The Community Media Association has confirmed that the 2020 Community Media Conference will be held at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton on Saturday 27th June. Save the date! Following the success of the 2019 Community Media Conference held last September at BBC MediaCityUK in Salford, a decision was made Read more +
Community Media Association confirms Chairman, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer
Following the Annual General Meeting of the Community Media Association (CMA) last November and the first meeting of its newly elected Council on Saturday 11th January, the CMA has confirmed the re-appointment of Danny Lawrence of Gateway 97.8 as the Chairman. Janey Gordon of the University of Bedfordshire and Richard Read more +
Ofcom awards four new community radio licences
Ofcom announces the award of four new community radio licences in England, Scotland, and Wales. The new stations will serve communities in Shaftesbury, Dorset in England; Shotts in Lanarkshire, Scotland; Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales; and Towyn, Conwy, in North Wales. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, Read more +
Community Media Association calls for more support and recognition of community radio
Ahead of the deadline for all prospective candidates to submit their nomination for the upcoming General Election, the Community Media Association (CMA) has called on its members, their friends and family, and the wider public to ask for more support and recognition for community radio from prospective MPs. The CMA highlights three possible Read more +
Ofcom – Supporting community radio across the UK
Ofcom announces that the current round of community radio licensing on FM or AM will be the last “for the foreseeable future, as we will shortly begin licensing new local digital radio stations that will use cutting-edge ‘small-scale DAB’ technology, pioneered by an Ofcom engineer. We expect to invite applications Read more +
Venue and date confirmed for 2019 Community Radio Awards
The 2019 Community Radio Awards will be coming to Barry, South Wales, in October. The awards will run at the Memo Arts Centre, on Saturday 26 October – after the ‘Community Radio Now & Next’ event. Martin Steers, Awards chair, said: “We are ecstatic that the awards have seen even Read more +
Licensing small-scale DAB consultation – how should Ofcom exercise its new powers and duties being proposed by Government?
Small-scale DAB is a new way of transmitting digital radio that uses advances in software and low-cost computer technology to provide a flexible and inexpensive approach to the terrestrial broadcast of digital radio services to a relatively small geographic area. In the UK, the concept was first tested by Ofcom Read more +
Hundreds of new digital radio stations for local listeners
Hundreds of new local digital radio stations could start broadcasting in the UK from next year, under proposals outlined by Ofcom today. With over 40% of the UK’s radio listening now taking place on the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) platform, today’s proposals mark a major step towards expanding local DAB Read more +
The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019
The draft statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum for The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 have now been published online at the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/contents The DCMS Parliamentary team has fast-tracked proceedings and the Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 has been laid in Read more +
Sharon White to step down as Ofcom Chief Executive
The Ofcom Board has announced that Sharon White is to step down as Chief Executive. Sharon is leaving to become Chairman of The John Lewis Partnership. She is expected to leave Ofcom around the turn of the year. Sharon joined Ofcom in March 2015 from HM Treasury where she was Read more +
Council of Europe community media leaflet
The Council of Europe recognises the value of community media as a source of local content, cultural and linguistic diversity, media pluralism, social inclusion and intercultural dialogue. It endorses the commitment of community media to media and information literacy, through the development of critical and creative thinking and active Read more +
2019 Community Radio Awards – deadline 16th June
Entries are open for the fourth UK Community Radio Awards until Sunday 16th June. Volunteers and stations from up and down the country are being urged to enter the best of their output from the past year, and consider those team members deserving of special recognition. Martin Steers, Awards Chair, Read more +
Ofcom Receives 35 Community Radio Applications
Ofcom has received 35 applications for community radio licences from 43 areas of the UK which had submitted an expression of interest. Applications for new stations have been received from 26 proposed stations for England, one in Northern Ireland, three for Scotland, and five in Wales. Below is a list Read more +
Information for broadcasters ahead of planned European Parliamentary elections
Ofcom has published a note to broadcasters on election programming, and an updated digest of evidence of past and current electoral support, to assist broadcasters in making editorial decisions ahead of potential European Parliamentary elections on 23 May. The evidence includes past election results and the latest opinion polls.
