How do we demonstrate the personal, social, and civic transformation that community media enables? How can participatory and developmental media practices be evaluated in ways that reflect their true impact on individuals and communities? This week’s Community Media Leadership discussion will focus on the development of a Community Media Evaluation Toolkit, exploring how we measure the value of grassroots media beyond conventional audience metrics.
The toolkit aims to provide practical methods for assessing:
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Personal transformation – How participation in media builds confidence, communication skills, and self-expression.
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Social impact – How community-led storytelling fosters connection, inclusion, and shared cultural identity.
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Civic engagement – How community media strengthens democratic participation and local accountability.
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Evidence-based advocacy – How projects can communicate their impact to funders and partners in meaningful ways.
The discussion takes place online via Zoom at 4pm (UK time) this Thursday, with the link sent separately to paid supporters of Decentered Media on Patreon. If you are involved in community media and want to shape a framework that supports and strengthens the sector, join the conversation. Your insights will help ensure that this evaluation toolkit is rooted in real-world practice and provides useful, adaptable tools for community-focused communicators.