[eccr] UK: Conference to launch Community Radio Licences

>Conference to launch Community Radio Licences
>=============================================
>
>Representatives from communities across the UK will gather at the
>Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester Airport on Friday 13 and Saturday 14
>February, to meet with staff from local authorities and agencies
>responsible for mainstream service delivery; regeneration companies;
>existing broadcasters and OFCOM itself. The two-day residential
>conference, titled "Community FM" is designed to provide a practical
>guide to applying for the brand new, full-time Community Radio
>licences, as well as studio sessions where delegates will be given
>assistance to create real broadcast items.
>
>Supporters of the conference include the North West Development
>Agency, the Government Office North West, the European Social Fund,
>the BBC and the Guardian Media Group. Funding has been allocated to a
>Diversity Initiative which subsidises fees for individuals and
>smaller organisations.
>
>Phil Korbel, Director of Radio Regen, who will be hosting the
>conference said,
>
>"It is vital that we make this event accessible to as many people as
>possible. A network of Community Radio stations all across the UK
>would be an ideal means of combating disadvantage. All too often the
>only time deprived communities are mentioned in national broadcasts,
>the message is negative. We need to refocus on the positive, and what
>better way than by empowering people to shout their own positive
>messages? We have therefore subsidised fees down to as low as £30 for
>eligible individuals". The website www.communityfm.net carries full
>details of qualifying criteria.
>
>The Government's pilot scheme, where licences were issued on a trial
>basis to certain areas, has provided clear evidence of the potential
>Community Radio offers. Where licences were issued, improvements were
>noted in terms of community spirit, with initiatives resulting in new
>or greater achievements. Local authorities and agencies responsible
>for the delivery of mainstream services found a direct means of
>reaching out to provide information and support, and obtain feedback,
>thereby improving service delivery across the board. Regeneration
>companies reported positive effects and, perhaps most significantly,
>Police forces reported a decrease in certain types of offence.
>
>On this basis, the Evaluator of the scheme, Professor Anthony Everitt
>said of Community Radio
>
>"It promises to be the most important cultural development that this
>country has seen in recent years."
>
>He will be speaking at the conference, as will Stuart Brand, Director
>of Radio & Media Markets, who will present the Government's stance.
>Ivan Lewis, MP, will also be addressing the conference and Philip
>Rutnam of OFCOM will be discussing their draft order and consultative
>document.
>
>Other speakers will include Zane Ibrahim of Capetown's Bush Radio,
>Craig Liddell from Australian Community Radio and Phil Korbel,
>Director of Radio Regen in Manchester. Sessions will also explore the
>successful examples of ALLFM96.9 and Wythenshawe FM97.2.
>
>Delegates will be invited to take "virtual tours", record their
>comments in the video pod or contribute their own stories for
>broadcast. The dedicated conference website offers full details and
>booking forms for anyone interested, or the conference office can be
>reached on 01925 752078.
>
>Weblink: www.communityfm.net

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Carpentier Nico (Phd)
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Katholieke Universiteit Brussel - Catholic University of Brussels
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Office: 4/0/18
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Media Sociology (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ kubrussel.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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