002 and Thomas Prag thereafter, has provided wise and authoritative guidance. Others who have provided useful information and advice include Steve Buckley and Nicky Edmonds of the Community Media Association; Laurie Hallett; and Liam McCarthy of BBC Radio Leicester, who interviewed me during his research into Access Radio for the BBC. The Radio Authority is grateful to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for its financial support. The Radio Authority made clear that it expected me to act independently of it – an injunction I have been happy to obey. I alone am responsible for the opinions expressed and recommendations proposed in the pages that follow. Anthony Everitt Wivenhoe January 2003 Legislative provision for Access Radio, and for a Fund to support its introduction, now stands poised to be enacted within the Communications Bill. We hope that this report will help the new regulator, Ofcom, to understand how to make the most of the stunning opportunity which now presents itself. Tony Stoller Chief Executive The Radio Authority March 2003 3
- 5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE ACCESSRADIO EXPERIMENT In 2001 the Radio Authority launched an experiment into Access Radio, designed to test the sustainability of a separate tier of small-scale community radio services. Fifteen not-for-profit projects, aiming to deliver social gain to specific neighbourhoods or communities of interest, were offered one-year licences. An Evaluation was commissioned to assess the extent to which projects delivered promised benefits and involved local participation; to examine costs and funding models; to test their impact on the local radio ecologies; to provide a differential analysis of AM and FM broadcasting; to propose an appropriate licensing regime for Access Radio; and to assess the experiment’s linguistic impact so far as those taking part in the projects were concerned. The Evaluation methodology has been based on consultation with the Access Radio projects, which set development targets before going on air and have now measured their outcomes. An interim report was produced in September 2002. HISTORY OF COMMUNITY RADIO The development of community radio in the United Kingdom can be traced back to the 1960s, a decade that witnessed a radical new approach to culture and creative expression, based on the principles of community empowerment and individual participation. Competitive pressures and the impact of legislation led BBC local radio and independent local radio stations to re-think their original community-oriented policies. But after 1990 the establishment of Restricted Service Licences led to a growing engagement with radio by community groups. 4 The Report describes the inception of the Access Radio experiment. The process by which the Radio Authority appointed the fifteen Access Radio projects is assessed in detail. The legislative timetable enforced very short deadlines within which the Authority had to make all the necessary arrangements. Nevertheless, despite over-optimism about the speed with which it would be able to allocate frequencies, the Radio Authority acted reasonably and the selected projects represent an adequately balanced cross-section of community radio groups. WHAT IS ACCESS RADIO? The most usual definition of ‘community radio’ emphasises the importance of participation by local people; however, it can also refer to radio provided to communities as distinct from by them. This elision of meanings could make it more difficult for the proposed new tier of radio to distinguish itself convincingly from what the BBC and ILR offers. So the Radio Authority coined the term Access Radio, although the decision to do so has been criticised by the community radio sector. Some argue that Access Radio licences should be restricted to groups offering a general or inclusive neighbourhood service and that those catering exclusively for ‘communities of interest’ (for example, children or old people) should be ineligible. This is because of what they see as the over-riding claim of disadvantaged areas of the country. According to another, more convincing view, the Radio Authority has a duty to ensure that all kinds of people, not simply those living in such areas, have access to radio. However, in the event of severe spectrum scarcity, it may be necessary to encourage different interest groups in a ‘community of place’ to join forces, offering a service to all which includes ‘community of interest’ programme strands. Because of technical convergence, Access Radio should be considered in a wider community media context. The pace of technological change should also be taken into account: Access Radio may turn out to be a transitional medium-term phenomenon and the Government and Ofcom should be aware of the possible need to respond to new circumstances as they arise. THE FIFTEEN PROJECTS The fifteen Access Radio projects – their aims and the motives of some of those who work for them – are briefly described. New Style Radio in Birmingham regards broadcasting as a valuable social tool for the development of African-Caribbean people. Bradford Community Broadcasting aims to serve all those living in a complex multi-cultural city. Radio Regen in Manchester created ALL FM and Wythenshawe FM, both of which target disadvantaged communities in the city. Sound Radio in Hackney sees itself as a ‘local world service’. Forest of Dean Radio promotes community development in a rural area. Takeover Radio in Leicester enables children to run their own radio station, with minimum adult supervision. Cross Rhythms began by focusing on the Christian community of Stoke-on-Trent with a diet of community information and contemporary Christian music, but the Access Radio experience has led it to widen its approach; it now defines itself as a station serving the whole community with a Christian motivation. This is similar to the policy of Shine FM in Banbridge, County Down, another Christian radio project, which speaks to the community at large and promotes social reconciliation. Angel Radio in Havant broadcasts to people over sixty: as a matter of policy it refuses to play any music recorded after 1959. Awaz FM in Glasgow sees itself as a much- needed channel of communication between Glasgow’s Asian community and the public and voluntary sectors. Desi Radio wishes to reconcile the different religious and social strands of Panjabi culture in Southall. Northern Visions places the arts and creative expression at the service of all communities in Belfast. Resonance FM on London’s South Bank defines its community as artists and broadcasts contemporary music and radio art. Two projects are alliances between different interest groups; first, the Asian Women’s Project and the Karimia Institute which came together to run Radio Faza in Nottingham and, secondly, GTFM, a partnership between the residents’ association of a housing estate in Pontypridd and the University of Glamorgan. The Access Radio projects have different approaches to governance, with varying degrees of transparency. No single model will suit everybody, but best practice may suggest a graduated progression to fully democratic constitutions. Most projects are recruiting large numbers of volunteers and providing them with training in specialist radio and transferable skills. There is a wide variety of fund-raising practice and financial philosophies differ. Some projects attract large amounts of public sector subsidy and employ full-time paid staff; others fear that complete professionalisation may damage their voluntaristic ideals. PROMISES OF DELIVERY Each Access Radio project’s quantitative targets for the delivery of social gain – under the headings of training opportunities, work experience opportunities, contribution to tackling social exclusion, contribution to local education, service to neighbourhood or interest groups, 5
- 6. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY access tothe project by local people – and its qualitative targets for linguistic impact are recorded. These targets are accompanied by reported outcomes, which in many cases exceed projects’ original intentions. The pilot scheme shows that Access Radio will provide a valuable complement to existing provision. ENROLLING THE COMMUNITY The Access Radio projects have recruited many hundreds of volunteers and provided training for most of them in radio and ICT skills. This capacity to attract participation by members of local communities makes Access Radio attractive to regeneration and development agencies. There has been a growing tendency towards individual training or mentoring. Work experience targets have often not been met because of insufficient experienced personnel at the projects. Public sector agencies and voluntary sector organisations are enthusiastic about Access Radio’s power to communicate information to local communities and are co-operating with the pilot projects. Some excellent radio training and programming have been produced with schools and colleges. LINGUISTIC IMPACT Large numbers of people are disempowered and disheartened by an inability to use words fluently and confidently. Many languages, especially from the Middle East and the Asian sub-continent, which are seldom heard on radio in the United Kingdom, have been accorded substantial air-time. 6 A study of selected recordings of broadcast output and reports by station managers suggest that volunteers with low self-esteem and educational attainments have profited from training in radio skills and the experience of broadcasting. They have often been able to transfer what they have learned to real-life situations in the form of greater expressive assertiveness. Most of the projects make a point of encouraging presenters to reflect local patterns of speech and dialects and to avoid the stereotypes of conventional broadcasting. STAFFING NEEDS The human resources required to run an Access Radio service were under-estimated by many of the pilot projects, especially in fund-raising (whether in the form of grants or advertising sales), external liaison with local groups, financial and general administration and management and training of volunteers. Most of the pilot projects did not have the money to pay for all these skills. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS The financial performance of the pilot projects varies widely (with a few of them in some difficulty). It demonstrates a financial need for projects with no paid staff of about £50,000 per annum and for those with a salaries bill of between £140,000 and £210,000. The fact that most of the projects have succeeded in raising the necessary funding for their licence period suggests that in principle Access Radio promises to be a financially sustainable medium. LOCAL ALLIANCES SPECTRUM Partnerships between different groups in a community to operate an Access Radio station may be a necessary feature of the community broadcasting ecology. Experience during the pilot scheme suggests that they can be difficult to manage. Thorough advance negotiation, administrative transparency and clear decisionmaking procedures are necessary for such alliances to succeed. Although the availability of FM frequencies will be patchy, it will be sufficient to justify proceeding with Access Radio as a new radio tier, especially if unused BBC spectrum is taken into account. AM frequencies are more plentiful in supply, but they have the disadvantages of being much more costly to run and of offering poorer reception. SURVEYS LOCAL RADIO ECOLOGY The Access Radio experiment had little or no negative financial impact on commercial radio stations in the pilot projects’ areas. However, the effects of an Access Radio station that sells advertising could be serious for small ILR stations with similar catchments and advertising markets, few of which make large profits. In the case of very small communities, there will not be enough listeners to sustain two stations. Most of those pilot projects which depend on commercial earnings have found it more difficult to attract advertising and sponsorship than they had anticipated, although this may change in the future. There is a strong case for allowing Access Radio stations to access plural funding sources, including advertising and sponsorship, provided that some protection is put in place for small commercial stations. There is much to be said for limited, practical co-operation between local BBC stations and Access Radio, with the former offering training and technical support and the latter local news information and facilities as well as a talent pool for future staff recruitment. A number of the pilot projects conducted audience surveys, but on small samples. Although of limited value they reinforce numerous anecdotal reports of Access Radio’s popularity. FUTURE FUNDING The need for an Access Radio Fund and the kinds of activity that might be eligible for support are described. The fund should be managed by Ofcom. LICENSING METHODOLOGY AND EVALUATION A methodology for awarding and evaluating Access Radio stations is proposed, which would be administratively lean but robust, especially so far as the measurement of social gain is concerned. Lessons can be learned from the current Evaluation of the pilot scheme. It is argued that weight should be placed on an applicant’s track record of RSLs when judging programming ability, managerial competence and fund-raising potential, that self-evaluation should be a component of the process and that the local community should participate in evaluations. 7
- 7. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The constitutionalarrangements for Access Radio stations should reflect a commitment to transparency, community empowerment and responsiveness to local demand. The question of ownership and its possible transfer should be carefully controlled. Access Radio licences should last for five years. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The major conclusion of the Evaluation is that Access Radio promises to be a positive cultural and social development and should be introduced as a third tier of radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom. It is further recommended that 1. Access Radio stations should have access to professional expertise in administration, fund-raising and community liaison (Chapter 5.4 and 5.5) 2. Ofcom should satisfy itself that, in the case of a partnership-based Access Radio applicant, decision-making processes are clearly defined, transparent and robust (Chapter 5.6) 3. an Access Radio station should normally be permitted to receive up to half its income from advertising sales and sponsorship. In exceptional cases, Ofcom should be empowered to vary this rule in the event of a special case being made (Chapter 5.7) 4. where a small commercial radio station shares a comparable coverage area with an Access Radio station that sells advertising, an Access Radio licence 8 could be offered only if the applicant can show that it will present little or no advertising sales and sponsorship competition (Chapter 5.7) 5. Access Radio licences should usually not be granted in areas where a commercial radio station’s measured coverage area (MCA) falls below 40,000 adults (except in the case of ‘micro’ MCAs). However, at the time of ILR licence renewal, commercial and Access Radio applicants should be allowed to compete in such an area and Ofcom should either award a commercial or an Access Radio licence (Chapter 5.7) 6. The BBC should take an early opportunity to set out consultative proposals for collaboration with, and support for, Access Radio (Chapter 5.8) 7. Ofcom should conduct research into overall FM capacity across the entire spectrum and, in the light of its findings, determine allocations for Access Radio provision (Chapter 5.9) 8. Ofcom should determine whether spectrum presently administered by the BBC could be made available for Access Radio (Chapter 5.9) 9. Ofcom should commission a major research project with a view to assessing over a period of years the social and personal outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative, of Access Radio (Chapter 5.10) 10. the Government should establish an Access Radio Fund, which would support the fund-raising capacity of Access Radio stations and the employment of a station manager at a level of £30,000 per annum for three years to be equally matched from other sources (Chapter 6.1) 11. the possible creation of a Community Media Fund should be allowable in the new communications legislation after evaluation of the effectiveness of the Access Radio Fund (Chapter 6.1) 12. Ofcom should administer the Access Radio Fund (Chapter 6.1) 13. the evaluation of Access Radio licensees should be as follows: • an Evaluation Questionnaire (as in the present Evaluation – see Appendix 1) to be completed by an Access Radio station applicant as a licence submission and a promise of delivery • an annual published report by the station of achieved outputs and outcomes • two open facilitated workshops of local stakeholders and residents, once halfway through the licence period and once in the last year of the licence, to be convened by the station, which would comment on the station’s progress against its plan 14. Ofcom should not award licences with large coverage areas. As was the norm for the pilot scheme, MCAs should usually be up to a 5km radius. 15. Ofcom should not award Access Radio licences to stations that belong to chains (Chapter 6.2) 16. Access Radio licence applicants should be required to produce a viable fund-raising plan (Chapter 6.2) 17. Restricted Service Licences (RSLs) should be maintained as evidence of Access radio licence applicants’ • commitment to social gain objectives • programming competence • closeness to its local community (6.2) 18. If more than 50% of an Access Radio station’s board, including the chairman, resign or are replaced at a general meeting, Ofcom should review the licence and either confirm or revoke it (Chapter 6.2) 19. Access Radio licences should last for five years (Chapter 6.2) • the regulator only to intervene on complaint (as now), regarding serious failures to meet targets and on unsatisfactory outcomes of the mid-term open meeting: the end of licence open meeting to be taken into account in the event of a re-application (Chapter 6.2) 9
- 8.
- 9. THE EVALUATION BRIEF ANDMETHODOLOGY In 2001 the Radio Authority launched some experiments into Access Radio, a separate tier of small-scale community radio services. Fifteen groups were licensed to operate pilot services at various locations in the United Kingdom. The aim was to inform the future regulator, Ofcom, whether this small-scale kind of radio service is a tenable and viable concept and, if it is to be introduced in future, how it might be licensed, regulated, funded and organised. 1 .1 1 .0 INTRODUCTION In 2001 the Radio Authority launched some experiments into Access Radio, a separate tier of small-scale community radio services. This chapter reviews the Evaluation brief and methodology, assesses the Radio Authority’s introduction of the pilot scheme and describes the process of Evaluation during the past year. The criteria for considering projects for the pilot scheme include • evidence of social gain and/or public service aims • variety of funding models, excluding purely commercial funding • ring-fencing from Independent Local Radio • a focus on specific neighbourhoods or communities of interest • widest possible access for those within the target group to the operation of the service • not-for-profit status 1 .2 To assess the outcome, the Radio Authority appointed the author of this Report as Evaluator of the Access Radio Pilot Scheme. He was guided by an Access Radio Steering Group, whose members were Mark Adair (until September 2002), Sheila Hewitt, Thomas Prag, Geraint Talfan Davies (from September 2002), Tony Stoller and Soo Williams from the Radio Authority, Stuart Brand from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sian Ede from The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. 1 .3 The Evaluation Brief requires a review of the adequacy of the above criteria in the light of 1 .4 12 the experience afforded by the pilots and an appropriate definition for Access Radio, if it is to be introduced. A range of measurable outcomes is expected, which include • social gain • benefits which might have been generated if the projects had not taken place • delivery as promised • costs and funding models • impact on the radio ecology • quality and range of local service (social inclusion etc.) • success in attracting the operational involvement of local people • differential analysis of AM and FM broadcasting • best duration and appropriate licensing regime for Access Radio projects • impact in terms of speech output and language used The methodology adopted for the Evaluation was to set in place a simple and easy-to-manage planning regime, by which much of the gathering of information was undertaken by those running the projects themselves. 1 .5 The process fell into four stages. First, before any of the projects had gone on air, two Evaluation Workshops were held in early 2002, at which an Evaluation Questionnaire (see Appendix 1) was discussed with the projects and tested for its practicality. 1 .6 The Evaluation Questionnaire sought information from the projects concerning the outcomes which the Radio Authority expected them to deliver, following the structure of a basic planning ‘narrative’: namely, • vision – the project’s overall aim 1 .7 13
- 10. 1.0 INTRODUCTION • needsassessment – to enable the projects to test their assumptions of viability and also to provide useful baseline information against which eventual results can be measured • ‘promise of delivery’ – namely, intended programme of activity • output targets – did the project take the actions which it promised? (as distinct from an over use of the linguistic conventions of radio broadcasting). Projects submitted regular recordings of broadcast outputs; programmes in Asian languages were assessed by the School of Oriental and African Studies. A linguistic impact assessment questionnaire appears in Appendix 3. The projects completed and submitted the Questionnaires to the Evaluator. They revisited them later towards the end of the pilot period to demonstrate the extent to which they had achieved the programme of activity and met their targets. 1 .8 The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which part-funded the evaluation, is interested in whether Access Radio will empower individuals by enabling them to develop their powers of verbal expression. The linguistic impact on those members of local communities who participated in the pilot projects was measured according to the following criteria 1 .9 1. the range of languages used relative to the language make-up of the constituency which the Access Radio station is serving 2. fluency in the use of language by participants when broadcasting 3. confident expression ‘on air’ of the richness and variety of language or dialect and, in particular of that variety of language considered to be good by its native speakers of the National Cultural Heritage exploits the authority of art to glorify the present social system and its priorities.’2 A brief history of the development of community radio will throw light on fundamental characteristics that distinguish it from other approaches to broadcasting. Its earliest origins can be traced back to the 1940s. However, it did not develop in any significant way in the United Kingdom until the 1960s – a decade that witnessed the arrival of a radical new approach to culture and creative expression. 1 .18 110 . In the second phase, the Evaluator visited each project during the spring of 2002, to gain a first-hand impression of them and meet workers and volunteers. He also interviewed members and officers of the Commercial Radio Companies Association and other leading figures from the commercial radio sector. 11 .1 • outcome targets – did the project deliver the objectives required by the Radio Authority? COMMUNITY RADIO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM – A HISTORICAL SKETCH Thirdly, an Interim Report was prepared, to discuss progress, offer preliminary findings and identify key issues that had arisen to date. Copies were given to interested parties. The Executive Summary was posted on the Radio Authority’s website, and the full document was available to those who requested it. Comments were invited. 11 .2 Fourthly, the Evaluator re-visited each project during the late autumn of 2002 and convened a final Evaluation Workshop, at which the projects were able to share experiences and identify common issues and themes. 11 .3 Fifthly, this final report was completed at the end of January 2003. 11 .4 11 .5 Public institutions such as the BBC and the Arts Council of Great Britain had long been concerned to promote ‘high culture’ – that is, in Matthew Arnold’s phrase, ‘acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit’1; like money it was widely seen to be the preserve of the better off and the better educated and, like money, it was the duty of the state or its agencies to redistribute it to every citizen. 11 .6 Contradicting this view, a generation of cultural activists now emerged who believed that everyone owned his or her own culture, which various forms of disadvantage and exclusion prevented them from expressing and enjoying. They rested their views on a socialist critique of capitalism. The proposition was that art had been expropriated by the ruling classes and was a means of bolstering their authority. The critic and writer, John Berger, spoke of the ‘illusion’ that ‘… art, with its unique, undiminished authority, justifies most other forms of authority, that art makes inequality seem noble and hierarchies seem thrilling. For example, the whole concept 11 .7 Community artists, working in music, drama and the visual arts, placed their skills at the disposal of disadvantaged local communities, hoping to empower people politically as well as individually, through the unlocking of their innate creativity and the ability to express themselves effectively. Over time the sharp political flavour of the community movement was diluted, but its concern for disadvantaged individuals in local communities or neighbourhoods remained. In the following decades its principles have gradually become an inherent tenet of public policy in the cultural sector, first among local authorities and later at the level of national government and its agencies. Very similar concerns about social need, civic participation and community development stimulated the rapid expansion of the not-forprofit social and voluntary sector. Over time, agencies without a primary interest in creative expression came to recognise the contribution which culture could make to the achievement of their objectives. Many are now enthusiastic collaborators with the cultural sector. 119 . In sharp opposition to the BBC’s Reithian vision, those engaged in community development saw that television, video and radio had the potential to play an important part in this far-reaching cultural revolution. However, the exploitation of these media as a means of civic enfranchisement was hampered by the lack of broadcasting platforms, although from the 1970s there were attempts to provide community 1 .20 1 Arnold, Matthew, Literature and Dogma, preface to the 1883 edition 2 Berger, John, Ways of Seeing, BBC and Penguin Books, London 1972 14 15
- 11. 1.0 INTRODUCTION broadcasting throughcable networks. These years also saw the rise of pirate pop music stations, which, while no supporters of community ideals, demonstrated the powerful relationship radio was capable of forging with interest groups and neighbourhoods. Internationally, community broadcasting took root more rapidly than in the United Kingdom. Community radio in Australia, originally called Public Radio, has been a licensed tier of radio broadcasting since the mid 1970s and has been recognised in Canada for much the same length of time. In France the community radio sector has developed since the late 1960s and early 1970s, inspired by the pirate ships based in the Channel and the Italian ‘Free Radio Stations’: for a decade or more it operated illegally, until licences began to be issued from the mid 1980s. 1 .21 which introduced commercial radio. Despite a delay caused by the Annan Committee’s review of UK broadcasting, whose proposal for a local broadcasting authority was not accepted, 26 Independent Local Radio (ILR) stations were on air by the end of the decade. Initially, they placed considerable emphasis on their community obligations and many of them were in effect community-led operations (for example, Plymouth Sound). A couple of franchises were awarded to community groups in Cardiff and Moray Firth. However, more commercial imperatives soon became dominant. Faced with their success, the BBC also pulled away from its original commitment to community development and its local programming policies began to converge competitively with those of the ILR stations. The 1980s saw little progress for community radio. It did not receive consideration in the 1980 Broadcasting Act, which ushered in an expansion of commercial radio. Shortly afterwards, the Community Radio Association (later to become the Community Media Association) was set up to campaign for a ‘third sector’ of broadcasting alongside the BBC and commercial services. In the middle of the decade the Home Office announced a community radio experiment, but then abruptly abandoned it. 1 .24 Despite a promising start, the BBC, as the country’s publicly-funded public service broadcaster, has not played a leading role in the development of community radio and, today, it has fallen to the regulator for commercial radio to promote its cause. In 1967 the Corporation established its FM local radio service. At the beginning its policies were community-oriented, despite the fact that its stations usually had large county-wide (or in the case of Scotland nationwide) catchments. Frank Gillard, its founder, described the new service in terms strikingly similar to the later aspirations of Access Radio: ‘Local radio will provide a running serial of local life in all its aspects, involving a multitude of local voices; what one might call the people’s radio’.3 1 .22 The situation began to change with the widespread consumer take-up of FM radios and the passage of the Broadcasting Act of 1972, 1 .23 In 1988 licences for 21 ‘incremental’ radio stations were granted: these were designed to allow new community, ethnic and special interest stations to be established in ILR areas. But the aim was to enhance diversity of provision rather than to promote participation in broadcasting by citizens. 1 .25 3 Connecting England, Local Radio: Local television: Local Online, BBC English Regions, 2001. p23 16 The 1990 Broadcasting Act enabled the further growth of commercial radio and did away with many of its public service obligations. The regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority, was broken up into three separate bodies, the Independent Television Commission (ITC), NTL and the Radio Authority. The most important consequence for community radio (although not explicitly mentioned in the legislation) was the establishment of Restricted Service Licences (RSLs). Short-term licences were issued for special events (for example, religious festivals) and as trial runs for applicants for permanent licences. Long-term RSLs were awarded to hospital, student and military radio stations. 1 .26 Community groups have energetically grasped this unexpected opportunity. RSLs have severe limitations: although there have been a few exceptions, licences only last for a maximum of 28 days; individual groups may only receive up to two licences a year (one only in London); licences cannot be awarded in the same catchment as other RSL-holders and are limited by frequency availability. Nevertheless, they have provided an invaluable ‘nursery slope’ for those unfamiliar with broadcasting and helped to demonstrate the potential of community radio for local people. As well as building skills and experience, RSLs have enabled the sector to develop its thinking and refine its policies. 1 .27 Recently, the BBC has adopted a different approach to community broadcasting. To address local neighbourhood needs and to foster individual participation, its BBC Online service offers opportunities for interactive involvement by local people and its local stations are seeking to make direct contact with listeners by various means (including the use of special BBC buses which tour local areas). However, the wide extent of its catchments remains an obstacle to close engagement with small communities or neighbourhoods, the central feature of community broadcasting. 1 .28 The Radio Authority was a comparatively recent convert to the cause of community radio, at least so far as any action it might itself take. As late as October 1999, the Radio Authority rejected a request from the Community Media Association, which had been campaigning for a third community media tier, that a number of ‘experimental community radio services on FM’ should be given long-term licences with a view to testing demand and practicality, primarily on the grounds that this would breach the terms of the 1990 Broadcasting Act. 1 .29 In fact, behind the scenes the Authority, influenced by an incoming chairman, was giving serious consideration to the future potential of community radio. During the same month it held a strategy conference for members and senior staff at which the idea of a ‘third tier’ of community broadcasting was privately mooted. It was becoming clear that the Government intended a root-and-branch review of broadcasting and communications and, consequently, that the constraints of existing legislation might no longer exert the same force as they had in the past. The CMA continued to make effective representations. 1 .30 The Radio Authority now saw a once-forall opportunity to fill a gap in the country’s radio services and in June 2000 submitted a paper to its sponsoring government department, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), putting the case for an Access Radio experiment. It proposed that ‘once the direction of Government policy becomes more clearly known the Authority would propose to initiate a range of pilot experiments to cover as many aspects as possible of the proposed Access Radio sector.’ 1 1 .3 17
- 12. 1.0 INTRODUCTION In December2000 the Government published a Communications White Paper. The Foreword indicated that, in a rapidly changing broadcasting environment, it wished to see a broad range of services which would engage the community at large: ‘We want to ensure the widest possible access to a choice of diverse communications services of the highest quality. All of us can benefit from new services – as citizens, as parents, as workers, as students, and as consumers. We want to include every section of our society in the benefits of these services, and use to the full the opportunities now available for enhancing their diversity and quality.’ 1 .32 The White Paper noted the success with which Restricted Service Licences had allowed the promotion of ‘very local and very niche services’, but recognised that the difficulty of raising non-commercial funding had inhibited the growth of community broadcasting. 1 .33 locality, ethnic or cultural background or other common interests.’ In response to the Radio Authority’s proposal for an Access Radio experiment, the DCMS indicated that it would appreciate further evidence of its desirability. Accordingly, the Authority convened an Access Radio Seminar in February 2001, attended by a wide representation from all parts of the UK radio sector. According to a summary in the conference report4, ‘there was a general 1 .35 consensus among delegates that a new tier of radio services is desirable, and widespread agreement that these services should be nonprofit distributing, with a remit to encourage social inclusion and regeneration and facilitate greater public participation in broadcasting… The issue of funding was… the one which achieved the least degree of consensus’, especially as regards advertising and sponsorship. In March 2001, the Government gave the Radio Authority permission to conduct a pilot scheme to test the viability of Access Radio. A number of appropriate projects would be selected and given licences for up to twelve months; an evaluation would be conducted. 1 .36 It, therefore, sought ‘views on whether the benefits of community radio would justify greater public intervention. Some possible benefits are that: 1 .34 • very local community based radio can help increase active community involvement, and local educational and social inclusion projects; • small radio stations can provide a nursery for the next generation of broadcasters – providing hands-on training and experience; • such stations can also satisfy the demand for access to broadcasting resources from specific communities, whether based on In April 2001, Tony Stoller, the Radio Authority’s Chief Executive, set out nine principles by which the experimental projects should be selected. They were 1 .38 a. Structural Arrangements: ‘the pilots need to replicate as far as possible the approach, patterns and structure which we presently anticipate will govern permanent Access Radio. They should be operated as not-forprofit services, in defined neighbourhoods, with clear public service content remits.’ b. Social Gain: they should ‘contain examples of the types of socially-regenerative and educational links, which offer so much potential, and of training and development of local community capacity.’ c. Variety: they should ‘cover as wide a range as is practical of the different types of locality – urban and rural, socially successful and socially disadvantaged and reflecting the diversity of the Home Countries.’ d. Communities of Interest: in acknowledgement of the needs of minorities, ‘at least some of the services should be aimed at communities of interest’. the pilot scheme Because concerns have been voiced about the way the Radio Authority set up the Access Radio pilot scheme and the possibility that this might affect the experiment’s eventual outcome, the Evaluator was invited to review the selection process. This section gives a detailed description of what took place and assesses the validity of the anxieties raised. 1 .37 e. Funding Models: the pilots should ‘experiment with a range of funding models’, with particular reference to the need to ‘protect existing small-scale services from unsustainable levels of competition’. f. Regulation: ‘the regulations and administrative regime should be modelled upon what we anticipate will be the eventual Ofcom arrangements’. g. Fixed Term Licences: ‘the licences for the pilots will have to be for a fixed term’. Mr Stoller recognised that that ‘will pose problems when they near their end, because they will hopefully have attracted support from listeners’. h. RSLs: the licensing of the pilots should not interfere with the existing and well-established RSL system. i. Evaluation: the pilots should be carefully monitored and evaluated to inform proposals for permanent arrangements. The Radio Authority faced a tight timetable if evaluation of the Access Radio pilot scheme was to fit in with the timing of the forthcoming communications legislation and the proposed establishment of the new regulatory body, Ofcom. The consequence was a series of short deadlines for those wishing to take part. 1 .39 The decision to adopt the pilot scheme could not reasonably have preceded the publication of the Communications White Paper in December 2000 and, as has been seen, emerged from subsequent discussions between the Radio Authority and DCMS. It was expected that the Communications Bill itself might be before Parliament as early as the start of 2002; at the latest, the findings from the experiment needed be available to Ofcom from its own inception, perhaps during the spring or summer of 2003. This meant that the selected Access Radio projects, with their twelve-month licences, should be on air by the end of 2001. Although in the event this provisional timetable slipped, the Radio Authority was obliged to move fast. It had only a few months within which to consult, investigate, design the administration of the 1 .40 4 Access Radio Seminar 12 February 2001, Radio Authority. London, 2001. ‘Summary’. Unpaginated 18 19
- 13. 1.0 INTRODUCTION scheme, agreethe evaluation processes and license the services. In May 2001, the Radio Authority announced the Access Radio Pilot Scheme and sought Letters of Intent by late June from interested groups, from which about twelve would be selected for licence. This invitation was announced in a nationally distributed Press Release; it was also sent to groups that had held RSL licences in the previous year and had expressed Access Radio-style community objectives. The Community Media Association held a seminar on Access Radio which was attended by 70 organisations. 1 .41 193 groups responded from across the United Kingdom. Almost all of them had practical knowledge of broadcasting, having operated RSLs; some were experienced hospital, student or military radio stations. Although they covered a wide range of interests, there were unexpected gaps in the range of submissions. pirate stations may have reduced the pool of those interested in the Access Radio experiment. Also, black-led groups do not necessarily define themselves as serving the African-Caribbean community since their programming can have about them. It is worth pointing out that, in consequence, the Evaluation has been unable to consider their work; however, some of their policies, as expressed in their Letters of Intent, indicate a growing and potentially constructive a high degree of cross-over to white audiences. trend to extend their coverage to engage with the surrounding communities in which they are located. It is possible that some of these stations could be future candidates for Access Radio licences. Of the thirteen groups whose central motivation was religious, three were Sikh, one Jewish and another Islamic, the remainder being Christian (mostly from an evangelist background). 1 .44 1 .42 Geographical coverage was somewhat uneven: only four responses came from Wales, lower than might have been expected in relation to its population. The explanation for this disparity probably derives from the fact that the RSL tradition is weaker in this part of the UK. Thus in 2001, out of a national total of 423 RSLs, only 13 were in Wales. 1 .42 Among communities of interest, those concerned with non-European communities were best represented, with 34 applicants. Interestingly, of these only one wished to provide an exclusive service to an African-Caribbean community as compared with 27 to an Asian community (the remaining six offered a broad culturally diverse policy). The reason for this imbalance is unclear, but the existence of numerous African-Caribbean 1 .43 20 The selection process consisted of two stages; first, a long-list was prepared and this was then distilled into a short-list, from which the final selection of fifteen groups was made. This slightly higher number than the planned twelve was agreed, partly on the grounds that they represented a comprehensive range of intentions and partly as an insurance policy against any drop-outs (an eventuality which has not yet arisen). 1 .49 21 applicants wished to serve particular age groups, the majority of them with children or young people. Seven were student radio stations and three were concerned with older people. 1 .45 One group offered a science-based service and another avant-garde music and radio art. 1 .46 The majority of submissions, more than 100, came from groups offering a comprehensive service to a geographically defined and usually socially and economically disadvantaged community. Of these about a quarter represented rural areas or small towns. 1 .47 The task of choosing the successful candidates for the pilot scheme was given to the Radio Authority’s Access Radio Sub-Committee (which had approved the design of the scheme and agreed its criteria). It met three times for the purpose. The Letters of Intent were divided into batches for detailed consideration by individual committee members. A number of applicants were rejected for ‘technical’ reasons. It was considered unnecessary to include hospital, student or military radio stations on the grounds that, through the Long-term RSLs awarded to broadcasters in these categories, the Radio Authority was already well enough informed 1 .48 Once chosen the fifteen groups were invited to submit full submissions, which were received in September, analysed and, with three exceptions, endorsed in November. The exceptions were Shine FM (because of its later start date and the lack of a transmitter site at that stage), FODR (again because of the lack of an agreed transmitter site) and Awaz FM (because it was not yet a formally constituted company). 1 .50 The successful candidates were not selected for their known or perceived merit, although applicants with insufficient experience or whose Letters of Intent were thin on content were quickly eliminated. It is acknowledged that there may well be groups with a stronger broadcasting track-record than those eventually chosen. Judgements were made according to the criteria in the Access Radio brief, especially those relating to promised social gain, and to the need to ensure a variety of funding and 1 .51 administrative structures and geographical spread across the United Kingdom. The large number of factors to be taken into account meant that the decision-making process was inevitably complex and to some extent subjective. Questions have been raised about the final project list from different parts of the radio industry. Some voices in the commercial radio sector regret that none of the stations operates in an area already served by a small-scale commercial station (arguably more likely to be affected by competition from an Access Radio broadcaster, both so far as community-based programme content and advertising sales are concerned, than the larger commercial stations). This is a good point, although it is worth noting that a few small-to-medium ILRs do overlap some pilot projects (for example, Sunrise Bradford, The Quay in Portsmouth and Sunrise in London). The Radio Authority’s not unreasonable response is that it did not wish to run the risk of damaging such stations by using them as guinea-pigs. The issue discussed further in the section is on Access Radio’s impact on the radio ecology below (see Chapter 5.7). 1 .52 Surprise has been expressed that as many as three Access Radio projects serve Asian communities in large conurbations (Awaz FM in Glasgow, Desi Radio in Southall and Radio Faza in Nottingham). However, a study of their objectives reveals significant differences of approach: the first seeks, complementing a diet of Asian entertainment, to give ‘local, national and government groups access to deliver their information’ to Glasgow’s geographically and culturally self-contained Asian community, whereas Desi Radio aims to encourage the coming together of the discrete strands of Panjabi culture by serving the ‘needs of all Panjabi Sikhs, Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists 1 .53 21
- 14. 1.0 INTRODUCTION TABLE 1:ACCESS RADIO PROJECTS and Christians’. Radio Faza is an alliance of two Asian groups with dissimilar objectives and philosophies, which run separate programme schedules at different times of the week; it was felt to be important to assess partnership models because, in the event of spectrum scarcity, Access Radio groups may have to come together to operate stations jointly (see Chapter 3.61-3.71). It has also been claimed that undue preference has been given to city or town dwellers as against those who live in the countryside. It is true that only one Access Radio station, Forest of Dean Radio, serves an exclusively rural area. However, it can be countered that cultural and social variety is largely to be found in cities or large towns and that, while there are important local variations, the main issues confronting rural communities are nationally generic. Some Letters of Intent were received from Scottish rurally-based groups; however, it was felt that the Radio Authority’s experience of small-scale commercial radio with community-based policies in Scotland (for example, Heartland FM serving Pitlochry and Aberfeldy) meant that it would be more profitable to select a rurally-based group in England. A reading of the Letters of Intent suggests that the addition of further rural projects to the Access Radio list would probably have generated little more evidence of value to the Radio Authority. 1 .54 By the same token, the two Christian groups (Cross Rhythms and Shine FM) are working in dissimilar community contexts (a market town in Northern Ireland and a city in England) and began broadcasting with discrete ends in mind. The former has a strong ‘contemporary Christian music’ basis and sees potential in the United Kingdom for commercial growth in this sector, linked to radio programming. In the United States contemporary Christian 1 .55 22 music, linked to 1,600 Christian radio stations, has become a $3 billion industry. However, Cross Rhythms does not subscribe to the same ethos of niche Christian ‘market’ broadcasting as the majority of US stations. Although it In all the circumstances, the Radio Authority acted reasonably during the selection process. It is possible that the shortness of the deadline for the Letters of Intent deterred some potentially aspirant groups, but it seems unlikely that many well-qualified radio projects failed to learn of the scheme. A substantial number sent in Letters of Intent and they covered a wide range of community interests. The Access Radio Sub-Committee conducted its business thoughtfully and, in the fifteen projects it chose, arrived at an adequately balanced cross-section of the community radio sector and in this way avoided the danger of distorting the experiment. LOCATION COMMUNITY SERVED ALL FM (RADIO REGEN) MANCHESTER ARDWICK, ARDWICK, LEVENSHULME ANGEL RADIO HAVANT, HANTS OLDER PEOPLE AWAZ FM GLASGOW ASIAN COMMUNITY BCB BRADFORD INNER CITY CROSS RHYTHMS CITY RADIO STOKE-ON-TRENT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DESI RADIO SOUTHALL, LONDON PANJABI COMMUNITY GTFM PONTYPRIDD PONTYPRIDD NEW STYLE RADIO BIRMINGHAM AFRICAN- CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY FOREST OF DEAN COMMUNITY RADIO FOREST OF DEAN FOREST OF DEAN NORTHERN VISIONS RADIO BELFAST BELFAST RADIO FAZA originally intended to ‘address the needs of the Christian community’, it has also developed a focus of programming that engages with the wider community from a Christian world view (see Chapter 3.27-39). On the other hand, Shine FM, serving a market town in Northern Ireland, sees itself as a broadcaster ‘with a Christian ethos’ rather than as purveying an exclusive Christian message: it seeks to speak to the community at large and to be a ‘catalyst for reconciliation’. Also it was the only project seeking a licence for less than one year (three months); this could be useful, it was felt, in the context of the evaluation of the Access Radio experiment, for in future it is possible that some groups will seek licences for relatively short periods. PROJECT NOTTINGHAM ASIAN COMMUNITY RESONANCE FM LONDON (SOUTH BANK AND BANKSIDE) MUSICIANS AND RADIO ARTISTS SHINE FM BANBRIDGE, BANBRIDGE COUNTY DOWN SOUND RADIO LONDON HACKNEY AND EAST LONDON TAKEOVER RADIO LEICESTER CHILDREN WYTHENSHAWE FM (RADIO REGEN) MANCHESTER WYTHENSHAWE ON AIR 2002 5 JUNE 1 MARCH 29 APRIL 1 MARCH 28 FEBRUARY 10 MAY 27 APRIL 14 AUGUST 19 JULY 9 MARCH 25 MARCH 1 .56 1 MAY 21 SEPTEMBER 26 JULY 23 MARCH 6 MAY Two further issues have arisen, both of them affecting the Evaluation process, which merit comment. First, the Radio Authority had hoped to identify appropriate frequencies for all fifteen projects by January 2002. This turned out to be over-optimistic. After the projects’ full 1 .57 23
- 15. 1.0 INTRODUCTION applications hadbeen received in September, the Radio Authority gave notice to the BBC from whom it would be seeking some space on its frequencies and the Radiocommunications Agency (RA), the body in charge of frequency allocations, that it would be approaching them for frequency clearances. A complex process then ensued to identify possible frequencies for each project: this had three stages – a general review of a database comprising current and planned FM transmissions; a second more refined analysis testing identified frequencies for acceptability (for example, taking terrain into account); and a third ‘pass’ to correlate findings with the projects’ specific wishes for coverage. Particular difficulties were encountered in Nottingham, Glasgow and London. Finally, a choice was made between options where more than one frequency was available. Informal discussions were held with the BBC. 1 .58 A number of stations were not ready to go on air for some time thereafter, because of particular technical or planning difficulties (see Table 1 for a list of start dates). 1 .60 Although there are grounds for saying that, for temporary administrative reasons, the Radio Authority was a little slow in expediting the frequency search in autumn 2001, the main reasons for the length of time taken in finding frequencies were, first, complexities of process, secondly, the lack of a dedicated staff resource and, thirdly, the intervals which the BBC and the RA required for consideration of the Radio Authority’s proposals. There is no evidence of dilatoriness. What is clear, though, is that the Radio Authority could have set itself a more realistic deadline than it did. That it failed to do so can be attributed to the pressure of the legislative timetable, which tempted the Authority to rely on hope at the expense of experience.” 1 .61 A subsidiary reason for renouncing listener surveys was their expense: if two fully professional surveys (to demonstrate trends) were to be assumed per Access Radio project at a cost of approximately £5,000 per survey, the total financial requirement could have been as high as £150,000. The Radio Authority does not possess unallocated monies on this scale. The DCMS was invited to make a financial contribution, but it too did not have the necessary resources. 1 .63 Some Access Radio projects have arranged their own volunteer-led listener surveys and advice has been made available to them in the form of a model listener questionnaire prepared for the Radio Authority by Hallett Arendt, a market research company with a media specialty. The outcomes, which are of some, if necessarily limited, value, are described in Appendix 4. 1 .64 Secondly, no funds have been made available for listener surveys. This may seem a significant omission. However, as the central purpose of Access Radio is to contribute to community development and individual empowerment, ratings are not the most appropriate primary measurement. In the Radio Authority’s view, the key issues for evaluation are to demonstrate (or not) social gain and organisational and funding sustainability. If these are convincingly delivered, an adequate listener base can be assumed without having to be specifically measured. 1 .62 By early December the Radio Authority was ready to submit formal proposals to the BBC and the RA. Agreement was reached with the BBC by the end of January (although further revisions turned out to be necessary, for example in the case of ALL FM in Manchester). The RA (acting on an accelerated time-scale) began to issue clearances from the end of February and, apart from Forest of Dean Radio and Shine FM (which last was not due to start broadcasting till the early autumn), all were completed by April. 1 .59 24 25
- 16. 2.0 WHAT IS ACCESSRADIO?
