Community media plays a vital role in shaping the conversations that matter, but too often, social policy fails to account for the real needs of people when it comes to communication and media. While market-driven approaches dominate, there’s a growing gap in how we recognise and support media that serves communities, fosters social cohesion, and strengthens civic life.
This week’s discussion will explore the development of an evaluation toolkit for community-focused communications. If community media is to gain the recognition it deserves, we need to be able to articulate its value in terms that policymakers understand. We’ll start by identifying the core social needs that community media can address—whether that’s bringing people together, supporting environmental stewardship, or ensuring that local voices shape sustainable communities.
The Foundational Economic Model offers a different way of thinking about media’s role in society. Instead of treating cultural engagement and democratic participation as market by-products, this approach sees them as essential needs—just as fundamental as transport, housing, or education. By embedding media within this framework, we can build a stronger case for policies that support independent, community-driven communication.
Join us on Zoom this Thursday at 4pm to be part of the conversation. The link will be shared separately—keep an eye out for it. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Best wishes
Rob