Tag Archives: community radio

Sheffield Live! marks 15 years on air with DAB launch

Sheffield’s longest running community radio station, Sheffield Live! has joined a growing number of radio services available on DAB in Sheffield and Rotherham. The station was born over two decades ago as a weekend broadcast at Sharrow Festival. It was later awarded the first full-time FM community radio licence in Sheffield, launched in October 2007. It is also available online and now via the Shefcast Digital DAB platform. Sheffield Live! volunteers Graham Marshall, Julie Meese and Paul Lizzie spoke to reporter Baillor Jalloh.

IMAN FM One Year Anniversary

IMAN FM has celebrated one year of its existence this October. The community radio which is based in Attercliffe, broadcast into many different languages including English, Urdu, Punjabi and Bangali. I spoke to Hafiz Anwar Zahidy, to find out more about the radio station since it started in 2014.

Job opportunities

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Want to work in Sheffield’s new cross-platform media operation?

We’re recruiting Enterprise Advisor(s), a Technical Manager, and a Head of News.

Our goal is to establish an inclusive and sustainable local media service which will inform, educate and entertain – encompassing television, radio, and our website, that shows what is vibrant and distinctive about Sheffield, that meets the public interest in local news and information, and that offers a platform for local opinion and creative expression.

With a planned launch date for Sheffield Live! TV of autumn 2014 on Freeview, and a news operation starting from July via our new website and through Sheffield Live 93.2FM, we now need to recruit some talented, passionate staff committed to help make our vision become reality.

Closing dates for all of these roles is 19 May 2014.

Head of News (SLTV)

Full time. Salary, according to experience, in the range £26,000 to £32,000 per annum. 

Sheffield Live TV (SLTV) is the new local television channel for Sheffield co-located with Sheffield Live community radio and part of a new cross platform media offer for the local community. News programming will be at the heart of the new cross platform approach with regular bulletins on both radio and TV, a flagship early evening local TV news programme and a news feed to web and mobile.

The Head of News will be responsible for leading a team of radio, TV and online news reporters including news journalism apprentices, student reporters and community correspondents. They will build a network of sources including hyperlocal news partners and will build relations across the city with the public and private sector and with neighbourhood-based and specialist organisations.

Download the job description including person specification here:

JD-SLTV-Head of News (microsoft word)

JD-SLTV-Head of News (pdf)

Technical Manager (SLTV)

Full time. Salary, according to experience, in the range £24,000 to £30,000 per annum. 

SLTV is a partner in Digital Media Exchange (DME), a project managed by a consortium of partners and part funded by the European Union through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013. DME is designed to promote jobs and enterprise by supporting digital media entrepreneurs to engage in cross-platform production for radio, television, web and mobile, building on existing infrastructure previously supported by ERDF and benefiting from investment in a new local television channel for Sheffield.

The Technical Manager will provide support in the use of studio and mobile audio visual equipment and facilities as part of the delivery of Action 3 of the Digital Media Exchange (DME) project, including induction and supervision of new users, coordination of technical assistance, assuring the smooth functioning of equipment and software and maintaining production, broadcast and network systems.

Download the job description including person specification here:

DME-JD-SLTV-Technical-Manager (microsoft word)

DME-JD-SLTV-Technical-Manager (pdf)

ERDF Logo Landscape Colour JPEGThe Digital Media Exchange is supported financially by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the 2007-2013 Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

Enterprise Advisor (SLTV)

Part-time. Salary, according to experience, in the range £30,000 to £36,000 per annum for full time equivalent, pro rata to hours worked. Self employed candidates are welcome to apply.

The Enterprise Advisor will provide specialist audio-visual enterprise support for the delivery of Action 3 of the Digital Media Exchange (DME) project (see details above), providing one-on-one and group mentoring and coaching support to audio-visual enterprises.

Download the job description including person specification here:

DME-JD-SLTV-Enterprise-Advisor (microsoft word)

DME-JD-SLTV-Enterprise-Advisor (pdf)

ERDF Logo Landscape Colour JPEGThe Digital Media Exchange is supported financially by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the 2007-2013 Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

How to apply

Please download the job description,  including person specification, essential and desirable requirements, and terms, for the role you are interested in from the links above.

Apply for the above roles by submission of CV and a covering letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation, with examples of similar work undertaken for other clients and a minimum of 2 referees.

Applications should be sent to: jobs@sheffieldlive.org including the job title as reference.

