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 role it plays in fostering informed, connected, and engaged communities. The findings reinforce the essential social gain that community radio delivers, particularly in offering local representation, cultural inclusion, and independent media choice—all areas where the UK can learn from Ireland’s approach.
Community Radio: A Platform for Local Voices & Inclusion
The report highlights that 80% of listeners feel more informed and connected with their local area through community radio, while 77% believe it strengthens their sense of community. This reflects a broader understanding of media as a public good, rather than simply an entertainment or commercial product. Unlike corporate broadcasting models that prioritise mass-market appeal, community radio platforms in Ireland enable grassroots storytelling, civic engagement, and locally-driven content that reflects the diversity of real-life experiences.
Lessons for the UK: Diversifying Media Supply Beyond Corporate Models
The UK could benefit greatly from CRAOL’s experience in enabling a more diverse and responsive media landscape. While the UK’s community radio sector remains constrained by restrictive funding and licensing models, the Irish approach offers insights into how a well-supported, listener-focused system can thrive. The report makes it clear that:
- Community radio is valued as an alternative to corporate and national broadcasting, with 75% of Irish listeners believing their local station understands them better than mainstream broadcasters.
- Local relevance is key, with 68% of listeners finding community radio ads and content more relevant than those on commercial channels.
- Community radio provides essential services in times of crisis, with 72% recognising its role in emergencies, from COVID-19 to extreme weather events.
- Engagement is high, with nearly half of listeners actively interacting with their community radio station through requests, surveys, and on-air participation.
These findings highlight that media diversity is not just about competition but about social and cultural representation—a lesson the UK must take seriously if it wants to develop a sustainable, people-centred public service model that complements the existing broadcasting sector.
Strengthening Social Benefit Media
This report reinforces what many within the social benefit media movement already know: community radio is not just about broadcasting—it’s about public participation. It enables greater access to information, supports independent journalism, and serves as a trusted source in an era of declining media plurality. The UK, with its rich tradition of grassroots and community-led media, should take note of how Ireland has built a supportive infrastructure for community radio that ensures local voices are not marginalised.
Looking Ahead
As community media advocates continue to push for stronger recognition and support in the UK, this report provides clear evidence that local radio is valued, needed, and successful when given the right tools to thrive. The UK must look beyond the corporate-driven consolidation of radio services and instead explore how a diversified, community-focused approach can provide real media plurality and listener choice.
Ireland’s experience with community radio demonstrates the power of independent, localised, and socially-driven media. The challenge now is for UK policymakers and regulators to recognise this potential—and to support a stronger, more resilient, and people-centred broadcasting landscape.