“We are the Future” Conference in the UK Looks at Building Grassroots Participatory Media

Daniel Bruce, Internews Chief Executive in Europe, and Carolyn Powers, Internews Program Officer for Global Initiatives, participated in the 2018 Community Media Association Conference in the UK on September 15.

“What I love about community media is those two words – community and media,” said Bruce in an interview at the conference. “And I think there is no other sector that puts media as the heartbeat of the communities that it’s meant to serve, acts as a real voice for the people for all kinds of communities across the UK.”

Watch a video of interviews at the conference – Daniel Bruce’s remarks are from 01:45 – 03:0 (text transcript)

The conference brings together people involved in community-led radio, TV and online media to promote local and community voices, creative expression and access to information. Over 150 delegates from community media organizations across the UK and Europe attended.

Daniel Bruce spoke on a panel chaired by Dr. Caroline Mitchell of the University of Sunderland, that also included Sylvie Carlos of Radio Wanno, Melanie Xulu of Moof Mag, and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield “Magic Magid the Submission Magician.”

Carolyn Powers spoke on two panels: Staying Sane in the Age of Misinformation and The Future of Radio, addressing this year’s theme, We are the Future.

The theme was shaped and supported by a team of eight young people who are based in community media organizations around the UK. They took a look at how the next generation of media makers is building diverse, creative, and participatory media at a grassroots level. The conference also addressed the practicalities of involving young people in community broadcasting to build sustainable and thriving organizations for future generations.

Five people sit on a stage with a large screen behind them
The October recording of the InRadio podcast on The Future of Radio begins at the 2018 Community Media Conference with Lawrie Hallett of Future Radio / Future Digital Norfolk, Lucinda Guy of the CMA and Soundart Radio, John Jenkins of Gateway 97.8, and Carolyn Powers of The Listening Post / Internews.

Text Transcript of Daniel Bruce’s remarks

Daniel Bruce: So, I’m here for the annual Community Media Association Conference. Internews, my organization, is one of the primary sponsors of this effort this year. We see this as something which is absolutely essential in terms of bringing the community media sector from across the country together to talk about the opportunities and challenges that it’s facing and the vital role it’s going to play in society in the coming years.

Interviewer: Talking of the challenges and the importance of it, what are some of the challenges these community media stations face?

Daniel Bruce: Well, in some ways, I think community media is in a unique position to circumvent a lot of the challenges that the media sector globally is facing. We think that one of the primary sources of revenue to media is advertising revenue. A lot of that is now going to digital. Ninety percent of that growth is going to social media companies. A lot of conventional legacy full-time media organizations are really struggling with and there’s a void that’s being created that I think the community sector is best placed to fill.

Interviewer: In your opinion, how vital are community media right now?

Daniel Bruce: What I love about community media is those two words – community and media – and I think there is no other sector that puts media as the heartbeat of the communities that it’s meant to serve, acts as a real voice for the people for all kinds of communities across the UK. And there is no other sector that can do that, so it must survive.