On Thursday, September 17, the last of three Europe-focused ‘Global Dialogues’ takes place in one of the world’s new online meeting rooms – via zoom and live on facebook. You will here meet representatives from 6 community radio stations (see below under ‘Classifieds’ where you also find recordings) just like we on September 2nd hosted representatives from 6 European national community media associations. Much earlier, on July 3rd, UK and Ireland shared their experiences during Corona – and beyond.
Through the work with, listening to and taking part in these global gatherings, the power of community media – once again – stands out as the platforms for the anchoring of democracy at the grassroots level. The testimonies were clear, community media is where you can take part, have a voice, be an active citizen – no matter who you are. It is where fundamental (human) rights are talked about and defended, and it is where you, we, learn to operate and influence policy and thereby conditions of life.
This is possible through the authenticity and credibiilty of the community media, our colleagues shared, as an empowered and focused civil society, based upon values. There is no ‘neutral, objective’, there is right and wrong – and a source of information the listeners trust in our challenged world of ‘fake news’ and aggressive agendas.
So: listen in, take part, share your observations, opinions, experiences on September 17, 2pm CET!
After 2 years of struggle, Radio ARA, Luxembourg’s only nationwide operating community media, presented their case last Tuesday in front of the chamber of deputies. A reform not only of the state’s press funding but also of the funding of “Public Service”-assignments of Radio and TV is being discussed and should be voted in autumn. Luxembourg does not yet recognize the third pillar of the media sector and is under scrutiny because of its lack of media pluralism, its concentration of media ownership and its incapability to represent large parts of the population.
Zlatan Music is the Press Officer at the OSCE Mission to BIH where he heads the Media Freedom portfolio within the Human Rights Sections. In a conversation with CMFE board member Dragana Jovanovic about the effects of COVID-19, he among others stressed the urgent and much needed support to community media in BiH: 
In Ireland, one of the statutory requirements to be met by community radio, is to deliver a social benefit to the community it serves. To clarify what ‘social benefit’ is and how it could and should be assessed, 
Are you a teenager involved in a local community media? Are you interested in making your voice heard in the current COVID-19crisis? Newsrooms doing broadcast, print and online with teenage reporters in 14 countries are already participating in the 
