On Saturday 3rd October, I attended the Community Media Association’s Annual Festival at the impressive Bauer Media Centre at The Lantern, just off Euston Road. It was great to see so much diversity at the event, a truly representative crowd.
I was slightly late (had to present my Breakfast Show on Cambridge Radio first) so unfortunately missed the welcome and Jo Russell’s talk about her journey from York Hospital Radio to Magic Radio and Greatest Hits Radio 80s. I’m currently researching that trajectory, in the opposite direction.
The remaining schedule of talks was both informative and enjoyable; ably hosted by Lauren Underwood, whose ability to manage a room full of excited adults was impressive!
Industry commentator, James Cridland’s talk was very much in tune with the theme of the conference: AI and/or human creativity in radio and podcasts. Clearly, he’s all for new tech but reminded us that people are the future of radio.
I’m pretty sure that we all felt the same; yes, AI is useful for labour-saving tasks such as transcription and summarising stories into news bulletins, but we need to watch that artificial intelligence doesn’t dampen our own creativity.
Richard Hilton and Sam Hunt informed us about the latest updates from Ofcom. In the light of spectrum shortage and major regulatory changes ahead, they advised that if we want to keep frequencies, we need to be using them. Expressions of Interest are now being invited; these need to be carefully mapped out.
Asian Community Radio’s Jessica Memon spoke with Aradhna Tayal Leach, Managing Director of The Audio Academy. We learned about how she got to where she is today, from starting out as an engineer in the BBC, and her commitment to improving representation in the audio industry across the different job roles.
Lauren hosted the session, Under‑30s: Vision of the Future, with rising broadcasters, Jordan Blyth (an alumnus of Spark and now on Kerrang!) and Johnny Jenkins (started on Gateway, now at LBC). These youngsters agreed: “People want to hear real people; people they can trust!”
Dr Mervyn Eastman from the Later Life Audio & Radio Cooperative (LLARC) shared his project’s mission to empower ‘older people’ to have a go at using radio/audio tech, to have their voices heard and to challenge those stereotypes!
Vic Turnbull effused inspiringly about community podcasting for social impact and Terry Lee’s further espoused the virtues of training older people to use journalistic approaches in collating oral histories and storytelling.
After Richard Hilton returned to advise about the Community Radio Fund (more money up for grabs this year!), Kevin Field followed up with his session – 101 Almost Free Modern Marketing Ideas; practical, low‑cost initiatives to strengthen identity, build audiences and increase impact.
At this point, I was preparing myself for the Quiz. I won 2nd prize last time, at the Summer Gathering in Melton Mowbray. But Dom Chambers took to the floor and began his official announcement of this year’s Community Champions Awards. In partnership with Sound Vision, these awards recognise volunteers, producers, presenters and projects that embody the spirit of community media.
I couldn’t believe it when Dom announced my name after quite a long build up which I wasn’t really listening to. I believe he was explaining that I am both a practitioner and an academic: a useful hybrid kind of person. My academic work entails researching and writing about community radio in the UK. I was absolutely chuffed to bits! In the last ten years, I’ve published a book and had chapters included in several other books as well as journal articles, but these are mostly in academic publications behind paywalls. It doesn’t surprise me that my fellow CMA members might not be aware of my contribution to amplifying the social benefits that community broadcasting brings to local and special interest communities. This is something that I am absolutely passionate about.
So, I genuinely am delighted that my attempts to raise awareness of the strengths and potential of community radio in this country and of the dedication and passion with which so many volunteers, and a few paid managers, strive to entertain, inform and unite their audiences through the power of audio and voice.
I feel seen. Thank you, CMA.
I was swiftly put back in my place, of course, when the famous CMA Quiz took place as the finale. I only came 14th; no more prizes for me.