- 17. A QUESTION OFTERMINOLOGY The title ‘Access Radio’ raises some awkward questions of meaning. Is it the same as ‘community radio’, a term that has long been in use? And if so, why the replacement? More broadly, is there general agreement about what the word ‘community’ signifies? 2. 1 A review of international definitions of community radio suggests a consensus on its constituent elements. For example, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission states: ‘A community radio station is owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organisation, the structure of which provides for membership, management, operation and programming primarily by members of the community at large. Programming should reflect the diversity of the market that the station is to serve.’5 The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (formerly Independent Radio and Television Commission) applies a very similar definition, as does the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 in Australia. 2.2 2.0 WHAT IS ACCESS RADIO? This chapter defines community radio and sets out the reasons why the Radio Authority adopted the term, Access Radio. It discusses different notions of ‘community’ in relation to Access Radio and notes the rapidly changing technological environment. These principles are reflected in the Radio Authority’s criteria for the Access Radio Pilot Scheme (see Chapter 1.38). As with community arts, the main emphasis is placed on community ownership and participation. 2.3 Seeing this to be the case, some have questioned the need for a new term. Ralph Bernard, (formerly Chief Executive, Chairman since July 2001) of the GWR Group, who spoke 2.4 in favour of community radio at the February 2001 Access Radio Seminar, said: ‘I’ll tell you what I think Access Radio is. I think it’s a title dreamed up by someone who hasn’t the first idea of how radio stations, any radio station, operate. Someone who doesn’t like the term community radio.’6 The suspicion in some quarters is presumably that the Radio Authority wishes to sanitise a possible third radio tier from the long-standing political and campaigning associations attributed to ‘community’ – and, in others, that it seeks a precision that will exclude a broader notion of radio’s contribution to community life. It is further objected that ‘access radio’ is already a term of art, signifying a station with a ‘share-space’ policy; namely, one that offers slots to outside groups rather than produces programmes itself. 2.5 These criticisms might be decisive were the consensus about the meaning of ‘community radio’ watertight. This turns out not to be the case. Also speaking at the Access Radio Seminar, Phil Riley gave Chrysalis Radio’s definition of the term: it was ‘radio whose output provides a service uniquely tailored for a particular audience within a single geographical community and whose purpose is therefore to meet the information and entertainment needs of that community.’7 The emphasis here is on provision rather participation and many commercial radio stations would rightly claim to operate a community radio policy in this sense. 2.6 5 Cited in Price-Davies, Eryl, and Tacchi, Jo, Community Radio in a Global Context: A Comparative Analysis in Six Countries, Community Media Association, 2001. p 20. 6 Bernard, Ralph, A Vision for Access Radio, speech to Radio Authority Access Radio Seminar, February 12, 2001. 7 Access Radio Seminar op. cit. ‘III Seminar Report’. 28 29
- 18. 2.0 WHAT ISACCESS RADIO? Just as in the performing and visual arts, there is often a confusion – and sometimes an elision – between ‘community arts’ (local people making the art) and ‘arts in the community’ (local people being supplied with the art), so in local radio there is a danger of overlapping meanings between radio which serves a community and that which belongs to a community. Broadly speaking, the former is what commercial radio does at its best and the latter is what Access Radio aims to provide. COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST V COMMUNITIES OF PLACE . The Radio Authority takes the view that it would be unhelpful to give a third radio tier a title which embodied any ambiguity and, in particular, which failed to draw the clearest of distinctions between its offering and that of commercial radio. The term ‘Access Radio’ avoids this danger. This is a rational argument and the current report will refer to ‘community radio’ when discussing general principles and practice and ‘Access Radio’ when referring to the pilot scheme. 2.11 2.7 2.8 In the 1960s and 1970s the pioneers of community development were quite clear that a community could be defined by the physical space that it occupied. A loose working definition of the time was: ‘… a variety of social contexts in which groups of people recognise a relationship between each other and a defined geographical area or administrative structure.’8 2.10 However, while it is true that everyone is in the nature of things geographically based, where people live is no longer how many people define their social or individual identities. For an increasing number, place is where they happen to be at a given time, as traditional family structures weaken and social and job mobility becomes increasingly common. ‘The growth of individualisation and “active consumption” means that we tend to make opportunistic use of multiple communities to construct a confident, customised sense of ourselves, as distinct from defining ourselves in terms of a fixed community of which we are fully paid-up members.’9 These two approaches to community are reflected in the Access Radio criteria (which speak of ‘communities of interest’ as well as of defined neighbourhoods) and in the range of selected projects. Obviously, any radio station is only able to broadcast in a given place to a given population; however, Wythenshawe FM’s purpose is to serve all the residents of a clearly 2.12 defined part of Greater Manchester, while Takeover Radio in Leicester and Angel Community Radio in Havant are concerned, respectively and exclusively, with children and older people. While the latter inflect their programming with coverage of local concerns, there is a sense in which they could just as well operate on a national basis or, through their web-sites, globally. Indeed, it is Takeover’s explicit ambition to found a national channel for children. Cross Rhythms, the Christian radio project in Stoke-on-Trent, is broadcasting its Access Radio output, not only on FM for local people, but as a replacement for its original international service on its web-site; it is doing so because of financial constraints, but reports that, despite local content, it appears to be maintaining international listener interest. 2.13 2.1 It has been proposed that the remit of 4 Access Radio should be restricted to geographical communities and that ‘communities of interest’ be handled in some other way. The primary justification for this is the over-riding social need of disadvantaged areas of the country, to the alleviation of which community radio can make a unique contribution. society which are to a greater or lesser extent excluded from access to radio – for example, older people or children – to which the Radio Authority properly owes a duty. The reason for promoting Asian or African-Caribbean broadcasting is partly because of economic disadvantage, but also to counter cultural and social exclusion (although the issues are interrelated). If it did not acknowledge the claims of communities of interest, the Radio Authority could reasonably be charged with a failure to fulfil its obligations. 2.1 Accordingly, in the Evaluator’s 6 judgement, it is appropriate for the Radio Authority to include communities both of interest and of place in its criteria for eligibility for Access Radio status. That said, there is one circumstance where it could be right to prioritise communities of place. In the event of severe spectrum scarcity, the regulator may wish to encourage different interest groups in a given place to join forces, offering a service to the whole community, but, within that, enabling ‘community of interest’ programme strands (on project alliances see Chapter 5.6). 2.1 However, the Radio Authority is not a 5 social services agency. Its primary remit relates to radio and to the assurance of maximum access to the medium. In that light, targeting social deprivation cannot be the only purpose of Access Radio. There are other groupings in 8 Artists and People, op. cit. p 107. 9 Everitt, Anthony, Joining In, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, London 1997. p 86. 30 31
- 19. 2.0 WHAT ISACCESS RADIO? THE TECHNOLOGICAL/ MEDIA CONTEXT 2. 19 An increasing number of radio stations (among them some of the Access Radio projects) broadcast on the Internet. Web technology allows for the possibility of text, audio and video to interact in a new form of programming in which the consumer could have an active role, although, at present, web radio tends to be offered in traditional formats. 2.1 Community radio in general, and the 7 Access Radio pilot scheme in particular, should not be seen in isolation from other media developments. The notion of a ‘third tier’ for television is current. Proposals to establish a decentralised Channel 5 to be included in the 1990 Broadcasting Act failed, but, with the growing success of radio RSLs, campaigners began to put the case for a regime of television RSLs. This was eventually introduced in the 1996 Broadcasting Act and by the end of 2000 eight TV stations were on air. In December 2000 the Local Broadcasting Group (LBG), backed by two media groups, was formed and announced that, with approval from the Independent Television Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, it intended to raise funding to launch up to 40 TV RSL stations, bringing forward the prospect of commercially oriented as well as not-for-profit local television. Later the LBG went into administration and for the time being progress has been halted, but it can be assumed that the further development of community television will be resumed in due course. 2.20 In 1999 the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Learning Centres initiative was launched by the Government (through a Capital Modernisation Fund) and the New Opportunities Fund. The aim is to support the creation of 1,200 ICT Learning Centres (now called On-Line Centres). The CMA has successfully argued for an integrated approach to ICT learning, incorporating wider cultural practice as well as business skills. As a result a growing number of community media centres is emerging, equipped with multimedia computers, digital editing software and permanent high speed Internet access, digital radio studios for production and broadcast, a digital video editing suite and television studio, broadcast transmission facilities and links to local cable and ADSL networks. 2. 18 Digitisation and the growth of computer processing power are contributing to a converging technological media environment. As Steve Buckley, Director of the CMA, noted: ‘Convergence is taking place at the level of production between sound-based media and visual and moving image media and also at the level of distribution between broadcasting systems, radio and television, and telecommunications systems, which are developing from one-to-one systems to one-to-many.’10 able to respond flexibly to changing needs as technologies become more sophisticated and interdependent. 2.23 It is difficult to predict the rate at which consumers will invest in these technologies and in the current economic climate a conservative estimate may be appropriate. It may be that within the next ten years or less the situation will be transformed; in any event it would be sensible to plan for the eventuality. This would mean recognising that a largely FM-based system of Access Radio may be a transitional medium-term phenomenon. (A further possibility could be that mainstream broadcasters will abandon analogue frequencies, creating room for the future expansion of Access Radio). As the Community Media Association argues in its response to the draft Communications Bill,11 2.2 It follows that an overall, cross-media 1 approach would make better sense than treating media delivery systems separately, in order to reflect the ways in which communications media are developing in the electronic marketplace. As will be discussed below (see Chapter 6.1.8), it may be appropriate to consider the funding of the community media sector in an integrated manner; so in place of the proposed Access Radio Fund there is an arguable case for the creation of a Cross-Media Fund, which would be 10 Buckley, Steve, ‘Community Media Centres’, Airflash 2-2000. p 12. 32 2.22 The speed of technical change should be taken into account when planning for Access Radio. Digital multiplexes are being established and (as already noted) web-casting, free from regulation, is a cheap and effective means of broadcasting. Where does that leave locallybased FM services? So far as consumers are concerned, the digital revolution is yet to take place and, until the penetration of digital radio sets approaches universality, offers little to a tier of broadcasting aimed at disadvantaged and socially excluded communities whose members will be the last purchasers of new receiving equipment (and a significant number of whom do not even rent telephone land lines). Again, for all its advantages the Internet will be of little use to community broadcasters until access to it has also become nearly universal, for the present a distant prospect. the Government and Ofcom will need to keep consumer and technical developments under review and to respond flexibly to changed circumstances as they arise. 11 Response to the Draft Communications Bill, Community Media Association, August 2002. Paragraph 16 33
- 20.
- 21. The reasons forengagement with community broadcasting are as various as the number of those taking part. But three broad strands of originating motivation can be discerned. First, there are those whose involvement sprang from delight in the medium. Tony Smith, one of the founders of Angel Radio, built his first transmitter at school: he went home during lunch and broadcast records to his fellow students. Later, during the late 1980s, he and his wife, Lorna Adlam, lived in a country area where there was no local radio service and set themselves up as pirate broadcasters (although never taken to court). ‘Everyone knew we were pirates. The Department of Trade and Industry people only raided us on complaint. We used to leave a key in the front door for them.’ With the availability of RSLs they went legitimate in the mid-1990s. 3. 1 3.0 THE FIFTEEN PROJECTS A married man with three children, Graham Coley works for the Midland Co-operative Society. Radio has been a longstanding interest. His involvement with the medium began in 1978 when he prepared features and presented for BBC Radio Leicester. In 1986 he was one of the founders of a hospital radio station, with which he is still involved. He and Phil Solo collaborated on a number of RSLs in Leicestershire before they founded Takeover Radio in 1997 and launched the first full-time UK children’s radio network on the world-wide web. 3.2 This chapter is descriptive, rather than analytical. It seeks to give an impression of the fifteen Access Radio projects and the people involved, their motives and their aims. The approach is selective and, although each project is described (its name is printed in bold at its main entry), relevant examples, rather than comprehensive accounts, illustrate key themes. 36 There are others who stumbled on radio more or less by chance and found it a means of promoting larger causes. Nathan Asiimwe and his wife, Annmarie Asiimwe, of Shine FM in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, are Christian activists, he with a background in theology and she in computing. They worked in Northern Ireland for a multi-denominational project, Youth with a Mission. ‘We prayed about our future ministry and we felt that God wanted us working 3.3 here in the media.’ Some training soon convinced them that radio was ideal for communicating with young people and applying Christian values to community development and social reconciliation. Lol Gellor of Sound Radio in Hackney was a song-writer, producer and musician, who later became interested in film and video. In the mid-1990s he worked for the multicultural arts promotion agency, Cultural Partnerships, for whom he produced his first RSL for the Clapton Park estate in Hackney in 1995. ‘Not coming from a radio background, I discovered what radio can be – a catalyst for the community. The skills needed for radio are the skills needed for life – an ability to communicate, to take criticism, to meet deadlines, to put up with disappointments. To turn up on time. There is no medium like it.’ 3.4 The third strand is the growing number of local volunteers who gained experience through RSLs and have seized on community radio as a means of self-empowerment and personal development. One of these is Jason Kenyon: originally a manual worker with few educational qualifications, he became involved in a cross-media project run by a media training agency, Radio Regen, because he wanted to ‘do something different.’ He now works full-time for Wythenshawe FM in Manchester as manager, producer and presenter. 3.5 COMMUNITIES OF PLACE Some of the Access Radio projects have greater institutional security than others and, in a few cases, are merely one element in a larger enterprise. New Style Radio (NSR) is a promotion of the Afro-Caribbean Resources Centre (ACRC) in Winson Green, Birmingham 3.6 37
- 22. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS (one of the most deprived areas in the country). This organisation began as a co-operative of young black people in the late 1970s, which aimed to empower ‘Caribbean people’ by addressing inequality, unemployment and economic, social and cultural exclusion. It acts as a social welfare organisation and in 1995 it formed an Employment Resource Centre (as a friendlier alternative to Job Centres). It is supported by the city council (and two of its staff have become local councillors). The centre is a member of a collaborative group of local black cultural organisations, including the Drum performing arts and media centre, Black Voices and Kajun as well as the black reggae star, Pato Banton. 3.7 ACRC’s involvement with radio began more than twenty years ago when, with support from the Cadbury Trust, it was invited to work with a pirate station PCRL, which wished to enter mainstream broadcasting, and help manage its development as a licensed commercial radio station. Training courses were arranged and a major conference was convened in association with the BBC. The plan came to nothing when PCRL failed to win an ILR licence. PCRL reverted to piracy, but ACRC maintained its interest in radio and has subsequently been awarded a number of RSLs. 3.8 The centre strongly believes in the social power of radio. Martin Blissett, its chair, said: ‘It is essential to have a black-led station. Black people’s image is to do with crime, drugs and poor educational attainment. We need a medium with which to dispel myths.’ Although its mission is primarily directed at the African-Caribbean community, it welcomes all-comers and a 3.9 38 number of its radio volunteers are white or Asian. Many young black people are ‘brought up’ on pirate radio, sometimes without being aware of their non-legal status, and the centre suspects that New Style Radio will have the beneficial to participate directly in community radio: they are offered in outreach settings as well as at BCB’s studios. The project has conducted 17 RSLs for communities both of place and of interest. It has broadcast on cable and the effect of introducing them to legitimate broadcasting. Broadcasting is round the clock and the programming aims to keep the AfricanCaribbean community informed on civic matters, health, education, regeneration initiatives and environmental issues. The project provides both local and international news – in the latter case with an emphasis on the homelands of target listeners. Radio drama, story telling and comedy sketches are produced. NSR’s music policy focuses on Black music – Reggae, Soul, Soca, Calypso, Zouk, jazz, Latin, African, Gospel, HipHop and World. The project played a major part in last year’s Black History Month in Birmingham and sourced information and comment for national broadcasters about the much-publicised murder of two young black women in Handsworth. Internet for several years. The centre is now engaged on a major capital development, with support from the Millennium Commission, the Arts Council of England and the city council; it expects to move into new, purpose-built premises within two years. Wanting to avoid overstretch, BCB has initially restricted itself to 6 live hours broadcasting a day, with six hours speech-led and two hours of music. Programming is mainly locally produced (although the project has entered into partnerships in the past with other community radio stations in England and is cautiously interested in broadcasting shared programmes) and focuses on community issues. An emphasis is placed on news, information, discussion and debate, with programming in various languages (including Urdu, and Panjabi), and strands reflecting the needs of young people, older people and minority communities. Cultural issues are addressed and there is arts and specialist music programming. 3. 2 1 3. 10 Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB) came into being as a direct result of the 3. 1 1 Broadcasting Act 1990, from which the system of RSLs emerged. Three people, among them Mary Dowson, now BCB’s full-time Project Director, asked themselves: ‘Why can’t we get into this?’ They set themselves up as Bradford Festival Radio in 1992 (becoming Bradford Community Broadcasting in 1994). Since then the organisation has run accredited training courses giving local people the skills they need Two aspects of BCB deserve special attention. First, it operates a ‘hub and spokes’ policy in order to bring broadcasting facilities as close to local communities as possible. It occupies a shop in Bradford’s city centre, although with only two studios it is finding it difficult to maintain pre-recording, live broadcasting and training, while running the Access Radio project. A search is on for new premises. At the same time the project maintains an outlying studio at a centre for disabled people in Manningham and also wishes to establish a permanent base at Shipley. 3. 3 1 Secondly, BCB has scored a remarkable success in its sports coverage. Its sports RSLs, offering live commentaries on local fixtures, have attracted audiences of between 10,000 and 12,000 listeners. It filled a gap left by a local ILR station, The Pulse, when it abandoned sports programming for a time. There may be a lesson here for Access Radio projects which are looking for ways of fostering a broadly-based and loyal listenership. 3. 4 1 Sound Radio conducted four RSLs before being selected as an Access Radio project. It is based in a large housing estate in Hackney and serves a wide swathe of East London (with an AM transmitter it can reach a 10 kilometre radius). Its catchment is multicultural not only in the sense of including settled AfricanCaribbean communities, but expatriates (some now UK citizens) from many parts of the world. Lol Gellor, the chief executive of its promoting body, Sound Vision Trust, aware that much of this constituency has a continuing connection with, or interest in, distant countries and cultures of origin, sees Sound Radio as ‘a local world service’. Examples of programming with a global dimension include a commentary in Spanish on World Cup matches in Japan for the area’s large Spanish-speaking community and a weekly linkup with 173 community stations in Latin America as part of the “voices of the kidnapped” – a project dealing with people kidnapped in Colombia. 3. 5 1 The project is committed to drawing the boundaries of free speech as broadly as possible, but invariably with a right to reply. As an illustration of the point, Sound Radio juxtaposed two programmes in a recent RSL with the selfexplanatory titles of Yids with Attitude and Talk Black (which featured a spokesman for the Nation of Islam). 3. 6 1 39
- 23. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS The programming schedule includes discussions of topics such as education, health, environment, housing and employment and a daily news and sports round-up. National and international news sources is being developed as part of non-English language programming. Music in the day-time covers a wide range of genres and focuses on urban music at nights, with more specialised material at the weekends (for example blues, jazz and rock). Sound Radio aims to offer a round-the-clock schedule, broadcasting 24 hours a day, mainly live between 7am and 3am; also simulcasts on the web 24 hours a day. 3. 7 1 COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST KIDS Solo criticises the BBC approach to children’s radio programming, which he sees as diametrically opposite to his own. ‘Go For It is an adult venture aimed at kids, not something they take part in. Also, it’s on Radio 4. It’s too uncool for kids even to be seen listening to it.’ 3.21 Takeover Radio is not alone in its field. There are a number of schools radio stations, running RSLs, and a Radio in Schools group has been formed. KidsFM in Reading is a noncommercial RSL-based station offering a service to schools and production and other training opportunities for children. The Disney Corporation intends to establish a national Disney channel in association with Capital Radio. 3.22 Takeover Radio’s core target audience is children between 8 and 15 years old. Its underpinning principle is that ‘kids take over the airwaves and do their own thing.’ In practice, this means that all the management positions are held by adults, who deal with overall policy, strategic development, institutional issues and fund-raising. Two adults are always present when children are broadcasting. All Takeover’s activities, including the Access Radio project, are controlled by the Children’s Media Trust. Recruitment, induction and training are carefully managed and parents are kept closely involved from the outset. There is a Child Protection Policy. Children who become members of Takeover Radio Kidz Crew are taught the ‘basic rules’ of radio. All music is listened to in advance by an adult and checked by Graham Coley, the station manager. 3.23 Phil Solo and Graham Coley, the founders of Takeover Radio, discovered the excitement of children’s radio by chance; during an RSL two children in their early teens were allowed, at their mother’s suggestion, to produce a programme. Its success suggested to him the potential of radio for and by children. Solo and Coley were also influenced by the work of Susan Stranks of the Children 2000 campaign, which argues for a UK-wide children’s radio station. 3. 18 Takeover Radio has staked out a claim for it to be such a station by offering a broadcasting service on the Internet. The aim is to demonstrate that a national station is a practical proposition and believes that, by its track record, Takeover Radio deserves to run it. 3. 19 DRG, a London digital radio multiplex, is including among its channels Abracadabra, aimed at under-10s, which it will seek to offer other multiplexes: Takeover has been invited to provide programme content. 3.20 40 However, production and (except during school hours) presentation are exclusively handled by children, who are expected to develop programme ideas and to work them up into written proposals with content briefs. In addition to entertainment programmes, they address serious subjects, including drugs, 3.24 alcohol and (handled by older children) sexual questions – or what the station calls ‘personal relations’. They present programmes and are responsible for the day-to-day running of the studio. They provide Takeover’s news service and scan local, national and international news for items of interest to children. In effect, the more experienced children run Takeover Radio with light-touch supervision by adults. Solo recognises that ‘what we do is inherently risky’. Young adults present day-time programmes during school terms. Children volunteers were involved in the process of recruiting them, from planning newspaper advertisements to attending appointment interviews. They also contribute to the development of merchandising and outside events. 3.25 Takeover Radio has been broadcasting on a 24-hour uninterrupted basis since March 2002. The project believes that the socioeconomic and ethnic composition of Takeover’s membership reflects that of the local population in Leicester and hopes to be able to produce evidence of this by the end of the Access Radio Pilot Scheme. 3.26 CHRISTIANS As already noted, Cross Rhythms in Stoke-on-Trent and Shine FM share the same fundamental, cross-denominational Christian principles, but at the outset their broadcasting policies differ in emphasis. The former was essentially concerned to reach a Christian audience and the latter the local community as a whole, but representing a Christian ethos. 3.27 Cross Rhythms aims to communicate ‘eternal faith in 20th century cultural terms’. It wishes to reverse the disaffection of many young people from Christianity, which it traces 3.28 back to the attitudinal revolution of the 1960s. It is influenced by the Jesus Movement, which began in California at that time and pioneered ‘Jesus Music’, now called Contemporary Christian Music. This kind of music is the staple diet of the 1,600 Christian radio stations in the United States, which make up a multi-million dollar industry. Cross Rhythms believes that the churches’ traditional music culture has become inaccessible to younger generations and needs to be replaced by genres more in keeping with young people’s tastes. Until the 1990 Broadcasting Act, there were serious obstacles to the creation of Christian radio stations. Even today there are few in existence. They include Premier in London, with two stations, Trans World Radio on Sky Digital, United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) with four stations on Sky Digital and the Internet and Cross Rhythms itself with one web-based station, one Sky Digital channel and the Access Radio project. 3.29 Cross Rhythms began 19 years ago when Chris Cole, now its chief executive, launched a one-hour weekly programme for Plymouth Sound ILR. In 1991 he joined forces with a Christian music magazine, Cross Rhythms, which Cole bought for a nominal sum. Cole also took over the running of a Christian festival. In addition, Cross Rhythms provided Christian programming for other ILR stations. 3.30 United Christian Broadcasters, based in Stoke-on-Trent and with a £5 million annual turnover, funded Cross Rhythms at £120,000 per annum to provide a full-time youth radio station on satellite and the Internet. In October 2000 the two organisations decided to disengage and since then UCB’s funding has gradually been reduced: it came to an end in December 2002. 3.3 1 41
- 24. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS Cross Rhythms receive practical support from Saltbox, an interdenominational charity which promotes Christian events in North Staffordshire. Saltbox welcomes the Access Radio project on the grounds that it will give added confidence to the church community, offer practical help to local Christian groups and foster hope and confidence in the city of Stoke. 3.32 At the outset of its licence the project reported that it received great support from local churches, although there was a mild criticism from some traditionalists who found Cross Rhythms’ music policy too ‘youthful’. Some are hard-pressed financially and in terms of available time and energy. However, a large and growing number are excited by Access Radio as a means of entry into the media and are offering it their support. The Access Radio experiment is also attracting wide interest from Christian groups in the English Midlands and perhaps nationally. Cross Rhythms believes that if Access Radio emerges in due course as a third radio tier there is likely to be considerable demand interest from Christian groups, as reflected in the Access Radio letters of intent to the Radio Authority. 3.33 Cross Rhythms has warm relations with the BBC and has acquired Radio Stoke’s former premises, which it recently vacated for new studios. 3.34 Programming is predominantly musicbased (70-80% of output), but also addresses such general social issues as crime (with input from the police), education, health and employment. It has sought to do so in an evenhanded way, even with subjects where it holds strong views – for example, homosexuality. The project increasingly sees itself as offering a ‘community of place’ service from a ‘community of interest’ perspective. It gives detailed coverage of the political scene and won local praise for live broadcasting of the local council and mayoral elections in 2002. Shine FM is a part of Youth With A Mission, an interdenominational world-wide Christian organisation with branches in more than 200 countries, which offers training in ‘evangelism and personal relationship with the Lord.’ However, the project is looking at establishing itself as a separate legal entity to give the local community a greater sense of ownership. During the planning phase, its leaders, Nathan Asiimwe and Annmarie Asiimwe, consulted with the local churches – Baptist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist – as well as with the district council and a local businessman with experience of commercial radio. The police support Shine FM (awarding a grant for its second RSL) and the project is a member of the Banbridge Community Network. 3.36 Shine FM has run two RSLs, for the first of which the Asiimwes provided training for about twenty volunteers (who are expected to assent to the project’s Christian ethos). A listener survey for the first RSL suggested that 11,600 people listened to the service (from a catchment of about 50,000); a more recent follow-up survey (see Appendix 4) estimates 14,000 for the Access Radio licence period. A very large majority of respondents want the station to return to the air. The number of volunteers rose to thirty for the second RSL. 54 have been recruited for the Access Radio scheme, of which about fifteen form a core with previous RSL experience. 3.37 3.35 42 Ultimately, the Asiimwes want to win a long-term licence and to establish Shine FM as a permanent radio station. However, for the Access Radio experiment they decided only to broadcast for three and a half months, going on air in September 2002. Shine FM’s music content ranges from the 1960s to 1990s, chart music, a range of Christian music together with specialist music such as country, jazz and classical. Speech output includes news, interviews and features: programmes will cover community issues, crime, farming, local sport and Christian topics. 3.38 A volunteer, Pamela Johnston, summed up Shine FM’s aims as being to speak to the community at large: ‘What I like about the station is that its values are Christian, family-oriented and moral, but it does not shove religion down people’s throats. People just wouldn’t listen to a station broadcasting Christianity all the time. They wouldn’t have it.’ 3.39 past. The project never broadcasts music recorded after 1959 and has collected 70,000 records from the first half of the 20th century (often donated by grateful listeners), of which 30,000 have been catalogued. The laborious process of transferring the collection onto CDs is under way. In the past two years, the project has trained more than 30 older people, mainly drawn from its listeners, to produce and present programmes, with funding from the South East England Development Agency. It runs a cable service for older people in the Isle of Wight, managed by local volunteers. 3.43 OLDER PEOPLE Angel Radio in Havant, Hampshire, only gradually came to focus its work on older people. It has conducted nine RSLs since 1996. Shortly after they began broadcasting, its founders, Tony Smith and Lorna Adlam (Smith) were joined by Martin Kirby, who had spent the previous four years running a short-wave station which played rock, blues and folk with an emphasis on ‘unusual fare’. He closed it down because his listeners were mainly short-wave enthusiasts. After visiting community radio stations in Ireland, he became interested in community issues. 3.40 In 1998 the project was approached by Havant Borough Council to promote an arts festival and broadcast its first programme for older people, ‘Wartime Memories’. Its success persuaded Kirby and the Smiths to consider the viability of a radio station aimed at older people and a little later they were approached by Portsmouth Social Services which were looking for just such a project; this led to a successful RSL in 1999 for older people and a long-term commitment to a social group to which local radio characteristically pays little serious attention. 3.41 Angel Radio’s philosophy is ‘religious, humanitarian and uplifting’. It believes that most of its listeners are ‘old-fashioned’ Christians. A key theme of its programming policy is to celebrate, record and evoke memories of the 3.42 Angel Radio broadcasts for 24 hours, automated at night (a station worker is always available throughout the night to take telephone calls from lonely or anxious listeners). Programmes are predominantly music-based, but there are informational strands and opportunities for recollection; one highpoint was programming following the Queen Mother’s death. A number of presenters have studios at home, either their own or provided by Angel. There has been positive feedback to the pilot project’s Community Focus strand of programming. The following quotation from the project’s submission conveys its overall flavour: in its Recipe Corner slot, ‘the programme theme tune is the very, very old music hall song, ‘Boiled Beef and Carrots’ by Harry Champion. This instantly creates the feeling of good old “real” food. The recipe is read slowly by a motherly Irish voice… Fireside Chats… are recordings of conversations with Angel Radio listeners [interspersed with relevant music]. A Fireside Chat takes the form of a gentle meandering chat about the life of the interviewee. It generally starts at birth and ends at the present day. Fireside Chats can last for two hours or as little as fifteen minutes.’ 3.44 43
- 25. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS CULTURAL DIVERSITY Asian communities on the United Kingdom feel themselves to be marginalised by most of the mainstream media and welcome the opportunity provided by Access Radio. While Nottingham’s Radio Faza (see Chapter 3.62-66 for more information) is primarily concerned to promote, on the one hand, empowerment for Asian women and, on the other, community development with an Islamic ethos, Awaz FM sees itself as a much-needed channel of communication between Glasgow’s Asian community and the public and voluntary sectors. 3.45 It was initially set up in 1997 and since then has conducted one RSL a year, delivering entertainment, news and discussion of community issues. For Javed Sattar, one of the project’s leading figures, Awaz FM not only fills a gap in entertainment and cultural provision, but also gives the city council, the police (who are supporters) and other public agencies an avenue of access to a somewhat isolated Asian community, with which they find it difficult to communicate effectively by other means. For its Access Radio licence, 40% of its output is in Urdu, 30% in Panjabi and the remainder in English. A number of Asian groups in the city are interested in providing a radio service, and Awaz FM has sought to create alliances with potential or actual competitors: one of these is Radio Sangeet, which has joined forces with Awaz FM for the Access Radio project. ‘We feel that the way forward is with all concerned groups in Glasgow to work together and Radio Awaz is in dialogue with these groups.’ 3.46 44 Javed Sattar is responsible for providing volunteers with production and technical training, and Javaid Ullah, a local businessman who has been associated with Awaz FM since 1998, for presentation training. 3.47 Programming includes community shows, presented either by an in-house team or local organisations, a Panjabi magazine programme focussing on language and cultural issues, a programme for women and a show featuring entertainment from the past. Awaz FM plays music from the Indian subcontinent and the work of UK Asian musicians; programmes will include Bollywood contemporary, ghazals, Naats and Bhajans, Pakistan pop and Bhangra. 3.48 Desi Radio has articulated a cultural and linguistic philosophy which seeks to reconcile the different segments of Panjabi society and to place its culture in appropriate balance with Western modernity. 3.49 The Panjabi Centre was formed in 1988 as a discussion group which aimed to learn more about the local cultures of the Panjab, taking all the religious traditions – Sikhism, Islam and Hinduism – into account. Its particular concerns were the caste system, political disputes and religious barriers. It also wished to enhance the status of the Panjabi language, weakened by the divisions of Panjab (Panjabis being divided between India and Pakistan in 1947). 3.50 In the mid-1990s members of the Panjabi Centre asked themselves how they could graduate from debate into practical action. Hearing of the availability of RSLs, the members decided to make use of the medium of radio. A centre member, Ajit Singh said: ‘We knew nothing about it. We went into a shop in the Tottenham Court Road and bought the relevant equipment. But how to connect these things into a workable system? We had no idea.’ 3.5 1 The centre’s initial RSL took place in 1999 and the first broadcast words made clear its integrationist philosophy: ‘There is no Hindu, no Moslem and no Sikh’. These were controversial sentiments and three of the station’s four presenters immediately went to ground: ‘they thought they were going to be stoned.’ In the event, Southall Panjabis reacted positively and after an RSL in 1999 a petition with 10,000 signatures seeking a permanent station was presented to the Radio Authority. 3.52 Originally Panjab FM, the station changed its name to Desi Radio after representations from Panjabi Radio in Hayes, three miles from Southall. Desi Radio broadcasts for 24 hours a day (with an automated service between 12pm and 7am), mainly in Panjabi, although on occasion in English. Programming is mainly music-based mixed with interviews and discussions and the project is compiling a substantial archive of Panjabi folk and spiritual music, enabling the retrieval and celebration of an important dimension of Panjabi culture. Community information is provided and a news service is planned. Programmes address community issues – for example, the life-style of Panjabi women. 3.53 CREATIVE EXPRESSION Two Access Radio projects are artsderived or arts-based. Northern Visions is an arts and media centre in Belfast, whose origins lie in a short-lived arts lab formed in 1972. It is the only community production and training agency of its kind in Northern Ireland and combines community development objectives with the encouragement of ‘alternative and innovative’ artistic practice. It holds a licence to run a community television channel on a TV RSL awarded by the Independent Television Commission. 3.54 Northern Visions Radio (NVR) broadcasts (at least initially) between 4pm and midnight on weekdays and 8am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Programming is heavily speech-based and Belfast groups and residents are encouraged to take part in broadcasts. News coverage often focuses on the reporting of events followed by studio debates. International visitors, of which Northern Ireland has many, in the fields of the arts, politics and social issues are interviewed and sometimes their speeches recorded. Important public debates (for example, one concerning Belfast’s bid to win the nomination of European City of Culture) are also recorded and broadcast. NVR presents some drama, comedy and satire. Music provides ‘breaks from speech rather than the reverse’: programming is eclectic (jazz, blues, pop, jazz, indie), with an emphasis on local production. Programmes are commissioned from excluded or disadvantaged groups such as women, the gay community and disabled people. NVR is determined to make no compromises, although it is sensitive to local attitudes: thus gay programmes are not broadcast before 9pm. The greatest challenge the project faces is to contribute even-handedly to community reconciliation while encouraging the free expression of passionate political opinion. 3.55 45
