Ciarán Murray (near media co-op & CMFE) & Dr. Ken Murphy (Nat University Ireland, Maynooth)

This presentation will introduce the research and invite comments and observations. The research will examine models for supporting programme production by community radio broadcasters and explore how those models contribute to the capacities and sustainability of the sector. The main countries in question are Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and US. It is an innovative collaboration between academic and community sector media researchers which will contribute to the mapping of the future development of the community radio sector in Ireland and abroad. The project will detail current models for programme production support in several jurisdictions and evaluate their relevance for programme production support schemes in the Irish context. Drawing on consultative research with the community media sector in Ireland and comparative research on support schemes administered by broadcasting authorities in several comparable jurisdictions, it will provide a critical analysis of the current framework for programme production support in the Irish community sector and compare it with similar initiatives in a range of jurisdictions. The project will inform the debate on models for state programme production support schemes relevant in Ireland and internationally.