Community Radio in Dublin - Research

national | miscellaneous | news report

Monday March 31, 2003 15:47

by redjade

Community Radio in Dublin - Research.

Community Radio in Dublin - Research.
http://www.activelink.ie/ce/active.php?id=824

Report presented to the Community Media Forum
Community & Enterprise - Dublin City Development Board

Overview
This report gives and overall view of the status of the Community Radio sector as it exists to-day.

All the existing stations that broadcast within the greater Dublin area with the exception of Anna Livia (see note) were visited in person for face to face interviews, as were the aspirant local radio groups.

Over the last seven years Community Radio has been steadily expanding in Dublin City and it’s environs. There is now a National Community Radio Forum involving some fifteen community stations, representing both rural, campus and urban areas. Currently, those community stations based in Dublin are in the process of forming a Dublin Community Radio Forum to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern. The commitment of local volunteers is admirable and their personal resolve to see such locally based media thrive augers well for the future.

It has to be said from the outset that this report takes a positive and futuristic overview of the Community Radio sector in Dublin. Delivering quality Community Radio is a difficult and very demanding process. There are many differing levels of operation, infrastructure and programming across the various stations. All stations encounter difficulties and sometimes quite significant challenges from time to time (just like any other organisation or business), in their internal operations, funding, external dealings with Local and State Agencies and with their respective local communities.

Other issues arise such as sustaining and motivating the volunteer commitment that is required to persevere with the demanding workload of providing a community radio service. It is essential that the management structures and the core staff teams learn from these challenges and advance on their commitment to community radio.

There is no doubt that there will be many challenges and changes ahead for community radio, but positively there is a confidence and a commitment in local communities to embrace such change. The common thread is that all stations strive to deliver a better and more inclusive service within their communities.

- download the report: word file 928 Kb

http://www.activelink.ie/dwl/LMA_Radio_Report03.doc