Community Media in Europe: First Country Ranking.

Third sector recognized in North and West. Virgin land in South and East.
Based on a survey to media authorities and national federations the CMFE Mapping and Ratings workgroup presented the mapping of community media in Europe. The 2012 count of community radio stations was summarized to
2.237 and community television stations 521.

The ranking community media in Europe put focus is on “the third media sector”. The ranking will pressure national governments, politicians and media authorities to recognize or to improve conditions for community radio and community television. This is also an effort to place the third media sector more distinctly on the European media map. 

How the ranking was done

The basis for classification was the inquiry forms from 39 responding countries in the 2012 mapping survey of Europe. Ten of these countries were not ranked as community media was reported as non-existing.

The primary ranking results were put together by a CMFE workgroup and have also been reviewed by the members of the CMFE experts group including the members of the board.  Together this assessment group represents a broad spectrum of experience and knowledge of the community media sector in various parts of Europe.

On the map (above) countries not blue marked have scored 1,5 or less on the index scale.  Alternatively no community media is reported or no inquiry response.

Classification was made on an index scale 1-10 the value of national commitment for the third media sector for each European country.  The countries were ranked staring with the country with top index result. Five variables for community radio and for community television respectively; Community media spread, Regulation, Governmental financial support, Technical structure and  General development assessment.  

Although striving for optimal precision this is not a research project on an academic level. However, the results of this project might serve as a useful platform for further research.  Of course, this ranking list will be discussed and contested in many parts. But this will contribute to further precision levels for a subsequent ranking 2014. Hopefully, there will also be some interesting feedback from media authorities, politicians and national federations.

The members of the CMFE Mapping & Rating workgroup were Christer Hederström (Convenor), Núria Reguero i Jiménez , Ciaran Murray, Salvatore Scifo , Kate Coyer and Arne Hintz . (For reference see list of Board or Experts Group members)

The results

On the detailed ranking list also country values of the freedom of expression index of Reporters Without Borders as well as the 2013 The Economist Democracy Index can be found in separate columns. Here some correlation can be studied regarding community media spread and democracy levels countrywise.

Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria came on the top of the list with 6,9-7,1 points of 10.  Please note that CM index is a mean value for radio AND television. For example France is on top on the community radio ranking but very weak on community television. Of the 29 countries 13 reached the average ranking value of 3,4 or higher. 

1

Norway

7.1

2

Denmark

7

3

Netherlands

6.9

4

Austria

6.4

5

Sweden

5.9

6

Germany

5.7

7

Ireland

5.6

8

United Kingdom

5.5

9

Finland

4.9

10

Switzerland

4.7

10

France

4.7


The CMFE Mapping & Ranking project will be on the agenda for the
CMFE/AMARC conference Media Diversity for Democracy in Brno (Czech Republic) on October 4-6, 2013.More information can be obtained by contacting mapping [a] cmfe.eu.  
CMFE also welcomes all comments. 

View and comment the detailed ranking list with all countries listed.

Reference: CMFE Rating criteria

News item:  First Mapping of Community Media in Europe (2012)