- 26. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS By contrast, Resonance FM, with a studio near Trafalgar Square in London, a project of the London Musicians’ Collective (LMC), is not concerned to address disadvantaged communities in the ordinary sense; rather, its aim is to enable people to engage in culture in the most practical and successful ways. Its community comprises “artists, disaffected critics and other cultural workers.” Resonance is an artist-led and artist-organised intervention which articulates LMC’s cultural diversity action plan. 3.56 The LMC is 26 years old and is administered by Ed Baxter. It is a networking organisation dedicated to contemporary music. Founded and directed by musicians, it promotes and facilitates ‘improvisation and other adventurous musical activity’ through concerts, workshops, publications, its studio LCM Sound, a monthly calendar and a website. Its musical interests have their roots in free jazz and, more lately, the hard electronic end of contemporary music. 3.57 Resonance FM concentrates on music, but in the wider context of radio art. A brochure for an RSL at London’s South Bank Centre12 explained: ‘The question of “what is radio art?” or perhaps “when is radio art?” is not one that has a single answer. The concepts of narrative, the cave of the imagination, the sound diary, sound scape, intimacy, the seemingly banal, radio as a distributive medium, improvised story-telling, noise, silence and experimental documentary, hint at some of the many approaches… (Why isn’t there a museum of modern art for sound in the same way as there is for the visual arts? The most suitable gallery space for the audio arts is the sound-only medium of radio. And one of the great things about radio is that everybody has one)’. 3.58 Resonance broadcasts from noon to 1am each day and hopes by the end of the licence period to be operating round the clock. Each programme or programming strand is produced and presented by artists or artists’ groups, drawn from a list of about 200 volunteers. Strands include Out of the Blue Radio (‘recordings in real time from a different location around the world’), LINEbreak (‘a 31-part series of half-hour long interview/performance programmes with innovative writers of all stripes’) and Kosmische (‘exotic fruits from the electronic krautrock utopia’). Over the months the artistic reach of Resonance FM has become wider than originally anticipated; almost any musical genre is now acceptable – ‘provided that it involves an in-depth look and/or a particular take on the subject’. 3.59 Two Access Radio projects fall into this category – Radio Faza in Nottingham and GTFM in Pontypridd, Wales. Their experience suggests that it can be difficult for organisations with disparate objectives to offer the public a fully integrated service. 3.62 Being a radio station by and for artists, freedom of expression is a crucial value. Resonance’s approach to editorial control is that any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the management. The project accepts that this refusal to censor may lead to trouble from time to time, but (in Ed Baxter’s words) ‘in the arts controversy is to be expected.’ Radio Faza in Nottingham is a partnership between the Karimia Institute and the Asian Women’s Project. Karimia is a community organisation serving the Pakistani/Mirpuri community living in the inner city, which offers education, training and empowerment programmes with a view to overcoming social, cultural and economic barriers. It receives grants from various public sources and works with a number of public agencies, including the city council. Under the title Radio Ramzan it has conducted five RSLs during the month of Ramadan. Its ethos is Islamic and the project only recruits Moslems: it sees religion as a complete way of life and therefore social issues need to be placed in a religious context. According to a project worker: ‘Karimia is not about the propagation of the faith, but about faith and community development.’ RADIO PARTNERSHIPS 3.64 3.60 For various reasons, it may be necessary for groups wishing to engage with Access Radio to come together in federations or alliances. This could be because they do not feel themselves competent to run a full-time radio station on their own, or they share a common cause, or there is so much competition in a given area (especially in big cities) that joint operations will give a larger number of deserving groups the opportunity to broadcast and so improve a licence application’s chances of success. 3.61 Programme. AWP was the first Asian women’s organisation in the United Kingdom to broadcast an RSL. It is respectful of religion, but (in the Evaluator’s perception) addresses social issues on their own terms rather than exclusively within a faith context. AWP’s approach is multi-ethnic and the project welcomes non-Asian volunteers. 3.63 The Asian Women’s Project (AWP) was founded in 1981 and seeks to address the social and economic exclusion of Asian women from society and mainstream services through positive action. An Investors in People organisation, it has built up a substantial track record of service delivery and works with numerous partners, including the city council, in such fields as elderly day care and health and education. It works with three local colleges on the delivery of culturally appropriate, accredited courses and with Nottingham Health Authority on an International Access to Nursing The two partners in Radio Faza share the week, with Karimia broadcasting on Thursdays to Saturdays and AWP Mondays to Wednesdays, broadcasting for eight or more hours a day. Both partners broadcast on Sundays. 3.65 Karimia proposed the establishment of a joint management committee to co-ordinate the station’s work, but AWP anxious to maintain , its independence as a women’s group, prefers to operate informally, reporting monthly to check for overlaps and repetitions. There is limited integrated planning and management. 3.66 In Pontypridd, an Objective One funding area, the Glyntaff Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (GTRA), representing a once very run-down but recently refurbished housing estate, and the University of Glamorgan, which runs Fusion Radio, a service (through RSLs) for the university and the local community managed by the Arts and Media Department, have joined forces as GTFM. Each has its own studio, one at the Glyntaff Community Centre and the other at the university’s Learning Resources Centre. GTRA has run two and the university three RSLs. 3.67 12 Resonance 107.3 fm, London Musicians Collective, 1998. p 2. 46 47
- 27. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS Their common aim is to provide a participatory and inclusive radio service to anyone living or working in the Pontypridd area (for at least three hours a week programmes will be in Welsh). The partners have very different ‘cultures’ – the one deriving from the concerns of workers at the community centre and the other expressing educationally oriented ethos. This is reflected in its programming. GTRA, which broadcasts in the daytime, concentrates on community themes with an emphasis on music from the 1960s to the 1980s. An IRN news service is supplemented by local news and information bulletins. During weekday evenings the university provides a range of music output and specialist shows for an under-30s audience. At weekends a range of specialist (mainly music) programmes is broadcast. 3.68 The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales has invested £50,000 in the project’s educational training programme and financial support is being sought from various public sources and the European Social Fund. There is no anticipated deficit. Funds were raised to appoint Andrew Jones, an experienced community worker, as station manager; he has had to concentrate most of his efforts on the Glyntaff Community Centre operation which has no paid staff for the Access Radio project, and Mary Traynor, Field Leader of Arts and Media in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, is in charge at the university. 3.69 Technical problems have beset the project, although now largely solved: the community centre studio could not be connected to the transmitter, thus preventing live broadcasting there. GTFM’s daytime output had to be broadcast from the university studio – a very difficult situation which lasted for two 3.70 48 months until link transmitters were installed and the community centre studio was able to start broadcasting. These technical problems put a lot of strain on members of staff and diverted them from other important strategic and development tasks. It also had a major impact on the marketing of GTFM since the station was only partly up and running at the time of a very high profile launch. Although the two partners in GFTM have their individual local ‘heartlands’ – the community centre and the university – they wish to involve the Pontypridd community at large. Chapter 5.6 reports the extent with which they have realised this aim. 3.71 GOVERNANCE The Access Radio projects are committed to an open and transparent mode of governance (as indeed they are obliged to be according to the Radio Authority’s criteria); but some are more open and transparent than others. All of them are legally incorporated as not-for-profit companies (and some are charities), but few have a fully democratic power structure by which volunteers are able to become legal members of the organisation and vote in the board of management. As is often the case with new, pioneering organisations, real authority tends to reside in the hands of one or more key, charismatic and knowledgeable leaders, some of whom claim they will step back as volunteers and staff gain experience and their project emerges from its gestation period. 3.72 The following examples illustrate the variations in practice. Forest of Dean Radio (FODR) covers a small but distinctive rural district with no large towns. It is not served by 3.73 a dedicated ILR operator, although it can receive outlying stations. It receives numerous small grants from public agencies and a funding package, originally for three years, from the South West of England Regional Development Agency; after revision to take account of increased costs, this amounts to £91,000 for capital purposes and a £27,500 revenue grant for two years. This left a gap for the third year, for which the project has successfully raised funds from the Learning and Skills Council. The project has set itself up as a company limited by guarantee with charitable objectives, governed by a Board of Directors comprising three members of the Management Team or Executive Committee. The Management Team, which will eventually have thirteen members with representatives from each of the five studios, is in charge of programming and day-to-day management. Each studio has its own local working group. 3.76 Forest of Dean Radio runs a multi-tier membership scheme open to any individual interested in furthering the organisation’s objectives. Full members are eligible to elect the local representatives to the Management Group. The Board of Directors is then elected from that group. Other categories, without voting rights, are Associate Membership, Associate Group Membership and Honourary Membership. Applications for membership have to be approved by the Board of Directors – a protection, at least in theory, against the risk facing organisations with open memberships against takeover by a faction or by outsiders. At present most volunteers have joined FODR as full members. 3.77 Five studios in different parts of the Forest are to be linked to a headquarters in Cinderford. Initially the project broadcast for three hours every Friday, repeated on Saturday; this has now expanded to eight and a half hours a week on different days. Broadcasting will eventually rotate weekly among the five studios, each of which has a team of local volunteers, but as yet only three are operational. Each team will produce, manage and present its respective programme slot, using material from all over the Forest, but with a distinctive local slant. Its weekly magazine programme focuses on current affairs, youth issues, community news and a ‘What’s On’ listing. It has developed a strong reporting team for local sports. 3.74 By contrast, Cross Rhythms is run by its paid staff, with a two-person Executive Management and a Leadership Team: volunteers are recruited to take part in broadcasting, but are not involved in management. Accountability to the local churches in Stoke-on-Trent is conducted through informal discussions. 3.78 Roger Drury is the project’s founding figure. A community artist, with skills in circus, drama, writing, video/film and local history. He came to the Forest in 1986 and in the early 1990s heard about and researched RSLs. FODR ran the first of a series of RSLs in 1995 and, before the arrival of Access Radio, prepared a three-year business in the ‘vague hope’ that a long term community radio licence would eventually be achievable.It has developed a team of more than 100 volunteers and has an estimated listenership of 10,000. 3.75 49
- 28. 3.0 THE FIFTEENPROJECTS Awaz FM, which serves the Asian community in Glasgow, is led by its two founders, Javed Sattar and Ali Malik; the one is employed by the computer corporation, Honeywell, and the other manages his family’s business. It is a company limited by guarantee with four directors (including representation from its partner, Radio Sangeet). Although it holds open general meetings, company membership is restricted to the directors and volunteers and other interested parties do not take part in elections to the board. 3.79 Northern Visions Radio in Belfast is a not-for-profit company, but not a charity. Decision-making is ‘informal’ and rests with a few key figures who devise the programme schedule. Volunteers do not take part, either electorally or as workers, in the management of NVR. The project may establish a programme selection committee, but prefers to regard programming as ‘a question of relationships’. However, Northern Visions Media Trust, which owns NVR, has charitable status and is a co-operative; all staff, freelance or volunteers, are involved in running the organisation and developing policy. 3.80 Desi Radio’s sponsoring body, the Panjabi Centre in Southall is a not-for-profit company and a charity, governed by a board with three directors. A media radio project sub-committee supervises the Access Radio project. A group of volunteer station managers has day-to-day responsibility for production and presentation and decisions are taken collectively. Volunteers have no formal say about the composition of board or management group, 3.81 50 but their views are carefully sought. As a matter of policy everyone is called by his or her first name – an important innovation in the context of the familial hierarchies of Panjabi families. service work with disaffected young people on the street and produce radio outcomes. Radio Regen has started a three-year project in Salford which entails a series of training workshops in each of Salford’s nine administrative areas, The management is anxious to preserve a clear line between the board and stations managers, presenters. As protection against the possibility of self-interested decisions, no one is allowed both to present and manage. culminating in RSLs. There are also collaborations with other communities in the Manchester area, also using workshops leading to RSLs. The charity is creating a development plan for community radio in Burnley. Radio Regen in Manchester, a community development charity and not a broadcaster itself, sees full democratisation as a process to be developed step-by-step over the Access Radio one-year term. Founded by Phil Korbel, a former Radio 4 producer, and two others in 1998, it seeks to empower (usually unemployed) residents of disadvantaged communities to set up their own community radio stations. It trains, facilitates and sets up community production companies. It has helped a number of RSLs to come into being and uses them as training vehicles. It also seeks to develop good practice in community radio and to innovate in collaborative projects with a variety of mainstream agencies. 3.85 3.82 3.83 Radio Regen runs various other projects. Artransmit is a participatory arts scheme with radio outcomes (events have included ‘poetry in motion’, a community play and a Chernobyl diary project involving young people on a visit to Manchester from Chernobyl). Its current project is to develop a community ‘soap’ in each of its two Access Radio pilot projects. In Remix the Streets, the radio team and a detached youth worker from the youth 3.84 Radio Regen is a charitable company with a staff of 22, whose board of directors is elected by an open membership (members of staff and anyone interested may join the company for a small fee, but the former are not eligible for appointment to the Board). Its mission is to maximise the social and economic gains that can be derived from community radio in disadvantaged areas. output is given over to specialist interest and music programmes (for example, a weekly Irish community show). Wythenshawe FM shares a similar programming policy (but only broadcasts in English). Different organisations have their distinctive management cultures and it is entirely understandable that emerging and inexperienced organisations may depend on dominant personalities for their development – and even survival. In Chapter 6.2.14-18 this subject is discussed further and recommends appropriate constitutional arrangements the regulator, Ofcom, should require of Access Radio stations. 3.87 The Access Radio projects it supports, ALL FM and Wythenshawe FM, are promotions of Radio Regen, but the intention is that they should move to fully independent, legally incorporated status. At present Radio Regen’s director and an Access Radio station manager oversee them. However, programming for both projects is managed by local workers with assistance from ‘editorial groups’, consisting of local residents (with one place for a station volunteer). ALL FM intersperses music (current chart, gold and ‘ethnic’) with interviews and features covering a wide range of local interest and community information; reflecting the cultural diversity of the community it serves, some shows are in Urdu, Bangla, Hindi, Panjabi, Benin and Portuguese. Evening and weekend 3.86 51
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- 30. 4.4 ANGEL RADIO Asignificant feature of the Access Radio pilot projects selected by the Radio Authority, as revealed in their original submissions and in the Evaluation Questionnaires, is their intention to deliver significant and usually quantifiable social gains, especially in the field of radio and life skills training of disadvantaged or socially excluded individuals. 4.1 The extent to which the projects are rooted in their local communities and are committed to radio as a means of community and individual development can be measured by the web of partnerships or links with community organisations, local authorities, schools and colleges and public agencies such the police, to which they lay claim. 4.2 4.0 PROMISES OF DELIVERY Below are set out in summary form the social gain targets the Access Radio projects have set themselves and the actual outcomes, based on recording procedures set up by the projects, as reported at the end of 2002. 4.3 This chapter sets out the Access Radio projects’ aspirations regarding the social gains promised to the Radio Authority and their actual achievements as of January 2003. It draws on, and usually quotes, the Evaluation Questionnaires completed by the Access Radio projects. Projects were not required to set targets under every heading. It should be noted that in a number of cases the pilot projects are still only a part of the way through their licences and final outcomes are likely to be greater than recorded here. 54 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 1 MARCH 2003 DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 AIM Angel Radio will benefit the older community (aged 60 or over), living in the Borough of Havant, by becoming a focal point of entertainment, information and stimulation of direct relevance to its target audience, and by enabling that audience to have direct access to training programmes, work experience and input into the day-today running of the station. 4.4.1 If Angel Radio’s Access Radio project was able to become a permanent feature in the Borough of Havant it would become as integral a part of the everyday lives of older people as Social Services, and able to operate a wide variety of projects for the benefit of older people. 4.4.2 4.4.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 12 persons to complete training to present programmes during the project. – 12 persons to complete training in basic use of iMac computer during the project. – 12 persons to complete training in use of the record library during the project. Outcomes – 42 persons have completed training to present programmes. – 18 persons have completed training in basic use of iMac computer. – 29 persons completed training in use of the record library. 55
- 31. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.4.4 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 1 person to experience general duties at the station, but not undergoing formal training, each month. Outcomes – 5 people experienced general duties at the station, but not undergoing formal training. 4.4.5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – 10 responses (written) from house-bound people each month. – 10 responses (telephone) from housebound people each month. – 1 house-bound person receiving new contacts via Angel Radio each month. – 100 people, living alone, attending Angel Radio events during the project. – 100 people, living alone, joining Angel Radio Friendship Club during the project. – 5 new pen pals appearing on the Angel Radio list each month. – 5 new phone pals appearing on the Angel Radio list each month. – 2 Angel Radio ‘Home Groups’ starting up/meeting during the project. Outcomes – 25 responses (written) from house-bound people. Outcomes – More than 50 people have attended educational courses advertised on Angel Radio. – 32 local charities/community groups have been featured. – 13 responses (telephone) from house-bound people. – 10 education courses have been advertised on Angel Radio during the project. – 23 charity/community group fund-raising events have been covered. – 13 house-bound persons have received new contacts via Angel Radio. – 38 education programmes have been broadcast on Angel Radio. – 12 home safety initiatives broadcast. – To date, 126 people, living alone, have attended Angel Radio events. – 3 education courses have been set up by Angel Radio. – No new members of Angel Radio Friendship Club. – More than 20 nursing homes have accessed new information via Angel Radio. – 25 new pen pals have appeared on the Angel Radio list. – More than 10 day-care centres have accessed new information via Angel Radio. – 25 new phone pals have appeared on the Angel Radio list. 4.4.7 – No Angel Radio ‘Home Groups’ started up. OR INTEREST GROUPS 4.4.8 4.4.6 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – 10 people attending educational courses advertised on Angel Radio each month. – 10 education courses advertised on Angel Radio during the project. – 1 education programme broadcast on Angel Radio during the project. – 1 education course set up by Angel Radio during the project. – 2 nursing homes accessing new information via Angel Radio each month. – 2 day-care centres accessing new information via Angel radio each month. SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD Targets – 5 local information programmes broadcast each month. – 1 local information free-ad broadcast each month. – 1 local start-up completed during the project. – 2 local charities/community groups featured each month. ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – 1,000 responses (written) during the project. – 5,000 responses (telephone) during the project. – 100 responses (email) during the project. – 100 visitors to studio/offices during the project. – 8 Angel Radio Committee members, drawn from new audiences, during the project. – 100 people offering advisory input during the project (all reasonable inputs to be acted on). – 5 public consultation meetings during the project. – 1 charity/community group fund-raising event covered each month. – 2 public surveys asking ‘What would you change about Angel radio?’ during the project. – 2 home safety initiatives broadcast during the project. Outcomes – 369 responses (written). Outcomes – 194 local information programmes have been broadcast. – 11,556 responses (telephone). – 1,028 local information free-ads have been broadcast. – 51 responses (email). – 43 visitors to studio/offices. – 1 local start-up has been completed. 56 57
- 32. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.5 AWAZ FM 4.5.5 – No new Angel Radio Committee members, drawn from new audiences, have been appointed. TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 29 APRIL 2003 DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 AIM – 18 people offering advisory input (all reasonable inputs to be acted on). – 447 people have taken part in consultation exercises. – 2 public surveys have been conducted. 4.4.9 LINGUISTIC IMPACT To serve a community of ethnic diversity originating from the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan and India), delivering local, national and international news, along with community issues in bi-lingual format (40%). To provide entertainment through a variety of music, poetry and artistic talent (60%). 4.5.1 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Providing radio broadcasting experience to at least 25 school children and college students and 50 unemployed adults during the project. Outcomes – Work experience has been provided for 7 school children (generating their further involvement with the project). 4.5.6 In the long run, also to serve all communities in Glasgow from all ethnic groups, training in media skills – radio presenting and production, computer IT skills; and to work in joint collaboration with local social groups, Ethnic Minorities Employment Council (Emec) and Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (Gara). – During the month of Ramadan, debate programmes were broadcast on Islamic issues. 4.5.7 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Students of at least 2 local colleges, offering media skills courses, to take part in programming to community groups, as part of their course work. Numbers of students to be determined later. 4.5.2 Targets – 12 presenters, new to radio, taking part in broadcasts during the project. – 500 telephone callers, new to radio, taking part in broadcasts during the project. Outcomes – 32 presenters, new to radio have taken part in broadcasts. – 28 telephone callers, new to radio, have taken part in broadcasts. 4.5.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Learning presentation skills on air: operation of equipment, production techniques (editing, recording of source material and news production). Outcomes – The planned training programme has not taken place owing to the failure of a grant application to the Community Fund. However, on-going training in on-air presentation has been given to all presenters. – A newly acquired desk will release equipment and increase the volume of training offered. CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – Glasgow Health Board, Emec and Gara to enhance their aims and objectives by delivering information through Awaz FM’s community programming strand (2 hours per day). – An in-house team to give individuals similar opportunities. Outcomes – The collaboration with the Glasgow Health took place successfully (the Board gave time off for radio work to an employee who presents for Awaz FM. However, there has been little input from Gara and Emec, although a working relationship has been maintained. – Many members of Positive Action , an organisation aiming to unite black and ethnic minority groups in Glasgow, use Awaz FM as a channel to deliver their information. – Awaz FM took part in the Scottish Executive campaign on race, which ran through October and November 2002. Outcomes – Partnerships with local colleges have not yet taken place, but an initiative is being planned for the new term. – Some programmes have had children’s sections, with about 30 children per programme taking part in recitals and poetry readings. 4.5.8 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Awaz FM is in the process of linking up with individuals and groups. Outcomes – Various small community groups have come on board since April 29th 2002, such groups include • Govanhill Action Group, set up to reclaim back its neighbourhood from litter and vandalism from people living outside the area. • Young Career Services Association (YCSA), an Asian based organisation serving Asians throughout Glasgow. • The Kinning Park Complex runs a small community learning and playgroup centre. 58 59
- 33. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.6 BRADFORD COMMUNITY BROADCASTING In October Awaz FM provided entertainment and bazaar day for local residents. • Support for a local cricket team, Giffnock Cricket Club. • Service Plus, which has provided an immigration service on air. Also a solicitor service based in Manchester worked with Awaz FM for a period of 4 weeks answering people’s queries. • Mel Milap Centre, run by women from the Sikh Community. • The Aldebi Poetry Society, whose aim is to keep Urdu poetry alive, collaborated with Awaz FM on various programmes. • The Qaid-E-Azam Society. • The project worked with local Gurdwara (Sikh), Mandir (Hindu), Mosques (Islam) and Churches in delivering faith information and events. 4.5.9 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – Each group presenting community slots will have direct input under guidance. Presenters will have direct input on how programming reflects audience wishes and needs. – Every individual expressing a detailed interest and commitment to broadcasting will be allowed access to the project. From previous RSL experience, at least 5 people per month will take part in addition to the core volunteers. Outcomes – Overall, 37 ‘core’ presenters have been recruited and 18 other volunteers. – Presenters are given a free hand within the project’s Charter of Service. Their views on the project’s management are sought and taken into account. 4.5. 10 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – At least 20% increase in the ratio of words to music to be achieved by the end of the project. Urdu and Panjabi are the dominant languages. Programmes in Arabic and (for Afghan listeners) Pushtu are broadcast. Individuals to become more aware of spoken delivery and grammar. Outcomes – The use of good quality Panjabi and Urdu on the station has exceeded expectation. – An Arabic programme is broadcast once a week. – Plans are in hand to present programmes in Kurdish and Farsi. – The project has received positive feedback on the importance of preserving Asian languages; parents are especially interested in radio as a means of ensuring that their children maintain an interest in their mother tongue. TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 1 MARCH 2003 DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 AIM 4.6.1 1. To develop an accessible community radio station, providing unique and appropriate Bradford focused programming, training local people to make programmes that meet the needs of their own communities. 2. With a longer term licence, BCB would be able to respond to the needs of the communities more fully and at their pace, help participants to develop further their programme making skills (especially journalistic skills), and involve a greater number of those ‘hardest to teach’ groups. 4.6.2 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 40 people to receive training, including ICT. Outcomes – In total, BCB trained 57 individuals in a range of radio production and presentation skills between Sept 2001 and Dec 2002. Up to 50 people are on a waiting list for training (as resources/facilities permit). New courses are planned, with a focus on unemployed people, from January 2003. – ICT: one of BCB’s priorities was to upgrade the skills of the existing presenters/producers/volunteers. Many individual training sessions have been held and small group workshops supported in using ICTs for radio. – Many volunteers were not computer-literate. Others were only used to office-based applications. Their involvement in community 60 radio gave them the motivation for accessing and regularly using ICT in a creative and practical context. – Individual training: Some individual studio training has been provided for people who came to BCB with a new programme proposal and subsequently had the idea accepted, or people from outreach projects who wanted to develop further individual skills. – Other radio skills training: – Radio Venus Workshops: weekly radio skills workshops for women to develop their skills. – Refugee radio skills training course. – Introduction to Radio: outreach courses at Whetley Hill centre (see below) for both Whetley Hill group and 119 group. – Studio management training: several workshops were held for existing volunteers to gain studio management skills - to be developed further in 2003. – Training is currently overseen by the Director and Broadcast Manager, with input from all other staff. Some sessional tutors are also employed. 4.6.3 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 8 periods of work experience have been held. Outcomes – 6 periods of work experience have been offered to students from school, colleges and universities. 61
- 34. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.6.4 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – 10 programme teams to be formed, producing regular programmes on BCB, involving • Shipley Communities on Line – community access to ICT • Powerhouse Project – community development project • Ripple Project – drugs project • Bridge Project – drugs project • Assisi Project – homeless and alcohol project • City Centre Project – young homeless project • HOPES centre – training and employment centre • 1 in 12 club – ‘anarchists and the like’! • Bangladesh Porishad – Bengali community centre • Age Concern – older people • 119 project – people with learning difficulties • Whetley Hill Centre – centre for disabled people • Frontline Initiative – African Caribbean Project • BIASAN – refugee support • CCE – Irish cultural organisation • Ukrainian Centre • Artworks – arts and regeneration project • Asian Disability Network Outcomes – The project has worked with local groups to widen participation in community radio and their involvement in the station. Most of the groups below are regular broadcast teams. – Whetley Hill Resource Centre – a centre for people with physical disabilities. BCB has developed a fully accessible outreach radio studio at the Whetley Hill centre, which is used for regular training sessions and programme production. BCB is about to link it by ISDN to make it a live broadcast venue. There is now a production group which, with BCB support, produces fortnightly programmes on BCB. There is also another programme team that independently produces a weekly programme from the studio. – Shipley Community Radio – the group continues to meet fortnightly and produce regular programmes on BCB, including the Shipley Corner fortnightly programme. On-going training sessions are held with the group. Individual members of SCR also produce and present a range of other programmes on BCB. BCB has recently created a new outreach studio in the New Start centre in Shipley, which has become the home for Shipley Community Radio and a community-based training base. – Powerhouse on Air – community development project. The group from the Newlands SRB area has regular training sessions and produces a monthly neighbourhood radio programme. • Bradford Volunteer Bureau – 800 people have been interviewed re: social inclusion, regeneration, community issues and projects, opportunities, local achievements etc. 62 – The Assisi House Project – project for supporting the homeless. BCB is running regular training sessions for the group, which is starting to produce programmes for broadcast. – City Centre project – project supporting young homeless people. Training sessions have been held together with occasional programme production. – The Frontline Initiative – African-Caribbean Community Project. BCB offered a series of training sessions which led to the production of several programmes, and also people involved in the training are now regularly taking part in other programme teams. – The Ripple Project – community based drugs project. BCB continues to offer support to the radio aspect of this project and supported its RSL in September 2002. The Ripple Project has produced occasional programmes for broadcast on BCB, with some individuals starting to become involved with BCB. – Shipley Communities on Line – community IT project. It now produces a monthly IT programme on BCB. BCB will be linking the new training at the New Start Centre to the other Shipley Communities on Line projects. – 119 Project – project for supporting people with learning difficulties. Following a pilot project at the Whetley Hill Centre, BCB has now helped to establish a radio studio at 119 and has started delivering training projects to enable them to produce regular pieces for broadcast. – Coltas Cyotory Air-an – Irish Cultural Association. BCB ran a training project for the group, which is now producing regular weekly programme Siamsa and has also produced the first of a series of documentaries on Irish migration to Bradford. – Bradford South ‘Live at home project’ – older peoples project. Started weekly training sessions with BCB in September 2002 – Radio Reminiscences project. Produced first hour long Wartime Memories programme in Dec 2003. Six programmes planned. – MAPA – African Caribbean Youth Project. Weekly training sessions since Oct 2002 – no programmes produced yet. – 1 in 12 club – unemployed support project/social project. Produces fortnightly radio programme. – Bradford Mental Heath Action Group – worked with a small group of people to produce a series of programmes focusing on mental health issues. – Other groups BCB has worked with include: Odsal Community Centre, Fagley Community Centre, Frizinghall Community Centre, Bradford West Youth Team, Springfield Community Gardens, The Grove Project. – The project has negotiated to make a series of 6 issue-based programmes with the West Yorkshire Police. The programmes will be made by groups themselves who are concerned with those specific issues ( youth, drugs, community safety, homeless, personal safety etc) – not as public relations for the police but as an opportunity to bring together the police and the communities. A similar health-based project is being planned with local PCTs. – HOPES – Holme Wood-based training project. BCB ran training project and the group is now producing a monthly programme for broadcast on BCB. 63
- 35. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.6.5 4.6.7 4.6.8 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – BCB will link with local schools, colleges and the university offering practical work experience opportunities for people on courses – and, where appropriate, on completion of their course. – The training opportunities at BCB are not offered locally by colleges or other institutions and are therefore complementary to other educational provision. Outcomes – BCB has offered work experience placements to school students; has formed links with Beckfoot school radio project; and Keighley College Internet radio project, visits from classes and groups of students.Considerable interest from schools in terms of creative and innovative ways of delivering National Curriculum Objectives through making radio programmes. The project aims to employ an education worker to deal specifically with schools projects and programming. 4.6.6 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – BCB will offer regular broadcast opportunities to all local community and voluntary and neighbourhood groups to publicise activities, raise issues, etc. Outcomes – BCB provides daily broadcast opportunities for local community and neighbourhood organisations and interest group to publicise projects, events, etc. Average of 15 - 20 groups per week have broadcast time on BCB – see social inclusion. 64 LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – Volunteering opportunities to 100 people, both in broadcast and non broadcast roles. – 4 new people to be encouraged to join Management Committee. Outcomes – Since the start of the full time licence period, March 2002, there has been an increase in volunteers. 131 volunteers, ranging in age from their teens to their 80s and drawn from a range of diverse communities, have presented programmes on the station; on average 56 volunteers present at least one programme per week, and 65 volunteers per week are involved with the station. – Nearly 3,000 people were interviewed on BCB, either live or by telephone. – BCB has a small working scheduling group, drawn from volunteers, that meets regularly. The group consults with the project’s 200 members through the newsletter, members’ meetings and through a six-month review questionnaire conducted in Autumn 2002. Targets – Community languages: • BCB will use community radio to promote cultural expression in community languages. We aim for communities to broadcast in the language that is most appropriate to their target audience. Some programmes may integrate more than one language. • Likely programming in Urdu, Bengali, Panjabi, with the provision and encouragement for programming in any language that the communities feel is appropriate. This could include Italian, Ukrainian, Polish etc. • Presenters in community languages will be encouraged and supported in developing their presentation style, delivery and confidence. – Local Accent and expression: • Community radio broadcasting on BCB will help to celebrate the different accents and ways that people express themselves within the Bradford District. • Through involvement in BCB we will actively encourage people to develop confidence in their expression, reflecting and giving validity to the many ways that people communicate and express themselves within the city. • There will be 10 hours per week community language programming. Outcomes – BCB encourages community language broadcasters and produces 8 hours per week of community language broadcasting. Many came to BCB as trainees on one of its Radio Skills training courses or as individuals with some broadcast experience. They continue to produce individual weekly programmes. We have however worked with targeted groups to help develop specific programme strands. This includes: • The Bangladesh Porishad – a series of training sessions in 2002. The first programmes were planned for January 2003. • Al Arquam – Arabic programming group. Training sessions led to the production of its first weekly programmes broadcast during Ramadan 2002. • Refugee broadcasting project. Leading up to Refugee Week in July 2002, BCB ran a training project with groups of refugees and asylum seekers from several countries. It then broadcast a series of programmes in Russian, Xhona, Ndebele, Farsi and other minority languages. This will be further developed in 2003. • Sabrang Radio. BCB ran a series of radio training sessions for the Panjabi radio group who run RSLs twice a year. Two members of this group now produce weekly programmes on BCB. • Millan Womens Centre – Outreach training course, targeting Asian women, starting January 2003. 65
- 36. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.7 CROSS RHYTHMS CITY RADIO 4.7.4 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 28 FEBRUARY 2003 DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 AIM Serving the needs of the Christian Community and acting as a bridge between that community and the community at large. 4.7.1 In the longer term, to establish the Christian Community as a recognised group within the city and at the same time to promote dialogue and integration with the community at large. 4.7.2 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – As above. Outcomes – 2 volunteers are involved in the Millennium Volunteers Project, which will enable them to gain a certificate/diploma after completing a required amount of work experience. – 4 people connected with schools/universities are undergoing periods of work experience. 4.7.5 4.7.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Up to 30 people to volunteer and receive training in broadcasting skills as well as related areas such as marketing, administration and IT. Trainees will be tested in a real working environment and will have advantages in applying for employment opportunities at Cross Rhythms. Outcomes – During the year 47 people have worked as volunteers and received training. Cross Rhythms provided a radio training session in the ‘Open Doors’ training day attended by more than 150 students from schools across the county. 19 of the children involved recorded programming which was played on air later. CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – With a view to publicising the work of the organisations below and to raise awareness of the issues with which they are concerned. – 1 interview a week with a police representative to publicise their work and explain issues. – 2 to 3 interviews a year with Race Equality Council. – 2 to 3 interviews a year with U Matter, an organisation aiming to realise the potential of young people in Stoke-on-Trent. – Health Action Zone – 2 interviews a month with organisations in this umbrella group. At least 20 organisations to be involved over the year. – Employment Service – at least one interview a week on employment issues. – Citizens’ Advice Bureau – 1 interview a week on legal issues and the provision of legal services to socially deprived groups. – Engagement with/coverage of – Girls International – this Christian organisation, which runs various schemes including one related to health, drug use etc., to be featured for an hour a week and also in interviews elsewhere, at least 4 or 5 times a year. • Volunteer Reading Help – Homeless Projects – at least 2 to 3 interviews a year with the Potteries Housing Association (working with the homeless). • Media Action Group for Mental Health – Samaritans – 2 to 3 interviews a year with representatives of the local service. • Frontline Dance Company (for disabled and able-bodied people) – North Staffs Victim Support – Support for Victims of Crime – 2 to 3 interviews a year. • North Staffs Dyslexia Association Outcomes – Regular weekly slot on the police, covering their press releases and interviewing related persons about issues the police have currently highlighted. • Beth Johnson Foundation (help for older people) – 2 interviews with the Race Equality Council. • North Staffs African and Caribbean Association – 1 interview with U Matter. • Tear Fund – Interview with Employment Service representative every two or three weeks; information provided by the service is covered in a weekly slot. • St Johns Welcome Centre – 1 interview a week with Citizens’ Advice Bureaux representative until August, when he was elected Mayor. Now 1 interview per month. • The Ark (drop-in centre for the homeless) – 1 interview to date with North Staffs Victim Support. 66 – Weekly interviews with Amenities Manager of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. • Re-Solv • Youth Offending Team, Youth Justice Board • Sure Start Stoke-on-Trent • Childrens Fund for Stoke • ‘Create’ (work placements for young people with learning disabilities) • Disability Solutions • Potteries Association for the Blind • North Staffs Carers Association • Union of African and African Caribbean Organisations • Salvation Army, Tunstall • Baptist Union Initiative for People with Learning Disabilities • Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent • Community Warden’s Project, Burslem South • Special features included programmes on cancer, refugees and Iraq. 67
