In January 2006 the CMA submitted a proposal to OFCOM to use Community Radio as a tool for promoting Media Literacy based on the theory that Community Radio has a greater personal reach into UK society than other broadcasters, educational institutions and media agencies. The proposal outlined a ‘pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness of using Community Radio to raise awareness and understanding of Media Literacy issues’. 

The pilot project consisted of enlisting two Community Radio stations (one urban and one rural) to perform various activities and test their effectiveness. The activities involved each pilot station hosting a Media Literacy workshop aimed at staff and volunteers, producing five Media Literacy Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) and one dedicated Media Literacy programme (minimum of 20 minutes duration).

The two Community Radio stations identified to pilot these activities were Desi Radio in Southall (Urban station) and Forest of Dean Radio (Rural station). Both pilots had very different approaches to tackling the pilot activities. Forest of Dean focussed on ‘editorial’ issues and misrepresentation in the media, looking at how Media Literacy should inform people and raise awareness of how the Media is put together and how editorial decisions influence how the media is presented and understood. Desi, on the other hand, focussed on the more practical issues surrounding Media Literacy such as raising awareness of technological issues and digital services.

Click on the links at the right of the page to find out more about the individual pilots.