Community Media Association

The Community Media Association (CMA) is a United Kingdom membership association representing and supporting community broadcasting and other community-based media projects. It was established in 1983 as the Community Radio Association and adopted its present name in 1997, reflecting the widening scope of community communications and the growing convergence of radio, television and digital media. The association serves a sector built around locally owned and locally operated, not-for-profit media. Its constituency includes established community broadcasters, groups seeking to create new services, volunteers, practitioners and individuals interested in community media. The CMA's remit extends beyond the operation of broadcast outlets: it supports initiatives that use media for cultural and creative expression, community development, education, employment, regeneration, social cohesion and inclusion. A central part of the CMA's role is sector representation. It communicates the interests of community media organisations to government, industry bodies and regulators, including Ofcom. The association has engaged with policy questions affecting the operating environment for local and community media, including community-radio legislation, public-service broadcasting, the BBC Charter Review, local and community television, the Broadcasting Code, media literacy, digital switchover, the Community Radio Fund and the allocation of spectrum. This policy work is particularly important for small and volunteer-led organisations that may have limited capacity to participate directly in regulatory consultations or legislative processes. The CMA also provides practical support through advice, information and consultancy. Its membership model brings together organisations at different stages of development, from aspirant projects working toward establishment to operating broadcasters and other community-based media initiatives. In this role, the association functions as a sector network, information resource and advocacy body rather than as a conventional commercial broadcaster or production company. The organisation's definition of community media emphasises a distinct third tier of broadcasting alongside commercial and public-service media. Under this model, community projects are not-for-profit, rooted in particular localities or communities, and generally rely substantially on volunteers. Their value is measured not only by audience reach but also by the opportunities they create for participation, learning, representation, local identity and social connection. The CMA is headquartered in London and is affiliated with the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters. Its work is focused primarily on the United Kingdom, although its international affiliation connects it to the wider global community-radio movement. Publicly available reference material identifies the association's continuing role in supporting community radio, community television and community internet projects, but does not provide a complete public record of its current executive leadership, membership size, finances or detailed operational programmes.

The organisation began in 1983 under the name Community Radio Association. Its initial identity reflected the development of locally oriented radio services and the efforts of community groups to gain a place within the British broadcasting system. As community media developed beyond radio and digital communications became increasingly important, the organisation changed its name to the Community Media Association in 1997. The name change signalled a broader conception of the sector. The CMA's remit came to include community television and community-based internet projects, as well as radio. Across these formats, the association promotes media that is not-for-profit, connected to local communities and substantially shaped by local people and volunteers. It presents community media as a distinct third tier of broadcasting, with social, cultural, educational and civic purposes alongside the functions of commercial and public-service media. The association's work combines member support with public-policy engagement. It represents community media interests to government, industry and regulatory organisations, including Ofcom, and provides advice, information and consultancy to both operating organisations and groups considering the creation of a project. This gives the CMA a role in helping projects understand regulatory, organisational and developmental issues while also conveying sector-wide concerns to decision-makers. In 2004, the CMA was particularly active in discussions with government concerning a broad set of communications-policy subjects. These included legislation affecting community radio, public-service broadcasting, the BBC Charter Review, local and community television, the Broadcasting Code, media literacy, digital switchover, the Community Radio Fund and spectrum allocation. The range of issues reflected the sector's dependence on public policy, access to spectrum and suitable regulatory arrangements. The association's underlying mission is to enable people to establish and develop communications media for cultural and creative expression, community development and entertainment. Its understanding of community media also stresses practical social outcomes, including regeneration, employment, learning, social cohesion and inclusion. Rather than operating as a single broadcaster, the CMA supports a field of independent initiatives and acts as a collective voice for organisations and individuals working within that field. The CMA is based in London and has an international connection through affiliation with the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters. Available reference material confirms its continuing focus on UK community media, but does not establish a full chronology of leadership changes, individual programmes, financial performance or current membership numbers.

• 2004

  Expanded policy engagement on community broadcasting

  [1]Community Media Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The CMA was heavily involved in liaison with government on community-radio legislation, public-service broadcasting, local and community television, media regulation, digital switchover, the Community Radio Fund and spectrum policy.

• 1997

  Renamed the Community Media Association

  [1]Community Media Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association adopted its current name to reflect the expansion of community communications into television and digital media.

• 1983

  Founded as the Community Radio Association

  [1]Community Media Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was established to support and represent community radio in the United Kingdom.

A UK sector body and support network for not-for-profit, locally rooted community broadcasting and related digital media initiatives.

• Sector membership

  Membership

  A membership network bringing together established community media organisations, groups seeking to launch projects and individuals interested in community-based broadcasting. Membership provides a collective identity for a diverse sector and supports communication between practitioners and the association.

• Professional support

  Advice, information and consultancy

  The CMA offers guidance and consultancy for people and organisations involved in community radio, television and internet projects. The publicly described service is intended to help both established initiatives and aspirant groups understand and develop community media activity.

• Advocacy

  Policy representation

  The association represents community media interests to government, industry and regulatory bodies such as Ofcom. Its advocacy covers the legal, regulatory, funding, spectrum and public-service conditions that shape the ability of small, locally rooted broadcasters to operate.

1. 1Community Media Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Community Media Association official websitecommedia.org.uk