++With apologies for cross-posting++ Finding and Funding Voices: the inner city experience. A one-day international colloquium on community media was held at London Metropolitan University on 17 September 2007. The report of the Colloquium is now available at www.communitymedia.eu/events/finding-and-funding-voices/Finding_and_Funding_Voices-Report.pdf You can also view/download the presentations and a selection of pictures of the event following the links from www.communitymedia.eu ------------------------------------------------- Extract from the Report's Executive Summary The event The colloquium, attended by over ninety delegates, launched the Community Media Research Group based in the Department of Applied Social Sciences (DASS). The event brought together community media practitioners, regulators and industry representatives (Ofcom, the Community Media Association (CMA) and AMARC, the World Association of Community Broadcasters); government departments (DCMS and DCLG, London Mayor's Office), and academics from fourteen UK Universities. The Programme Invited speakers from Austria, France, Ireland and The Netherlands provided an international context with their experience of regulation, funding and production. Workshops discussed case studies from London and Wales, and what action is needed in the areas of policy monitoring, training, research, programme sharing, and funding for both individual stations and projects and the sector as a whole. The action required Delegates strongly urged central and local government to recognise the contribution community media are making to social inclusion, community development and regeneration. The Community Radio sector in particular, now expanding rapidly, needs more support than the DCMS's Community Radio Fund can provide. Ways must be found, through a range of programmes and through inter-departmental co-operation, to find funding that enables the delivery of the social gain community radio so manifestly provides. London was seen as particularly problematic: its large size and the relatively few analogue frequencies available mean that many communities lack an on-air voice. The London Mayor's Office does not at present recognise community media as relevant to its responsibilities and it was recognised that giving 'a voice to the voiceless' requires supportive policies and funding from a range of departments in central and local government, not just ministries of media or culture. Delegates agreed that support should be given to CMA to raise awareness of community media in London through lobbying and strengthening links with Government ministers and departments including the Prime Minister and London Mayor's Office. Future tasks for the University's Community Media Research Group were seen as: - the collation and publication of research into community media and examples of best practice in the field; - the provision and/or co-ordination of training for workers in the sector; - the provision of introductory courses in community media for those in the field of community development who were potential partners with this form of media. For further details about the event please feel free contact Salvo at [log in to unmask] or Peter at [log in to unmask] With our Best Wishes for the forthcoming festive season, Peter & Salvo -- Peter M.Lewis/Salvatore Scifo, Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Community Media Media Information & Communication Department of Applied Social Sciences London Metropolitan University Ladbroke House, Room LH 326 62-66 Highbury Grove London N5 2AD W: www.communitymedia.eu