Community Radio Fund 2019-20
The first round of the Community Radio Fund 2019-20 opens for applications from eligible stations on 9 April and will close at 5pm on 7 May 2019. The awarding Panel will meet in June 2019 to consider the applications. Grants can only be made to community radio licensees in the Read more +
The Young ARIAS – deadline 18th March
The Young ARIAS are the new UK awards for 8 to 18-year-olds and schools who love making audio. If you’re involved in radio, podcasts or audio projects, then we want to shine a spotlight on your talent. Entering is simple and best of all free. They need a 10-minute audio Read more +
World Radio Day 2019
On 13 February 2019, UNESCO will celebrate the 8th edition of World Radio Day. This day marks a time where people around the world celebrate radio and how it shapes our lives. Radio informs, transforms and unites us. It brings together people and communities from all backgrounds to foster positive Read more +
Community Radio promos
Together with Danny Lawrence, Chair of the CMA, Devaweb has produced these four promos to help encourage advertising on community radio. There are two different scripts, each with a calmer female version and a more upbeat male read. These promos are licensed to be used free of charge by any Read more +
CMA Chair Awarded British Citizen Award
Danny Lawrence, from Gateway 97.8 and Chair of the Community Media Association, has received the British Citizen Award for Community for his outstanding contributions to community radio across the UK at a presentation ceremony at the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace at the House of Lords, in Westminster. Danny, who is a Read more +
Radio Academy Trustee Elections 2019 – Voting now open
The Radio Academy is seeking three members to join its Board of Trustees. Following a month’s application process, the Radio Academy is happy to showcase everyone who has provided their details to fill one of these roles. All Radio Academy members have three unique votes that they may use to Read more +
Community Media Association elects new Chair and Vice Chair
Following the December Annual General Meeting of the Community Media Association (CMA) and the first meeting of its newly elected Council on Saturday, the CMA has elected Danny Lawrence of Gateway 97.8 as the new Chair and Janey Gordon of the University of Bedfordshire as Vice Chair. Danny Lawrence said Read more +
Community Media News Issue #21 Dec 2018
In this edition, we have an update from the recent Community Media Association’s AGM in London. We share information on applying to Ofcom for a new community radio licence and also congratulate Unity 101 as they celebrate 13 years on air. There’s good news on a couple of projects at Read more +
Invitation of applications for new community radio licences
Ofcom is inviting applications for new FM community radio licences (PDF, 196.3 KB) in 43 areas across the UK. These areas were announced in September 2018, and were based on earlier responses from individuals or groups who had expressed an interest in applying for a community radio licence. The closing Read more +
Community Media News – November 2018, Issue #20
In this edition, we bring you details of the Community Media Association’s AGM on Saturday 8th December, share the CMA’s response to the Radiocentre’s report: on small-scale radio, ask for your views to progress the development of small-scale DAB Licensing. We have news of this year’s Charles Parker Prize, we Read more +
Community Radio (Amendment) Order – Survey
In order to progress the development of small-scale DAB licensing, DCMS will need to develop the detail of the new arrangements with a view to seeking legislation when parliamentary time allows. The proposals will require changes to the Broadcasting Act 1990, the Broadcasting Act 1996 and the Communications Act 2003. Read more +
Expressions of interest in small-scale DAB
Ofcom has published details of the responses to their call for expressions of interest for small-scale DAB. Small-scale DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is an innovative technology designed to allow local stations to achieve affordable transmission on digital radio. Ofcom’s update contains three maps and tables showing the locations where parties Read more +
The Community Media Association’s Response to Radiocentre’s Report: Small-Scale Radio in the UK
A PDF version of this text may be downloaded here. The story of community radio in the United Kingdom is one of success. From the humble origins of fifteen Access radio stations in the early 2000s, there are now over 270 licensed community radio stations across the whole of the Read more +
New application process for short-term restricted service licences
Ofcom has outlined a new application process for short-term restricted service licences (SRSLs). Under the new process, applications should now be submitted by email. Other changes include requiring applicants to provide more detailed information to help us better assess whether they have appropriate processes for ensuring compliance with broadcasting standards. Read more +
Community Media News Issue #19
It’s been a very busy month, and in this edition of Community Media News we report on the DCMS response to the industry consultation on the development of Small Scale Digital Audio Broadcasting. We also share news of events across the UK, Mapping Community Media, Rethinking Digital Inclusion and discounted tickets for RadioTechCon. There is news from Awaz Read more +
Small-Scale DAB Licensing consultation – Comment from the Community Media Association on the Government’s proposals
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published its response to the industry consultation on the development of Small Scale Digital Audio Broadcasting (SSDAB). The Community Media Association (CMA) is the sector body for community media in the UK and includes among its membership the majority of Read more +