Deadline for applications: 19 May 2014

We may, in the future, have other roles available – please get in contact via jobs@sheffieldlive.org if you have skills and experience you can offer.

We are also recruiting for the following apprenticeships: Production Assistants, Apprentice Journalists, Technical Assistants.

Further information on apprenticeships is available by writing to: apprentices@sheffieldlive.org

Minister pledges to find new funds for community radio

Support Community Radio! Sign the Petition! Click Here!The Government is to seek additional funds to support community radio, according to Siôn Simon MP, Minister for Creative Industries. The Minister’s comments come in response to a joint letter to the Prime Minister signed by community broadcasters in Sheffield and across the country, calling for a sizeable increase in public funding for community radio.

In the Government reply to the joint open letter, Siôn Simon writes: “the Government recognises the importance of community radio and its contribution to the communities which they serve”. In addition to current Government support, he says: “DCMS will continue to work with other Government Departments and Agencies to identify other sources of funding, specifically where there are community cohesion and social gain objectives, for community radio.”

Steve Buckley, Director of community radio station, Sheffield Live!, said: “We welcome Government recognition that additional funding should be found for community radio but we need more than a vague expression of intent.  We are not asking for the sector to be fully, or even majority, publicly funded. All we want is for Government support to be reflected in a funding settlement that reflects the benefits community radio brings to the communities we serve. Government should implement now the recommendations of the Everitt Report.”

Professor Anthony Everitt, author of the 2003 report, New Voices, whose recommendations formed the basis for government legislation, says the sector is “hobbled by its poverty”, and has called on government to implement the recommendations of his report to provide (matched) grant aid of £30,000 per year per station towards core operating costs. Everitt says “this is a modest expenditure when the benefits community radio can confer are taken into account”.

The community radio campaign has gained the support of members of Parliament from all political parties. Lord David Puttnam assured the community radio sector:  “…the weight of public support and technological history are with you.” A petition, at http://allthevoices.org, calling on the Government to support the sustainability and growth of community radio by substantially increasing the resources of the Community Radio Fund, has gathered nearly 3000 signatures.

For further information including a copy of the letter from the Minister follow this link

Lord Puttnam backs broadcasters’ campaign

Support Community Radio! Sign the Petition! Click Here!Lord David Puttnam has pledged his “.. absolute support..” to a campaign by community radio stations in Sheffield and across the country who are pressing the government for access to adequate and reliable funds.

Community radio, acclaimed by industry regulator Ofcom as a “broadcasting success story”, is under constant fear of closure, according to Professor Anthony Everitt, author of the 2003 report, New Voices, whose recommendations formed the basis for government legislation.

The Community Radio Order 2004 is currently under review as are the funding arrangements for public service broadcasting content outside the BBC. Funding for community radio has not kept pace with growth in the number of services. The Community Radio Fund was set up in 2005, with £500,000 per annum when there were only 14 community radio licensees. Today there are around 150 community radio services on air, while the Fund has not grown in size.

Everitt, in a letter to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, says the sector is “hobbled by its poverty”, and has called on government to implement the recommendations of his report to provide (matched) grant aid of £30,000 per year per station towards core operating costs. Everitt says “this is a modest expenditure when the benefits community radio can confer are taken into account”, and it is needed “to place community radio on a sound financial footing”.

Community broadcasters have called on government, in an open letter to the Prime Minister, to implement the funding recommendations of the Everitt report to ensure the sustainability and development of community radio. And a petition to the Prime Minister, calling for increased funding for the sector, is also gathering momentum with over 1700 signatures already confirmed.

Lord David Puttnam assured the community radio sector:  “…the weight of public support and technological history are with you…”

Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive of Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM welcomed Lord Puttnam’s support and said: “Community radio stations around the country have demonstrated their effectiveness in giving voice to and involving local people from diverse communities. But the growth of the sector needs to be matched by increased investment in line with the recommendations of the Everitt report.”

For further information follow this link

Sheffield MPs back community radio campaign

Support Community Radio! Sign the Petition! Click Here!Sheffield MPs are getting behind a campaign for community radio to get a fair share of government funding arrangements for broadcasting. The campaign, launched in July to mark the fifth anniversary of community radio legislation, is led by Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM and by local community broadcasters throughout the UK.

Since legislation was passed, in 2004, more than 200 community radio services have been licensed and around 150 are on air, creating around 400 jobs, involving over 10,000 volunteers, and serving a potential audience of more than 10 million people.

