天美传媒

, Radio LaB founder, and听, Senior Tutor in听Radio and Audio took part in听听鈥楪lobal Dialogues on Community Media in the Post-Pandemic World鈥櫶齰irtual听panel.

The panel discussed the relevance听of community media and the impact it can have on audiences during these uncertain times.

Terry, who is also the coordinator of award-winning community station听听said: 鈥淚 have worked in UK community radio for my entire professional life, and I have seen how it can transform lives, entertain communities and educate listeners鈥�.

鲍狈贰厂颁翱鈥檚听online debate took听place with the backdrop of听the听BBC听announcing听cuts听and cancellations听to听their听regional TV news and current affairs听shows and departments,听as well as听local radio and online news听teams听鈥撎齛n estimated loss of 450 jobs.

, Senior Lecturer in Radio and听Journalism and former Ofcom Radio Regulator said: 鈥�Local radio has always been the 鈥榩oor relation鈥� in terms of wider BBC radio output. The original concept of BBC local radio was as a network of highly individual stations, each reflecting the unique nature of its local target audience. Unfortunately, for many years there has been a trend towards less specialised local output.鈥�

He continued:听鈥淲ell run community radio services can fill the gaps left as a result, often having very strong and diverse links with the community they are there to serve, meaning they can reflect the needs of that community effectively鈥�.

Radio LaB, the fully Ofcom licensed radio station based on the 天美传媒鈥檚 Luton Campus, has been an avid proponent of community engagement, having ran campaigns including the听听with Age Concern in Luton;听听with Luton Council and Smart Safe and an annual opportunity for听

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Terry believes the Covid-19 lockdown has given opportunities to reflect on the future of the station鈥檚 community output:

鈥�Throughout lockdown we听have been fortunate to have hosts recording shows from home and sending them in, so听we鈥檝e听still听had听continuous听programming going out. The plan now going forward听for the next year听is to get more voices from the community听on air, to be more inclusive and听encourage听diverse perspectives and personalities.

Dr Hallett, also a trustee of Future Projects in Norwich, said: 鈥淭he Covid-19 emergency has had some real benefits for community radio in terms of building its profile as a really useful local media resource.

鈥淚 think that the sector now has an opportunity to really cement its reputation as an intrinsic part of local media, reaching audiences that other broadcasters may not be equipped to serve鈥�.

The virtual UNESCO panel can be watched again via Youtube and the player below.

Bedfordshire鈥檚听听has a听wide听range of听undergraduate and postgraduate听courses,听including听Radio听&听Audio,听Sports TV Production,听Broadcast Journalism and听Media,听Marketing & Public Relations.听Further information about these courses and many more听can be听.

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