[CMA] CMA and BBC English Regions Reach Landmark Agreement

[Alan Fransman]

+++ APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTING! +++

Community Media Association

News Release

3 November 2006

CMA and BBC English Regions Reach Landmark Agreement

The Community Media Association (CMA) and BBC English Regions have 
reached a landmark agreement for cooperation between Community Media 
projects and the BBC in England.  The agreement provides a flexible 
framework which encourages current and future creative work between 
community media groups and the BBC - to ensure that these happen in the 
best way with the best outcomes, delivering a richer experience for 
listeners, viewers and web users.

Phil Shepherd, Chair of the Community Media Association said, “The CMA 
and its members are committed to access to the media by individuals and 
communities as a way of achieving lasting and positive social change. We 
have been encouraged by the diverse local partnerships currently 
developing between local community media projects and BBC staff. We hope 
that, by working together, the BBC and the CMA will be able to offer 
important opportunities to local communities. We look forward to working 
together in an equal partnership which has benefits to local communities 
at its heart.”

Andy Griffee, Controller for BBC English Regions said, “I welcome this 
Memorandum of understanding between the CMA and BBC English Regions. The 
spirit of co-operation in which we have drawn up this agreement 
recognises that both parties bring different traditions and backgrounds 
to the table – but that we should be considered as equal partners. The 
BBC does not view the Community Media Association – or individual on-air 
projects by CMA members – as a threat or competition, and we have many 
common aims and objectives in our ambitions to serve local communities. 
Indeed we have welcomed the arrival of community radio, in which 
communities make their own radio content, as an exciting and important 
addition to the broadcast landscape which can only enrich local lives.”

Jaqui Devereux, Acting Director of the Community Media Association said, 
“I look forward to maximising the opportunities available in this 
mutually beneficial partnership which adds a new dimension to public 
service broadcasting through the collaborative efforts of the Community 
Media sector and the BBC.”

The agreement creates a new strategic framework between BBC English 
Regions & CMA to share on-going changes in the BBC and CMA broadcasting 
landscape, to monitor and share best practice between CMA projects and 
local BBC stations and act as “clearing house” and central point of 
contact to seek any internal BBC or CMA support that may be required. It 
acknowledges current levels of engagement between Community Media 
Projects and the BBC and aims for a level of mutual trust and 
understanding between Community Media Project Editors and BBC Editors. 
Finally, the agreement sets standards for working together with advice 
on planning, sharing information, feedback, monitoring and evaluation 
and adopts best practice guidelines as set out by the Convention of 
Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in their National Standards for 
Community Engagement.

-ends-

For further information and a download of the CMA / BBC English Regions 
Memorandum of Understanding visit www.commedia.org.uk

Notes to editors
1.    The Community Media Association (CMA) is the UK membership 
association for community media.  Its mission is to enable people to 
establish and develop communications media for cultural and creative 
expression, community development and entertainment.  The CMA membership 
consists of 300 community media organisations plus 300 individuals and 
associate organisations. CMA members work throughout the UK in sound and 
radio, television, video and new media.  The CMA’s head office is 
located in Sheffield.


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Alan Fransman
Community Media Association
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S1 2BX

+44 114 279 5219

www.commedia.org.uk

Access to the media for people and communities