On the 1st and 2nd of June 2024, Soar Sound, a new community radio station from Leicester, set up a pop-up radio station at the bustling Leicester Riverside Festival. This event was an opportunity for Soar Sound volunteers to engage directly with the festival atmosphere, conducting live broadcasts, interviews, and vox-pops with attendees, stallholders, and organisers.
I have the privilege of supporting the development of Soar Sound as an advisor and director. With over twenty years of experience in community media, I believe that the best way to understand and serve community media volunteers is to roll up one’s sleeves and get involved with helping to train, mentor, and guide a wide range of volunteers who want to make a difference through radio and other forms of media.
I encourage our volunteers to find their voice and be creative and distinctive in the way they make content for the station’s audience. Our pop-up radio station was a great example of how we can showcase the diversity, vibrancy, and talent of Leicester’s communities through innovative and engaging radio programs.
Direct Participation in Content Production
The hands-on experience provided by the pop-up radio station was invaluable for our volunteers. Engaging in real-time content creation allowed them to immerse themselves in the production process, honing their skills in:
- Interview Techniques: Volunteers conducted interviews with a diverse range of festival goers, learning to ask insightful questions and elicit meaningful responses.
- Live Broadcasting: The immediate nature of live radio taught volunteers to think on their feet and adapt quickly to unfolding events.
- Technical Skills: Setting up and managing the pop-up radio station provided practical knowledge of broadcasting equipment and software.
Through their active involvement, volunteers significantly enhanced their media literacies. This encompassed:
- Understanding Community Engagement: Volunteers learned to gauge people’s reactions and tailor their content to maintain engagement and interest.
- Storytelling Skills: Capturing and sharing the diverse stories of festival attendees improved their ability to craft compelling narratives.
- Ethical Reporting: Emphasising ethical considerations, volunteers ensured their reporting was accurate, respectful, and inclusive.
- The event highlighted Soar Sound’s commitment to inclusivity and cultural integration:
- Validating Experiences: By interviewing a wide range of people, volunteers validated the experiences and voices of individuals from different cultural backgrounds, fostering a sense of inclusion.
- Intercultural Dialogue: Engaging with festival goers from diverse communities encouraged intercultural dialogue and understanding, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of Leicester.
- Building Trust: The approachable and interactive nature of the pop-up radio station helped build trust between the radio station and the community, encouraging more people to share their stories.
The pop-up radio station at the Leicester Riverside Festival demonstrated the power of community media to:
- Empower Volunteers: Volunteers gained confidence and practical experience, empowering them to continue their media endeavours.
- Engage the Public: The initiative attracted a wide audience, both at the festival and through the broadcast, raising awareness of Soar Sound’s mission.
- Foster Community Cohesion: By providing a platform for diverse voices, the event contributed to greater community cohesion and mutual understanding.
Looking Forward: The success of Soar Sound’s pop-up radio station at the Leicester Riverside Festival serves as a model for future community engagement initiatives. It reaffirms our commitment to grassroots media development, fostering media literacies, and promoting inclusive, intercultural dialogue. We look forward to more such events that empower our volunteers and enrich our community.