- 37. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.7.6 4.7.7 4.7.8 4.7.9 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Members of the station management team will be attending the regular monthly meetings of local Christian leaders so that opportunity will exist for them to input into the running of the station. One-to-one meetings to be held with key people such as workers for The Saltbox, local heads of Christian denominations and others to feed their views into the Cross Rhythms decision-making process. Targets – To encourage local broadcasters to maintain their accents and dialects while remaining clear and intelligible to all – thus ensuring that broadcast output relates to as many local people as possible. Targets – With a view to publicising the work of the organisations below and raise awareness of the issues with which they are concerned. – 1 education programme a week involving representatives of the Local Education Authority and other relevant bodies. Projects to be featured include St Johns Welcome Centre and Cyber Café (for children with special needs), the North Staffs Dyslexia Association, Volunteer Reading Help and Staffs Careers Service. – 1 weekly programme with North Staffs YFC, a Christian organisation involved in educational work, with a monthly up-date on their activities. – Profiling the schools work of The Saltbox, a local non-denominational Christian umbrella ginger group. – Twice daily up-dates on relevant educational projects and events. Outcomes – 2 or 3 interviews per month with Local Education Authority and other relevant bodies. – 1 up-date per month with the North Staffs YFC. – Saltbox interview once a fortnight. INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Neighbourhood or interest groups served will include • local churches (200 representing 30 denominations) • The Saltbox • North Staffs YFC • Girls International • City Vision Ministries • Undignified (a youth event) • Women Aglow (which centres on the needs of Christian women) • Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship • United Christian Broadcasters • Voluntary Action • Action Line (a local charity that provides on-air publicity for local organisations). – About 10 volunteers to be involved in broadcasting on a regular weekly basis (i.e. in producing and presenting programmes). – Up to 100 people over the year to access the airwaves with their contributions in features or interviews. – Additional organisations supported include Outcomes – As planned, management attends monthly local church leaders’ meetings to receive feedback. Meetings also held with the Saltbox and individual local church leaders. The project has attended local Youth Leadership meetings. – Sowing Seeds for Revival (week of interdenominational prayers) – Interviewees, some of whom have done no previous public speaking or radio work, have found the interview process to be confidence-building. This was particularly noticeable in extended interview programmes, such as Close Encounters. – 15 volunteers have been involved in broadcasting. – GSUS Live (initiative of North Staffs Youth for Christ) Outcomes – The project has maintained a consistent policy of not encouraging people to change the way they speak on air. It aims for people to be clear and intelligible. It had placed no particular emphasis on local accents. – More than 50 people have contributed to features or taken part in interviews. Outcomes – The project supported all the organisations targeted except for Voluntary Action and Action Line. – Historically, the Church has not been very successful in understanding and making use of the language of contemporary media; Cross Rhythms has helped the Church to engage verbally with the wider community in a more appropriate way. – Spring Harvest (Christian holidays) – Soul Survivor (Christian Youth event) – The project gave detailed, live coverage to the mayoral/local elections. Mayor gives fortnightly interview. – All five local MPS have been interviewed. – Ekklesia, a Christian thinktank, gives weekly up-date of parliamentary issues of interest to Christians. 68 69
- 38. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.8 DESI RADIO TARGETS FOR LICENCE END, 10 MAY 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM To unify, entertain, educate, inform and include the socially excluded Panjabi community in West London, by broadcasting Panjabi news, drama, debates on health, social issues, education, recreation and other relevant subjects of interest to the Panjabi community in West London. 4.8.1 – All have now had work experiences live on Desi Radio and most of them are working voluntarily, presenting on the Radio. – The next 18-week course to begin in February 2003, funded by Learning Skills Council. – A taster course was held in February 2003. 3 such courses may be held. – 24 people to take part in the 2 x 18 weeks courses in 2003. – By December 2003 the project will have trained 54 people. 4.8.2 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Desi Radio training programmes are designed to give people practical skills, literacy skills, ICT skills, and confidence, and to encourage innovation and the ability to use their initiative and to transfer their skills to other vocations. – The project will provide training in media skills (presentation and production, ICT skills, legal issues, script writing, production of advertisements, jingles, cool edit, casting web and improvement in written and spoken English etc.) for at least 20 Panjabis and 4 Somalis (2 x 18 week courses over the year). There will also be short taster courses (2 x 6 hours at weekends); by the end of the year at least 50 radio people will be trained in production and presentation. Outcomes – From January 2002 till December 2002 40 people have been trained: 19 on two taster courses. 21 on eighteen weeks x 2 courses. 70 4.8.3 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – As part of the 18-week courses, the project will provide four-week placements on Desi Radio for beginners and those with more experience. Outcomes – As part of the first round of 18-week courses, the project provided four-week placements on Desi Radio for beginners and other more experienced people. The same will apply to the forthcoming round. 4.8.4 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – The project aims to broadcast to 200,000 Panjabi-speakers in the six boroughs of West London, excluded from mainstream media activities due to language, culture and lifestyle differences. – The project is helping the Somali Refugee Development Group in Southall to establish a radio project of their own and eventually to run an RSL. Outcomes – The project is broadcasting to 200,000 Panjabi speakers in the six boroughs of West London, excluded from mainstream media activities due to language, culture and lifestyle differences. – The project is also helping the Somali Refugee Development Group in Southall to establish a radio project of its own and eventually to run an RSL. – Three Somali groups (one of which is a woman’s group) have made contact with Desi Radio, which has given them initial information about RSLs and how to set them up. – A group from Luton visited the project last November seeking information and advice on community radio. – Two TVU students, waiting to set up an access radio on “Parents and Children” in Ealing, visited the project last December for information and advice too. 4.8.5 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – By reaching local schools and colleges, more than 100 young people between the ages of 10 and 19 years will play the Panjabi music of their choice, produce programmes and plays. 30 named young people are waiting to go on the project. Outcomes – For young people (10-18 years), a specific studio will be designed, fitted and equipped by April 2003 where young people will access community radio by learning to play their own Panjabi music, to present, produce, make jingles etc. – Desi Radio expects to train 40 to 50 young people during this year. It received £4,500 from Community Chest for equipment (i.e. 3 computers and software) in the studio. – A grant of £4,000 has been agreed by Local Children’s Fund to fit out the studio. – A proposal has been sent to City Trust for London for part-time staff to coordinate this project. 4.8.6 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Co-operation has begun with the Housing Department of the London Borough of Ealing and other relevant departments, the National Health Service in Ealing, Southall Day Centre, Milap Day Centre for older people in Southall and Ealing Voluntary Services Council, to broadcast information about public services. – Links exist and are being developed with Panjabi theatre groups and cultural and sports organisations. Also with Southall Football Club, Southall Kabadi Club (sports) and South Asia Solidarity Group. – Other social service and voluntary organisations will be involved over time. Outcomes – To broadcast information about public services, co-operation has been initiated with • Housing Department of the London Borough of Ealing and other relevant departments • National Health Service in Ealing • Southall Day Centre 71
- 39. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.9 FOREST OF DEAN RADIO 4.9.5 • Milap Day Centre (for older people in Southall) • Ealing Voluntary Services Council. • Links exist and are being further developed with Panjabi Theatre groups and cultural and sports organisations. Also with Southall Football Club, Southall Kabadi Club (sports) and South Asia Solidarity Group. • Other social service and voluntary organisations will be involved over time. 4.8.7 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – The project will offer more than 200 people the opportunity to work as volunteers (reception, word processing, music archives, database management, marketing, programming and administration). Outcomes – The project has offered more than 200 people the opportunity to work as volunteers (reception, word processing, music archives, database management, marketing, programming and administration). TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 19 JULY 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM To achieve regeneration for the Forest of Dean through the medium of radio. 4.9.1 4.9.2 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 150 training places in foundation radio skills, programme making, presenting, technical skills, news production and drama production, to be provided through the project. – 5 skills modules to be prepared. Outcomes – 93 training places have been provided. – Skills modules prepared and Forest of Dean Radio is working on obtaining accreditation. 4.9.3 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – As above. 4.8.8 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Desi Radio’s main language is Panjabi (including its variations in North, South, West and Central Panjab). Presenters are expected to express the richness and variety of Panjabi with growing confidence. Outcomes – Desi Radio’s main language is Panjabi (including its variations in North, South, West and Central Panjab). Presenters are expected to express the richness and variety of Panjabi with growing confidence. 72 Outcomes – See above. 4.9.4 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – Broadcasting opportunities to be provided for 82 local voluntary or community organisations. Outcomes – Opportunities have been provided for 107 local voluntary or community organisations and neighbourhood/interest Groups. CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Outcomes – Primary Schools Targets – Primary Schools: the aim is to enable children to explore many of the skills they are acquiring in the classroom in the context of real broadcasting to an audience. • Soudley School Pilot. Forest of Dean Radio (FODR) ran an after-school radio club for the pupils for a period of five weeks. – 6 schools to be involved (a pilot with one school has already taken place). In each school at least 1 member of staff or parent to be trained to act as technical support and mentor; 10 pupils of different ages to be trained in radio skills; the primary schools to be enabled to produce on-going programme material for broadcasting on FODR. • Funding now in place to begin work with two further schools. – Secondary Schools: in response to the addition of citizenship to the curriculum and the addition of Radio to the GCSE Media Syllabus, FODR proposes to support senior schools to devise a series of 45 minute discussion programmes to be broadcast during school time. In each school at least 1 member of staff or parent to be trained to act as technical support and mentor; FODR will work with pupils and staff to agree programme themes; the involvement of local people, local businesses, politicians and local government agencies will be encouraged; issues such as balance, equality and research will be explored; pupils will be trained in radio, interview and presentation skills. – All six Forest of Dean senior schools will be involved. Each week the children were taught various aspects of radio production • The following Primary schools have also been involved in broadcasts: • Lydney C & E School • Lydbrook School • Forest View School • Westbury School • Dean Hall School – Secondary Schools • Whitecross Lydney – the project has been developing regular contact and programme-making with staff and students to explore views and develop areas of interest. This has included debates on fox hunting and the local relevance of the Countryside March, and opening up the issues of how the increasing amount of time taken up by testing has been effecting teachers, students and their families. • Heywood School in Cinderford is developing a bid to become a specialist sports school and FODR is negotiating a course in Sports Journalism linked to radio output. FODR has worked on a book review project with the English Department and the Local Library service and the Head took part with students in a review of the year for the Christmas broadcasting schedule. 73
- 40. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.9.6 • Wyedean School, Sedbury. The project has collaborated with the school for a number of years; the school wishes to host one of FODR’s studios as part of a new development to accommodate rising student numbers and community access to the campus. FODR is working with the school and a number of agencies and local people further to develop community activity in this isolated rural area. A feature was recorded during a drugs awareness week when a theatre company commissioned by the Youth Service visited the school, as was a review of the year produced with staff and students. • At Lakers School the project featured its student steel band on tour at a number of local carnivals and worked with the students as part of a technology project. • Newent School has been the base for a music technology project and several programmes have been broadcast featuring the young people and their music. • Students at Royal Forest of Dean College have just begun a series of IT problemsolving programmes following training delivered by FODR. The project is also working with the Student Union to develop a regular magazine programme. 4.9.7 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL INTEREST GROUPS PEOPLE Targets – See contribution to social inclusion above. Targets – The project, building on existing contacts, will provide a series of training sessions to enable local community groups to promote their activities. They are likely to include – Coverage by FODR of all relevant community initiatives in the Forest of Dean (civic matters, health, education, regeneration initiatives, education, regeneration initiatives and environmental issues). – Community Groups are targeted and invited to Training sessions. – Training sessions have included representatives from • Candi • U3A – Provision of an effective communication service that links core agencies and the community. • New Dean Music Club • New Dean Music Club • Forest Music Collective • Forest Music Collective • FoD Local History Society • History Society – FODR will build on links with the Dean Heritage Centre; Five Acres College, the Gloucestershire County Archives, the Forest of Dean Youth Forum, Forest of Dean District Council and the Forest of Dean Education Business Partnership. Collaboration will be sought with Information and Advice Groups, including Connexions and the Learning and Skills Council. • Dean Archeological Group • Dean Forest Voice • Dean Forest Voice • Forest Voluntary Action Forum • Forest Voluntary Action Forum • Dean By Definition • Doorways • Blues Club • Library Service • Royal Forest of Dean By Definition • Forest Blues Club • FORGE Centre for the Visually Impaired Outcomes – See contribution to social inclusion above. • Dial-a-Ride • FoD Family History Society – Relevant initiatives have been covered. Programmes have dealt with Health, Housing, Tourism, Arts Development Strategy, Education, Regeneration and Tourism Strategy. – Links have been established with • Dean Heritage Centre • Five Acres College, Youth Forum • District Council, Business Partnership • The Learning & Skills Council is one of the project’s major funders. – Premises are shared with both Connexions and Forest of Dean College. 74 • U3A Outcomes – 896 participants in Forest of Dean Radio, most of whom are/were involved in broadcasting, others in administration, technical, publicity and marketing etc. – 12 people per session will be trained in radio, interview and presentation skills; programmes for specific slots will be produced during the first phase of broadcasting; FODR will work with groups to develop new programming strands; two sessions a year will be run in each of the five Forest of Dean areas. – 11 Training Sessions have been held and ad hoc one-to-one sessions are held as and when required. – Artists have been offered training sessions offered and invited in to the studio to talk about their work. 4.9.8 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – No specific targets set. Outcomes – FODR has adopted a policy for broadcasters to reflect the local dialect, where possible. – Opportunities for 800 people to participate as unpaid volunteers – Opportunities for local artists to participate in FODR 75
- 41. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4. 0 GTFM 1 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 27 APRIL 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM GTFM aims to inform and entertain the population of Pontypridd through its radio programming and to offer participation and training to community groups and individuals through the Volunteer Training Programme. 4.10.1 Depending on the availability of continued funding, permanent broadcasting would enable the development and improvement of radio programming and the expansion of participation and training opportunities. and many were able to utilise this new knowledge as part of their studies. – The project has links with Pontypridd Open Learning centre, Immtech Training and various community education centres. – In total, more than 840 volunteers have taken part in GTFM training, inductions and on-air experience (excluding university students enrolled on accredited radio modules). 4.10.2 4.10.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 200 estimated beneficiaries to gain a range of broadcasting and other skills related to their abilities and interests. Outcomes – The University of Glamorgan has established a training wing of GTFM, run by the Community Radio Tutor and staff at the Ilan Centre. The needs of local groups and individuals have been taken into consideration, but there has also been pro-active engagement with the community in generating volunteer/trainees. – One-off training sessions have been held with groups of various sizes; also, formal courses and a successful Summer School (with assistance from BBC Radio Wales). – On-going radio clubs at local English and Welsh medium schools have been designed to give students an insight into broadcasting 76 4.10.4 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 100 estimated beneficiaries to gain work experience in broadcasting and other skills related to their abilities and interests. Outcomes – The project’s interpretation of ‘work experience’ is to offer opportunities for participation. It has provided opportunities in the areas of administration, IT, Radio production and Radio presentation for several hundred participants. – GTFM works closely with the local Careers Service and is committed to providing youngsters with placements whenever possible. However, the opportunities for traditional ‘work experience’ have been fairly limited in practice. 8 people have benefited from work experience in this sense, the most recent of whom has found a job as Assistant Producer with the BBC World Service. 4.10.5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – The project to work with existing community providers and tap into the training they offer to support each other’s aims and objectives. Outcomes – GTFM is based in the Rhydyfelin area of Pontypridd, which is one of the 50 Communities First areas in Wales, and is a member of the Rhydyfelin Regeneration Partnership. The project maintains a special partnership with the Glyntaff Tenants & Residents Association, which hosts a daily community programme (with regular contributions from the local police, consumer advice centre and dietary/healthy living advice). The Community Development Co-Coordinator for Rhydyfelin co-hosts the show once per week. 4.10.6 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – About 200 pupils at 8 secondary schools, especially those with GCSE and AS Media pupils, to receive training, facilitating course delivery. – At Pontypridd College and Merthyr College, 40 GNVQ and HND Media students will receive training and broadcasting opportunities, facilitating course delivery. Outcomes – The project has ongoing links with local schools across the Rhondda Cynon Taf. Each of the four comprehensive schools in the immediate neighbourhood take part in regular school shows on GTFM and at two of them radio clubs are operating – 91 pupils have so far used their contact with the GTFM as a part of their A level/AS Level/GCSE course work. 10 students from the Pontypridd Open Learning Centre have also used the opportunity as a means of working on literacy and communication skills as part of their course portfolios. – 10 students from the Pontypridd Open Learning Centre have used the GTFM training opportunity as a means of working on literacy and communication skills as part of their course portfolios – Links with local FE providers are underway, but have yet to result in specific outcomes. This is partly due to the relocation of the local college Media department to Tonypandy – outside GTFM’s broadcast remit. 4.10.7 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – The project to offer opportunities for participation, training and promotion, dependent on need, to 100 local groups including • Glyn Taff Residents’ Association • Valleys Kids • Age Concern • Local Authority (various departments) • Interlink • Menter Iaith Taf Elai • Employment Services • TEDS (Taff-Ely Drug Support) • Pontypridd College – Open Learning Centre Outcomes – Approximately 80 local organisations have been involved in GTFM’s work to date. – GTFM provides a free Community Message service locally (on daytime programmes). To date 43 messages have been broadcast on a regular basis The subjects covered include local charity appeals, local voluntary services, or essential community information (such as highlighting the dangers of meningitis which has previously struck Pontypridd badly). 77
- 42. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 NEW STYLE RADIO 1 (NSR) 4.1 1.4 – The local voluntary council, Interlink, presents and produces a weekly show focusing on volunteering opportunities in the area. Each week a different group is highlighted and volunteers are invited on air to talk about their experiences and each is asked to play their favourite song. Subject to funding and other resource factors it is hoped this may be expanded in the future as a community phone-in. – GTFM produces a weekly show for older listeners – Older & Bolder – in association with Help the Aged and Age Concern. – Menter Iaith, a Welsh Language organisation that promotes the use of Welsh, has presented a weekly Welsh Language programme. – GTFM wants to extend and expand this kind of programming, and to start a weekly news round up and topical discussion programmes. 4.10.8 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – GTFM’s membership policy is open to all individuals and groups within the area and is widely publicised through Interlink. No targets set. – All members of the community will be able to become involved, as long as their contributions are in line with Radio Authority guidelines. 200 estimated participants. Outcomes – Membership of GTFM (with the right to stand for the project’s management committee) is open to anyone living or working in the local area. 78 – Volunteering opportunities are widely promoted through on-air trails and in the weekly column the project has in the local newspaper, the Pontypridd Observer. Opportunities are provided for participation in whichever way the volunteer feels comfortable. 4.10.9 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – The project will work towards providing 3 hours a week of programming in the Welsh language. This will reflect the linguistic diversity and interests of the target audience. – On-air and behind-the-scenes work experience will allow contributors to improve their communications skills in their language of choice. The target audience will have an increased awareness of the richness of language used in the locality. Outcomes – GTFM’s commitment to providing 3 hours a week of Welsh language programming has proved difficult to fulfil, because of a lack of suitable Welsh-speaking volunteers. However, thanks to the input of the local Welsh language school and Menter Iaith, a local Welsh language organisation, it has been able to meet its targets for approx 75% of the pilot broadcast period. – Until recently, the project was able to provide a daily Welsh language news bulletin, from BBC Cymru. The BBC has withdrawn their support for this, awaiting a wider decision on its support for Access Radio. TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 14 AUGUST 2003 DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 AIM NSR will give the community generally, and the Caribbean/African community in particular, a powerful means of social, artistic and cultural expression and provide a vehicle to support social, cultural and economic initiatives in inner Birmingham. 4.1 1 1. In the longer run, the project will dispel myths and stereotypes about Caribbean/African people and help to create a more cohesive community, by allowing a dynamic presence in civic matters, music, arts, culture and education. 4.1 1.2 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 20 people to receive work experience (broadcasting, social and cultural awareness). Outcomes – Students from schools, universities and colleges have undertaken placements. 4.1 1.5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – NSR to work with the following projects • CSV Media • Castle Vale Community Radio Project • The DRUM 4.1 1.3 • Kajan TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES • Youth Empowerment for Success Targets – About 200 people to receive accredited training (radio communication, computer and life skills). • Lozells Music Workshop Outcomes – Although NSR aims to have in place a formal accredited training programme, this has not been feasible because of constraints on space (the project is currently in temporary accommodation, awaiting the construction of new premises), time and resources. NSR is running an extensive informal community training programme, where all volunteers receive on-the-job training in technical operations, digital editing, production methods, news, interview and presentation skills. All New Style Radio presenters are expected to develop ‘total radio competence’. Outcomes – In 2001 via Fusion FM the project worked with Birmingham City Council Leisure and Cultural Services Department to deliver a Black History Month programme and was appointed the official Black History Month radio station for 2002. As a result of New Style Radio, venues attracted large audiences. – From 27th January 2003 the project will be broadcasting a series of programmes in association with Relate. This will include advertising Relate’s services to the black community and running promotion competitions. – Speech programmes are very diverse with issues covered ranging from employment, 79
- 43. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.12 NORTHERN VISIONS RADIO (NVR) 4.1 1.8 transportation, regeneration, policing and community safety, health, education, business development, arts and culture to relationships. Some of NSR’s specialist speech programmes are: a) Mid Morning Mission: a programme concerned with general current affairs and community issues. b) Mid Week Melt Down: a women’s magazine programme. c) Vibrant Mindz: a one-hour programme presented by Birmingham Arts Marketing, focusing on arts in the region. d) Heart 2 Heart: part of this arts and culture programme is delivered by a local police sergeant. – Working with Birmingham Capital of Culture team, West Midlands Arts and the Write Thing, a London agency, the project will be promoting and staging Celebrating Sisters at the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Drum. The event will take place on 22 February and 30 March 2003. Celebrating Sisters is the largest black women’s performing arts show in the UK. 4.1 1.6 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – The project has links with the following institutions • University of Central England (UCE) • University of Birmingham • City College • Bournville College 80 • South Birmingham College – It will work with the universities on research, courses and student placements. Outcomes – Links have been established with local schools, colleges and universities. The project has produced programmes with a number of secondary schools and one local primary school. – NSR is in discussion with colleges and universities about joint courses, particularly when the new Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre opens in December 2003. ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 9 MARCH 2003 PEOPLE DELIVERY – JANUARY 2003 Targets – 13 volunteers will be involved in project management. AIM – More than 200 volunteers will take part in broadcasting. Outcomes – Volunteers number approximately 100. Each week at least 5 enquiries are received from people wishing to be involved. – The station receives approximately 100 phone calls per day. 4.11.7 INTEREST GROUPS Targets – As above. In addition, NSR believes that a critical outcome will be the number of listeners from the British Caribbean community; it expects that the vast majority of that community to listen to NSR. Outcomes – NSR has links with all the major black organisations in Birmingham (for example, the Birmingham Race Action Partnership). It works closely with the police and is a member of a police liaison committee. It NSR is collaborating with Connexions, a new outreach and social organisation funded by the Learning and Skills Council, in relation to 16-19 year-olds at risk. – For small community organisations and churches, NSR usually offers free advertising. In the longer term, to develop standards of practice and support on an inclusive basis for groups and individuals seeking to access local radio production, thereby stimulating job creation in the cultural and media industries, facilitating the transfer of skills and confidence for trained or professional workers to these groups and individuals, and especially young people, through the provision of workshops and courses. 4.12.2 4.1 1.9 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR To provide alternative and innovative local radio programming in addition to that already on offer, based upon community access, which will reflect and enrich the diversity of the Belfast community through the presentation of programmes which contribute towards the expansion of the variety of viewpoints broadcast in Northern Ireland, thereby enhancing the range of choice available to the listening public. 4.12.1 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Caribbean dialect in the context of the United Kingdom has to a large extent been Jamaicanised, but the dialects are as numerous and diverse as the many islands that make up the region. New Style Radio will seek to expose this richness and diversity of patois/Creole. – As standard English is our basic language, an important mission is to ensure that presenters develop fluency in the use of standard English, while having the freedom to be expressive in the various Caribbean dialects. Outcomes – The project celebrates the richness of patios, or British Caribbean Creole. However, presenters are required to recognise the differences between British and Caribbean contexts and be able also to communicate in standard English, when appropriate. Programmes are critiqued at a weekly meeting for volunteer presenters. 4.1 2.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – The project will provide workshops in radio techniques and continual one-on-one support in order to create enough adequately trained volunteers to run the station. Outcomes – 76 people were given 4 hours introductory training on: studio desk operation, using portable recording equipment and basic computer editing. All participants received induction into the history, policies and legal requirements of community radio. 81
- 44. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 2.5 – 52 went on to become permanent presenters – providing at least one hour of programming per week. They were given additional training on desk operation, portable recording equipment and editing and interviewing techniques, how to research and dealing with interviewees. – All volunteers are regularly offered feedback on performance, programme content, written or verbal. – 6 volunteers were given additional support (e.g. further technical training on particular issues). – 8 volunteers mentored on extensive basis. Mentoring takes the form of volunteers sitting in with experienced presenters to gain confidence and know-how; discussion on the type of programme proposed and how best to realise this, analysis of making a pilot programme, in-depth analysis of programme content and presentation. – 2 outreach workshops for 16 people with learning difficulties were conducted. 4.1 2.4 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – NVR will provide opportunities for volunteers to perform all tasks associated with a radio station, including production, recording, editing, presenting, maintenance of equipment and administrative duties. There will also be opportunities for personal development and confidence building. Outcomes – 4 volunteers from media training organisations used working at NVR as work experience for part of their training. – Two volunteers went on to gain employment in the media. 4.1 2.6 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – The project will provide a platform which is wholly inclusive of the diversity of communities of interest in the greater Belfast area, especially members of ethnic communities; gay, elderly, young and disabled people; homeless, unemployed and poor people; and prisoners and ex-prisoners. Targets – As Northern Visions already targets schools and colleges, providing vocational training and a structured schools programme, the radio station will offer an extension of existing work, enabling young people to talk about their work in film with Northern Visions and other matters of importance to them, and to have their broadcast in sound. There will be at least one hour of broadcasting by young people every week. Outcomes – Northern Visions advocates, supports and provides access to media resources for a diverse, changing and often embattled community, and promotes public discourse, which especially includes the voices of the less dominant, and less powerful, members of society. Northern Visions is committed to an equal opportunities policy in terms of hiring, distribution, production and representation, and particularly encourages women, people living in disadvantaged areas, and the disabled, to use its facilities. – Regular presenters include ex-prisoners (c. 8), people with disabilities (4 physically disabled, 2 learning disability and 2 with mental health difficulties); several members of foreign cultures (African, Asian, Ashkenazy, Australian, French, German, Iranian, Palestinian, Spanish). Regular gay presenters: 8 alternating 4 per week. Lesbian presenters: 4 per month. Young people (under 12) 1. Youth (under 25) 10. Over 50’s 9. Unemployed 4. – Programming hours 9th March 02- 5th Jan 03 • Ethnic Communities 20 hours • Gay, Lesbian 40 hours • Women’s issues 40 hours • People with Disabilities 20 hours • Young people 90 hours 82 Outcomes – Insufficient staff are in place to negotiate partnerships with schools. • Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (community development umbrella body) Childrens Express (young people learning through journalism) Outcomes – Service to neighbourhood or interest groups have included • Multi Cultural Resource Centre (ethnic minorities) • Community Arts Forum (community arts and Irish language programming) • Medi-Able (disability group) • Children’s Express (young people learning through journalism) • Queer Space 4.1 2.7 4.12.8 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL INTEREST GROUPS PEOPLE Targets – Northern Visions advocates, supports and provides access to media resources for a diverse, changing and often embattled community, and promotes public discourse, which especially includes the voices of the less dominant, and less powerful, members of society. Northern Visions is committed to an equal opportunities policy in terms of hiring, distribution, production and representation, and particularly encourages women, people living in disadvantaged areas, and the disabled, to use its facilities. Targets – Northern Visions Media Trust is a charity and involves all personnel, whether salaried, freelance or volunteer, in decision making. All persons involved in the running of the station have a say in programming structures and content, with presenters and programmers being given free rein in their compilations and style, subject to current guidelines and evolving station policy. There is a continual open invitation to anyone who wants to be in or on the radio to come along and try their hand at it. The response has been huge, with many people and groups staying with the station after their initial testing of the water. • Northern Vision’s partners include • An Culturlann & An Droichead (Irish language) • Multi Cultural Resource Centre • Community Arts Forum • Medi-Able (disability group) 83
- 45. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4. 3 RADIO FAZA 1 ASIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION Outcomes – Northern Visions Media Trust is a charity and involves all personnel, whether salaried, freelance or volunteer, in decision making. All persons involved in the running of the station have a say in programming structures and content, with presenters and programmers being given free rein in their compilations and style, subject to current guidelines and evolving station policy. There is an open invitation to anyone who wants to be in or on the radio to ‘come along and try their hand at it’. There has been a large response, with many people and groups staying with the station after their initial testing of the water. – 98 individuals have filled in volunteer forms. – All presenters are free to decide their own content in programming. – There have been 970 hours of original programming - 60% speech and 40% music. – Original programming is repeated twice in one week. – Volunteer information is posted on the web site. – Posters calling for volunteers are placed in shops and art centres. – Volunteer involvement is sought in Visions (cir. 5,000 copies, bi-annually). – Art.ie, a monthly with circulation of 30,000 contains permanent information on volunteering for NVR100.6fm – 90% of the volunteers have attended a meeting to review the work of the station. 4.12.9 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Microphone technique, interviewing skills and the art of conversation are essential elements of the training offered to volunteers. These skills are developed through handson experience of interviewing, participating in panel discussion and presenting, as desired by each volunteer. While some presenters tend to speak ‘correctly’, NVR actively encourages good regional pronunciation and inflection and is active in promoting the use of other languages than English, especially Cantonese and Irish. It also offers broadcasting in Ulster-Scots. Outcomes – Microphone technique, interviewing skills and the art of conversation are essential elements of the training offered to volunteers. These skills are developed through hands-on experience of interviewing, participating in panel discussion and presenting, as desired by each volunteer. While some presenters tend to speak ‘correctly’, NVR actively encourages good regional pronunciation and inflection and is active in promoting the use of other languages than English. – Programming hours 9th March 02 - 5th Jan 03 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM To provide a multicultural service that is reflective of multicultural Nottingham, but also one that particularly and distinctively reflects the cultural needs, values and aspirations of the Asian Community. 4.1 3.1 4.1 3.2 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 2 radio broadcasting courses, in broadcasting skills and use of radio equipment. – 15 people trained with qualifications, with a view to increasing the take-up by unemployed young people, disadvantaged people and labour market returnees in pre-vocational and vocational training, counselling and employment programmes leading to job opportunities. Outcomes – To date, 12 people have been trained and achieved OCN qualifications in Cool Pro Edit Programme. 15 more volunteers have just enrolled on the radio equipment course. 4.1 3.3 • Irish language 27 hours WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES • Spanish language 1 hour Targets – 6 people undertaking work experience, in the provision of administrative support. • French language 3 hours • Chinese language 1 hour – There have been 3 hours on Ulster Scots issues, primarily language and cultural questions, but the language utilised was English. 84 4.1 3.4 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 25 MARCH 2003 Outcomes – 4 young people have completed work placements. Another 2 will start placements at the end of January to be completed by the end of March 2003. CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – Coverage of all relevant social and community issues. – 3 hours a week of local news. Outcomes – Educational programmes for children covering the whole range of the National Curriculum in school for 5-13 year olds. – Programmes on the British education system, transfers, attendance, truancy, welfare, governors’ roles and responsibility, parental involvement. – Programmes on crime, gun shootings, burglary, youth crime culture, drugs, alcohol, mobile phone thefts, drink driving offenses, Racism etc. – Programmes on British and Asian sub-continent judicial system. Immigration/ asylum law. – Programmes on post September 11th impact and its effects on the Asian community. – Programmes on the Pakistan/Indian and British political systems – including live coverage of Pakistan Elections, live interviews with politicians including, local councillors, MP’s and MEP Sheriff , of Nottingham. Also interviews with leaders of the political parties in Pakistan. – Programmes on health – including on cancer delivered in partnership with Cancer UK; diabetes, coronary heart disease, Aids/HIV, sexual health, infertility, childhood diseases, arthritis and immunisations. – Programmes on social issues, which addressed stereotypes, norms and practices, domestic violence, divorces, mixed marriages etc 85
- 46. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 3.7 – Live coverage of art and cultural events, Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Independent Days, Poetry, book reviews. Live in the studio interviews with music artists and bands. – Local colleges have delivered Radio courses in house for Radio Faza at AWP . – Sport programmes, live interviews with sport personalities, England Cricket Captain Nasser Hussain, welter weight boxing champion Usman Afzal and many more. Coverage of Commonwealth Games. achievement for school children, which will involve SATTS revision, on radio homework clubs etc. – Programmes around sports and leisure facilities. 4.13.5 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Broadcasting opportunities for 30 schoolchildren, with a view to rising achievements among primary and secondary school pupils. – Collaboration with the Local Education Authority to produce programmes on such issues as bullying, governance of schools etc. Outcomes – 35 children between the ages of 5-13 year old were involved in planning, researching and presenting programmes. The children covered issues of concern to them, such as bullying, drugs, racism, gang culture within schools – thus providing them with a voice and platform to express and debate issues. – The children’s regular slot included National Curriculum topics, the environment, sciences (plants, human body, planets), story reading, spellings, maths and many more topics. – Local Colleges and CONNEXIONS were involved in planning and presenting programmes for adults and young 16-19 year old people about learning and training opportunities available and career advice. 86 – AWP has secured funding to work closely with the local schools to raise educational – Its partners include: ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL • Take 1 – African Caribbean Group PEOPLE • Bulwell Advent Group – Advent Christian Group Targets – Broadcasting and other opportunities for 20 young people • Madrassa Aloom – Supplementary School • Local Colleges – Colleges and schools with which the project has worked include • People’s College • South Notts. College • New College, Nottingham • Manning School • Blue Coats School • Forest Primary School • Margaret Glen Bott School • Greenwood Dale School 4.13.6 SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Collaboration with local community groups – for example, • Take One • Indian Community Centre • Bulwell Adventist Church Outcomes – AWP-Radio Faza empowers Asian communities by breaking down language barriers and making information available in several community languages thus widening access for hard to reach group. AWP provides improved access to media and other course by provision of childcare and language support and by making sure the courses are tailored to the need of the community in respect of content, delivery, appropriate resources, mode of delivery (pace and time of course). – Broadcasting and other opportunities for 20 older people • Local authority education department – 60 people involved in voluntary work • Apna Arts – Asian Art project – Broadcasting and other opportunities for 4 artists • Pakeeza – Art and Culture Women’s group • Gujerat samaj • City Central PCT • BBC Radio Nottingham • CONNEXIONS • Cancer Research UK • University of Nottingham – AWP has recently formed a partnership with the BBC, which will provide training for the project’s producer and release one day a week of a BBC worker’s time to work with AWP programme teams as part of the development. They will be involved in the producer’s recruitment. The producer will spend 20 days in a year at the BBC. Outcomes – 273 volunteers have participated in the project, drawn from all age groups. – In addition, 51 older people have been involved with reminiscence/memoir programming. – More than one artist, craftsperson or designer has been featured every week (including, musicians, poets and fashion designers). – The station has an open access policy, which allows volunteers to participate in researching, presenting, planning, producing, and participating in programmes over the phone, decision-making and policy formation. – Regular fortnightly meetings are held with volunteers and partner organisations to evaluate the progress of their contributions. Each person is valued and their contribution recognised, with certificates, awards or ‘even just a pat on the back’. – AWP Radio Faza has on-site childcare and disabled access; it is on the route of Nottingham’s new Tram Network. 87
