The reason for this is very simple – it is how you get the most listeners. In media jargon, they don’t broadcast, they narrowcast. The overwhelming majority of radio stations don’t throw their output randomly out at the world, but instead target it very specifically at a particular demographic – people of a particular age, type, social class etc. The word ‘broadcast’ literally means to scatter widely – to throw something out to the world. You are there to serve all of your community Broadcasting not narrowcasting This chapter will seek to draw your attention to the many issues that must be considered and decisions that must be made when you are planning your broadcast schedules. These should guide you towards the type of radio programmes that your community wants and needs. While it is possible to run a community radio station by opening your doors to your community and letting things run their course, we believe that to get the maximum benefit it is necessary to have programming policies. It is our job to be necessary.īut for all the importance of community involvement, training and other aspects of your social gain activities, it is the quality and nature of your broadcast output that will be noticed and hopefully appreciated by the vast majority of your wider community. As we have said before (and will say again) it is not our job to be popular. Community radio stations should have a different attitude. They justify their existence and/or make their profits by attracting the largest possible numbers of listeners. Cross trailling and promoting the stationĬommercial and BBC radio stations are all engaged in an unseemly scramble for the ears, attention and loyalty of the radio audience.Home / On Air / Programming Programming Contents: A guide to Social Prescribing for Community Radio.A guide to Health Partnerships for Community Radio.Increasing engagement through social media.Setting up successful social media profiles.