Local and Community Television in the United Kingdom: A New Beginning?

This article examines the issues surrounding the ability of Local And Community Television (LCTV) to complement, and challenge, Public Service

Broadcasting (PSB) values in the United Kingdom. It also looks at "media literacy" and the role of Community Media in relation to enhancing
citizenship. Hewson asks, "Can Local and Community Television be revitalized within a digital environment?"

Hewson postulates that public service and digital inclusion "will increasingly be considered together...-...and as issues around social inclusion and media plurality are combined, the term 'broadcasting' might even be disengaged from a view of 'public service' - with visions of 'local communication', and 'public service communication' emerging."

Hewson describes the BBC Charter Review, and the Ofcom Review of Public Service Television Broadcasting approaching the issue of local media
"tentatively." He further describes the Department for Culture Media and Sport as timetabling a 'Local Digital Television Order' consultation, which as he suggests, makes this the time where "significant questions must be asked concerning the ability of Local And Community Television (LCTV) to complement, as well as challenge, current Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) values."

Hewson's report suggests that Community Media practitioners should develop an outlook which focuses upon the localised and cross-cutting social
networks and that while Community Media is described as "based around 'place," and the Alternative Media is "based around 'difference,' "
Community Media projects should not simply focus upon alternative or radical content because this can impair local engagement of the community.

Hewson suggests that a converged perspective for LCTV must stress: "local participatory activities across
different media forms; the adoption of mixed funding models; and an engagement with a wide array of local and regional organisations." A 'social
investment' or 'social enterprise' model for LCTV might consider 'cross-platform local media strategies' - an array of local media projects

developed for a common purpose - rather than consolidated and profit-driven strategies from large organisations.

Hewson further suggests that the Community Media Centre (CMC) model should be reassessed as a way "to advance a new vision of 'Local Public Service

Communication' provision; to bring broadcast media and new communications technology together within Community Media initiatives; and to

encourage participation in, as well as access to new media technologies."

The report makes several recommendations including:

• The need to develop innovative models of LCTV provision.
• An evaluation of the PSP proposal, and the generation compact agreements between the Community Media Sector and the BBC.
• The promotion of content plurality as underpinning Community Media provision, and the need for citizen education concerning contemporary
  broadcasting developments.
• The promotion of a 'public interest' LCTV research scheme, including an assessment of potential funding models.
• A recognition that past precedent is an imprecise guide to future developments.
• A suggestion that the 'Local Digital Television Order' consultation should be lengthened, alongside a wide-ranging consideration of other

  community technologies which might utilise local digital frequencies.

Please contact the Community Media Association for further details at: books@commedia.org.uk for the report in its entirety.