- 47. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY KARIMIA FOUNDATION 4.1 2 3.1 4.1 3.8 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Programmes will be broadcast mainly in English and Urdu. Other languages, such as Mirpuri, Pashtu, Gujarati and Panjabi languages, will be allocated one hour a week Outcomes – AWP – Radio FAZA broadcasts in 9 community languages, main languages being Urdu, Punjabi, English; other languages include Hindi, Mirpuri, Pashto, Bengali, Gujerati, Arabic, which have regular two-hour slots a week. – Broadcasting programmes in various languages widens access for all groups. – The project’s linguistic impact has been significant, particularly for young presenters as they are reviving their mother tongue in order to reach out to their audiences. This helps to build their positive identity, pride in their own culture, language, culture, and history TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 25 MARCH 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM to entertain, inspire and educate listeners, by giving the Muslim community (Pakistani and Kashmiri) a means of artistic and cultural expression that will lead to a more informed community leading to the regeneration of the community and by involving the community in running the radio station at all levels of organisation 4.1 3.9 4.1 3.10 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – At least 15 people to be trained and study OCN Level 1 and 2 in broadcasting. – 15 additional volunteers to be trained in radio presentation and administrative skills Outcomes – 11 people have been trained on the Community Broadcasting course (OCNB Level 1) run in partnership with New College Nottingham which started in September and finished in December. – 25 additional volunteers have been trained in radio presenting and administrative skills. 4.1 3.11 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – No specific targets set. Outcomes – 10 people have come to the project for work experience. 88 4.1 5 3.1 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR Targets – Programmes on the British education system, the National Health Service, criminal and justice system, social services and welfare, the British political system. – Phone-in programmes with officials from the local council and statutory bodies. Outcomes – Programmes on the British education system, The National Health Service, criminal and justice system, social services and welfare, The British Political system. – Business and voluntary community organisations take part as well. – Phone-in programmes with the officials from the local council and statutory bodies. 4.1 4 3.1 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Programmes on raising educational standards. – Advertorials for local FE colleges, universities and selected primary and secondary schools (with Pakistani pupils) and Karimia Tutorial Classes. INTEREST GROUPS Targets – 50% of programmes in Urdu/Panjabi. – News and views from Pakistan. – Folk songs and devotional music. – 1 programme a week on local businesses, emphasising successes and achievements. – Giving a sense of community and putting down roots in England, creating a sense of belonging to Nottingham, by making local history programmes, patterns of migration and immigrants’ life stories. Outcomes – 50% of programmes are in Urdu/Panjabi. – News and Views from Pakistan. – Folk songs and devotional music. – 1 programme a week on local businesses, emphasising success and achievements. – The project aims to give a sense of community and of putting down roots in England, to create a sense of belonging to Nottingham, by making local history programmes about patterns of migration and immigrants’ life stories. Outcomes – Programmes on raising educational standards. – Advertorials for local FE Colleges, Universities, and selected primary and secondary schools (with Pakistani pupils) and Karimia tutorial classes. 89
- 48. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 RADIO REGEN 4 (INCORPORATING ALL FM AND WYTHENSHAWE FM) 4.1 6 3.1 LINGUISTIC IMPACT 4.1 4.3 4.1 7 3.1 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – Anyone who wants to play a part in the station as DJ, presenter, researcher, etc is welcome. Karimia asks listeners to participate in helping to run the station and operates an open policy. Nearly 30 volunteers are taking part running the project. The management committee is made up from these volunteers. Outcomes – 74 volunteers are taking part in the project. – Anyone who wants to play a part in the station as DJ, presenter, researcher, etc is welcome. Karimia regularly requests listeners to participate in helping to run the project. Nearly the entire management committee is recruited from these volunteers. Targets – Karimia broadcasts mainly in Urdu and English; there are regular weekly (1hr) programmes in Gujrati, Bangla and Mirpuri. Arabic is also used throughout most programmes, the lingua franca of Muslims. – The project believes that the use of Urdu has a positive impact on young third generation Pakistani and helps to bridge the intergenerational gap. The use of English, on the other hand, will help many women working at home to improve their English. Outcomes – The project believes the use of Urdu has a positive impact on young third generation Pakistani and helps to bridge the intergenerational gap. The use of English, on the other hand, will help many women working at home to improve their English. – The building of confidence in new presenters. New presenters are encouraged, mentored, coached, and fully supported to develop into confident speakers. Many are now very assertive, and use colloquial language whether it is English or Urdu. – Radio Faza has been very successful in attracting volunteers not only training but retaining them as well. So far 3 volunteers have succeeded in getting jobs with BBC. One works as a senior journalist in BBC Asian Network, another as a trainee journalist with BBC York and the third has been sponsored by BBC to do an MA in journalism. 90 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 6 MAY 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM To create a mass audience platform for the views, hopes, fears and abilities of Wythenshawe and the A6 Corridor that will promote community pride and participation as well as lowering barriers to unemployment. 4.1 1 4. 4.1 4.2 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – The stations will provide 24 training weeks (30 hours each week), giving an introduction to radio skills and transferable workplace skills (e.g. teamwork, problem solving, ICT, professional work practice, communication skills and self-esteem) and the chance to progress to other training opportunities with Radio Regen and other providers. Outcomes – Radio/transferable skills delivered as a mandatory induction for all volunteers: 12 30-hour training weeks for ALL FM. and 14 for Wythenshawe FM. Five volunteers have enrolled at Radio Regen for an Introduction to Radio Course. – The existing induction is soon to be accredited with the Open College Network, giving a qualification to volunteers and resources for trainers to the stations. Radio Regen’s Training From Volunteering project [LSC funded] will also develop accreditation from programme making. WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 40 Radio Regen trainees will receive substantial work experience (including ‘real time’ broadcasting) at the stations. Outcomes – 11 BTEC and 9 others at ALL FM and 5 BTEC and 14 others at Wythenshawe FM. – The BTEC trainee take-up was not as successful as had been hoped because the stations arrived part way through an existing course. Other work placements came from employment schemes and colleges. – New Radio Regen trainees will now ‘graduate’ during their course to take up increasingly significant roles in the stations. They will also produce feature material for the stations from Radio Regen’s city centre base. 4. 4.4 1 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – No specific targets set. Outcomes – The stations have become major centres for volunteering in each area, with 76 volunteers making programmes every week on ALL FM and 86 doing so in Wythenshawe. These people are not ‘community activists’ but they are now helping sustain one of the biggest community projects in their areas. This level of demand has stretched resources on the stations and Radio Regen is working with them to ensure that support for these volunteers is resourced and sustainable. 91
- 49. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 RESONANCE FM 5 4.1 4.7 – If ‘social inclusion’ also includes overcoming barriers over issues, one major example is WFM’s domestic violence campaign. Much of the material will also make its way to ALL FM where additional material will be added to address specific issues there. • Youth Service ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 1 MAY 2003 • Sure Start PEOPLE OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 • Connexions AIM – In terms of multiculturalism, WFM has two Irish shows, and ALL FM has one. ALL FM has a wide range of non-English broadcasting (see Linguistic Impact below). • Drake Music Project Targets – Each station will have a steering group of between 6 and 12 people, a majority of whom will be residents of the respective areas. 4.1 4.5 • M13 Youth CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Youth groups and school classes will be invited to train and then create programmes. • A6 Routes • Community Safety team • Assati (Asian Women) • Mehfil (Asian literary circle) • Yip Ying Chinese Assoc. – Groups with regular slots on Wythenshawe FM include • Longsight Police Mothers Against Violence • Youth Service • Connexions – 2 youth groups involved in ALL FM. and 5 in Wythenshawe FM. Many other individual young people are also involved, with most of Saturdays on ALL FM being dominated by young people. • Assati (Asian Women) SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR INTEREST GROUPS Targets – The stations will support 24 voluntary and community groups Outcomes – Many groups make occasional use of the two projects. Outcomes – 76 volunteers, of whom 19 are young people, are making programmes at ALL FM and 89, of whom 29 are young people, at Wythenshawe FM. • Sure Start Outcomes – Schools recruited with the aid of the LEA, 7 by ALL FM and 8 by Wythenshawe FM. The schools take up a weekly 15’ slot to broadcast heir news and talent. 4. 4.6 1 – It is estimated that about 200 people will volunteer to work for the stations. Each station will include the work of 21 young people • A6 Routes • Community Safety team • Drake Music Project – Community Participation Workers have been recruited to increase the uptake by community groups. One particular area of work will be to increase the profile of the local Community Networks and their role in the Local Strategic Partnership. 4.1 4.8 4.14.9 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – No specific targets set. Outcomes – From 6 pm to 8 pm every day ALL FM broadcasts non English shows in e.g. Urdu, Benin, Portuguese, Hindi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Farsi. The phone response to the nonEnglish shows is good and spreads well beyond the target area. ALLFM also plays a fair proportion of non-western music in the daytime. It is understood that the Benin programme is the only one in the country. – Wythenshawe FM broadcasts only in English, with an emphasis on the local vernacular. Resonance 104.4 FM offers to the community of London’s artists access to an expressive communication medium and seeks to broaden as widely as possible hands-on use of radio. 4.1 5.1 It seeks long term to redefine the perception and understanding of the expressive uses of radio. 4.1 5.2 4.1 5.3 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 500 people in total or 30 people a month to be provided with basic broadcasting skills, in addition to 60 regular broadcasters who have received training. 15 engineers have been trained, offering further training to new volunteers. The target is a pool of 30 trained engineers. – 15 people to be trained in administrative skills. Outcomes – On course to meet target of providing 30 people a month with basic broadcasting skills. – 85 – 100 regular broadcasters have received training and make shows. – 40 engineers have been trained, offering further training to new volunteers. The project’s revised target, reached pragmatically, is for a stable pool of 25 trained engineers, who oversee the bulk of broadcasts. – On course to meet revised target of training 9 people in administrative skills. – Groups with regular slots on ALL FM include • Longsight Police Mothers Against Violence 92 93
- 50. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.15.4 4.1 5.6 4.1 5.7 4.1 5.8 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY INTEREST GROUPS LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – The programming provides content relevant to different sections of the artistic community and the wider society, providing radio access to artists, writers and musicians. The project works closely with Seven Dials Community Festival, Coin Street Festival and Sonic Arts Network. Targets – 4 workers maintain the web-site and web broadcasting. Outcomes – In addition to presenting work by the local artistic community, the project has established constructive relations with the following organisations: – The project encourages the artistic community to participate actively in the running of Resonance FM, which is organised and facilitated by volunteers. Targets – Up to 3 unemployed New Deal placements. Outcomes – One placement so far has been secured, as well as 2 from educational institutes. 4.1 5.5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – 80% of participants are on low incomes. – The project works with • London Prisoners’ Magazine • Pensioners’ Action Group Targets – The project provides an outlet for the projects of students from • Lewisham College • Morley College • Middlesex University • London College of Printing • St Martins College • South Bank University • Southwark Council Media Education – It supplements the course work of some 50 students at Middlesex University (sound engineering and audio courses) and Lewisham College (broadcasting course). Outcomes – 80% of participants are on low incomes. – About 12 students are engaged with the project. – In addition to the two organisations listed, the project also works with Deptford Action Group for the Elderly. Outcomes – The project provides an outlet for the projects of students from • Lewisham College – Seven Dials Festival, in Covent Garden, with whom Resonance FM worked closely in autumn 2002, providing a new sound scape work for the radio by Tom Wallace, broadcast in the Thomas Neal Centre; street musicians for the festival; and interview features with Eileen Woods, the Director of the Festival, and three of the visual artists involved in the Festival. – 12 to 20 people have artistic work featured. – 2 to 3 visual artists contribute monthly in publicity material. – London Musicians’ Collective, Resonance FM’s sponsoring body, is governed by 12 directors elected by about 200 subscribers. Outcomes – 4 workers maintain the web-site and web broadcasting. – 3 photographers and 3 designers have contributed to publicity material (including the website). • Middlesex University • London College of Printing • South Bank University • Westminster University • SAE Technology College, Holloway – Local schools: The project’s ‘Go! for children of all ages’ weekly show features contributions deploying 28 languages from schoolchildren attending • Colvestone Primary School, Hackney; • Highbury Quadrant School, Islington; • Stoke Newington Secondary School, Stoke Newington; • William Patten School, Hackney. 94 – South London Gallery: the project broadcast an audio work by the radical South American artist Santiago Sierra, an integral part of his show at SLG. – Resonance was also a featured element of the London Fashion Week show by the haute couturier Robert Cary-Williams. – Deptford Action Group for the Elderly: the project now broadcasts three shows a week by this pensioners’ lobbying group. – The project encourages the artistic community to participate actively in the running of Resonance FM, which is organised and facilitated by a central team of ten volunteers, who meet weekly. London Musicians’ Collective, Resonance’s governing body, is run by a board of 12 directors elected by the 200-odd members. – Local venues: the project has broadcast live shows from the ICA, the Foundry in Old Street and The 12 Bar Club in Denmark Street. – Other cultural organisations: Sonic Arts Network, the British Music Information Centre and Cultural Co-Operation are all involved in the project as programme makers. 95
- 51. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.16 SHINE FM 4.1 5.9 LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – The project actively encourages many bi-lingual participants to use their mother tongue as well as English and has featured programmes in Russian, Hungarian, German, Japanese and French. It aims for 7% of its output to be in non-English languages. – Four regular shows (Dosensos, ClingRadio, Onkyodo, Xentursian Nights) are conducted in more than one language. Outcomes – The project actively encourages bi-lingual participants to use their mother tongue as well as (sometimes instead of) English and has featured programmes in Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, German, Japanese, French and Serbian. It aims for 5% of its output to be in non-English languages. Seven regular shows (Borderline, Dosensos, ClingRadio, Onkyodo, Xantursian Nights, Tamizdat, Zerbian Radio Slot) are conducted in more than one language. The “Clear Spot” week-daily show has featured 2% foreign language works. TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 21 SEPTEMBER 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM 4.1 6.1 To build community identity and combat isolation, to provide a non-sectarian Christian perspective, to equip individuals with broadcasting skills, while providing awareness of Banbridge as being within the context of globalization. In the longer term, to develop Shine FM with certificated training courses alongside a multimedia centre. – Feedback is offered informally to all presenters on a regular basis. More formal evaluation meetings have been offered to all team members, which will commence shortly. 4.1 6.2 4. 6.3 1 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Basic radio broadcast training will be offered in presentation, production, interview skills and making advertisements. It is hoped that 10 newcomers will receive training and 20 of the existing team of volunteers will receive additional training. Outcomes – Training Workshops prior to broadcast were run, covering basic presentation & production skills, legal issues & Radio Authority guidelines, interview skills and advertisement production. Attendance: 14 newcomers and 11 previous team members. – Many people joined after the project went on air and, consequently, much training was ‘on the job’. From the feedback forms this seemed to be well received. In the Team Survey, when asked to respond to statement ‘I have had opportunities at Shine FM to learn and grow’ on a scale of 1 to 5, ‘1’ = strongly disagree ‘5’ = strongly agree. 96 Average of all 19 responses was 4.2 indicating that people felt that they had learned a significant amount. Response to statement ‘I have the training and support I need to do my work right?’ as mentioned above under Priority 3 was 4.3. 4. 6.4 1 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Two places will be offered local students. They will have exposure to the general running of a radio station, the opportunity to record and edit interviews, make programmes and write and record advertisements. – At least 6 groups with international connections were interviewed, with an emphasis in each of the interviews on how local people can get involved and help those in other countries. People from other countries Uganda, America, Canada, Zimbabwe. 4. 6.8 1 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Opportunities to participate will be given to 1 to 4 young people working for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. – Shine FM will broadcast programmes featuring primary school pupils. Numbers to be confirmed. Outcomes – 1 Secondary School student and 6 Youth With A Mission students, as part of their practical work for course. Outcomes – In total 88 Primary School children were interviewed. This included interviews with individual pupils who wrote or read poetry in a local drama competition, interviews with children about Christmas and local school choirs singing Christmas carols. All local primary schools were invited to participate. 4. 6.5 1 4.1 6.9 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR Targets – No specific targets set. Outcomes – With a view to opening local people to opportunities, needs and cultures of other nations, at least 12 local people who have worked or lived abroad have been interviewed about their experience. Countries involved include: Zimbabwe, Tasmania, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kirgiztan, Uganda, Thailand, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and New Zealand. INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Regular interviews will be broadcast with Banbridge District Council (including the Health and Social Services department) and the local police. – Community groups and organisations involved in the community will be invited to participate in Shine FM programmes (mainly live broadcasts). Numbers involved will depend on the interest shown. 97
- 52. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.1 SOUND RADIO 7 Outcomes – Community Noticeboard was broadcast 3 times a day on weekdays and also at weekends. – Average of 10 interviews per week with locally based organisations/individuals (there are 170 groups and organisations, excluding sport and recreation, in Banbridge District.) Regular interviews with District Council, Police, Health and Social Services, Job Centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, local entrepreneurs in conjunction with Banbridge Enterprise Centre. – Other groups interviewed include various neighbourhood and local interest groups: Accept (Mental Health Support Group), Banbridge Library, Speech & Drama Festival, Power to Change (local events as part of nationwide Christian initiative), Taurus (for people with addictions), Banbridge Writer’s Circle, Footsteps Coffee Bar (local event), Banbridge Carers Support Group, Rotary Club, Blue Dove Support Group (for local Hospice), Girls’ Brigade, Royal British Legion and St. Vincent De Paul. – Weekly sports reports were broadcast covering results from the following local clubs/groups: Bowling, Archery, Horse riding, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Angling, Cycling, Badminton, Boxing, Snooker, Mountain Biking, Motocross, Cross-country running, Gymnastics, Netball, Squash, Camogie, Gaelic Football, Darts, Swimming, Cricket, Tennis. Sports Education Courses and Training nights were also promoted. – Denominations involved in running of the station include: Presbyterian, Church of Ireland, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Free Presbyterian. Team members are expected to be Christian and are asked to complete application forms stating their religion for monitoring purposes. These show the team 98 consists of 30% ‘Catholic’, 45% ‘Protestant’ and 25% ‘Christian’. The denominational breakdown of Banbridge is estimated at 40% Catholics and 60% Protestants. statement ‘I have freedom to plan and produce my own programme’ on a scale of 1 to 5 “1”= strongly disagree “5”= strongly agree. Average of 21 responses was 4.7, which indicates substantial agreement. 4.16.10 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE Targets – The number of those taking part in managerial decision-making will depend on suitable candidates have the time available. Between 5 and 15 people could be involved. – More than 50 people are expected to have some involvement in broadcasting to varying degrees, from presenting a few programmes to presenting regular weekly programmes. Outcomes – 54 people have had some active engagement in broadcasting on Shine to varying degrees. 27 new local people involved. Also, 15 others were involved who before Shine FM had had no broadcasting experience. Including those given work experience (see above), a total of 49 people involved in the running of the station received their first experience of broadcasting through Shine FM. – 168 individuals have been interviewed live and 107 were pre-recorded at external locations, totalling 275 individuals interviewed during the 13 weeks of Shine FM’s licence. Asked if they had had previous media experience, 77% of 111 guests said that they had not. – In the Team Survey, when asked to respond to statement ‘At Shine FM, my opinions seem to count’ on a scale of 1 to 5. Average of 22 responses was 4.2 indicating that people felt involved in decision-making processes. When asked in feedback forms if they would like to be more involved in the running of the station, most respondents said ‘No’, but were keen to continue their present involvement. 4. 1 16. 1 LINGUISTIC IMPACT TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 26 JULY 2003 OUTCOMES – JANUARY 2003 AIM To establish the principle recognised in other countries that there should be a recognised, effective and non-marginalised media platform for those at the margins of society by virtue of their race, culture, religion, social class, geographic location, and those suffering from socio-economic disadvantage not contained in the foregoing. To establish the diverse and sophisticated range of positive outcomes that can be facilitated through a commitment to an adventurous and responsive community broadcasting strategy. 4. 7.1 1 To establish the diversity and substance of contribution which those in the target groups above have made, and can and will make, to broader society on a substantial permanent basis. Notably, to promote harmonious relations between those groups and individuals historically, currently and with the potential for future conflict. 4.1 7.2 Targets – The number and emphasis of any programmes concerned with or using other languages is to be confirmed. Outcomes – In the Team Survey, when asked to respond to statement ‘Because of my involvement in Shine FM, I feel I have more confidence to express myself linguistically’ on a scale of 1 to 5 ‘1’ = strongly disagree ‘5’ = strongly agree. Average of 22 responses was 4.1, indicating that people believe they benefited linguistically from their involvement in Shine FM. 4. 7.3 1 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Targets – Up to 30 volunteers, notably from language-based groups, trained in broadcasting skills in the start-up period. – The project expects to attract about 360 users to take up learning opportunities over the period of the project (including people who need help with basic skills, lone parents, people from ethnic – All presenters produce their own shows, picking music and planning speech. When presenters were asked to respond to 99
- 53. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY Outcomes – Sound Radio has worked with 4.1 7.5 minorities, unemployed people, people with disabilities, people who are over 60 and not involved in learning activities). – As members of the London Open College Network, SVT will deliver Level 1 Units in Basic ICT, Community Radio and Communication Skills. Outcomes – About 100 volunteers are all receiving various levels of training from basic to advanced in station/studio/portable/internet skills. – The project is reviewing the best way of applying accreditation. 4. 7.4 1 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES 4.1 7.6 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION Targets – Sound Radio will target as broad a range of the local community as possible, multi-cultural, young and old. See training opportunities above. Targets – No specific targets set. • 3 Youth music projects Outcomes – Coverage of all major breaking stories, interviews “on air” as regular feature of Community News, notably with the Learning Trust – now in charge of all local educational services in Hackney. Primary source of information on educational matters in Hackney and East London. • Local Community Development Trust – Key client groups will be drawn from the residents of Eastdown Ward in Hackney, including people who need help with basic skills, lone parents, people from ethnic minorities, unemployed people, people with disabilities and people who are over 60 and not involved in learning activities. Outcomes – First ever local reporting of the Mayoral elections in Hackney Targets – See training opportunities above. – First ever local reporting of Council by–elections in Hackney Outcomes – 1 at BBC London – Series in Development – 1 at BBC World Service (Spanish section) – employment – 2 Voice over work – employment – 1 employed formally at SVT, with 2 to follow shortly – employment – 2 work placements at SVT – 5 DJ’s increasing work at clubs • Drugs and Crime (in partnership with the local estate and the Hackney Drugs Action Team) • ICT advice and guidance • Health • Education • Sources of Funding – Adult literacy classes for EASOL (12 students) as part of a larger community opera project. 4.1 7.7 • Environmental and Recycling project • Neighbourhood Renewal Fund • Local Drug Action Team • Local Police • Luncheon Club Also • Home Office (Active Communities Unit) • Virgin Radio • BBC World Service (Spanish and Russian Sections) SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR • East London Business Alliance INTEREST GROUPS • Renaisi (regeneration agency) Targets – Up to 60 volunteers from community groups to take part in Sound Radio. • Hackney Borough Council Mayor – Sound Radio has working relationships with Renaisi, a regeneration agency for Hackney; H10, the Hackney Training Employment Network; Comprehensive Estates Initiatives; Nightingale CEI; Arts Reach; Betar Bangla in Tower Hamletts and others. • The Learning Trust • Hackney Borough Council CEO • London Development Agency • Corporation of London • International Links – 173 community stations in Latin America as part of Voices of the Kidnapped programming. – AMARC and Community Media Association – Global broadcast Anti Racism Day facilitated by SVT – 1 attachment at SVT from BBC World Service (Assistant Senior Studio Manager (Asia & Pacific)) 100 101
- 54. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.18 TAKEOVER RADIO 4.1 7.8 4.1 7.9 ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL LINGUISTIC IMPACT PEOPLE Targets – More than 100 volunteers, whether individuals or from groups, to express an interest in taking part in Sound Radio’s work during the first six months of the project. Outcomes – About 100 volunteers (drawn, as expected, from the borough, not the ward). – Programme contributors – 350 (approx 15 new per week minimum). – Organisation contributors – 78 (approx 3 new per week minimum). – Youth – 14 (from partnership projects leading directly to programme transmission). – Website – 60,000 plus hits since launch. – Phone Calls (incoming) – 5,000 plus. – Ethnicity – Kurdish/Turkish, Bengali, Latin American, Jewish, Farsi, Mauritian, Somali, French (African). – Religions represented • Christian (Gospel Explosion and breakfast and drive time once per week each). • Jewish (With Mazal – weekly programme, with possible plans for Orthodox women’s programme). • Muslim (as general part of Bangla broadcasts, but specifically at times of religious festivals). Targets – Throughout the broadcast schedule, the station will try to include as many languages from the locality as possible, while maintaining an English-language backbone. Programming will change throughout the year, but will start with English, Spanish, Kurdish, Bangladeshi and Yiddish/Jewish. – Sound Radio aims to build broadcasting capacity within three language-based groups. Outcomes – As projected, there has been a substantial response to Sound Radio’s language-based programming, notably from those with little or no current representation on radio. – The Kurdish group obtained 700 letters of support asking for more programmes. Many telephone calls in response to Bangla and Latino programmes. – Much of the English language programming reflects the ‘colloquial lexicon’ peculiar to the target audience. – (Programme makers have sought to avoid language that may be perceived as inappropriate. The project has received no formal or informal complaints with regard to linguistic content. Indeed a programme, originally intended to deal with potential complaints of any nature regarding station output has, for the time being at least, been shelved.) 4.18.4 TARGETS BY LICENCE END, 23 MARCH 2003 OUTCOMES JANUARY 2003 AIM 4.18.1 To empower children currently between 8 and 14 years to have a voice in their community, which is not available in any other way, bringing children’s issues and concerns to the forefront and proving that children’s radio is a viable concept in the United Kingdom. On an on-going basis, more and more children to have the opportunity to experience media learning activities and grow in confidence, learn new life skills and work as a team. The concept of children’s radio to be more firmly validated on the route to a larger station. 4.18.2 WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES Targets – 10 places to be made available for young people of approximately 16 to 17 years, during the twelve months, for periods of between 1 and 2 weeks. Outcomes – 8 students have undertaken work experience. – Work experience opportunities have come to end with the withdrawal of Phil Solo from Takeover Radio. 4.18.5 CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION Targets – Takeover will work with various partners including 4.18.3 • Soft Touch Community Arts TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES • Crimebeat Targets – 200 children to be trained with the project period. • NSPCC – Existing Takeover participants to undergo follow-up training. Outcomes – 109 children have joined Takeover Radio, in addition to the 52 already actively involved in the project. Of the newcomers 76 attended the training course; eleven now have their own shows and a further seven will be starting soon. The total membership is 356. • The Children’s Fund • Conflict Resolution in Schools (CRISP) Mediation Service Outcomes – Worked with Crimebeat (interviewing groups Crimebeat supports and creating and managing their web-site). – Produced promotional features for the NSPCC and The Birmingham Childrens Fund. 12 Birmingham children given radio training. – Promoted locally Scout Jamboree in Thailand. • Other religions (covered in general content). 102 103
- 55. 4.0 PROMISES OFDELIVERY 4.18.6 4.1 8.7 4. 8.8 1 4. 8.9 1 CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL EDUCATION SERVICE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD OR ACCESS TO THE PROJECT BY LOCAL PEOPLE LINGUISTIC IMPACT Targets – Children to have direct creative and hands-on input in the management and running of Takeover Radio. Through daily involvement, informal meetings, open expression policy and team working, they are regularly consulted on their views and requirements. There is also a formal Kidz Board and Panel. Targets – The children all have local voices with their own regional dialects and distinct language. They also have their own popular vernacular and ‘cool culture’ speech forms, enhanced by the shortening phenomenon of text messaging. Sometimes only the children know what they are referring to! Leicester has a large Asian population, most of which speak English as a first language; Takeover will, however, provide Asian music and speech during the Monday music show, presented by an Asian girl. Targets – Takeover will work with about 350 children and 10 teachers from 10 schools in the twelve months. They prepare and produce their own material, which is aired on Takeover Radio. The material is integrated with English Stage 2 project work. Outcomes – Worked with 275 children and nine teachers from the following schools • Dovelands Primary • Coldicote Infants • Riverside Primary • Rushymead Secondary • Beauchamp College • Loughborough Grammar INTEREST GROUPS Targets – Activities and events of interest to and for children will be publicised during the broadcasts. All manner of activities. Unmeasurable. On demand. Results will be tracked through central diary and on-air promo production and news features in takeover’s What’s On sections. Outcomes – Organisations with which Takeover has worked include • Phoenix Arts • De Montfort Hall • Haymarket Theatre • The Charlotte (music venue) • Half Time Orange (music venue) • Nottingham City Council (festival) • Leicester City Council • Leicester Promotions • Melton Mowbray District Council • North West Leicestershire District Council • The Y Theatre • The Little Theatre • Leicester Mercury/Leicester Link • The Leicester Comedy Festival – Takeover Radio, as the only full-time children’s radio station broadcasting on FM, has received queries from students, academics and others. Pock FM, a local school station in York, paid Takeover a factfinding visit. Last November Takeover was invited to hold master-classes at SkillCity 2002 in Manchester. 104 – Most of the broadcasting to be done by children (except for young adult presenters during weekdays). The 200 trainees (see training opportunities above) will take part in Takeover activities. Outcomes – Participating children play an active role in the running of Takeover Radio. They are consulted when any major decision is made and form part of the Kidz Board and Panel which discusses and agrees new policies. One fifteen-year-old has gained the experience to run Takeover’s extensive local sports coverage as a semi-independent operation. – The number of Asian children involved in Takeover Radio broadly equates with the percentage of the Asian people in Leicester. – All the adult helpers are from the local community. Outcomes – In distinction to the voices usually heard on BBC and commercial local radio, it is noticeable that a number of the children who present have very strong Leicester accents, and this gives the station a local feel. – The experience of training the children has shown that they have a tendency to speak rather quickly, and do not show the care over pronunciation and articulation that comes to most people a little later in life. During the training the youngsters have been strongly encouraged to think about what it is they are intending to say, and to ensure the clearness of their delivery. 105
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- 57. 5.1 OVERVIEW Radio isan extraordinarily user-friendly medium and, to all intents and purposes, is free at the point of use. Receivers are cheap and owners do not have to pay for a licence. Also, it is universal; almost every member of the population, including those suffering from the greatest deprivation, owns a radio. As a means of directly contacting excluded communities, of talking to people in their homes, it can be uniquely effective. 5. . 11 The equipment and facilities required to run an FM station are relatively inexpensive (AM is considerably dearer) and most of the Access Radio projects over the years during which they have conducted RSLs have managed to raise the necessary funds, usually through grants, to establish themselves. 5. .2 1 5.0 OUTCOMES This chapter discusses the main outcomes of the Access Radio experiment. Learning how to broadcast on radio is reasonably straightforward, whether as presenter or producer. Like any other skill it requires training, but the history of community radio and the experience of the Access Radio projects during their RSL prehistory shows that radio broadcasting can be readily mastered by anyone with motivation, however inexperienced in self-assertion or self-expression. 5. .3 1 The Radio Authority, then, had good reason to suppose that community-based radio might be a valuable complement to existing provision. In the event, the Access Radio pilot scheme has broadly borne out these expectations. 5. .4 1 to other workplaces and empower individual development: they include teamwork, problem solving, ICT, professional work practice, communication skills and the fostering of self-esteem. Broadly speaking, the Access Radio pilot projects have met and sometimes substantially exceeded their targets. In total, they have recruited so far about 3,000 volunteers and provided training in broadcasting and IT skills to more than 1,700 people. Perhaps because of the glamour of working in an electronic medium, the relative ease with which radio skills can be acquired and the power to speak directly and without mediation to people in their homes and workplaces, they have won the on-going commitment of many members of local communities, who often suffer from social exclusion and other disadvantages and have usually had no previous broadcasting experience. During his second round of visits the Evaluator met a wide range of volunteers and was struck by their enthusiasm and loyalty to their projects.To cite one example from many of the direct benefit to their self-confidence and personal development which volunteers have derived from radio work, Nadia Ali is a Longsight single parent who started as a volunteer on an ALL FM RSL two years ago. She signed up on Radio Regen’s BTEC course last year and then was appointed as Project Officer for ALL FM. As a volunteer Nadia instigated strong debates on issues such as forced marriages, which led to the setting up of a community group to address the issue. She will shortly be moving on to become Community Development Manager at Surestart, the early years development agency. 5.2.2 5.2 ENROLLING THE COMMUNITY All the Access Radio projects recruit volunteers from their communities of place or interest, primarily to produce and present programmes, but also to offer various other kinds of practical support, and some have 5.2.3 Volunteers and the training to support them lie at the heart of the Access Radio scheme. Some of the skills in radio are specific to the medium, but many of them are transferable 5.2. 1 108 109
- 58. 5.0 OUTCOMES attracted largenumbers. Thus, Forest of Dean Radio reports that 896 people have been involved in the project in one way or another – primarily through direct engagement with broadcasting as well as helping with administration, technical, publicity and marketing. GTFM has offered training and induction to more than 840 people, although comparatively few of them have gone on to become regular volunteers. Bradford Community Broadcasting has interviewed nearly 3,000 people. Resonance FM draws on the services of about 200 volunteers; and Northern Visions Radio in Belfast, New Style Radio in Birmingham and Sound Radio in Hackney, which encompasses an age range from a 15-year-old who drives the desk to an 81-year-old former engineer and political radical, about 100 each. As most projects have conducted RSLs in the past, some volunteers are of long standing and a few have been professionalised in the sense that they are paid employees of their projects: the two Radio Regen stations in Manchester, ALL FM and Wythenshawe FM, each employ three full-time equivalents, most of whom were originally inexperienced volunteers. While the majority of the pilot projects are committed to broadcasting more or less exclusively by volunteers, some take a less rigorous line. The Asian Women’s Project wing of Radio Faza employs a core group of presenters for about two thirds of the broadcasting hours. They receive modest wages and are ex-volunteers from former RSLs. The remaining time is given over to unpaid volunteer presenters. This semi-professionalisation of the project’s output reflects a desire to set high standards of presentation and a belief that listeners like to develop loyalties to particular regular presenters. However, the policy may present a problem in the future if the pressure 5.2.4 110 of volunteers builds, but, like a number of other projects, AWP is encouraging the growth of groups or teams to deal with particular programme areas – a practice that will provide numerous opportunities for involvement. Radio’s capacity to attract volunteers and to deliver training in transferable skills is gaining the attention of relevant agencies in the pilot project areas. Thus, the Wythenshawe Partnership in Manchester, the remit of which is to stimulate physical, economic and social regeneration, has given Wythenshawe FM a grant of £60,000 largely to enable it to recruit volunteers from the local population. A spokesman said: ‘Unlike many of the bodies we support, the station has volunteers coming out of its ears.’ Likewise, the Stockport Road Partnership ‘is convinced that the station … will be a vital element of the forward strategy for the A6 Partnership and the Ardwick, Longsight and Levenshulme Community Network.’ 5.2.5 Forest of Dean Radio hopes further to extend the net for volunteering by founding Forest Media, a new partnership formed from existing groups and drawing on an extensive pool of expertise from radio, film, writing, event management, interactive presentations, video and drama to create a complete platform for communications requirements. The partnership aims to create a network of multi-media resource centres and training opportunities connecting communities across the area. Forest Media will help local residents to acquire the skills and training needed to enable them to debate and organise around the issues that matter to them and present them in a variety of media as well as uniting the values of community arts with the standards of the media industries. 5.2.6 While the Access Radio projects recognise the importance of training, the Evaluator has encountered evidence of varying levels of effectiveness, although he has not attended any courses himself. One of those offering best practice is Radio Regen, where trainees undertake a 14-month course leading to a BTEC qualification in radio skills. As part of the course, they run a month-long RSL station in Manchester’s city centre, gaining experience in radio production, marketing and other workplace skills, although this work will be undertaken in future by Radio Regen’s two Access Radio projects. Following this, trainees work within local communities helping people there to prepare material for broadcast on their own community stations. 5.2.7 Birmingham’s Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre, which runs New Style Radio, has a long-standing tradition of radio training and reports that twelve of its past trainees have found jobs in broadcasting: one of them works for Radio 4 and another was a reporter at the G8 summit and was Telethon Reporter of the Year in 1997/98. 20 or more have gone to study at university. Some radio projects have been founded in other parts of Birmingham with ACRC’s active support. 5.2.8 Desi Radio provides elaborate and well-grounded training for its volunteers. Using a new, well-equipped training space, it has run a course for three days a week over 18 weeks, with financial assistance from the European Social Fund; and a second is planned. Although not accredited, training is NVQ-equivalent. About fifteen people attend each course, so that, once allowance is made for dropouts, about forty trained volunteers are expected to emerge. Two experienced trainers from the Women’s Radio Group, which itself is funding a one-day-a-week 5.2.9 production course for Desi Radio, deliver much of the training. Short weekend ‘taster courses’ are also offered. As a matter of policy, most of the trainees are women. Ajit Singh said: ‘Our idea is that women make better change agents, because they start from a more marginalised position in society.’ The ‘graduates’ form the core of volunteers for Desi Radio, although others are expected and welcome. Training is expected to be on-going and is the filter by which the contribution of programme ideas and engagement with production is tested (rather than administrative structures or committees). 5.2. 0 1 5.2. 1 Takeover Radio adopts a slightly more 1 informal approach. The adult trainer waits until a large enough group of children can be assembled and then runs a ten-week course. When it comes to practical work in the studio ‘the most able kid is put “in the big chair” and the more experienced support the less competent.’ Northern Visions Radio in Belfast places more value on mentoring and workshops than on formal training programmes and is sceptical of accredited courses, being suspicious of many assessment methodologies. It has the benefit of being led by three workers with substantial broadcasting experience (soon to be reduced to two, as one of them has obtained a job with the BBC): they advise volunteers on policy, provide training and supervision in technical and engineering issues and interviewing and presentation techniques. One of them provides day-to-day oversight in editing, programming and the use of equipment. Resonance FM is another pilot project which trains broadcasters on an individual basis. 5.2. 2 1 111
