[cr-india] Talking points... on community radio (Bill Siemering)

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

These talking points on going into community radio are from Bill Siemering
<siemering at attglobal.net> who wrote in just yesterday. He commented: "Are
you attending a meeting this month on community radio in India?  I've pasted
a story, which you may have seen, about community radio development.... Yes,
it is very important to have the proper legislation.  South Africa has
probably the most favorable legal support for community radio." Bill is from
Developing Radio Partners. 

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Workshop on Community Radio * Bill Siemering
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1.  Introductions of participants, their expectations, overview of the day

2. Why start a station?

Map the media landscape.
How will the community benefit from a local/community station?
What will be the unique contribution of this station?
Who will be involved?
How will it be supported?
Who is the primary audience?
The unique qualities of radio: accessible, personal, imaginative, immediate,
democratic

3.  The Mission
Provides a clarity of purpose and enables a shared commitment
Describes the purpose of the station
Is both the foundation upon which to build the station and programming, and
also a star to guide the vision
Activity: Write mission statement 

4.  Leadership
Identify the elements of good leadership
Activity: Identify their own natural leadership style [Leadership
Questionnaire]
Select appropriate leadership styles for specific situations
Leadership Profile Sheet
Continuum of Leadership Behavior
The Four Competencies of Leadership
Engagement with the community; the manager as community leader

5.  Managing People
Defining roles clearly
Selecting the right person for the job
Setting clear expectations
Giving clear feedback
Giving recognition for work done
A simple approach to resolving conflicts

6. Managing Volunteers
Developing a volunteer policy
Selection and induction of volunteers
Job descriptions
Who is responsible for supervising volunteers
Standards of performance
Disciplinary procedures
Reimbursement for expenses

7.  Programming
Programming is the station's product.  It defines and shapes the station's
value to the community
Program appeal: the force that draws people to the station
Programming affinity: how well programs fit and work together
Programs that serve very similar audiences
Listener loyalty: the percentage of time spent with a particular station
News and information programming
Music programming-often defines the audience
Program evaluation
What are your criteria for success?
How to conduct audience research
How to use your own air time to get audience feedback

8.  Marketing and fundraising
Marketing is about knowing and serving your customer
The unique role of your station
Community participation
Identifying donors, preparing proposals
Other ways to earn income

9.  Advertising
What are sources of advertising?
How many advertisements can be played each hour?
How do you establish the price?
Reasons to advertise on your radio station

10.  Financial Management
Identify the main elements of financial management
Identify the financial policies needed for the station
Develop a budget
Do a cash flow projection

11.  Strategic planning
Conduct SWOT analysis:  Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats
Objectives must be SMART:  Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and
Time bound-have a time limit.

12.  Independence and integrity
Listeners have a right to expect that the information they hear is accurate
and not influenced by outside interests, be they government, businesses or
special interests.  Independence and integrity are as essential to our work
as operating with sterile instruments is for a surgeon.

Case studies of ethical issues.
Discussion of various codes of ethics for journalists.

13.  Boards of directors and governance.
The role of the board
Selecting a board of directors
Engaging the board in the station

14.  What will you consider as your greatest success?

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NOTE FROM THEIR WEBSITE: Developing Radio Partners (DRP) is a newly-forming
not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting independent radio
stations in countries transitioning to democracy through professional
development in journalism, programming, station management and finance. 
Developing Radio Partners identifies and responds to communities that will
benefit from the community building-radio can provide.

Programs at a Glance

Developing Radio Partners' formative programs are Networking and Exchange
Assistance, Publishing Best Practices, and Africa and Asia programs.
Developing Radio Partners also offers consulting services on a
fee-for-services basis. Current planned activities include the following:

Networking and Exchange Assistance : It is anticipated that DRP will fulfill
thirty or more requests for information ranging from structuring news
operations or program schedules, requests for trainers, and inquiries about
hooking up with visiting journalists.

Publishing Best Practices : DRP plans to create and disseminate electronic
and printed materials aimed at educating and attracting clients and
potential partners. DRP is proposing a series of practical guides to
address, among other topics, a) station financial sustainability (featuring
case studies and practical approaches to establishing stations and
attracting revenue); b) audience measurement; and c) programming in a
post-conflict setting.

Africa : DRP's first Africa initiative will focus on West Africa. DRP plans
to design and implement community radio development in Liberia and Sierra
Leone including an initial assessment; identification of short-term needs
such as equipment and training; design of a program addressing longer-term
needs for sustainability including formation of a Sierra Leone-based
community radio foundation. DRP will partner to document effective uses of
local radio for peace-building in a post-conflict setting.

Asia : DRP's first Asia initiative will focus on Mongolia. In collaboration
with local communities, DRP plans to establish five new stations to add to
the existing seven stations. DRP also will examine ways to use the Internet
for a more effective and creative radio station. We will establish a
Mongolian Foundation for Independent Radio to aggregate and distribute funds
and provide training to ensure sustainability.

Sister Stations : As opportunities present themselves, Developing Radio
Partners will collaborate with U.S. public radio stations to establish
sister station relationships with our station partners overseas. The first
of these relationships recently debuted, between the National Public Radio
affiliate Cape and Islands Radio and Gobi Wave Radio, in the pop. 10,000
community of Dalanzadgad in the south of Mongolia.