It's nothing more than Facebook for grown ups, but I'm slightly obsessed with it at the moment. In about two weeks no doubt I, and the rest of the internet population, will have moved onto something else...
May 2007 Archives
From Third Sector Online more on the recent Sony success for the CSV Action Network:
CSV has joined the likes of Chris Evans and John Humphrys in winning two of this year's Sony Radio Academy Awards.
CSV Action Network, which works in partnership with 36 BBC local radio stations across England to promote community involvement, won the Community Award in the production category for its programme 'The Plot,' broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire, which involved two derelict allotments in Slough being turned into community spaces.
The charity also produced the winning entry in the category for medium size radio stations with a potential audience of between 300,000 and a million listeners. The programme was a BBC Radio Derby broadcast on bullying in Derbyshire. [Ed: That's not quite right, the station as a whole won, and our content relating to Islam Awareness Week was singled out for a special mention - see our press release for a more accurate account, or read it on the Community Newswire.].
Damian Radcliffe, National Broadcasting Manager at CSV, said: 'The partnership between CSV and the BBC has a proven track record in motivating and inspiring communities, but it's great to also have the quality and professionalism of our broadcasting acknowledged too.'
Andy Griffee, BBC controller of English regions said: 'It was a good night of Sony's success for BBC local radio and particularly for our six-year-old partnership with CSV, our action desks help thousands of people volunteer for all kinds of worthwhile causes each year and make a critical contribution to stronger and more effective local communities.'
The short answer is yes, but with caveats -a fact picked up by the Editorial Leader which rather sensationally has the headline: 'State cash could kill community media.' I wouldn't put it so bluntly, but it is a real issue, as the leader goes on to say:
"People trust charity campaigns and community media precisely because they are separate from the state. CSV, which works with local BBC stations, is rightly concerned: editorial independence is vital to credibility."
Maybe if I get the time I will expand on my views more fully. But based on my current workload, don't hold your breath... :-)
Here is a link to the full non-leader article if you want to read it in context (although you will have to subscribe).
Or click below to see a text only version of it.
Apologies for the fact that after not updating this site in ages, it seems to have becoming nothing more than a forum for self promotion - not least because I seem to be a bit of a rent-a-quote at the moment. Or rather it just so happens that lots of good and interesting things seem to be happening at the moment which I seem qualified enough (just) to comment on.
Balance will be restored at some juncture soon. Honest. Not least because I will soon run out of things to say, and it will be back to movie reviews and holiday photos on these pages I'm sure!
Anyway, in the interim, there's a really nice piece on the Do It website about how to get into radio through volunteering, and I've talked a little bit about some of the opportunities CSV Action offers.
In addition, there's some nice personal insights from the worlds of Hospital and Community Radio, both of which I've done before, and if I had the time I would happily do again. They taught me everything (or rather what little,) I know...
Yours nostalgic for chinagraph pencils and cart machines,
DJ Damian
Very happy today after a good night for the CSV Action Network last night at the Radio Industry's biggest bash of the year.
I'm very proud of Victoria, Debra, Louise and Nina that their work - and the work of the BBC teams we work alongside - have been recognised.
Sadly I didn't go to the Sony's although I did go in 1999, with Kat, when someone (who will remain nameless) gave us some spare tickets. We did the free drinks and then ducked out of the ceremony to and have a chin wag.
Somehow we ended up in ASK Pizza in Notting Hill, in black tie. The staff kept looking at us strangely, and I kept trying to persuade Kat that we should fake a successful marriage proposal, so that we could get our meal for free. She wouldn't have any of it. Quite right too! You wouldn't catch Baron Von Rouge, her real life husband doing that....