- 59. 5.0 OUTCOMES In recentmonths, a growing trend has emerged towards this kind of on-the-job, individualised training. Two examples illustrate the point. Radio Regen conducted an evaluation after six months of its training and support programme for volunteers. It found that ongoing, practical training was more effective than a series of theoretical units. The organisation has now appointed a Learning and Skills Councilfunded Training Manager with a view to developing accredited learning around the volunteer activity of the pilot stations. This will be ‘workplace-based’ and centred on marrying existing programme-making with personal and key skills development. This is believed to be a unique project, which promises to generate extra resources for the stations and improve programme standards. The qualifications should be available nationally. The benefits of this project should be better programmes, qualifications for volunteers and money for the stations for trainers. 5.2. 3 1 Before the Access Radio experiment, Bradford Community Broadcasting ran a regular schedule of radio training courses throughout the year. During 2002, however, it changed its training priorities. There were several reasons for this: first, the demands on resources that becoming a full time radio station brought had been under-estimated: in particular, studio usage for broadcasting meant that less time was available for training and practice. The project decided to prioritise 1. specially targeted groups through its widening participation project and 2. upgrading the skills of existing presenters, especially ICT-related skills. An emphasis is now placed on individual studio training. 5.2. 4 1 The Access Radio projects are coming to terms with some practical volunteer management issues, which assume greater 5.2. 5 1 112 significance with year-long licences than was the case with short-term RSLs. Most have steering or management groups including volunteers and paid staff which decide day-today issues, although in practice they may be guided by one or two dominant founding personalities. A common problem concerns volunteer presenters, some of whom develop a sense of proprietorship and resist being displaced by newcomers. Bradford Community Broadcasting has addressed the matter by operating a three-monthly programming cycle; it is made clear to all involved that at the end of each quarter the slate is wiped clean and volunteer presenters’ and producers’ ‘franchises’ come to an end and may or may not be renewed. (It is interesting to note that Radio Regen with ALL FM and Wythenshawe FM have borrowed the idea to regulate their own programming). Secondly, the projects have to ensure that everyone working for them in whatever capacity understands and implements, not only the Radio Authority’s broadcasting regulations, but also their own specific policies and the practical disciplines of managing a radio station. Publication brings dangers in its train – of offences against taste and decency, libel and unbalanced treatment of sensitive issues. Some stations, such as New Style Radio in Birmingham, the two Radio Regen projects, Sound Radio in Hackney and, most comprehensively of all, Northern Visions Radio, have issued written statements of policy and procedures, but in other cases these are still in preparation. Radio Regen gives all volunteers a comprehensive induction on these issues. To date, the pilot projects have encountered no major difficulties, but it is essential that in the event of controversy they are able to demonstrate robust systems of station management. 5.2. 6 1 Projects have tended to fall short of their Work Experience targets, mainly because of insufficient staff or experienced volunteers being in place to ensure appropriate supervision and support. Sound Radio illustrates the potential for placements not only at its own studios, but also at other stations. Thus the BBC World Service has attached an Assistant Senior Studio Manager (Asia and Pacific) to SVT; one SVT volunteer has been placed at BBC London and one SVT volunteer is now employed at the BBC World Service (Spanish Section). 5.2. 7 1 As can be seen in the project tables in Chapter 4, a very large number of public sector agencies and voluntary sector organisations are working with most of the pilot projects. As one example from many, Wythenshawe FM recently produced and broadcast (alongside a network of other agencies) a domestic violence campaign entitled “A Time to Change”. It was initiated, planned and created by residents and groups based in the area. It included such messages such as a girl saying ‘Dear Santa, can you stop Dad hitting Mum for Xmas?’. The campaign was well received by Manchester City Council which wishes to develop it further and generated at least nine specific calls (to the relevant services) from women who had heard the campaign on the station. 5.2. 8 1 Two pilot projects directly addressed politics at a level of detail unusual on local radio. Cross Rhythms has offered in-depth coverage of political life in Stoke-on-Trent at a time of unusual activity. It provided live studio debates with representatives of the main parties for both the Stoke City Council and Newcastle Borough Council elections in 2002. An even more significant development for the local community was the referendum on whether there should be a directly elected Mayor for Stoke-on-Trent, 5.2. 9 1 followed by the election of the city’s first Mayor in October 2002. Live coverage was provided for the election count and the new Mayor now gives a fortnightly interview to brief listeners on civic developments. Similarly, Sound Radio provided the first ever local reporting of the Mayoral election and local council by-elections in Hackney. Pilot projects have sought to work with local schools and colleges. However, some have not had the human resources with which to develop effective, long-term relationships and, as in Sound Radio’s case, can be daunted by the problems that the requirements of children’s protection can bring to an open access project. Forest of Dean Radio’s achievements demonstrate what can be achieved in this field. The project has collaborated with eight primary and three secondary schools. At Soudley School, for example, the object was to raise school children’s awareness of the local community and to encourage them to take part in researching their locality. This research included historical investigation and entailed interviews with past pupils and members of the parish. The result was a 30-minute radio programme about the Ruspidge and Soudley community. Material produced is being donated to the Dean Heritage Centre Community Archive. A radio club was formed and eleven students were trained in the use of radio equipment, which was purchased for the school to enable ongoing contributions to Forest of Dean Radio in the future. 5.2.20 5.3 EMPOWERING THROUGH LANGUAGE Language is a crucial mechanism by which an individual makes her or his way in the world, asserts needs and persuades others to action. It is also the crossroads where the 5.3. 1 113
- 60. 5.0 OUTCOMES constituent elementsof a culture can meet and mingle – and interact with other cultures. It is no wonder that those who are socially excluded or suffer from poverty and other forms of disadvantage find that language is one of the key factors that defines and determines their condition. Many individuals are disempowered and disheartened by an inability to use words fluently and confidently. In the case of minority cultures, languages of origin and choice are often accorded little or no room on the platforms of mass communications. 5.3.2 5.3.3 Could the advent of Access Radio open up linguistic opportunities, stimulate originality of expression and foster the avoidance of cliché as well as reflect a diversity of voices from across all age groups? To address these questions, the Evaluation sought to measure linguistic impact according to three criteria: a. the range of languages used relative to the language make-up of the community which the Access Radio station is serving b. increased mastery of the use of language by participants when broadcasting c. confident use ‘on air’ of language as used locally (as distinct from familiarity with the linguistic conventions of radio broadcasting). 5.3.4 So far as a. is concerned, much has been accomplished. Languages accorded substantial air-time by pilot projects include Urdu, Panjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Mirpuri and Gujarati; with a few exceptions, these languages are seldom heard on most BBC and commercial local radio stations (nationally, the arrival of the BBC Asian Network is an important innovation in this respect). Some Welsh, Irish and Ulster Scots is broadcast. 114 5.3.5 Resonance FM has featured programmes in Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, German, Japanese, French and Serbian. Bradford Community Broadcasting broadcasts 8 hours of Asian language programming per week, with programming in Urdu and Panjabi; an Arabic programme has been launched and there have been broadcasts in Russian, Xhona, Ndebele, Farsi and other minority languages. ALL FM broadcasts non-English shows for two hours daily in Urdu, Benin, Portuguese, Hindi, Kashmiri, Panjabi and Farsi. Desi Radio reports that British citizens especially of the second and third generations since their families arrived from the Asian subcontinent have been able to retrieve languages whose use had grown rusty and in the case of young people almost forgotten. This has helped to bolster sometimes fragile senses of cultural identity. Because Desi Radio’s 18-week training courses are conducted in English, volunteers have also greatly improved their fluency in that language. 5.3.6 Some pilot projects have uncovered unexpected linguistic needs and responded to them. As already noted (see Chapter 3.15), Sound Radio, whose languages on air include Yiddish, Kurdish and Farsi, has assembled a team to produce regular programming in Spanish for London’s estimated 200,000 Spanish-speakers. Radio Faza, which was broadcast in seven languages (Urdu, Panjabi, English; with two-hour slots a week in Hindi, Mirpuri, Bengali and Gujerati) reacted to the arrival of asylum-seekers in Nottingham and of a number of students by adding regular programming in Pashto and Arabic. 5.3.7 It has proved hard to measure except through anecdotes the extent to which the second and third Linguistic Impact criteria have been met. However, selected recordings of broadcast output and reports by station managers offer strong pointers tending to show that volunteers with low self-esteem and educational attainments have profited from training in radio skills and the experience of broadcasting. Many have been able to transfer what they have learned to real-life situations in the form of greater verbal assertiveness. At Takeover Radio, for example, a teacher who runs a weekly education programme found that a child who is an elective mute listened to the show and, by building up confidence through hearing his teacher on air, began talking with him in the classroom. Other children have asked to present on air what they have been achieving in their literacy hours. The excitement of being on radio built their confidence in expressing themselves. 5.3.8 There may also be a ‘hidden curriculum’ effect; the children who work on Takeover Radio have had to act in a collaborative way with others, engage in pre-planning and share ideas. The development of teamwork skills contributes to the national curriculum subject, Personal and Social Health Education, and to Citizenship skills. (In passing, there is also some evidence of the development, or at least the use, of semi-private teenage jargon on air. ‘The screbs are minging,’ remarked one young presenter – meaning, apparently, ‘those trousers are terrible’.) 5.3.9 While a pilot project such as the Asian Women’s Project at Radio Faza aims to attain conventional broadcasting values, most have consciously avoided the linguistic professionalism and smoothness of the BBC and many ILR stations on the grounds that it does not reflect the character of the spoken language in the communities they serve. They have sought in differing ways to redefine ‘quality’ as closeness to the spoken rhythms and vocabulary of daily life. 5.3. 0 1 5.3. 1 For example, Forest of Dean Radio 1 reports that listeners are asking for presenters who use the Forest dialect, which is hardly ever heard in the local media. So far as possible the project expects people on air to talk as they would normally and is pleased when a discussion programme ‘sounds like a few people chatting in a pub.’ New Style Radio is another project that wishes to avoid verbal stereotyping; one of its presenters said: ‘We use our own lingo, patois. I am a ventriloquist who projects his voice into black living-rooms.’ 5.3. 2 1 For its part, Angel Radio believes that the secret of keeping close to its target market is for its presenters to echo the way in which its elderly listeners ordinarily converse with one another other over a cup of tea. A corollary of this policy of verbal naturalism is not to worry excessively about presentational rough edges – repetitions, pauses, mistakes are even to be welcomed as reflecting the hesitations and non sequiturs of daily speech. According to Angel Radio, too much slickness would be a betrayal of principle. 5.3. 3 1 Finally, study of the pilot project recordings suggests that the army of volunteer broadcasters are gradually improving their verbal skills. Some talented presenters are emerging and even those with limited ability are making contributions of value. If it is possible to extrapolate from less than a year’s experience, it may not take very long for Access Radio, as a permanent addition to the broadcasting scene, to find its mature voice – or, more precisely, multiple voices. 5.3. 4 1 115
- 61. 5.0 OUTCOMES 5.4 STAFFINGNEEDS 5.4. The human resources required to run 1 an Access Radio service were under-estimated by many of the pilot projects. Those, like Shine FM and Angel Radio, which have full-time, but unpaid, managers and trainers, now recognise the need for salaried employees in the long term. Even those with an apparently generous staff complement have found the combination of running a radio station, providing high quality training, negotiating partnerships with community groups and local agencies and (in relevant cases) selling advertising impossible to achieve. The consequence has been growing levels of exhaustion and under-accomplishment. Martin Blissett of New Style Radio offered a typical comment: ‘At present we are running a radio station twenty-four-seven on goodwill. Whilst we have two paid administrative workers, we have not yet been able to really pay our station manager and assistant station manager, or indeed our daytime presenters.’ 5.4.2 Those with successful track records in fund-raising have tracked down grants to pay for additional staff. Radio Regen has appointed community outreach officers to handle external relations (especially with schools). It also hopes to attract more financial/human resources for training (and ‘training the trainers’) by negotiating arrangements with the Greater Manchester Open College Network and other public sector agencies; because many volunteers suffer from the general effects of poverty, disadvantage and exclusion trainers need to acquire a range of social and counselling skills as well as a knowledge of radio. BCB aims to employ an education worker to deal specifically with schools projects and programming. Amanda Smith of Forest of Dean Radio said: ‘Our biggest problem has been the 5.4.3 116 capacity of the core staff to provide all the necessary training. Communication with volunteers is a problem too.’ The project has negotiated a part-time post, funded by the local adult education service, to act as a link between it and adult education providers. Resonance FM had hoped to survive without employing a station manager, but, finding that the workload was too great, appointed one in mid-September. 5.4.4 Others, such as Angel Radio, are rapidly equipping volunteers with the skills to undertake day-to-day management functions so that one of the project leaders can be released for fund-raising. Also Angel has obtained (for free) the part-time services of a local authority community development worker to help with external liaison and special events. 5.4.5 The pilot scheme demonstrates that the basic tasks which an Access Radio station needs to undertake if it is to fulfil its potential and be financially viable are station management, training, financial and general administration (including the co-ordination of volunteers), fund-raising (public sector and/or advertising and sponsorship) and community liaison. It is possible to envisage a well-trained group of volunteers being able to shoulder much of the burden of station management. The same is probably true for aspects of training and mentoring. However, the remaining tasks are likely to call for more time than many volunteers can be expected to have at their disposal. In addition, professional expertise is necessary for efficient administrative management. Fundraising from the public sector is a sophisticated and laborious art and the experience of Angel Radio (see below Chapter 5 5.3-4) illustrates the unwisdom of entrusting commercial sales and 5.4.6 marketing to even the most willing volunteer. Negotiating partnerships with local agencies and institutions requires knowledge of community liaison and development. 5.5 FINANCIAL RESOURCING Attitudes to funding and the not-unrelated notion of professionalisation differ sharply among the Access Radio projects. For some, raising money with which to pay hired staff at market rates has been seen as a step too far, although grants for equipment or training are acceptable. Others are committed to the principle of a day’s wage for a day’s work and are assiduous subsidy hunters; a few would like to rely exclusively on public funding and find selling advertising to be objectionable in principle. 5.5. 1 The financial scale of the pilot projects varies considerably, as does their success in fund-raising. Angel Radio’s expenditure to date has been £31,000 (including the purchase of a vehicle), but income from all sources, grants, earnings and donations of £27,500 has fallen below expectation. The project’s managers admit to not being business-oriented and believe that doing something for nothing is central to their mission. If they fully professionalised their operation, buying state-of-the-art equipment and paying market salaries, they would ‘lose a lot of what we have got. The reason why we have won such tremendous support is because our listeners feel they have struggled with us.’ The fact that, over two and half years of RSLs, listeners have written more than 4000 letters of support and contributed £10,000 in donations is evidence of a depth of commitment which Angel Radio does not wish to jeopardise. 5.5.2 Despite its popularity with its audience, Angel Radio is struggling financially. The Smiths 5.5.3 subsidise the project and have recently remortgaged their house to raise more funds. This brave and idealistic step has not been enough. A volunteer advertising salesman has failed to make much headway, although the project is sure that the market potential exists to help balance the books, Angel has successfully driven down costs since last September. Takeover Radio is another project facing financial difficulties. Its estimated expenditure to date has reached more than £50,000. The project took a decision not to sell advertising for the first six months of the licence in order to build an audience on which to base a sales effort, and to depend on donations and grants. Unfortunately, 43 funding applications only raised about £6,250 (excluding a gift in kind); membership of Takeover Radio raised £600. The large funding gap has been covered by the project’s founders, Graham Coley and Phil Solo . Phil Solo set aside his consultancy work to devote himself full-time to Takeover Radio; he has now taken the painful decision to withdraw entirely from the project and to return to earning a living. The search for advertising has now begun and two adult volunteers have agreed to help with the sales effort. So far only £4,000 has been raised. It is important to add that, given time, both Angel and Takeover believe that they will solve their problems and reach financial sustainability. 5.5.4 Shine FM’s total expenditure for its period of broadcasting from September to December 2002, including set-up costs of £14,000, was about £18,500 against income of £21,500, leaving a small surplus of nearly £3,000. Most of the income came from grants (including £15,000 from the Jerusalem Trust) and only £1,200 was earned in advertising sales, half what was expected on the precedent of previous 5.5.5 117
- 62. 5.0 OUTCOMES RSLs. TheAsiimwes of Shine FM are full-time workers, but draw no salaries. On God’s business, they take no care of where money is going to come from and survive on alms. They do not appear to go hungry. However, they accept that if Shine FM were ever to win a longterm licence they would be obliged to employ paid staff. By contrast, Radio Regen, one of the richest Access Radio projects, has an annual turnover of about £450,000 and employs a staff of twenty two (some of them part-time). It receives funding from Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (for capital and set-up costs), the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, the Single Regeneration Budget, the National Lottery (through the Arts Council of England), the Further Education Funding Council, the New Deal for Communities, North West Arts Board and assorted trust funds, including the Lloyds TSB Foundation. 5.5.6 Because Radio Regen’s two Access Radio stations, Wythenshawe FM and ALL FM, already own the necessary equipment, their set-up costs were low, totalling about £10,000 each. But their operating costs have been more substantial: over the licence period and including core costs of their parent body, Radio Regen, ALL FM’s expenditure stands at £196,000 and Wythenshawe FM’s at £183,000. This is matched respectively by income of £171,000 and £210,000, all of it in grants (the slight surplus is likely to disappear during the rest of the licence period). 5.5.7 It is intended that some commercial revenue will be found from sponsorship and spot ad sales from local businesses, but so far it has not been feasible to proceed. It is hoped to win funding from the Chamber Business Enterprise 5.5.8 118 for one or possibly two Business Liaison Officers, who would be able to market the two stations as well as encouraging local enterprises in general to market themselves more effectively. New Style Radio (NSR) in Birmingham is more enthusiastic than most about raising funds from the private sector. Facing an estimated overall expenditure of about £200,000 (of which £66,000 are set-up costs), it has set itself ambitious financial targets. As well as grants from the Single Regeneration Budget, the Arts Council of England and other sources, NSR originally aimed to raise £76,000 from advertising; £35,000 from sponsorship; £20,000 from fund-raising events; £15,000 from raffles; and £19,000 from individual pledges. Its heavily promoted sales drive has attracted adverse comments from a local commercial broadcaster, which fears competition for advertising revenue. In the event, some of the project’s targets turned out to be over-ambitious. Expenditure to date has totalled £91,000 (estimated at £124,000 for the licence period) and advertising income £19,000 (estimated at more than £100,000 for the licence period). At present NSR is cross-subsidised by its parent body, the Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre. Its finances are expected to improve over the coming months as advertising revenue increases and funding from Millennium Commission, Arts Council, ERDF and other ACRC Millennium Project co-funding comes on stream. 5.5.9 Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB) is of an entirely different opinion about advertising and private-sector sponsorship. A successful public sector fund-raiser, it has been supported by the European Social Fund since 1994 and the European Regional Development Fund since 1999 and has been supported by several other EU schemes. Additional funders include the local council, the New Opportunities 5.5. 0 1 Fund, Yorkshire Arts, Yorkshire Forward, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Millennium Commission and local regeneration initiatives. The project opposes commercial earnings as being contrary to the philosophy of community broadcasting. Also, in its experience, attracting private sector money consumes much time and energy that has to be diverted from other tasks, so creating a real, if hard to quantify, cost. 5.5. 1 Only two pilot projects have yet raised 1 substantial sums of money from non-grant sources. Desi Radio expects to spend about £390,000 over the pilot period (of which £235,000 is accounted for as the value of volunteer time), as against income of about £219,000. It has already sold £119,000-worth of advertising and projects a further £91,000 before the end of its licence period (see below Chapter 5.7 for further discussion). Cross Rhythms in Stoke-on-Trent is financially ambitious and has adopted an innovative approach to fund-raising. A fully professionalised operation handling a range of different activities, it already employs 14 paid staff. It has not been practicable to account separately for the Access Radio operation, but additional staffing costs will be between £20,000 and £30,000. Set-up costs totalled less than £19,000 and the project bought BBC Radio Stoke’s old studios for £290,000. The property boom has already increased their market value by £100,000, which enables the project to borrow from Christian businessmen before full viability has been achieved. 5.5. 2 1 Cross Rhythms fund-raises from church sources and seeks donations from Christian businessmen for its overall media activities (£40,000 has been raised to date). In an attempt to create a regular and reliable 5.5. 3 1 source of income it launched a Friends of Cross Rhythms scheme: the aim is to recruit a thousand members, each of whom will contribute £10 a month. So far the project has enrolled 620 Friends, producing a remarkable £74,000 over the Access Radio year. Cross Rhythms has only recently started to seek advertising, setting its rates at 10% of its local ILR station, partly because of its lesser reach and partly because the station is new and so an unknown quantity. The project expects little income, but many advertisers. Businesses that have already bought air-time include a local photographer, a double-glazing firm, a local internet company, a bar, a car-dealer, a Christian bookshop and a garage. It is dangerous to generalise about a field as various and diverse as Access Radio, but the pilot scheme suggests that, broadly speaking, the sector’s financial structure will fall into two bands. The annual expenditure of projects which employ no paid staff is of the order of £50,000. Those with a salaries bill fall within an annual expenditure band ranging from about £140,000 to £210,000, depending on the number of employees. The fact that most of the projects have succeeded in raising the necessary funding suggests that in principle Access Radio promises to be a financially sustainable medium. However, a caveat needs to be entered. Access Radio operators with no experience of, or aptitude for, fund-raising whether from the public or private sectors will need access to the appropriately skilled human resources which, in the first instance, they will be unable to afford. This will be especially important for stations which are not backed by a larger, more established organisation. 5.5. 4 1 119
- 63. 5.0 OUTCOMES 5.6 LOCALALLIANCES 5.6. As discussed in Chapter 3.61-71, 1 partnerships between different groups in a community to operate an Access Radio station may be a necessary feature of the community broadcasting ecology. However, the pilot scheme suggests that these may be difficult to manage effectively. Two projects set up equal alliances – at GTFM between the University of Glamorgan and the Glyn Taff Community Centre and at Radio Faza between the Asian Women’s Project and the Karimia Institute. In both cases there have been difficulties and relations have been prickly and on occasion storm-tossed. It would be invidious to adjudicate the rights and wrongs; however, some general findings can be identified which could inform future Access Radio partnerships. 5.6.2 The problems at Pontypridd stemmed in large part from the difference in the nature and scale of the two partners and hence in their methods of operation. They came together for the pilot project out of mutual self-interest as much as a common interest, although both sides are strong believers in the power of community radio. The community centre found it very difficult to influence the university, a large and complex institution with its own imperatives – in particular, an over-riding obligation to its students; for its part the university, having only two places on the GTFM community centre committee, also felt it hard to guide the course of events. In November the committee decided to pull out of the partnership and the Universityrun training programme. 5.6.4 120 Two conclusions can be drawn. First, an alliance of this kind needs to be negotiated more thoroughly than was the case on this occasion. Time and care are needed to tease out the potential partners’ real requirements and ways of maximising their compatibility. If this is not done misunderstandings can arise. 5.6.5 Secondly, it is essential that a system be agreed for the settlement of disputes. One solution here might have been the creation of an over-arching governing committee of which the two partners were subsidiary members; however, a university might very well find it impossible to cede power over a part of its students’ activities to an outside party. While acknowledging that relations could be improved, Karimia takes the view that a partnership of equals is preferable to any other administrative or constitutional arrangement in that it enables each side to retain its integrity and independence. On the other hand, given a clean slate, AWP might well be happier as the single owner of a licence. 5.6.9 5.6.6 For Radio Faza it might seem that the Asian Women’s Project and the Karimia Foundation have resolved difficulties of communication by reducing so far as possible the need to communicate: each broadcasts in different halves of the week and, unlike GTFM, provides training for its own volunteers. Both sides have fought shy of setting up a joint management committee with executive authority, although informal exchanges take place from time to time. 5.6.7 The result may have confused Radio Faza listeners, since the editorial character and content of the two broadcasters’ output differ sharply. It is as if rival manufacturers agreed to market their goods under a single brand name. One possible solution to the problem would be for AWP and Karimia to broadcast openly as separate organisations under different station names. However, this could very well lead listeners, expecting continuity from a local radio service, to exchange a sense of confusion for one of irritation. 5.6.8 There are a number of sometimes fiercely competitive community radio projects in Glasgow’s Asian community. Awaz FM adopted a big-tent policy, inviting a rival organisation Sangeet to join forces with it, but under a unitary command. Although other groups have so far held aloof, Awaz FM continues to hold out cooperation to those who wish to join it. Other pilot projects have shown equal skill in recruiting various community groups to collaborate with them and contribute to their work – among them, Bradford Community Broadcasting, which has offered training courses for a local Panjabi radio group, and Sound Radio. 5.6. 0 1 5.6. 1 On balance a coalition of interests 1 under one group’s leadership seems to be a more successful model than a dual alliance. However, there may well be occasions when radio groups with divergent aims or philosophies find it difficult to accept another’s predominance. In such cases it is recommended that Ofcom satisfy itself that, in the case of a partnership-based Access Radio applicant, decision-making processes are clearly defined, transparent and robust. 5.7 LOCAL RADIO ECOLOGY – COMMERCIAL RADIO This section examines the potential impact which Access Radio could have on local commercial broadcasting. It has been informed by a paper in which the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) commented on the Interim Evaluation Report and by responses to two rounds of letters sent to all ILRs in whose areas the fifteen pilot projects are operating (see Appendix 2 for their texts). Letters were sent to 56 broadcasters, seeking preliminary views and, later, practical experience of the Access Radio experiment in the event. Only 14 replies were received, which might be taken as an indication that some commercial broadcasters do not regard Access Radio as raising issues of fundamental importance to them. 5.7. 1 Nevertheless, those who did write to the Evaluator made significant and interesting points. Broad support was expressed for the concept of Access Radio provided that it did not duplicate what was already on offer. Nigel Reeve, Chief Executive of Fusion Radio Holdings, expressed a widely shared opinion when he wrote: ‘We would expect Access Radio to complement our own programming, offering a programming choice to a small group of potential listeners. The programming should be of a type that we are unable to supply through a broader format.’ There are signs that Access Radio’s essential difference is already evident in practice to commercial broadcasters: Gill Hind of Capital Radio Group reported that after consulting staff at many of its stations, ‘the access radio stations offer programming which is not currently heard on the Capital analogue stations’. 5.7.2 121
- 64. 5.0 OUTCOMES While acceptingthat ‘Access Radio could be a popular and acceptable form of broadcasting’,13 CRCA has consistently argued that it should not be allowed to source commercial revenues. However, little anxiety was expressed by larger ILR operators about possible commercial consequences for them, if, as is the case with the pilot projects, Access Radio stations were allowed to sell advertising. Chris Hughes, Managing Director of Radio Trent and Leicester Sound, remarked: ‘For stations such as Trent and Leicester where over 60% of our revenue is now “national” there will be little or no competitive effect; on the contrary low entry costs for the new stations will mean that if campaigns are effective business might be encouraged to “grow” on to our stations.’ 5.7.3 Nevertheless, all respondents were agreed, with the CRCA’s concurrence, that the financial impact on small commercial stations could be serious. It is difficult to offer a precise definition of ‘small’ in this context, but such stations fall within Category D, the last of four local radio divisions employed by the Radio Authority, which comprises stations with a coverage area of less than 400,000 adults.14 In this category much advertising is local; on average for stations with an MCA of up to 300,000 adults national advertisements usually amount to about 10% of commercial earnings. According to CRCA, about one third of local 5.7.4 commercial stations broadcast to communities of fewer than 300,000 people, a quarter to areas with fewer than 200,000 and a fifth to communities of fewer than 100,000. The bottom of this scale coincides with the population catchments of some of the Access Radio pilot projects. Thus, New Style Radio is aimed at the African-Caribbean population in Birmingham and the West Midlands and may be able to reach up to 80,000 listeners from this ethnic background; Forest of Dean FM serves 75,000 people; Angel Radio broadcasts to the elderly of Havant, which has 29,000 inhabitants over the age of 60; Radio Faza’s audience is Nottingham’s South Asian community of about 16,000 people. 5.7.5 (It should be noted that a few Access Radio pilot projects have fairly large catchments. Northern Visions broadcasts to Belfast, which has about 300,000 inhabitants and Bradford Community Broadcasting to Bradford with 500,000 inhabitants. Sound Vision covers much of East London. It may be assumed that this range of coverage areas would be replicated in the event of Access Radio becoming a permanent third radio tier, but with the great majority lying at the less populated end spectrum.) 5.7.6 Lawrence, Managing Director, Forever Broadcasting plc and Lisa Kerr, Public Affairs Manager, CRCA, Thursday 17 January 2002 14 Category A is for coverage areas of more than 4.5 million people; Category B where the adult population exceeds 1 million and is less than 4.5 million; and Category C where it exceeds 400,000 and does not exceed 1 million. It should be noted that, for licensing, the Radio Authority refers to Measured Coverage Areas (MCA), a term denoting a catchment within which there is an agreed high standard of reception. For marketing and listener survey purposes the industry refers to Total Survey Areas (TSA), larger catchments where a station can 122 In order to test the thesis that, if Access Radio were authorised to raise income from advertising and sponsorship, the financial sustainability of small ILR stations would be damaged, evidence was sought from four commercial stations/groups selected for the purpose by the CRCA –Neptune Radio, Waves Radio Peterhead, the Tindle Group and Lincs FM plc. 5.7.8 The financial economy of small commercial stations is variable and sometimes loss-making and could be endangered by a serious commercial challenge. To cite one example, the Tindle Radio group is a privately owned company that operates six stations serving communities of between 59,000 and 212,000 adults above the age of fifteen. Costs vary according to regional circumstance, but a Tindle station such as Bridge FM (in Bridgend) has an estimated break-even income point of between £35,000 and £38,000 per month, a figure broadly typical of a commercial 5.7.9 While some small commercial stations recruit staff locally and, either on occasion or 5.7.7 13 Note of a meeting between Professor Anthony Everitt and Chris Carnegy, Managing Director, SouthCity FM, Eric be heard, but with poorer reception on their peripheries. regularly, give local people themselves the opportunity to broadcast, most of them differ from Access Radio stations in the important sense that they do not foster participation as a primary goal and do not prioritise social gain targets. However, commercial broadcasters argue that they cater for community needs through the provision of information, the coverage, and indeed celebration, of local events and partnership with local bodies of one sort or another. Kevin Stewart, Chief Executive of Tindle Radio, observed: ‘We believe that our strength is that each station [in the Tindle group] is part of the local community and by “super serving” our respective communities we have managed to be financially successful, albeit marginally in some cases.’ There is, then, a degree of potential overlap in broadcasting policy. broadcaster of that size that runs a fully professionalised and salaried operation. This is equivalent to annual earnings of more than £400,000, something which even commercial stations at the upper end of the Radio Authority’s Category D may struggle to attain in practice. Those which are members of groups containing at least one larger, comfortably profitable station in Category C may benefit from cross-subsidy. During an advertising downturn, as now, viability is only maintained by keeping variable, namely staff, costs at a bare minimum. 5.7. 0 1 5.7. 1 Less than 3% of Tindle Radio’s 1 revenue is derived from national advertising, and most of its earnings come from local advertisers who often place orders worth between £50 and £100. The company reports that sponsorship, most of it local, forms up to 40% of its stations’ revenue. Rutland Radio, a member of the Lincs FM group, seeks to reach an adult population of about 50,000 (although its MCA is 26,000); its sales policy is to build long-term relationships with local businesses and to tailor advertising rates to suit the smallest enterprise (such as pubs, sub-post offices and florists). Not unreasonably, this kind of station fears direct commercial competition for the same class of advertiser from newcomers who also have access to public funds. However, it is important to emphasise that many in the ILR sector would not object to competing with Access Radio stations for listeners. With their freedom of manoeuvre and their experience as entertainment providers, they feel that the market place is large enough to accommodate both themselves and a new form of broadcasting whose philosophy was distinctively and primarily determined by a social gain agenda. 5.7. 2 1 123
- 65. 5.0 OUTCOMES One exceptionshould be made to this principle. There are a few very small stations, where the pool of potential listeners may be insufficient to sustain the presence of a second broadcaster. 15 ILRs have MCAs of fewer than 40,000 adults. Six, mainly in Scotland, have catchments of fewer than 15,000 (down to Lochbroom FM with 1,972 adults).Unsurprisingly, such stations make extensive use of volunteers and their programming responds very closely to community concerns. In these senses they resemble Access Radio and it may be that, given the chance, a number of them might consider migrating from commercial to Access Radio status. In such small coverage areas, it would be equitable to disallow the arrival of an Access Radio competitor during an existing licence cycle (although micro-Access Radio stations serving a village or a small housing estate would be acceptable). Equally, though, it follows from an even-handed approach that in due course ILR and Access Radio applicants should compete against each other in coverage areas of fewer than 40,000 adults and that Ofcom should decide whether to award a commercial or an Access Radio licence. 5.7. 3 1 Many in community media disagree with the commercial sector and argue that there are good reasons to allow Access Radio stations to sell advertising. First of all, they make a general point, as clearly articulated by Steve Buckley of the CMA. ‘On the one hand the large commercial radio groups are campaigning vigorously (and successfully) for maximum liberalisation… and a move to competition policydriven regulation. On the other hand, the smaller stations wish to hold onto the reverse – retain a protected local monopoly [and] maintain market 5.7. 4 1 management by the regulator to prevent new entrants even where frequencies are available. By comparison, anyone can set up a local commercial newspaper… and anyone can set up a community newspaper.’ More particularly, plural funding, it is claimed, will help to protect Access Radio stations from undue dependence on a given source of income (especially when it comes from local public agencies) and will also demonstrate the degree of non-institutional local support they are able to attract. Advertisements could be said to enhance the localness of the output and add to an Access Radio station’s credibility, for listeners appreciate the local information that they contain. The Community Media Association states: ‘Advertising and sponsorship are a key part of the funding mix for many community media organisations although they are not generally anticipated to be the predominant source … Government must ensure that community media do not face undue restriction in raising funds and are able to raise funds from a variety of sources, including advertising and sponsorship.’15 5.7. 5 1 There may be occasions when an Access Radio station will wish to sell advertising or sponsorship to different classes of advertiser than a small ILR station does. Thus, an Asian station may promote Asian cultural events or travel agencies specialising in flights to the Indian subcontinent and would be able to do so without adverse consequences for its commercial counterpart; or one could envisage a local authority which has not previously advertised on local radio using an Access Radio station for disseminating community information. 5.7. 6 1 15 Memorandum to the Joint Committee on the draft Communications Bill, Community Media Association, 2002. Paragraph 18. 124 More importantly, an Access Radio station, where its MCA is much smaller than that of a commercial broadcaster, would be likely to appeal to a new, more local class of local advertiser who was not able to afford the commercial station’s rates and, in any event, for whom a larger marketplace was inappropriate. On the similar basis that allowed the Radio Authority to licence Category D town-sized stations within the MCA of a Category C station,16 so an Access Radio station with a 5.7. 7 1 catchment of (say) 35,000 might well cater to advertisers who could not afford the charges of a ‘small’ commercial station with a catchment of 350,000. (However, in cases where an Access Radio station of this kind occupied the ‘heartland’ of a larger ILR station, it could possibly inflict some damage). As noted above (see Chapter 5.5.11), only one Access Radio project has generated significant commercial income, Desi Radio. It reports that most of its advertisers are small local enterprises and shops, together with some professional organisations. About two thirds of its current advertisers, it estimates, have never advertised on the London-wide Asian station, Sunrise Radio; those which have done so, generally maintain their commitment while also advertising on Desi. Interestingly, the project claims not to solicit advertisements, but simply to respond to demand. By contrast, Sunrise asserts that only 10% of Desi’s advertisers have never advertised with Sunrise Radio and that 40% used to do so, but have swapped to the newcomer. Whatever the truth of these conflicting claims, it does not seem that Sunrise has suffered greatly from Desi’s arrival, although the company says it has enlarged its ad sales force in Southall; 5.7. 8 1 however, it would fear for the future if a variety of Asian Access Radio stations, allowed to sell advertising (especially if without a cap), were to come into being across the capital. Star 106.6, serving Slough, Maidenhead and Windsor, runs an evening Asian service; it argues that Desi Radio competes with it for Southall advertisers. However, the two broadcasters’ coverage areas do not overlap. It may be supposed that businesses in Southall prefer to advertise on a station that broadcasts directly to their locality – reasonable enough preference which, pace Star’s interests, they should not be prevented from exercising. So far New Style Radio has earned about £20,000 from advertising and sponsorship, mainly from clubs and other entertainment outlets and for arts and cultural events. It believes, perhaps optimistically, that after three or four years of operation it could free itself from the need for public subsidy and be commercially self-supporting. However, other Access Radio pilot projects which have projected income from advertising and sponsorship sales have found the going to be much more difficult than they had expected. To a certain extent the speed with which they were brought into being and the short-term nature of their licences may have made it impractical to attract large quantities of advertising. Also the groups possess few marketing skills. In the future it is possible that these deficiencies could be rectified. 5.7. 9 1 However, a more important cause of their failure to attract large amounts of commercial income has to do with culture rather than competence. In many cases, people involve themselves in radio from motives of social 5.7.20 16 An example that comes to mind is 2Ten FM, inside whose territory Kick FM serves Newbury, Kestrel Basingstoke and New City Reading. 125
