Community Media and the Third Media sector - European Definition

From Civilmedia

Name of the contributor(s): Christer Hederstrom, Salvatore Scifo

This session will discuss the meaning(s) of community media (CM) as adopted across Europe. For example, religious broadcasting is part of CM in some countries but not in others. In some cases there are privately operated and NGO-operated CM stations. In terms of financing: some are hevaily dependent on governmental fundings: would a Community Radio station 100 % funded by a government, the EU or UNESCO qualify as real CM? During we would like to stimulate debate with conference delegates from all over Europe present at the meeting. Community Media and the Third Media Sector – the European definition

In Europe community radio and community tv have been established de facto for several decades in some countries. But in other countries especially in Eastern Europe community media (CM) is quite a new sector.

With the European parliament resolution in September 2008 the CM sector became recognized; also as ”the third media sector”. However, CM is decscribed in many different ways in Europe and other parts of the world. As community radio is most common globally in some countries it is for example ”non-commercial local radio” (Denmark and Germany), ”radio associatif” (France), ”närradio” (Sweden) or ”lowpower FM” (USA). In some countries there is just ”private radio” which can be either ”commercial” or ”non-commercial” outside the state/public service sector.

Community television is known as ”open channels” (Germany, Norway and Sweden) or ”public access” (USA).

The lack of a common defintion is of course the reason for this multitude of descriptive terms. But it is quite necessary to work for a common defintion in order to enhance the position as CM as the third media sector. This is important when we are asking for political or financial support from national governments and most of all from the European institutions.

Common Principles of Community media as stated in the CMFE statues:

1. Free access for the communities to the means of media communication 2. Freedom of speech and media plurality 3. Free access to information 4. Public and gender balanced access 5. Encouragement of local participation 6. Cultural diversity and respect to minorities 7. Orientation to participatory structures and self-determination 8. Editorial independence 9. Not-for-profit

In the its resolution the European parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to define community media as:

a) non-profit making and independent, not only from national, but also from local power, engaging primarily in activities of public and civil society interest, serving clearly defined objectives which always include social value and contribute to intercultural dialogue;

b) accountable to the community which they seek to serve, which means that they are to inform the community about their actions and decisions, to justify them, and to be penalised in the event of any misconduct, so that the service remains controlled by the interests of the community and the creation of 'top-down' networks is prevented.

c) open to participation in the creation of content by members of the community, who may participate in all aspects of operation and management, although those in charge of editorial content must have professional status. (See also www.cmfe.eu)

Some questions to be answered might be on religious broadcasting which is a part of CM in some countries but not in others. Another focus can be on drawing the line between private operated and NGO operated CM.  Or dependence on goverment funding; would a Community Radio station which is 100 % funded by a government, EU or UNICEF qualify as CM? And how do we handle right-wing or left-wing radio?

Seen out of an European lawmakers perspective it is quite obvious that a fourth media sector will not be established in a forseeable future. Could we then leave any radio or television on the outside? Should all radio and television which is not classified as public service/state or private/commercial be qualified as being the third media sector? Or is community media just a part of the third media sector. Would such a position rather weaken the movement for CM on the European level?