A popular weekly radio show on Sheffield Live community radio has led to the setting up of a record label and the launch of a first CD for music and comedy duo, the Glummer Twins. The Steel and Wire Show, produced by Harry Welburn, focuses on bluegrass, americana and old time folk music. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Attercliffe based community radio station, Iman FM, has been suspended from broadcasting after being found in serious breach of the Broadcasting Code by communications regulator, Ofcom. A spokesperson for Ofcom said the station was in breach for “broadcasting material likely to incite or encourage the commission of crime, or to lead to disorder”. Iman FM has until 25 July to respond and could face losing its licence. Bailor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The Children’s Media Conference, taking place over four days this week, brings together practitioners and commissioners involved in TV, radio and interactive media for children. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Charles Parker Day celebrates the work of acclaimed radio documentary producer Charles Parker who died in 1980. Parker is known especially for the award winning BBC Radio Ballads collection with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. The event, held this year at Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union, explores radio feature and documentary making. It is the first time Sheffield has hosted the event and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of BBC local radio. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
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
Have you got an idea that you would like to turn into a radio programme for broadcast on community radio? Is there something you would like to hear on the Sheffield airwaves? This could be your chance to make it happen! Sheffield Live! has launched its latest open call for programme proposals.
Sheffield Live! provides public access to production and broadcast facilities supported by experienced media trainers, mentors and producers. We are particularly interested in new ideas for speech based programmes including current affairs, specialist themes like environment and health, new writing, arts and culture. We welcome proposals to serve particular communities of interest in our coverage area, including programmes in community languages. We encourage innovative ideas including experimental uses of sound and radio.
Sheffield Live! prides itself on being first for Sheffield music with programmes by some of Sheffield’s leading local DJs and a high profile for local music and musicians. If you have an idea for a specialist music programme, let us know. We will be reviewing and renewing our music mix and there will be opportunities across the schedule for new talent to join our music programming roster.
There are many others ways you can get involved, for example by joining our morning or midday production teams as a researcher, reporter, presenter, producer or technical operator. Training will be provided for all new programme volunteers with an opportunity to learn media production skills and gain practical experience in a working broadcast environment. Contact Sheffield Live! at info@sheffieldlive.org or come to one of our open meetings if you want to find out more. Open meetings will be held on 9 and 14 September at Sheffield Live! city centre premises, from 6.30pm at 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX and include a studio tour and opportunity to meet some of our current presenters.
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 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
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
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