Proposal for an online interactive multimedia outreach platform for the Religious Society of Friends in London UK

1. Friends' Radio
Ministry on the Internet

2. Friends' Radio
• What does it do?
• Who is behind it?
• Who is the audience?
• What sort of programming?
• Project timeline
• Finance
www.williamheath.net

3. What is Friends' Radio?
Branded multimedia channel which:
• engages with deep issues of human dignity and equality
• covers current affairs and culture
• listens with respect to "other" voices
• practises measured, constructive self-expression
• sensitive listening to people's inner meaning
• discernment over difficult issues
• revels in world culture and the unfolding will of the spirit
www.williamheath.net

4. What is Friends' Radio like?
• Open to insights of all faiths of those of no faith
• Broadly non-conformist, respectfully questions authority and established dogma
• Always suggests constructive alternatives
• Egalitarian
• Faithful to Quaker insights on peace, equality and the environment
• It is simple - radical - contempory
www.williamheath.net

5. Who is behind Friends' Radio?
• Inspired and informed by QCCC
• Initiated by Quakers (but NOT an official voice of BYM)
• Draws on material and insights from other faith and culture groups
• Requires brilliant, energetic, media-savvy part-time project manager
• Production & distribution based on Leicester "EasyChannel" project
www.williamheath.net

6. Friends' Radio is for people of discernment
• Frustrated R4 Today/W@1 listeners
• BBC World Service fans who want non-conformism, not Establishment Britain
• Religious groups seeking voice and dialogue
• Lovers of alternate culture eg world music, spiritual music, global avantgarde art
• Pacifists, activists and supporters of human-rights NGOs
www.williamheath.net

7. How do we promote Friends' Radio?
• Friends' channels: The Friend, via Meetings
• With Easychannel
• PR campaign ("silence")
• No serious ad budget. At most leaflets or stickers
• Needs logo and a web site with programming details, "contact us" and a blog for
narrative and feedback.
• Virally using email and blogs
www.williamheath.net

8. What programming will Friends' Radio carry?
• 1. Live feed, eg
• - platforms for NGOs
• - live reports from peace camps, envt protest
• - interfaith practice, worship, Akbhar's Hour
• - music: village voices, Fes, St Patrick's, elections from di ferent faith groups
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• 2. Audio archive eg
• Core programming: A&Q; F&P; training resources, clerking, prison visiting,
bereavement
• Peace work, circles of support, examples of living witness
www.williamheath.net

10. Friends' Radio: possible timeline
• July 2008 - QCCC agrees outline in principle
• Aug – plan with prog policy, distribution plan, finance
• Dec 08 - Secure accommodation, some finance
• Dec finalise distribution basis ("EasyChannel" or other)
• Any grant application in (JRRT? other?)
• from Jan 2009 - Appoint initial six-month project manager
• Feb 09 Soft launch (ie beta, unannounced, but we're going for real)
• March 09 - Invite other content providers
• Formal Launch: Quaker Week 09
• From Dec 09 - Confirm longer-term project manager
www.williamheath.net

11. Friends' Radio finance i): costs
• new tech; partnerships keep costs down
• edit, record, transmit with free/reused IT
• - part-time project manager
• - some equipment: microphones?
• - create/design: logo, web site
• - T&E for guests, travel to record eg live events
www.williamheath.net

12. Finance: how is it funded (apart from WH)
1. Grant application to JRRT,on basis it's a voice for NGOs it supports?
2. Friends House cash, staff time?
3. Does it support any budgetted work (eg outreach, training)?
4. Other ideas?
www.williamheath.net

13. Friends' Radio: what it needs from QCCC
• Support, test, challenge, guide, suggest
• Engage (eg via online planning group)
• We're the QCCC: let's communicate in an exemplary manner!
www.williamheath.net

14. Let your life speak on
Friends' Radio