MECCSA-PGN Former Executive Committee Members
Salvatore Scifo
London Metropolitan University
Department of Applied Social Sciences
I have joined the Department of Applied Social Sciences, London
Metropolitan University, as a Lecturer in Community
Media in May 2007 (where I share my job with
Peter Lewis), and am currently a Ph.D candidate at the University of Westminster. I completed my MA degree in
Communication Sciences at the University of Siena, Italy.
From December 2001 to August 2004 I have been Deputy Station
Manager at Siena's University Radio station, ‘Facolta’ di Frequenza’.
Ph.D Research
‘The evolution of the
Community Radio in Britain since 1997’
Supervisors: David Hendy (DoS), Roza Tsagarousianou
Abstract
The introduction of Community Radio in the United Kingdom as a
recognised ‘third tier’ of broadcasting succeeded in 2004 after
almost thirty years of campaigns by its practitioners and sector’s
associations. After time spent in piracy, community cable
experiments, short term licenses and a pilot project, local
communities were able to apply for five-year licenses, having
gained recognition from policymaking and regulating
authorities.
This recognition emerged in the context of a wider set of
social policies instituted by New Labour. Indeed, the election of
New Labour has been seen as a crucial element in the introduction
of CR in Britain.
The challenge here is that, since CR has been a relatively
late arrival in the UK, most of the conceptual thinking about CR –
about its ethos, its value and purpose – has been forged in
non-British contexts. Further, those in Britain who have long been
involved in campaigning for CR have been profoundly influenced by
this international context
Thus, there is a tension to be explored throughout what
follows, on the basis of seeing a movement shaped by international
thinking and strategies being founded within a uniquely British
context – and, moreover, being founded as a result, in the end, of
a top-down political initiative propelled by broader social
agendas. These tensions can be seen in a number of couplets:
‘international’ concepts of CR versus ‘native’ models, ‘idealist’
perspectives competing with more ‘pragmatic’ concerns shaped by
public policy, communal ambitions versus an emerging concern for
individual empowerment, and so on.
There are many possible forms of community-based non-profit
radio. But the focus of this study is analogic (AM/FM), licensed,
full-time Community Radio in the United Kingdom. The aim of this
research is to explore the factors that have contributed to shape
the definition of community radio as adopted by the British
regulator, Office for Communications (Ofcom) in 2004 and answer to
the following research questions:
- What has been the influence of New Labour
social and cultural policies on community radio policy and
regulation?
- What is community radio’s ‘ethos’ today? What
is the ‘internal ideology’ in community radio? Are there any
similarities/differences with the ethos of community radio
practitioners in the last thirty years?
- What is the role that has been played by the
Community Media Association (CMA) in shaping the policies and the
regulation? What has been the influence of the BBC and the
commercial radio stations, including the ethnic-based ones?
- How has Ofcom’s definition of community
radio been interpreted on the ground?
The research includes the study of three full-time licensed
community radio stations: ALL FM in Manchester, Forest FM in
Verwood (East Dorset) and Canterbury Student Radio (CSR) in
Canterbury. Further interviews include relevant people in community
radio policymaking and practice as current and former members
of staff of the Community Media Association (CMA), practitioners,
academics, politicians and members of regulatory bodies (Radio
Authority and Ofcom). The research is planned to be completed by
Summer 2008.
Research interests:Media Theory, Alternative
and Community Media Practices, Student Media,Broadcasting History
and Media Technologies.
Publications
Book Reviews
Forthcoming
(December 2007) ‘Student Media’, in 'Alternative Media
Handbook', edited by K.Coyer, T.Dowmunt, F.Alan, London:
Routledge
(March 2008) Issue Editor of 'Community Radio. Networks,
identities and experiences', Westminster Papers in
Communication and Culture, Volume 5, Number 1.
(date tbc) Mainstreaming Partnership Agreement “Voices
without Frontiers/Community Media” - External
Evaluation, an evaluation report for the Community Media
Association, funded by Equal-European Social Fund
(ESF)
Teaching experience
2005 - 2007, Visiting Lecturer, BA Media Studies,
University of Westminster
- 2004/2005, Basic Web Audio (part of Radio Production
Skills), practice module
- 2005/2006, Web Audio (part of Radio Production Skills),
practice module and Seminar Leader for theory modules Understanding
Broadcasting, Social Theory and the Media, Understanding News Media
and BA Dissertations Supervisor.