- 66. 5.0 OUTCOMES idealism ratherthan the chance to make money. Indeed, some of the pilot projects are opposed to advertising in principle, on the grounds that it would not only be contrary to their fundamental aims but over time might threaten to subvert them, partly by allowing commercial imperatives to influence programming and partly by making the character or ‘sound’ of broadcast output too similar to that of commercial radio. This is a point also made by the CRCA: ‘commercial revenue will inevitably change the nature of Access Radio stations – “you are what you eat”. A project such as Awaz FM seeks advertising largely because it has to in order to survive: if it were funded through grants, the organisers say they would not sell advertising, except possibly to public sector agencies making announcements. 5.7.21 The impact so far of the Access Radio pilot projects on its commercial neighbours has been minimal. In general, it is likely that advertising would only generate a minority of an Access Radio station’s revenue, especially if it has a limited coverage area. The experience of the pilot projects suggests that stations will usually only command small markets of comparatively little interest to mainstream advertisers. In many cases it is likely that their listeners will come from the lower socio-economic groupings with below-average disposable incomes. What conclusions can be drawn from this discussion? The case for ensuring the editorial independence of Access Radio by allowing diversity of funding is strong; while funding by local government, regeneration agencies, police forces and so forth is greatly to be welcomed, it brings with it the danger that an Access Radio station might simply become a bland conduit for official information (as Lol 5.7.22 126 Gellor of Sound Radio put it, ‘Radio Town Hall’). Also advertising and sponsorship are a valuable indirect means by which listeners can exert influence. However, just as it would be wrong for Access Radio to be totally reliant on subsidy, so New Style Radio’s vision of full commercial viability, however implausible its realisation in most cases, should also be resisted. It is important that Access Radio retains its social orientation and does not risk diluting its community aspirations. Accordingly, a ceiling should be set for commercial earnings. Radio and for accepting a likely competition for listeners. However, so far as the very smallest ILRs are concerned, it would usually be inappropriate for Access Radio licences (except in the case of ‘micro’ MCAs) to be granted in areas where the coverage falls below 40,000 adults. However, at the time of ILR licence renewal, commercial and Access Radio applicants should be allowed to compete in such an area and Ofcom should either award a commercial or an Access Radio licence. community buses, and through BBC On-line is encouraging local people to interact with broadcasters. Access Radio stations and the Corporation could well find themselves competing for funds from public sector partners. (The CMA argues that the BBC should be able to make do with the income from the licence fee and that there should be a moratorium on BBC fund-raising from local public funding sources until the completion of the recently announced BBC review). Thirdly, some Access Radio projects have established constructive relations with their BBC local radio stations. So GTFM in Pontypridd has been using Radio Cymru news and Radio Wales participated in a seven-day training course arranged by GTFM during which BBC personnel contributed sessions on various topics including production and journalism skills. Other kinds of connection are beginning to emerge: in Nottingham the BBC recruited a presenter/administrator from Radio Faza and in Stoke-on-Trent Cross Rhythms bought BBC Radio Stoke’s old studios. The Asian Woman’s Project wing of Radio Faza has recently formed a partnership with its local BBC station, which will provide training for the project’s producer (shortly to be appointed) and intends to release one day a week of an employee’s time to work with AWP’s programme teams to develop their skills. This employee will participate in the recruitment of the producer, who will spend 20 days in a year at the BBC. 5.8.4 First, it is recommended that an Access Radio station should normally be permitted to receive up to half its income from advertising sales and sponsorship. In exceptional circumstances, Ofcom should be empowered to vary this rule in the event of a special case being made. 5.7.23 Secondly, it is evident that some protection should be given to the small commercial station, but only where it shares a comparable coverage area with an Access Radio station that sells advertising. In such cases, an Access Radio licence could be offered on condition that the applicant can show it will present little or no advertising sales and sponsorship competition (either by not selling advertising at all or by targeting markets of no interest, or inaccessible, to the relevant commercial station). A similar condition should apply where a number of Access Radio stations in different parts of a commercial station’s MCA could, taken together, present a real competitive threat (see Chapter 5.7.18 for Sunrise Radio’s fears). 5.7.24 Thirdly, the commercial sector is to be commended for welcoming or at least (in some cases) tolerating the advent of Access 5.7.25 5.8 LOCAL RADIO ECOLOGY – ROLE OF THE BBC When the Radio Authority included the impact of the Access Radio pilot projects on the local radio ecology, it mainly had ILR stations in mind with particular reference to possible commercial competition. However, it is also appropriate to consider the future relationship between Access Radio and the BBC. 5.8. 1 This is for three chief reasons. First, it would be curious if, with its public service remit and (through the licence fee) public funding, the BBC were not to take an interest in a new tier of radio broadcasting designed to deliver social gain and to operate on a not-for-profit basis and with elements of subsidy. Indeed, as has already been described (see Chapter 1.22), the community-based principles of Access Radio echo the Corporation’s aspirations when it established its local radio stations in the late 1960s. 5.8.2 Although the BBC played no part in the genesis of the Access Radio experiment, it commissioned Liam McCarthy, Managing Editor of BBC Radio Leicester, to prepare an internal report on the subject and make recommendations 5.8.5 Secondly, the BBC has committed itself to developing its own access policies for local communities and minority groups and is investing in a Voices project, open centres and 5.8.3 127
- 67. 5.0 OUTCOMES for theBBC’s approach to Access Radio. He interviewed the author of this report and visited most of the pilot projects. As yet, while welcoming Access Radio, the BBC has not announced any decisions. Nevertheless, it may be worth adumbrating possible ways forward. First of all, it is clear that, with some significant exceptions, there is little overlap between BBC Local Radio stations and Access Radio projects so far as core broadcasting philosophy is concerned. This is in part because the catchments of the former are usually far too large to admit the type of listener involvement and ‘ownership’ open to radio stations with transmission radii of no more than 5 km. Of the BBC’s 38 Local Radio stations only ten serve populations below half a million people and on the English mainland only one below 200,000 people. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the BBC offers territory-wide services (with some local ‘opt-outs’). This larger scale of operation means that there is little competition between (say) BBC GMR with its reach across the Manchester conurbation and ALL FM and Wythenshawe FM, which serve particular sub-areas of the city. 5.8.6 However, it should be noted that in a few cases (for example, if Jersey and Guernsey were to adopt UK legislation on Access Radio) Access Radio could find itself competing headto-head in an identical catchment. Also it is possible to envisage an Access Radio station with a city-wide remit; thus, from among the pilot projects, Bradford Community Broadcasting, which serves a city of 500,000 inhabitants, could become a serious rival to the BBC as it seeks (via BBC Radio Leeds) to enhance its presence in Bradford. 5.8.7 The second factor that distinguishes the BBC Local Radio from Access Radio is the Corporation’s traditional concern to maintain control of editorial policy. This could be one explanation for its remarked-upon failure to interest itself in small-scale community broadcasting, a sector in which editorial authority is quite specifically transferred to local people. 5.8.8 In this connection, it may be an appropriate place to consider the suggestion made by the Commercial Radio Companies Association that the question should be asked ‘why Access Radio should not be provided by the state-funded broadcaster or funded by a subvention from its licence fee’.17 The argument goes that, in the light of the fact the BBC was established to provide broadcast output that the market cannot or will not provide, it would be logical that the Corporation take charge of the non-commercial field of community broadcasting. 5.8.9 There is something to be said for this tidy-minded view. The difficulty, though, would be that it is hard to imagine a marriage between the BBC’s commitment to high quality (as it defines it) universal provision and the empowering nature of Access Radio, which is closer to that of commercial radio in that both sectors are concerned with the provision of opportunity – albeit in the one case to enable profit and in the other community participation. 5.8. 10 5.8. 1 However, there is much to be said for 1 encouraging good relations between the BBC and a tier of Access Radio stations. What could this mean in practice? The answer would, of course, vary from place to place and be negotiated locally, but some general propositions could be usefully considered. 17 Commercial Radio Companies Association Response to the Interim Evaluation of the Access Radio Pilot Scheme, 12 November 2002. 128 From the point of view of an Access Radio station there would seldom be much point in broadcasting BBC-originated programming that would in the nature of the case already be available to listeners. However, timely access to certain routine BBC raw news material (for example, sports results, weather forecasts and travel news) could enrich its own news information service and could be ‘paid for’ by on-air credits. The community media sector believes that the Corporation should adopt an ‘open content’ policy. However, there are limits to the extent to which the Corporation may be willing (if at all) to share such resources: thus, it might well fight shy of opening its World Service news resource to an Asian Access Radio station and in this way diluting the offer of the BBC Asian Network. An easier, if probably less attractive option could be for the BBC to deliver branded ‘packages’, especially if they could be tailored in some way to an Access Radio station’s particular requirements. 5.8. 2 1 On the other hand, it might suit both sides if the BBC were to broadcast selected Access Radio programmes of appropriate quality and of interest to a wider audience than that for which it was originally produced. This would enhance an Access Radio station’s profile, add interest to the BBC station’s programme schedule and enable the publiclyfunded Corporation to be seen to act as a supporter of smaller stations in its area. Collaboration on major local events (e.g. public debates, arts festivals and sports activity) could also be mutually beneficial. 5.8. 3 1 themselves capable of arranging their own training for volunteers and would be unlikely to ask the BBC to run courses for them; however, they would probably welcome assistance and involvement by BBC staff and, in some but not all cases, access to built and technical facilities. Also, Access Radio managers could benefit from informal mentoring by experienced BBC personnel. It is worth noting that there is traffic in the other direction; according to the CMA, some community media projects are already providing specific training and technical expertise to BBC open centres. Such arrangements would entail little if any financial expenditure by the Corporation, and, if well-managed, should entail only a minor diversion of staff time and effort. 5.8. 5 1 In return, Access Radio stations, as they became more established and experienced, could provide valuable local information both for BBC Local Radio and its national channels. Three examples of what this might mean in practice were the use by various broadcasters, including Carlton TV, Channel 4 News, The Sun newspaper and BBC Radio and TV, of the knowledge and facilities of New Style Radio when reporting the recent shooting of two young women in Birmingham; the broadcasting by BBC Radio Norfolk of an Angel Radio programme on Bing Crosby; and a World Service interview with a Desi Radio presenter concerning the leading Panjabi singer Raj Rai from Coventry, known as ‘PANJABI MC’. 5.8. 6 1 An important element of any concordat between a new Access Radio sector and the BBC would be some access to that part of the frequency spectrum at present available exclusively to the BBC: this subject is discussed in Chapter 5.9.15-17. 5.8. 7 1 BBC Local and Regional Radio stations could provide a resource of expertise and informal support that would be valuable to inexperienced broadcasters (as is to be the case at Radio Faza: see Chapter 5.8.4). Most of the Access Radio pilot projects have shown 5.8. 4 1 129
- 68. 5.0 OUTCOMES The advantagesto the Corporation of limited and carefully tailored collaboration with Access Radio would be threefold: first, it would enable the BBC to claim it as an additional method of fulfiling its obligations to local communities and to counter any charges of aloofness; secondly, Access Radio could be a useful information resource and, as has already been seen, a talent pool; and, thirdly, there could be mutual advantage in co-operation from time to time on major local events. 5.8. 8 1 The benefits to Access Radio would consist of, first, support for its training of volunteers and through mentoring; secondly, a strengthening of its news information service; and, thirdly, access to some of the Corporation’s unused frequency spectrum. 5.8. 9 1 It is recommended that, following consideration of Liam McCarthy’s internal report, the Corporation take an early opportunity to set out consultative proposals for collaboration with, and support for, Access Radio. 5.8.20 5.9 SPECTRUM There would be little point in legislating for a new tier of radio, if there were not enough frequencies to allow a substantial number of Access Radio stations to come into being. AM frequencies are more readily available than FM, but are relatively expensive to use and with relatively poor sound quality; also international considerations might limit their use for Access Radio if introduced on a large scale. Three Access Radio projects (Sound Radio, Desi Radio and Forest of Dean Radio) use AM, because their coverage requirement exceeds 5 km (for which FM would not be sustainable in the long term). FM is generally more suitable for 5.9. 1 130 Access Radio, but its availability varies across the country, with more opportunities in rural areas and fewer in conurbations: the radio spectrum is particularly crowded in London. The Authority, with the Radiocommunications Agency and the BBC, commissioned a report into the potential for developing the FM spectrum in the UK. The consultants Aegis undertook this study in 2000, and found that there was likely to be a significant, although still very finite resource, for services of very small coverage – too small for stand-alone commercially-funded services, but perhaps of value to other models. 5.9.2 Thus the report suggested that six frequencies might be found in London on this basis and possibly more (time constraints prevented Aegis from undertaking the detailed analysis that would be necessary to establish an upper limit). 5.9.3 The CMA strongly opposes the opinion expressed in the Radio Authority review that consideration should be given to whether the frequency selected is ‘sufficiently poor that it could not be used for a commercially viable licence’. It argues that commercial viability should not be a criterion for rejecting a frequency for Access Radio use. This is a fair claim. There appears to be no evident reason for prioritising commercial over community interests and a concern to combat social disadvantage. The CMA speaks of the ‘need for a clearer intrinsic commitment to sufficient frequency allocation for future community radio services rather than a policy which commits only the poor frequencies left after commercial licensing.’ However, in the light of the fact that much of the spectrum is already occupied, this can only be a long-term consideration. For the immediate future, it may be wise to limit future expectations with a view to maximising Access Radio opportunities. 5.9.6 5.9.4 Following this, the Radio Authority conducted an internal review for the Evaluation, on which the Community Media Association has offered its comments. The following discussion is indebted to both documents. They suggest that it is not unreasonable to contemplate a substantial deployment of very localised services. 5.9.7 When planning for the Access Radio pilot projects, a comprehensive trawl for frequencies was not undertaken; once a suitable frequency had been identified, alternatives were not explored exhaustively. So the Radio Authority review reassessed the position in five cities – Leicester, Nottingham, Bradford, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. The Access Radio experiment has produced some useful guidance, although care should be taken not to extrapolate firm conclusions from fifteen projects. First, no hard-and-fast general level of availability can be identified. Secondly, flexibility and pragmatism will be necessary when determining an acceptable frequency; and some compromise when assessing the effectiveness of the coverage achieved. 5.9.8 will also provide competition for resources that might be identifiable for Access Radio. Secondly, most cities/conurbations (or, as an alternative, locations in between them) in Britain would have the frequencies from bands used for commercial radio to support one or two services, but rarely more, of coverage up to 5km (there might be high levels of interference in some cases for a few days a year, especially for stereo receivers). 5.9.9 The effective availability of BBC bands is more difficult to estimate, but about the same additional number could be predicted, although the situation would vary greatly in individual cities. 5.9. 0 1 5.9. 1 Thirdly, no generalised template can 1 be adduced when planning for small-scale services. For example, in Manchester once one has notionally allocated some five frequencies in total to ‘5 km’ or ‘nearly 5km’ services, there appears to be nothing left. On the other hand, Nottingham provided the unusual prospect of no wholly suitable BBC frequencies, yet possibly a dozen ‘nearly suitable’ frequencies. The CMA views these estimates as rather conservative, and both it and the Radio Authority agree that further, more detailed research would be required to provide greater certainty. AM frequencies are more plentiful in supply, but they have the disadvantages of being more costly to run and of offering poorer quality reception. Also they cover a wider area coverage area; this is of considerable advantage in a widespread, sparsely populated rural area such as the Forest of Dean. In addition, in crowded conurbations where FM frequencies are scarce, the AM option will be a useful one. However, the danger must be avoided of allocating coverage areas too large to deliver a 5.9. 2 1 5.9.5 A number of conclusions were drawn. First, any scheme to establish a tier of Access Radio services needs to be prepared with a clear view of the relative priorities of Access Radio in relation to short-term RSLs and in relation to the potential to facilitate coverage enhancements for small-scale commerciallyfunded services. Also it should be noted that BBC Local Radio is starting to turn to use of BBC national bands for small filler relays; this 131
- 69. 5.0 OUTCOMES genuinely community-basedservice. For Access Radio, small is beautiful. From the point of view of the Evaluation a number of consequences follow. First and foremost, it is clear that there will be enough frequencies to make the establishment of Access Radio as a third tier alongside the BBC and ILR stations a practicable and worthwhile proposition. However, there could be fewer opportunities for RSLs than at present (see the discussion in Chapter 6.2.10ff on the continuing importance of RSLs). Interestingly, 2002 has seen fewer RSLs than in the past, perhaps because of reduced demand from active RSL operators who are now running Access Radio licences. Further research is required into overall FM capacity across the entire spectrum. It is recommended that Ofcom conduct such research and, in the light of its findings, determine allocations for Access Radio provision. 5.9. 6 1 caution, although some can perhaps lay claim to something rather more than anecdotal value. Secondly, because frequency scarcity is variable, Access Radio provision will inevitably be lumpy. In some places there will be numerous competitors for a licence, while in others there could be few or none. 5.9. 4 1 Thirdly, the full spectrum should be explored in the hunt for available frequencies. Although it is hoped that Access Radio would be a priority, with the changing media and technological scene a wide range of demands should be considered. The BBC does not hold its spectrum on the basis of any formal agreement. Once the Communications Bill has been enacted, the new regulator, Ofcom, will be responsible for allocating frequencies between the BBC and other broadcasters in a way that is consistent not only with the BBC having sufficient spectrum with which to fulfil its charter and agreement objectives, but also with Ofcom’s (and, overall, the Government’s) priorities. 5.9. 5 1 5.10 SURVEYS While variable in quality, these surveys suggest that there is much useful information not only about listener numbers, but also the potential socio-economic impact of Access Radio, to be uncovered. Neither the time nor the resources were available, either to the Evaluator or to the pilot projects, to produce an in-depth account of the actual impact of the Access Radio experiment on the communities that were affected. Indeed the pilot scheme did not last long enough for such research to accommodate long-term effects. So there is a gap in knowledge, which should be filled in due course. 5. 0. Anecdotal evidence from all fifteen 1 1 5.9. 3 1 5. 0.4 1 More particularly, if Access Radio is introduced, it is important that it be given appropriate prioritisation for access to available frequencies. In particular, Ofcom should determine whether more spectrum presently administered by the BBC could be made available for Access Radio. 5.9. 7 1 projects suggests that the Access Radio experiment is gaining widespread public approval. Their broadcasts are heard in local shops. Good attendances are observed at promotional events and satisfactory responses to competitions. Many phone calls and emails are received and, in the case of those with websites, hits (for Cross Rhythms this was recently measured as standing at a little more than 500 a day, a ‘hit’ being defined as when an individual accesses the web feed; for Sound Radio, 60,000 hits have been received since its launch; Resonance recorded between 250 and 500 visits a day in December 2002). A number of projects, including Angel Radio, Awaz FM, Desi Radio, GTFM, New Style Radio and Shine FM, have conducted audience research, although usually using small samples and untrained volunteer help (for details see Appendix 4). Their findings are generally positive; however, they need to be treated with 5. 0.2 1 5. 0.3 1 Other projects are planning research of one kind or another. Forest of Dean Radio is to conduct a listener survey. BCB intends to set up audience panels; this will elicit feedback to inform future programme making. The Chair of the Manchester University Sociology Dept, Professor Beverly Skeggs, has decided to research the work of the Manchester pilot stations with a view to ascertaining whether community radio can deliver social gain in disadvantaged areas. It is recommended that Ofcom commission a major research project with a view to assessing over a period of years the social and personal outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative, of Access Radio.18 5. 0.5 1 18 A useful paper on the subject, Measuring the Importance of Commercial Radio, was written in a MA Radio dissertation by Andrew Wood, a student at Goldsmiths College. 132 133
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- 71. 6.1 FUTURE FUNDING 6.1 In the event that Access Radio becomes 1. a permanent third tier of independent radio, various opinions have been expressed on how it should be financed. As this report argued (see Chapter 5, 7.15 & 7.22), Access Radio should depend on a plural funding base, encompassing advertising revenue as well as grants. In a fundamental sense, as the pilot scheme showed, it also greatly benefits from the free contributions in time and energy of the hundreds of volunteers that constitute its labour force. However, it has already been noted that some pilot projects reject the advertising route on a point of principle and that most of those which sought commercial earnings found them more difficult to attract than they had expected. Grants are variably available in different parts of the country. Some projects – Radio Regen and Bradford Community Broadcasting are good examples – have acquired over time the aptitude and the expertise for fundraising from local, national and European Union sources; but an Access Radio station can usually neither afford to buy the marketing and sales skills to sell advertising on a professional basis nor the extensive administrative know-how and time which the preparation of public sector applications for support nowadays demands. It has also become clear that many of the pilot projects underestimated the human resources required to develop outreach partnerships with schools, colleges and agencies in the voluntary sector. 6. .2 1 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES This chapter identifies some specific factors relating to the regulation of Access Radio projects and makes recommendations. To compound these difficulties, few sponsors or public bodies and foundations are interested in paying for salaries and operational costs; they much prefer to support projects and capital developments. So far as financial planning is concerned, most of the pilot projects reported that they felt a combination of powerlessness and insecurity and Access Radio managers found themselves spending time on fund-raising which would be better deployed on the core business of broadcasting. Those involved in the Access Radio experiment are (fairly) cheerfully exhausting themselves to make their projects a success because they know their licences will only last for a year. They might well think twice before committing themselves to a longer period of service unless the core financing of Access Radio is placed on a firmer footing. The Communications Bill allows for the possible creation of an Access Radio Fund, as the Radio Authority and others proposed. In a paper the Authority submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in June 2002 it wrote: ‘Raising the necessary funding has been a difficult task for most of the pilot groups (only partly because of the tight timescale of the experiment, and the long lead-time necessary for some grant applications). In our original submission to DCMS we proposed an Access Radio Fund that could “provide start-up and non-recurrent funding”… “probably on a matchfunded basis”. Our experience so far would lead us to argue strongly for the establishment of an Access Radio Fund, and to suggest that grants should not be limited to non-recurrent funding. Finding finance for on-going operating costs is just as difficult as for start-up funding, and we believe that grants should be made available for both. We still believe that any grants given from such a Fund should be on a match-funded basis.’ 6. .4 1 6. .3 1 136 An Access Radio Fund could go a long way to addressing some of the financial problems faced by the pilot projects. If it were introduced, what should its remit be? Should it 6. .5 1 137
- 72. 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES restrictitself to support for special initiatives of one kind or another on a competitive application basis? Some of the Access Radio projects point to the time and energy consumed by fundraising, especially for overheads and salary costs. They contend that a licensed Access Radio station should qualify for an annual revenue grant to cover overheads and the costs of a core staff of perhaps two posts. Other voices disagree, saying that a grant-aid policy of this kind, providing a guaranteed income, could release Access Radio stations from the need to be sensitive to community needs and encourage complacency. This is an understandable position, although it is worth noting that, in the cognate sector of the arts, drama companies, art galleries and so forth have long received regular revenue grants. While these subsidies are usually large enough to cover core operating costs, they seldom amount to more than a third of overall turnover, with the result that arts organisations are still obliged to pay attention to audience demand and to raise money from earnings and other sources. This analogy would tend to suggest that annual revenue grants for Access Radio stations would not necessarily subvert enterprise and responsiveness. 6. .6 1 On one point all sides are agreed; namely that any financial support from the government would have to be matched by funds raised elsewhere, whether locally, from the European Union, from foundations or from private donors, and from advertising and sponsorship. In this connection, it is important that the Access Radio Fund be only financed by the Treasury. This would leave the field clear for Access Radio stations to fund-raise from the widest possible range of sources without having to compete with government. 6. .7 1 138 The experience of the pilot scheme suggests that there would be little advantage in the Access Radio Fund restricting itself to subsidising one-off initiatives of one kind or another, although it might be wise not to exclude the possibility. Local authorities, the voluntary sector, government schemes and other agencies already offer a wide range of funding opportunities and it would seem pointless to duplicate what is already available to the energetic, assiduous and imaginative fund-raiser. Also a range of possible sources for capital funding for equipment and studios can be readily identified. 6. .8 1 On the other hand provision of large revenue grants which would cover all an Access Radio station’s operating costs might indeed tempt its management to grow impervious to outside pressures, especially from its local community, and to institutionalise an organisation whose raison d’ être should be a certain fleetness of foot and a capacity to respond nimbly and sensitively to circumstances as they arise. 6. .9 1 Can a middle road be found between perpetual indigence and over-security? It seems that the single largest gap in the capacity of the pilot projects lies not so much in the activity of broadcasting but in the twin fields of marketing and advertising sales and/or in public sector fund-raising (see Chapter 5.4). A key function of the Access Radio Fund should be to encourage, so far as possible, self-sufficiency. If it were to respond to applications to support the cost of fund-raising capacity, this would help stations to help themselves by enabling them to hire the relevant expertise, whether in the shape of in-house staff or an external contract for services. In addition, it is hard to envisage the long-term sustainability of an Access Radio 6. . 0 11 station without a degree of job security for a fulltime professional manager and some human resource for external liaison. The total financial requirement to cover fund-raising, management and liaison would be likely to be of the order of £60,000 per annum. 6. . 1 Grant aid should be conditional on 11 matched funding, partly to enable an applicant to demonstrate serious local support and partly to encourage other funders to assist with covering operating costs. If this were on a 50:50 basis, the call on the Access Radio Fund would be of the order of £30,000 per station. It would be appropriate for grants to be offered for three years in the first instance, after which the regulator should review the general financial sustainability of the sector. It may be that, by that time, at least some Access Radio stations would be in a stronger position to make their way without this form of revenue support. In that case the purposes of the fund could be revised, perhaps focussing on help for one-off projects and/or the encouragement of innovation. If, however, the aspiration of selfsufficiency turns out to be over-optimistic, the fund should maintain its original policy for another multi-annual period. 6. . 2 11 One factor that will have a decisive impact on the outcome of this debate will be the size of the Radio Fund, if one is established. The CMA has offered a first estimate of annual need between £20,000,000 to £40,000,000 for a general Community Media Fund. This assumes grants to 300 Access Radio stations of 30% of an average annual operational cost of £175,000; this totals £15 million, the remainder being attributed to community television. The Radio Authority’s initial view was less than £5 million. 6. . 3 11 If the government were to agree with the CMA, the revenue grant option would be affordable. A great deal hangs on the level of demand for licences and spectrum availability with which to meet it. It is quite possible, although to offer a quantified prediction at this stage is impractical, that demand will start high and grow rapidly. A conservative assumption would be the licensing of 200 Access Radio stations, a number which is the same as that of the letters of intent received for the Access Radio pilot scheme. In that case, if the proposals in this report were adopted the cost would not greatly exceed the Radio Authority’s assessment of need; 200 stations at £30,000 per annum would require £6,000,000. It is unlikely that so many licences would be allocated in the first year after the introduction of Access Radio; it would probably overstretch Ofcom’s administrative capacity and, in any event, an orderly process over (say) a period of three years would allow community groups the time to organise themselves and, where necessary, gain experience through RSLs, (for further discussion of the application process, see Chapter 6.2.8ff) rather than be obliged to scramble for licences at the first opportunity. If a target of 60 or so licence awards a year were to be set, the consequence for the Access Radio Fund might be that its size could be set at about £2 million in the first year, double that in the second and £6 million in the third. In the Radio Authority’s opinion only a lower target of about 30 licences a year would be achievable. This would have the effect of lengthening the rising trajectory of the fund from three to six years. 6. . 4 11 Were the government to establish a much smaller fund – for the sake of argument, at a level of £2 million per annum – very much less could be achieved. A different, more modest 6. . 5 11 139
- 73. 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES approachwould have to be adopted and building a financially sustainable Access Radio sector would be a slower, more arduous task. Resources would have to be used selectively against specific priorities. As financial sustainability would remain the highest obstacle for a new station to surmount, the most sensible course of action would be for the fund to maintain a contribution, albeit a smaller one, to fund-raising expenditure. If about 60 licences were awarded in each of the three years after the establishment of Access Radio, one possible way forward would be to allocate one-year challenge grants of up to £33,000 towards the costs of fund-raising. An alternative, designed to support a longer financial development period, would be to spread the spending of the Access Radio Fund’s three-year allocation over four years and offer two-year grants of up to £16,500 per annum for eligible stations. If only 30 licences a year were awarded, it follows that two-year grants of £33,000 per annum would be possible. 6. . 6 11 The basic assumption on which these calculations are based that 200 licences would be awarded over three years could be an overor an under-estimate, and there is no sure way of telling which. In the event of limited funds, it may be necessary for Ofcom to decide a maximum number of licences to be awarded each year in order to guarantee a particular level of resourcing. 6. . 7 11 A number of other questions arise. First, is there a case for the establishment of a Community Media Fund (incorporating radio) if the arguments for the interrelatedness and convergence of the various broadcasting and electronic media are accepted (see Chapter 2 17-23)? This proposition, which has been put forward by the Community Media Association, 6. . 8 11 140 merits serious consideration, although the Communications Bill as currently drafted only enables the establishment of a fund for the holders of ‘Access Radio licences’. In an amendment tabled at the Committee Stage, the CMA is proposing that the fund should be given a cross-media remit. Were this to be accepted, there is a danger that limited financial resources would be spread more thinly, at the expense of Access Radio. It might be wiser if the legislation were to establish an Access Radio Fund while allowing for the possibility that a wider Community Media Fund could be brought into being later. Secondly, if there is to be an Access Radio Fund, it has been proposed that it be administered by Ofcom. However, some argue that this responsibility should be given to a new agency established for the purpose. This would helpfully separate the enforcement of regulatory issues from quality evaluation and would also make it easier to bring peer assessment into the decision-making process. The Gaelic Broadcasting Fund (brought into being by the Broadcasting Act 1990) could provide a useful model for such an arrangement. 6. . 9 11 However, the Government may well wish to avoid the creation of a small new body. Also, as argued below (see Chapter 6.2.8), the evaluation of social gain will lie at the heart of the regulator’s duties, when issuing licences and testing the achievement of promises of delivery, and it is hard to see how in practice the judgements made by a regulator could be easily separated from those that would justify funding decisions. If they were, there would be duplication of effort and a risk of different groups of assessors coming to different views about the same radio station. On balance, it would be best for Ofcom to manage the fund, equipped with transparent and (so far as possible) objective criteria. Were 6. .20 1 it to be given this task, there would be a good case for a periodic external or independent review of its performance. 6. .2 1 1 In summary, it is recommended that: the Government establish an Access Radio Fund, which would support the fund-raising capacity of Access Radio stations and the employment of a station manager at a level of £30,000 per annum for three years to be equally matched from other sources the possible creation of a Community Media Fund be allowable by the new communications legislation after evaluation of the effectiveness of the Access Radio Fund Ofcom administer the Access Radio Fund 6.2 LICENSING METHODOLOGY AND EVALUATION The fundamental purpose of Access Radio, certainly so far as the pilot scheme is concerned and, one may assume, in the long term should it emerge as a new radio tier, is to deliver social gain. How will this be assessed? This section proposes a methodology for licensing and evaluation, which the future regulator may wish to take into consideration. 6.2. 1 The criteria set by the Radio Authority, as synthesised in the Evaluation Questionnaire, have the advantage of being largely measurable through quantitative indicators (except for linguistic impact) and cover the areas of social gain to which radio could reasonably be expected to make a contribution. They are consistent with the following amendment to 6.2.2 paragraph 42D (2) of the Communications Bill submitted by the Community Media Association, with a view to making the growth and development of community media an explicit duty and function of Ofcom: ‘In determining whether or to whom to grant a licence to provide a community service and the duration of such licence Ofcom shall have regard to – a) the extent to which the service would confer significant benefits on the public or on the particular community for which it is proposed to be provided; b) the extent to which the proposed service is supported by the public or the particular community for which it is proposed to be provided; c) the extent to which the proposed service includes provision for public access to training, production and broadcast facilities; and d) the extent to which the proposed service includes measures to ensure accountability to and participation by the public or the particular community for which it is proposed to be provided.’ These high-level principles are comprehensive and clear, although it might perhaps be helpful to qualify the word ‘benefits’ with some term or phrase that indicates their intended social nature. Were they – or similar ones – to be incorporated into the legislation, it would then be for Ofcom to translate them into more detailed and specific criteria along the lines articulated in the Evaluation Questionnaire, when it establishes its licensing methodology. 6.2.3 141
