Beyond Consumption – Participatory Media and Arts as Meaning-Making
The way we engage with media and the arts shapes how we understand ourselves and our social environment. In a time when much of the […]
Community Media
Welcoming the CRAOL Report – Community Radio’s Vital Role in Social Benefit MediaÂ
The Community Radio Research Report (February 2025), commissioned by CRAOL (Community Radio Ireland), provides a significant indicator of the value of community radio and the […]
Community Media and Social Cohesion – A Role in Rebuilding Trust
Recent events in Leicester have highlighted the challenges of maintaining social cohesion in an era where misinformation, online influence, and institutional distrust shape public perception. […]
Social Gain and Community Media – A Missed Opportunity?
Community media has long been understood as more than just an alternative to commercial and public service broadcasting. At its core, it is meant to […]
Five Years On – Why the Social Value of Media Remains Fragmented
In 2019, When the Goal is Not to Scale outlined a strategy for resilient local, civic, and community media, advocating for a model rooted in […]
Why Community Radio’s Social Gain Matters More Than Ever
For years, Decentered Media has advocated for a robust and meaningful approach to social gain in community media. From the early days of Ofcom’s licensing […]
Understanding Social Gain Before Responding to the Wavehill Survey
Wavehill Communications has launched a survey to measure Social Gain in UK community radio. While this survey is an important opportunity to reflect on the […]
The Joy of Making Media – Community, Creativity, and Connection
Community media offers a unique space where creativity, participation, and storytelling come together. At its core, it embodies the same spirit found in DIY arts […]
Reframing Participation – Journalism, Community Media, and the Challenge of Representation
The News for All report makes a significant contribution to discussions about journalism’s relationship with communities, particularly those who feel underserved or misrepresented by mainstream media. […]
Unlocking the Airwaves: How Ofcom Can Open AM and FM Licensing Without Undermining SSDABÂ
The UK’s radio broadcasting landscape is at a crossroads. While Small-Scale DAB (SSDAB) has provided an important step forward in digital radio access, the continued […]
Reimagining Public Service and Public Purpose Media in the UK
Here at Decentered Media, it’s our role to explore and articulate how media policy in the UK can evolve to better serve our diverse and […]
Rebuilding Trust in UK Media Through Local Engagement and Accountability
The Misinformation Challenge Misinformation is more than just an abstract threat; it is a tangible challenge that affects every aspect of modern life in the […]
Beyond Transactional – Recognising Social Gain in Local Media Policy
The Ofcom review of local media offers an important opportunity to reflect on the role of local news and information in the UK. The review […]
Reclaiming Our Media – Why the UK Must Act Now to Rebuild a Resilient Media Ecosystem
Yesterday I attended the Ofcom Workplan 2025 meeting in London, where I raised concerns about the control of social media platforms by unfriendly oligarchs, the […]
Community Radio Order 2025 – Analysis
The Community Radio Order 2019 and the Community Radio Order 2025 reflect evolving approaches to the regulation of community radio in the UK. Below is […]