Guest Lectures: 'Media and Identity' in Social Theory and the
Media; 'BBC Radio' in the PgDip in Media and Communication
- 2006/2007, Internet Radio and Podcasting; Web Audio (part
of Radio Production Skills), practice module
2001 - 2004, Radio Production Skills Tutor, Siena University Radio,
University of Siena
Conference Papers
Forthcoming
'Community Radio Policy developments in the UK', Civil
Society Media Policy Symposium, University of Leeds, Leeds,
26-28 July 2007
Presented
'The development of Community Radio in Britain since
1997' , The Radio Conference: A Transnational
Forum, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, 16-19 July 2007 and
4th MeCCSA Postgraduate Conference, Bristol, University of
the West of England (UWE), 12-13 July 2007
‘Contemporary tensions in British Community Radio Policy’,
Community Broadcasting Policy in Europe Workshop, Center
for Media and Communication Studies, Central European University
(CEU), Budapest, 17-18 May 2007
- 'Measuring Audience and Impact' (with Helen Manchester,
University of Manchester), Workshop at Community FM 2007,
MANCAT, Manchester, 23-24 February 2007
- 'Community Radio as a complementary medium: the case study of ALL
FM', London Doctoral Symposia, University of Westminster,
London, 24 November 2006
- ‘Community Radio in the UK: the emerging landscape’,
ILAD (Turkish Communication Research Association) monthly
seminars, Istanbul, 29 December 2005
- ‘Emerging issues in Community Radio Licensing’,
Re-thinking Communications Policy for Civil Society - Community
radio in the UK: can an ad-hoc regulation enhance an active public
sphere?,Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research,
London, 9 December 2005
- ‘Community Radio in the UK: the emerging landscape’,
London Doctoral Symposia, University of Westminster,
London, 18 November 2005.
- ‘Radio Production processes in Community Radio’, London
Doctoral Symposia, University of Westminster, London, 29 April
2005.
- ‘Toward a common agenda for Community Radio Research in the
United Kingdom’, Radio
Studies Network Conference, University of Central England,
Birmingham, 7 April 2005
Other presentations include the dissemination of the findings of
the MeCCSA
Postgraduate Networking project, funded by ADM-HEA (Art,
Design and Media - Higher Education Academy) at:
-
MeCCSA-AMPE joint Conference, Leeds Metropolitan
University, Leeds, 13 January 2006
- Media and Communication Reference Group Meeting at
the Art, Design and Media Subject Centre, Higher Education Academy,
London, 7 February 2006
- 3rd
MeCCSA Postgraduate Network conference, University of
Ulster, Coleraine, 22-23 June 2006
-
School Postgraduate Network Workshop, School of
Media, Arts and Design, University of Westminster, Centre of
Excellence in Professional Learning in the Workplace, London,
28 June 2006
- Part-time Administrator, China Media Centre, University of
Westminster (February - June 2006). This involved coordinating the
organisation of the China Media Conference
2006 on 'Modernisation, Modernity and the Media in China',
Harrow Campus, 15-16 June 2006
- Project Researcher, School Postgraduate
Network project, web-based database of completed doctoral
studies at the School of Media, Arts and Design, University of
Westminster. (March - July 2006)
Organiser of Workshop 'Life after the PhD', Centre of Excellence in
Professional Learning in the Workplace, Marylebone Campus, London,
28 June 2006
- Project Researcher, ‘Postgraduate
Networking’ project, web-based database of best practices
in Doctoral Research in Media, Communication, Film and Cultural
Studies across the UK (June 2005 - January 2006) and Communications Officer
(2005/2007)
Memberships
- Radio Studies Network Steering
Group
- Editorial Board of WPCC, Westminster Papers
in Communication and Culture
Contact details:
E-mail: S.Scifo (at) londonmet.ac.uk
University address:
Salvatore Scifo
Lecturer in Community Media
Department of Applied Social Sciences
London Metropolitan University
Ladbroke House, Room LH 328
62-66 Highbury Grove
London
N5 2AD
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