- 74. 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES Howis success or failure to be measured while maintaining the principle of regulation with a light touch, as the Government intends? It will be all the more important that this be convincingly demonstrated should Access Radio stations receive public subsidy from an Access Radio Fund. Without effective evaluation it would be uncertain whether grants were being well spent. Also, there would be a danger that Access Radio stations would fail to maintain their distinctiveness vis-à-vis commercial broadcasters. 6.2.4 The current Evaluation of the experimental scheme is relatively detailed and labour-intensive and, in large part, external to the fifteen projects and the communities they serve. If, as is possible, 200 or so Access Radio stations were to come into being, a similar methodology could become a costly burden for Ofcom. 6.2.5 The following approach to the issue would be relatively simple and cheap to operate and would be consistent with the underpinning principles of Access Radio. It would have the following components: 6.2.6 • two open facilitated workshops of local stakeholders and residents, once half-way through the licence period and once in the last year of the licence, to be convened by the station, which would comment on the station’s progress against its plan: a representative of the regulator would be in attendance and file a report, prepared in consultation with the station • the regulator only to intervene on complaint (as now), on serious failures to meet targets and on unsatisfactory outcomes of the midterm open meeting: the end of licence open meeting to be taken into account in the event of a re-application. • an annual published report by the station of achieved outputs and outcomes (with the opportunity to propose changes to the plan’s targets) 142 a. the ability of applicants to maintain the service during the licence period b. the extent to which the proposed service would cater for the tastes and interests of people living locally c. the extent to which the proposed service would broaden the range of local radio service already available in the area d. the level of support the application has locally. This system would be administratively manageable; it would acknowledge the value of self-evaluation; by depending on a single text (the Planning Questionnaire) as the basic application form, planning document, statement of promise of delivery and report-back mechanism, it would limit paperwork; and it would give the local community an influential role in assessing the station’s delivery on its promises. 6.2.7 In some parts of the country there is likely to be (perhaps fierce) rivalry for Access Radio licences. This could be a consequence of frequency scarcity (see Chapter 5.9); also, it could be judged that more than one licence would place too much of a strain on local funding bodies and the pool of potential volunteers. Social gain promised should be the key consideration in the process of adjudicating between competitors and awarding Access Radio licences; and perhaps the degree of disadvantage in the applicant’s coverage area could also be taken into account. 6.2.8 • an Evaluation Questionnaire (as in the present Evaluation – see Appendix 1), which traces a simple planning narrative, covering the licence period, from vision through priorities, actions and targets to outputs and outcomes, to be completed by an Access Radio station applicant as a licence submission and a promise of delivery Some other practical questions will also need to be addressed. First, existing criteria for the award of ILR licences should be examined for their relevance to Access Radio. They are: 6.2. 9 Clearly, the first criterion is as germane to Access Radio as to any other broadcaster. In the case of ILR stations, the Radio Authority insists on being assured that a licensee has a sound business plan and management experience to launch a new service. In principle, the same requirement should be made of Access Radio applicants, although the test of profitability should be replaced by one of financial viability. In practice, this would mean the preparation of a convincing fund-raising plan. It may also be advisable to require provisional assurances of grants or donations to cover capital and set-up costs and a fixed proportion (perhaps, 50%) of running costs for the first year of operation. In this connection, it would be reasonable to allow a financial quantification of the input of volunteers (the formula established for European Union structural funds would be a useful model). Alternatively, an Access Radio applicant could be required to demonstrate a track record of successful fund-raising. 6.2. 0 1 The need for managerial competence is a trickier issue. It is likely that some of those making promising proposals would not have a substantial administrative track record in broadcasting (although, where relevant, account should be taken of demonstrable competence in running a voluntary organisation or charity). So the hurdle should not be set too high. The system should allow for people to ‘have a go’ and fail in the attempt. More generally, Ofcom should be advised to maintain RSLs as a means by which broadcasters could gain experience, refine their social objectives and demonstrate their community contribution (while allowing for radio experience gained by other means – for example, on the Internet). It could then require evidence of successful RSLs from applicants; alternatively, applicants could be informed that RSL experience would be regarded as a significant recommendation. The frequency requirements of Access Radio may reduce the number of RSLs that can be awarded (see Chapter 5.9.13); care should taken to ensure an appropriate balance between the two types of licence. 6.2. 1 1 The second criterion was not brought into play during the pilot Access Radio scheme, but it would be appropriate for the regulator to make a judgement on the quality of the proposed programming policy. However, the Radio Authority’s current requirement for researched support in the case of commercial radio would probably be too financially demanding for Access Radio groups. Also, it would cut across their essential community ethos in the sense that programming should develop from a continuing interaction between the broadcaster and the community it serves and should reflect the input of local volunteers. RSL experience would enable the regulator to make an assessment of programming competence. 6.2. 2 1 143
- 75. 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES Thethird criterion is also applicable to Access Radio. For example, there may well be very small commercial stations with a community policy, whose activities resemble those of an Access Radio station (such as Heartland FM). In their case, as noted in Chapter 5.7.13, duplication would not only be pointless, but unjust. Even more importantly, one of Access Radio’s distinguishing features is its localness, its closeness to society’s grass roots; unless in exceptional circumstances (for example, a thinly populated rural area or a service for a minority community) the regulator should take care not to award licences with large coverage areas. As was the norm for the pilot scheme, MCAs should usually be up to a 5km radius. 6.2. 13 The requirement for local support, the fourth criterion, is as important for Access Radio as for ILR stations, if not more so. The Radio Authority’s current practice is to write to local authorities and politicians asking them for their comments, as well as seeking the views of the general public. Also applicants garner as much evidence of local support as they can, from MPs, local councils, other local bodies, businesses and members of the public. So far as Access Radio is concerned expressions of support from local residents and community groups should also be required and any track record of partnership with other agencies delivering social gain taken into account. Once again, RSL experience would be a simple but efficient means by which an applicant could demonstrate its closeness to a community’s roots. 6.2. 4 1 The constitutional structure of Access Radio stations would also be instructive in this regard. As in the pilot scheme, the Government proposes that they be not-for-profit or non-profitdistributing companies, ring-fenced in terms of 6.2. 5 1 144 ownership and operation from the ILR sector. There are also variations in the access that volunteers have to management structures and the decision-making process. Among many of the pilot projects, whatever the formal arrangements, power tends to lie in the hands of one or more founding personalities, although many of them promise to step back as their organisations mature. Should the regulator insist on constitutional structures that allow local people to become company members and elect boards of management or allow control to lie with boards elected by a ‘closed’ company membership? Should volunteers determine management and organisational policy, with the possible risk of self-interested or inward-looking decisions, or should the leading role be given to local residents and/or stakeholders? In the event of open membership schemes, how can the danger of external or factional takeover be avoided or at least minimised? Should there be tiers of membership with different powers and eligibilities? In sum, who should own an Access Radio station? As discussed above (see Chapter 3. 72-87), the extent to which local people were given access to decision-making and the election of directors would be evidence of a commitment to transparency, community empowerment and responsiveness to local demand. It should be a basic principle that board members and key station staff should be recognised as being members of the local community, or should have had substantial experience of it, and, as a rule, should live within the station’s reception range. However, experience of the pilot scheme suggests that a one-size-fits-all constitutional approach is unlikely to suit the needs of all community groups. Ofcom should encourage Access Radio applicants to adopt an open membership structure, but should accept arrangements where a closed membership is supplemented by convincing and robust systems of consultation with the local community. In general, the regulator should monitor best practice and promote ‘what works’. would be presumed to have changed and a break-clause in the licence would automatically come into effect. The regulator would then review the licence, using the proposed end-term evaluation procedure (see Chapter 6.19-26), Existing legislation places very few barriers on commercial stations’ right to change owners. By contrast, an Access Radio station will not have a commercial value, although in certain cases it could be financially successful, and so is not susceptible to a buy-out. However, its ownership, if it is not entrusted to a widely based local membership, but rests in the hands of a closed group of directors (for example, by virtue of their being the only company members), could easily be transferred to another organisation. In such a case, while the promise of delivery would remain in place, the service would be provided by a completely different set of people. To cite a notional example, a station could very easily be expropriated by an unsuccessful competitor for the original licence, in whom the regulator had little confidence. 6.2.20 6.2. 7 1 6.2. 16 On the other hand, democratic and transparent constitutional arrangements bring the risk that a station is taken over by an opposing faction in the community. In areas which are highly politicised or where there are mutually hostile community media groupings, this could become a very real possibility. 6.2. 18 A solution, admittedly a somewhat interventionist one, could lie in the regulator establishing constitutional guidelines for Access Radio stations, accommodating both the open and the closed membership principles. If more than a certain proportion of the Board, including its chairperson, were replaced at a general meeting or resigned, the ownership of the station 6.2. 19 and either confirm it or revoke it. A further point on ownership needs to be made. It is conceivable that in certain cases, especially those where a ‘community of interest’ is involved, Access Radio stations might become members of chains under a single management. In such cases, central services of one kind or another might be provided. While certain helpful economies of scale could be envisaged and specialist services provided that an individual station might struggle to offer, it would be against the spirit of Access Radio for a station’s owners not to be local. So it is recommended that Ofcom should not award Access Radio licences to stations that belong to chains. An exception might be made in the case of organisations such as Radio Regen which launch stations under their management with the explicit intention of making them fully independent after a period of development. It would, of course, be permissible for Access Radio stations to purchase, singly or collectively, some external service (say, news packages from the BBC or elsewhere). The length of Access Radio licences also calls for careful thought. It could be argued that it should be the same as that for ILR broadcasters – namely, eight years at present, but twelve years as proposed in the new legislation. Certainly, at first glance, it would seem difficult to arrive at a rationale for a different term. However, it is not obvious that all future aspirant Access Radio stations would wish to hold licences for as long as twelve, or even eight, years. New and (sometimes 6.2.21 145
- 76. 6.0 REGULATORY ISSUES inexperienced)organisations might be alarmed by so onerous a commitment. Also, since there may be many competitors with varying social objectives for an Access Radio licence in a given area, there is a strong case in equity for enabling a reasonably rapid turnover of licence-holders. It is suggested that five years would provide sufficient security of tenure for a licence holder both for delivering social gain and for fundraising, while at the same time creating adequate opportunity for new Access Radio entrants. 6.2.22 In summary, it is recommended that • the regulator only to intervene on complaint (as now), on serious failures to meet targets and on unsatisfactory outcomes of the mid-term open meeting: the end of licence open meeting to be taken into account in the event of a re-application. Ofcom should not award Access Radio licences to stations that belong to chains. Access Radio licence applicants should be required to produce a viable fund-raising plan. the evaluation of Access Radio licensees should be as follows: RSLs to be maintained as evidence of Access Radio licence applicants’ • an Evaluation Questionnaire (as in the present Evaluation – see Appendix 1) to be completed by an Access Radio station applicant as a licence submission and a promise of delivery • commitment to social gain objectives • an annual published report by the station of achieved outputs and outcomes if more than 50% of an Access Radio station’s board, including the chairman, resign or are replaced at a general meeting, Ofcom should review the licence and either confirm or revoke it. • two open facilitated workshops of local stakeholders and residents, once half-way through the licence period and once in the last year of the licence, to be convened by the station, which would comment on the station’s progress against its plan 146 • programming competence • closeness to its local community Access Radio licences should last for five years. 147
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- 78. It is furtherrecommended that OVERVIEW 7.1 The Evaluation of the Access Radio pilot scheme has shown that the fifteen projects are delivering on their promises of social gain. These can be summarised under three headings – 7.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Evaluation of the Access Radio pilot scheme has shown that the fifteen projects are delivering on their promises of social gain. 7.4 1. Access Radio stations should have access to professional expertise in administration, fund-raising and community liaison (Chapter 5.4 and 5.5) a. individual empowerment and enhanced employability through the acquisition of transferable skills. The pilot projects are building a good track record of fostering employability, especially among people suffering from disadvantage and social exclusion. Most have recruited and trained numerous new volunteers, enhancing their powers of linguistic expression and personal self-confidence. 2. Ofcom should satisfy itself that, in the case of a partnership-based Access Radio applicant, decision-making processes are clearly defined, transparent and robust (Chapter 5.6) b. boosting of community spirit. The pilot projects are successfully embedding themselves in networks of local partnerships and working closely with others to foster community pride and self-awareness. c. contribution to the improved delivery of public services and of information to hard-to-reach groups. The pilot projects are helping to improve and develop communication between local government, the education sector and other public services (for example, the police) and the communities they serve. The major conclusion of this Evaluation is that Access Radio promises to be a positive cultural and social development and should be introduced as a third tier of radio in the United Kingdom. 7.3 150 3. an Access Radio station should normally be permitted to receive up to half its income from advertising sales and sponsorship. In exceptional cases, Ofcom should be empowered to vary this rule in the event of a special case being made (Chapter 5.7) 4. where a small commercial radio station shares a comparable coverage area with an Access Radio station that sells advertising, an Access Radio licence could be offered only if the applicant can show that it will present little or no advertising sales and sponsorship competition (Chapter 5.7) 5. Access Radio licences should usually not be granted in areas where a commercial radio station’s measured coverage area (MCA) falls below 40,000 adults (except in the case of ‘micro’ MCAs). However, at the time of ILR licence renewal, commercial and Access Radio applicants should be allowed to compete in such an area and Ofcom should either award a commercial or an Access Radio licence. (Chapter 5.7) 151
- 79. 7.0 CONCLUSIONS 6. TheBBC should take an early opportunity to set out consultative proposals for collaboration with, and support for, Access Radio (Chapter 5.8) 7. Ofcom should conduct research into overall FM capacity across the entire spectrum and, in the light of its findings, determine allocations for Access Radio provision (Chapter 5.9) 8. Ofcom should determine whether spectrum presently administered by the BBC could be made available for Access Radio (Chapter 5.9) 12. Ofcom should administer the Access Radio Fund (Chapter 6.1) 13. the evaluation of Access Radio licensees should be as follows: • an Evaluation Questionnaire (as in the present Evaluation – see Appendix 1) to be completed by an Access Radio station applicant as a licence submission and a promise of delivery • an annual published report by the station of achieved outputs and outcomes 9. Ofcom should commission a major research project with a view to assessing over a period of years the social and personal outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative, of Access Radio (Chapter 5.10) • two open facilitated workshops of local stakeholders and residents, once half-way through the licence period and once in the last year of the licence, to be convened by the station, which would comment on the station’s progress against its plan 10. the Government should establish an Access Radio Fund, which would support the fundraising capacity of Access Radio stations and the employment of a station manager at a level of £30,000 per annum for three years to be equally matched from other sources (Chapter 6.1) • the regulator only to intervene on complaint (as now), regarding serious failures to meet targets and on unsatisfactory outcomes of the mid-term open meeting: the end of licence open meeting to be taken into account in the event of a re-application (Chapter 6.2) 11. the possible creation of a Community Media Fund should be allowable in the new communications legislation after evaluation of the effectiveness of the Access Radio Fund (Chapter 6.1) 152 15. Ofcom should not award Access Radio licences to stations that belong to chains (Chapter 6.2) 16. Access Radio licence applicants should be required to produce a viable fund-raising plan (Chapter 6.2) 17. Restricted Service Licences (RSLs) should be maintained as evidence of Access Radio licence applicants’ • commitment to social gain objectives • programming competence • closeness to its local community (6.2) 18. if more than 50% of an Access Radio station’s board, including the chairman, resign or are replaced at a general meeting, Ofcom should review the licence and either confirm or revoke it (6.2) 19. Access Radio licences should last for five years (6.2) 14. Ofcom should not award licences with large coverage areas. As was the norm for the pilot scheme. MCAs should usually be up to a 5km radius 153
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- 81. APPENDIX 1 ACCESS RADIO EVALUATIONQUESTIONNAIRE PLANNING TEMPLATE QUESTIONNAIRE STEP ONE Please fill in this questionnaire and return it as an email attachment by ADD DATE. Notes of guidance from me are printed in italics. (You will see below a Planning Template Table into which you may wish to input your answers: alternatively just use the questionnaire itself.) VISION Describe in one sentence the benefits which your Access Radio project will bring to the community or interest group you are serving This will be the basic planning and evaluation document for your Access Radio project. I will ask you to report on your achievements at the end of your licence period and for 12 month projects half-way through. That will mean measuring the targets you set for yourselves under STEP SIX. The questionnaire has been revised and developed following the Access Radio Evaluation Workshops held in London on 9 January and in Manchester on 14 January 2002, attended by representatives of all the projects. It is not intended that it should supersede your application to the Radio Authority, but that it should be a common framework for all the Access Radio projects. It will ensure that you set targets and measures which will deliver the range of social gains and public benefits which the Radio Authority expects of the Access Radio scheme. Please remember the planning principles we discussed during the Evaluation Workshops (it may help you to refer to the overheads I emailed to you recently). You will find many of the entries you will be making into this questionnaire already described in your applications, so I hope the process of filling it in will not be too difficult. But when fixing targets, working out baseline information and deciding measurement mechanisms, you may have to do some new thinking. 1. during your Access Radio licence period 2. if you were to broadcast on a more permanent basis 1. 2. STEP TWO PRIORITIES Describe the key priorities for your Access Radio project (that is, the two or three key areas of change which the project will bring about). These will probably be expressed in terms of social gain (they will be fairly general – see, for example, the Vision and Strategic Objectives in the Ruritania FM model in the Evaluation Workshop overheads). STEP THREE I will soon be visiting you all and we can discuss any particular problems you may have. But please email or phone me too if you can’t wait. ACTIONS Describe the things you will do to deliver your priorities. Each of these ‘actions’ should be accompanied by a target. This is your ‘promise of delivery’. IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE INFORMATION REQUIRED OR HOW TO OBTAIN IT, PLEASE SAY SO. DON’T MAKE THINGS UP! Actions are specific and practical steps you will take (for example, your programme strands or training programmes). As for targets, if one of your actions is ‘providing local news’, you could say how many hours of local news you will broadcast in a week. BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. 156 157
- 82. APPENDIX 1 ACCESS RADIOEVALUATION WORKSHOPS STEP FOUR STEP FIVE SOCIAL GAIN Each Access Radio project has its unique character and particular aims. However, your Vision, Priorities and Actions should be consistent with the Radio Authority’s requirements for evidence of social gain. Some ways by which your Access Radio project could bring ‘social gain’ or ‘public benefit’ are listed below (they are drawn from the Radio Authority’s brief for the Access Radio scheme). What are the key benefits you will be providing in each case? Are there any additional ways by which your Access Radio project can bring benefits? BASELINE INFORMATION If you are to prove your Social Gain benefits, you will need to know the situation as it is now before your Access Radio project starts transmitting (the ‘baseline’). How will you do this in relation to the social gain/public benefits? If your project is not expected to deliver one or more of the Radio Authority’s measures, please say so. (Your station may not be contributing to all the gains/benefits listed below. That’s not a problem, but, if possible, just say why a particular gain/benefit is beyond the remit you have set yourself. In this section don’t list specific organisations you will be working with, but focus on the benefits you intend to provide. There may be overlaps between the different Radio Authority criteria. Don’t worry about that, but mention them when they occur). • provision of training opportunities (Please note that training may be (a) in broadcasting skills and (b) in general transferable skills (for example, management of a project, power to express self, IT skills) • provision of work experience opportunities (Please note that work experience may be (a) in broadcasting skills and (b) in general transferable skills (for example, management of a project, power to express self, IT skills) • contribution to local social inclusion objectives (Describe the contribution you will be making to named social inclusion objectives) • contributions to the work of local education (that is, schools and colleges) projects (Describe the contribution you will be making to educational objectives) • service to neighbourhood or interest groups (Describe what benefits you will bring to which sections of the local community) • access to the project by the targeted neighbourhood or interest groups as regards 1. direct access by participants in the project’s management 2. direct access by participants in broadcasting (Describe your aims only; you can list your targets – that is, numbers of people etc. whom you hope to involve – in STEP SIX) • linguistic impact (see my note, Linguistic Impact) • other (The point of this section is to show that you are filling a gap in provision or are complementing existing provision. It will also create a baseline against which your achievements can be measured. I am not expecting you to do a vast amount of research; I assume you already know your local community well. If necessary you may be able to get relevant information from your local authority, Learning and Skills Council and the Annual Reports of relevant organisations. As an alternative you can provide me with contact information (addresses, phone numbers), so that I can make contact with these information sources myself. • existing work of local social inclusion projects with which you may be entering into partnership or working closely with (list the social exclusion projects and give a description of their work; if possible, estimate numbers of people benefiting) If your project is already established and has done work (in radio or other fields), please say under each heading below, as relevant, what your achievements have been to date. • are the neighbourhood or interest groups to which you will be offering a service, receiving similar help/support from anyone else at present? (list the opportunities available) When counting numbers of participants, please give me breakdowns by age, ethnicity and gender. The Radio Authority is also interested in the socio-economic make-up of participants: I would be happy with estimates. I recognise that in most but not all cases, you will be aiming at disadvantaged sectors of society and not at a wide socio-economic spectrum. • direct access at present (if any) by targeted neighbourhood or interest groups/individuals in the management of community organisations (list the opportunities available) • existing provision of training opportunities similar to those you may be offering (list names of those offering the training and, if possible, estimate numbers of those trained) • existing contributions by outside organisations similar to yours to the work of local education (that is, schools and colleges) projects (list the educational establishment and describe intended contribution; if possible, estimate numbers of people benefiting) • direct access at present (if any) by targeted neighbourhood or interest groups/individuals in broadcasting or arts and cultural activity (list the opportunities available) • linguistic impact (see my note, Linguistic Impact) • other • existing provision of work experience opportunities similar to those you may be offering (list names of those offering work experience and, if possible, estimate numbers of those trained) 158 159
- 83. APPENDIX 1 ACCESS RADIOEVALUATION WORKSHOPS STEP SIX STEP SEVEN TARGETS In order to achieve change you will need to set targets. What targets will you set for the social gain/public benefits? In other words, how much do you promise to deliver? MEASUREMENT What mechanisms (preferably simple) will you use to measure successful outcomes? Many of your targets will be quantitative (for example, the number of people doing something), but others may be more subjective (for example, development of skills). (These might include keeping logs of participants; conducting surveys; self-evaluation reports by participants; your own assessment reports; assessment reports by local groups etc. Don’t promise to do more than you are capable of providing, but remember that I need solid evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, for my Evaluation Report). • provision of training opportunities (how many people will be trained? what will they gain from the training?) • provision of work experience opportunities (how many people will be trained? what will they gain from the work experience?) • links with and contributions to the work of local social inclusion projects (which projects? describe the contributions with expected results. how many people will be involved?) • links with and contributions to the work of local education (that is, schools and colleges) projects (how many links? describe the contributions with expected results. how many people will be involved?) 160 • service to neighbourhood or interest groups (list the neighbourhood or interest groups involved and describe the service you will be offering with expected results. how many people will be involved?) • access to the project by the targeted neighbourhood or interest groups as regards 1. direct access by participants in the project’s management 2. direct access by participants in broadcasting (how many participants? what will they gain from the experience?) • linguistic impact (see my note, Linguistic Impact) • other (if there are any other social gains or public benefits you expect to provide, describe them with targets) • service to neighbourhood or interest groups • access to the project by the targeted neighbourhood or interest groups as regards 1. direct access by participants in the project’s management 2. direct access by participants in broadcasting • provision of training opportunities • linguistic impact (see my note, Linguistic Impact) • provision of work experience opportunities • other • links with and contribution to the work of local social inclusion projects • links with and contributions to the work of local education (that is, schools and colleges) projects 161
- 84. APPENDIX 2 ILR LETTERS Generictext of letters from the Evaluator to commercial radio stations /companies March 2002 December 2002 Dear Dear I am writing to ask for your input into an independent evaluation of the Radio Authority’s Access Radio Project, which I have been invited to conduct. I will be reporting to the Authority in early 2003. Fifteen not-for-profit access radio groups across the United Kingdom have been selected to take part in an experiment designed to demonstrate the sustainability, or otherwise, of local broadcasting aimed at social gain and public benefit. They have been awarded broadcasting licences of up to twelve months. They cover a wide range of community interests. One of these groups, ADD NAME, will soon be operating in your area. In brief, it aims to ADD TEXT . As well as testing its contribution to community development, I will wish to assess its impact on the local radio ecology. I enclose a paper that sets out the aims of the Access Radio project and the factors I will be taking into account for the evaluation. I would be most grateful for comments of ADD NAME’S likely impact, both in relation to its likely contribution to the community in so far as you are familiar with its aims and, more particularly, to your own station’s operations. I am especially interested in answers to the following questions. I appreciate that at this point your answers are bound to be speculative, but I intend to write to you again towards the end of the Access Radio licence period to ask for your views on the actual impact. Access Radio I am writing to you again, as I promised, concerning the independent evaluation of the Radio Authority’s Access Radio Project which I have been invited to conduct. I will be reporting to the Authority in early 2003; my interim report can be found on the Radio Authority’s website (www.radioauthority.org.uk). Fifteen not-for-profit access radio groups across the United Kingdom are taking part in an experiment designed to demonstrate the sustainability, or otherwise, of local broadcasting aimed at social gain and public benefit. They have been awarded broadcasting licences of up to twelve months. They cover a wide range of community interests. One of these groups, ADD NAME, is operating in your area. As well as testing its contribution to community development, I wish to assess their impact on the local radio ecology. In my letter to you of early March 2002, I asked for your preliminary views. I would now be most grateful for comments on ADD NAME’s actual impact (or, for that matter, absence of impact), both in relation to its contribution to the community in so far as you are familiar with this and, more particularly, to your own station’s operations. I am especially interested in answers to the following questions, which are much the same as those I previously asked you. • Do you support the idea of Access Radio? • Does the Access Radio station complement your own programming or compete with it? • Would you expect the Access Radio station to complement your own programming or compete with it? • Does the Access Radio station appeal to an audience segment or segments which your station does not • Is the Access Radio station likely to appeal to an audience segment or segments which your station does not seek to attract? • Would you expect Access Radio to find new talent and programme ideas from which local commercial radio might benefit? • If the Access Radio station in your area were to seek advertising, would you anticipate adverse consequences for your station’s advertising revenue? If you wish to make other points, please do not hesitate to do so. I would appreciate a reply to this letter in writing (whether by email or through the post). Do give me a call if you would like more information. seek to attract? • Would you expect Access Radio to find new talent and programme ideas from which local commercial radio might benefit? • If the Access Radio station in your area have sought to sell advertising, have you noticed any adverse consequences for your station’s advertising revenue? If the answer is yes, I would appreciate details. If you wish to make other points, please do not hesitate to do so. I would appreciate a reply to this letter in writing (whether by email or through the post). Do give me a call if you would like more information. I very much look forward to hearing from you. I very much look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Yours sincerely, Professor Anthony Everitt Professor Anthony Everitt 162 163
- 85. APPENDIX 3 LINGUISTIC IMPACT (b) ACCESSRADIO (a) QUESTIONNAIRE FOR EVALUATION OF RECORDED PROGRAMMES IN ASIAN LANGUAGES ACCESS RADIO EVALUATION Name of Access Radio project Linguistic Impact (final version 28 July 2002) A NOTE BY ANTHONY EVERITT FOR THE ACCESS RADIO PROJECTS At the recent Evaluation Workshops in London and Manchester, I promised to send you some further guidance on the question of ‘linguistic impact’. In its Brief for Access Radio Pilot Project Evaluation, the Radio Authority asks: ‘Did services provide a voice for participants? Did they manage to be relevant to the target audience and participants in terms of the speech output and the language used? Was it possible to make a contribution to an increased awareness of the richness of language used in the locality?’ I interpret this statement as follows. In general, it is hoped that the Access Radio projects will encourage originality of expression and the avoidance of cliché and reflect a diversity of voices from across all age groups. With this in mind, the Evaluation will measure linguistic impact in three ways: 1. the range of languages used relative to the language make-up of the constituency which the Access Radio station is serving Title/date on CD/cassette 2. fluency in the use of language by participants when broadcasting Author of report 3. confident expression ‘on air’ of the richness and variety of language or dialect and, in particular of that variety of language considered to be good by its native speakers (as distinct from an over use of the linguistic conventions of radio broadcasting). I propose that these three impacts be measured as follows: Date of report 1 Brief description of programme contents (not more than 100 words) Please indicate if the type of programme(s) – e.g. a news bulletin, magazine programme, sports or other commentary, music programme (please specify genre), talk, drama or other (please specify). • preliminary statement of intent and end of-licence self-evaluation by Access Radio projects • qualitative assessment of recordings of programmes, preferably tracking one or more programme strands or the development of individual broadcasters (as agreed with individual projects). I will conduct the qualitative assessment. In the case of Asian languages, I will seek advice from the School for Oriental and African Studies and, for Welsh, from the Radio Authority’s member for Wales. AE 28 July 2002 164 165
- 86. APPENDIX 4 APPENDIX 3 LINGUISTICIMPACT AUDIENCE SURVEYS 2. How fluently did the presenter(s) use the language of the broadcast? Please tick the relevant box. FLUENCY Excellent Good Adequate Poor Please add any further comments (not more than 50 words). DESI RADIO 127 Questionnaries were completed mainly on Southall Broadway and around the streets in the Borough of Ealing. Six young people asked the questions and completed the Survey. RESULTS: 3. How confident was the expression ‘on air’ of the richness and variety of language or dialect and, in particular, of that variety of language considered to be good by its native speakers (as distinct from an over use of the linguistic conventions of radio broadcasting)? Please tick the relevant box. CONFIDENCE Excellent Good Adequate Poor Please add any further comments (not more than 50 words). 4. Please give a brief, qualitative assessment of the programme(s) (not more than 150 words). Issues to touch on may include: authoritativeness of the presenter; ‘professionalism’ of programme production; likely social relevance of the programme(s); entertainment value of the programme(s). 1. How often do you listen to the radio? Never 5 Occasionally 15 Few days a week 15 Every day 91 5. What sort of programmes do you like? Music 120 Talk and Discussion 38 Local News 30 National News 50 2. Where do you listen to the radio? At home At work In the car Other 6. If you like music programmes, which of these do you listen to? Spiritual Music “Bani” Light Bhangra Show Golden Oldies Folk –“ Geet” Traditional Bhangra Night Music Other 65 69 57 46 65 47 16 7. Male/Female? Male Female 59 67 8. Age Group of listener? Up to 16 16-21 21-30 31-45 46-60 61+ yrs 6 31 24 32 13 11 109 39 74 3 3. What station do you listen to regularly? (don’t prompt) Desi Radio 93 Sunrise 30 Other asian stations 15 English radio stations* 37 Other 10 Nothing 5 *=kiss, capital, heart 4. Have you listened to any of these stations? Desi Radio 108 Sunrise 82 BBC Radio 1 38 LBC 5 BBC London 166 10 167
- 87. APPENDIX 4 AUDIENCE SURVEYS SHINEFM 9. What language do you naturally speak at home? Panjabi Hindi English Urdu Gujarati Tamil Pashto Other 10. Thinking of last week, what best describes you? Working Full-time Working Part-time Unemployed, Looking for work Looking After family Sick Retired Student At School other 11. 1st Half of your post code/town? UB TW HA SL W Other 116 17 80 9 1 2 1 4 37 28 5 12 2 13 30 14 79 24 9 2 5 5 12. Percentage of Desi Radio listeners in each Borough UB (Ealing) 65 TW (Hillingdon) HA (Harrow) SL (Slough) Other 20 5 2 1 13. Age group of Desi Radio Listeners up to 16 16 - 21 21- 30 31- 45 46 - 60 61+ yrs 3 17 17 37 13 11 14. Favourable Music Programmes of Desi Listeners Spiritual music “Bani” Light Bhangra Show Golden Oldies Folk – “Geet” Traditional Bhangra Night Music Other 59 55 50 39 50 32 7 SHINE FM undertook a street questionnaire. 372 people were interviewed in early December 2002 between 3.45pm and 5pm, with approximately 25% surveyed outside a local supermarket and 75% on the main street of Banbridge. The survey was conducted by Youth With A Mission students, who wore nothing associated with Shine FM and were instructed not to represent themselves as Shine FM. (The students were only available at the above times, which meant that people who work during office hours or do not come into town during those hours were not interviewed. Shine FM believes that many businesses in the town who listen to Shine FM were not reached. Also the survey did not reach another audiences segment, the housebound.) The results of the survey, when compared with a similar exercise during an RSL in 2000, include a slightly rising trend in listeners from a population of about 40,000, it estimates that more than 14,000 people have listened to the station). Most respondents preferred music programming and only a small percentage favoured Christian broadcast content, suggesting that many listen to Shine FM as a generalist broadcaster. Strong approval was recorded for the idea of a Banbridge radio station. SURVEY RESULTS: (Survey Results from 2000 also included) Do you listen to Shine FM? When did you listen most? 2000 Yes No 2002 29% 71% 34% 66% If ‘NO’ was there a reason why you didn’t listen? 2000 2002 Didn’t know Don’t listen to radio Not my style Other 54% 19% 4% 22% 49% 18% 10% 23% How did you hear about Shine FM? 2000 2002 Newspaper Banner A friend Brochure Other 168 16% 29% 24% 30% 11% 11% 46% 5% 27% 2000 2002 23% 15% 16% 34% 11% 23% 15% 20% 31% 12% What topics do you like best? 2000 2002 Music 69% Chat 7% Christian 4% Local Events/Community Noticeboard Local News 8% 59% 14% 5% 5% 5% Morning (6am – 12pm) Afternoon (12 – 4pm) Drivetime (4-7pm) Evening (7pm – midnight) Late (Midnight – 6am) Interviews Sport Other 3% 4% 5% 5% 5% 1% 169
- 88. APPENDIX 4 AUDIENCE SURVEYS ANGELRADIO Is Shine FM a good idea for Banbridge? 99% said ‘Yes’ compared with 96% in 2000. How many hours do you spend listening to Shine FM in a typical week? Average: 2.9 hours As one of the project’s aims is to combat isolation, the survey asked ‘How many people are in your household?’ Eight people answered ‘one person’, every one of whom listened to Shine FM on average 4.9 hours a week. 29 people answered one or two people, 86% of whom listen to Shine FM for an average of 3.6 hours a week. Although these samples are small, Shine FM believes that the figures suggest that the station played a significant role in the lives of those who would most likely be more isolated NEW STYLE RADIO ANGEL has conducted a telephone survey of a sample of 48 listeners. The findings include the following NEW STYLE RADIO in Birmingham has analysed the profile of 1,500 users who visited the project’s premises, including government officials, celebrities and others, between 17 June and 17 December 2002. The information is broken down in to the following categories: a) Gender, age, ethnicity and racial grouping b) Geographical area c) Disability Users were divided almost equally among men and women and were spread across the city, although the largest proportion came from areas near NSR’s studios where a large AfricanCaribbean community lives. In terms of disability, NSR’s current building is not disabled-friendly, so disabled participants are not encouraged (although there are two minor-disabled presenters). Percentage of surveyed Angel listeners who now listen to their radios for more hours than they did with their previous station 87.2% Percentage of surveyed Angel listeners who listen for the same amount of hours as they did with their previous station 12.8% Average additional daily hours for Angel Radio 6 hours Percentage of Angel listeners who did not listen to any previous radio 16.5% DEMOGRAPHY OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS How far do you live from the studio? 2000 2002 < 1 mile 2-5 miles 5-10 miles >10 miles 58% 19% 13% 10% 48% 30% 15% 7% Age Group 2000 25% 36% 39% 36% 28% 36% Male Female 38% 62% 47% 53% 170 ETHNICITY GENDER MALE Angel Radio’s impact on TV audiences Watching less TV 87% Watching more TV 0% Watching same TV 13% FEMALE Black – African Caribbean 501 Black African 195 Black Other 51 Indian 54 Asian – Other 6 White – United Kingdom 75 White Other 0 Any other ethnic group 0 882 TOTAL 269 72 60 114 0 162 0 0 677 1559 GRAND TOTAL As the table below shows, by far the largest number of users were young people, with the large majority being between 25 and 45 years old and very few in older age brackets. AGE RANGE Percentage of listeners outside target audience – i.e. younger listeners compared to the percentage of listeners aged 60 or over Under target age 4% Target age 96% 2002 Under 20 20 - 40 40+ Percentage of listeners living inside the Borough of Havant compared to the percentage of those living outside the target area Inside borough 53% Outside borough 47% It is interesting to note a fairly wide ethnic spread, as the table below shows. GENDER MALE 16-17 18-24 25-45 46-65 66-79 80 SUB TOTAL GRAND TOTAL FEMALE 0 47 774 3 1 0 825 57 183 449 45 0 0 732 1559 Angel Radio’s impact on audiences new to radio or returned to radio Listeners converting to radio 89% Listeners new to radio 11% 171
- 89. APPENDIX 4 AUDIENCE SURVEYS FORESTOF DEAN RADIO GTFM Wavehill Consultancy an independent Research Company carried out Market Research on behalf of the South West Regional Development Agency in July 2002. They looked at five projects funded by SWRDA in the area, among them Forest of Dean Radio, with a view to learning about their public profile. A sample survey was taken in the centre of Pontypridd in December 2002. The sample of 82 people was broadly representative of GTFM’s target audience ie from 15 years upwards. The results showed Two hundred members of the public were asked: 1. Have you heard of Forest of Dean Radio? 70 people answered ‘Yes’ 2. Do you listen to Forest of Dean Radio? 50 people answered ‘yes’ If it is borne in mind that the project only went on air on 19 July 2002, this is not an unsatisfactory result, reflecting (it may be presumed) memories of the project’s RSLs and perhaps on successful publicity for the Access Radio launch. The station is in the process of carrying out its own Market Research following six months on-air. ALL AGE GROUPS • 19% had listened to GTFM recently. This was the 3rd highest score. It is significant that the score was the same as GMG’s Real Radio, which is the most listened to station in South Wales. The top score (at 50%) was Red Dragon, which is the most listened to station listened to in the Cardiff area. BBC Radio 1 was 2nd with 49%. • GTFM is the 5th most listened to station – rating higher than BBC Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live, Radio Cymru, Classic FM, Virgin and Galaxy. • 6am to midday is the most popular listening time. • satisfaction with GTFM (marks out of 10) Music 5.5, Presenters 6, localness 7, talk programmes 4.5, phone in programmes 3.5, news and information 6. • most surveyed are working and earn the highest income in the household. • most are white. 172 RESONANCE FM FROM OVER 35s SURVEYED • Stations listened to recently – GTFM is the 4th most listened to 1 Red Dragon 2 Radio 1, Real and Virgin 3 BBC Wales, Radio 2 4 GTFM, Classic • Station listened to most often – GTFM is 6th 1 BBC Wales 2 Real Radio, Radio 1 3 Radio 2 4 Classic FM 4 Red Dragaon 5 GTFM, Radio 3 RESONANCE FM has conducted a detailed review of usage of its web-site pages, recording just over 19,000 visits for its top pages. AWAZ FM AWAZ FM is half way through a street survey of 500 Asian people in Glasgow, which is due to be completed in February 2003. Preliminary findings suggest that most of the Asian community have heard of Awaz FM and that a majority listen to its broadcasting every day. • 6am – 9am is most popular Radio listening time • 9am – midday is most popular GTFM listening time FROM UNDER 35s • Stations listened to recently – GTFM is 3rd most listened to 1 Radio 1 2 Red Dragon 3 GTFM • Station listened to most often – GTFM is 3rd 1 Radio 1 2 Red Dragon 3 GTFM • 9am – midday is most popular radio listening time • 9am – midday is most popular GTFM listening time 173