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Ed Webb

'It brings back a sense of community in isolation': Local radio stations thriving in lo... - 0 views

www.positive.news/...-stations-thriving-in-lockdown

radio local hyperlocal pandemics UK Britain media community

shared by Ed Webb on 01 Jun 20 - Cached
  • Community radio stations are bringing local people valuable information, entertainment and a sense of togetherness during the pandemic
  • hyper-local radio stations that have begun broadcasting, often online, since the pandemic hit the UK, delivering a combination of uplifting music and entertainment, along with public health information
  • Dr Amanda Krause, a lecturer in psychology at James Cook University, has researched the impact of radio on the wellbeing of the elderly. “Community radio creates communities,” she says. “Talk radio invites conversations – so you feel connected and involved even if you are apart. There’s also something about the human voice. People develop bonds with hosts and this is a huge factor driving continued listening.”
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  • there are more than 300 community-run stations operating in the UK. Many of them transmit through the internet. East Leeds FM, however, wanted to also cater for local people who aren’t online. So they applied to Ofcom for a new temporary short-term restricted service licence (SRSL), designed for stations that will support underserved communities during the pandemic. In April, they began broadcasting on FM analogue radio.
  • “We reach people who aren’t getting important messages about anything from bin collections to befriending schemes,” says host Jimmy Andrex. “For example, we update listeners on what’s available in local supermarkets. BBC Radio Leeds doesn’t do that.”
  • In order to survive long-term, these stations need funding. The Community Media Association warns that up to a third of stations could close due to the pandemic. Ofcom has offered support via the 2020/21 Community Radio Fund to the tune of £400,000, but many say that’s not sufficient.  “Each licensed station should receive an ex-gratia payment of £20,000 to help mitigate financial hardship during and beyond Covid-19,” argues Leona Fensome, operations and volunteer manager at Verulam FM in St Albans.  
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