But despite the widely acknowledged success of community radio, stations like Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM are economically precarious with no core funding support. A Community Radio Fund, set up in 2004, has not been increased despite the rapid growth in the number of community radio stations. There is now less than £500,000 per annum to distribute to 150 not-for-profit stations.

Lib Dem Leader and Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg, who recently visited Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM city centre studios, said: “I am happy to lend my support to your campaign and have written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on your behalf”.

Sheffield’s Labour MPs have also voiced their support. Sheffield Attercliffe MP, Clive Betts said he is “happy to support the campaign”. Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn, Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith, Sheffield Central MP Richard Caborn and Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett have also confirmed they have written to the Government Minister responsible and are awaiting a response.

Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive of Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM said: “We are delighted our local MPs are with us on this issue. We have over 200 volunteers involved in Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM, but it is a day to day challenge making ends meet in the current economic climate. The Community Radio Fund should support our core operating expenses, but with 150 community radio stations on the air there is just not enough to go round.”

For further information follow this link

Community Radio Online Petition

Support Community Radio! Sign the Petition! Click Here!On 20 July 2009, in an Open Letter to the Prime Minister, community radio leaders, media scholars and experts, including 60 community radio stations, called for a fair settlement for community radio including a sizeable increase in the Community Radio Fund.

Now you can add your voice to their call.

A petition has been launched, backed by community radio stations including Sheffield Live! and calling on the Prime Minister “to support the sustainability and growth of community radio by substantially increasing the resources of the Community Radio Fund.”

Support Community Radio!

Sign the petition!

Tell Your Friends!

For updates follow:
http://twitter.com/allthevoices/

For further information follow this link

Nick Clegg backs community radio campaign

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Lib Dem Leader and Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg, has pledged his backing to a joint campaign launched by Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM and other community radio stations for a substantial increase in the Community Radio Fund. The government-backed Fund has not grown in size since it was set up in 2005, while the number of community radio stations has increased from 14 to more than 150 on air.

Clegg said, in a letter: “I remember our discussion at Sheffield Live and have seen the letter sent to Gordon Brown on your website. I am happy to lend my support to your campaign.”

Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive of Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM said: “We are delighted to have Nick Clegg’s support. We have written to all of Sheffield’s MPs asking them to get behind the campaign and to ensure a fair settlement for community radio in the current government review.”

The Community Radio Fund is described by Steve Buckley, Director of Sheffield Live! 93.2FM as “.. woefully inadequate” and he’s heading a plea for a fair share of Government funding arrangements for public service broadcasting. Buckley says the new sector is in a precarious situation: “Six stations have failed to launch, three have handed back their licences. Others are at high risk. This is not only a result of the recession but is also a direct consequence of a failure in government policy to ensure funding arrangements keep pace with development.”

You can read read more about the campaign by following this link

Radio Launch Success gets the Nod from Westminster

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Sheffield Lord Mayor Arthur Dunworth was joined by scores of musicians, DJs, community heads and other VIPs to celebrate the launch of Sheffield Live! 93.2FM: the city’s first new FM local radio station since the 1970s.

Around 200 people attended the launch event on Monday 29th October to raise a glass to Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive, and the Sheffield Live! team, who have campaigned for years for a full time FM community radio licence for the city. Sangita said: “There has been hundreds of people involved in the push for a full time licence over the years and we’ve been receiving messages of good will from all over the world.

“It was fantastic that so many people were able to join us for our launch and I’m looking forward to as many people as possible being involved with the station in the months and years to come.”

The launch of Sheffield Live! was also welcomed in the House of Commons. Ian Lucas MP for Wrexham and a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Home Office, speaking at a House of Commons adjournment debate on community radio, said: “Sheffield Live, is beginning to broadcast today. I wish it all the best; I am sure it will contribute hugely to its community.”

“Community radio is one of the Government’s great success stories. It was introduced by the Communications Act 2003 and is now governed by the Community Radio Order 2004. Some 148 licences have been awarded under the community radio legislation and at present 85 new stations are broadcasting to provide services to their local communities.”

Sheffield Live! hit the airwaves at 7am on Monday 29 October, broadcasting live for an initial 18 hours a day to a potential audience of more than 350,000 people in Sheffield and Rotherham, on 93.2FM. “The response we’ve had since we first heard we’d been granted the FM licence has been phenomenal,” said Sangita. “It was an incredible moment when we ‘flicked the switch’ and went live across South Yorkshire to over 350,000 people.”

Sheffield Live! 93.2FM is offering a true alternative to existing local FM stations, providing a platform for local artists and offering a voice for all communities in the city and surrounding region.