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WHY
PCRL ?
This Group was
formed in 1980 as a pressure group to highlight. The lack of input
into the broadcasting media for the ethnic community. When we
approached the BBC and the IBA Stations in our area, negotiations
were held but no meaningful improvement was forthcoming. We then
applied to the IBA in 1982 for a Radio Franchise. to broadcast to the
dis-enfranchised groups.
We were
informed that the only frequency available for the Birmingham area
was already allocated to BRMB and they could not entertain our
request for several years to come. Our next step was to approach the
then home Secretary - the Rt. Hon. Leon Brittain for a Special
Test Transmission Franchise for Community Radio. Our letter from the
Home Secretary stated that Britain's airwaves were governed by the
European Broadcasting committee in Geneva and negotiations would be
taking place for an extension of frequencies to accommodate community radio.
This was
subsequently granted in 1983. As a result of this, a pledge was made
that by the end of that year the first Community Stations would come
into being. We were very optimistic when twenty-one Test Franchises
were promised - but alas this was abandoned. In the meantime, we set
about training would-be broadcasters in the practical elements of
radio broadcasting. As a result of. our continuous lobbying and a
visit to the House of Commons we engaged the support of key MP's,
leading church figures, local Councillors and other major
organisations. Pcrl was one of a number of groups consulted prior to
the formation of a Local Media Skills Training Initiative. Many PCRL
Presenters have benefited from the creation of the Community Radio
Training Project which was funded by a local Charitable Trust as a
result of these consultations.
We were very
much encouraged when in 1988 the IBA announced that they were to
issue twenty Incremental ILR Contracts and on 2 December 1988 they
received our letter of intent. We are talking about the black
community for the first time having control, i.e., editorial control,
production control, control of who is involved, and who can become
members of the station. As we train more and more people we
increasingly prove that anyone can learn the skills of radio
broadcasting and thereby there will be alot more cultural debates,
more political debates and different sorts of music.
During the
time that we were on air we concentrated on the music and information
that existing radio station just don't give enough of. I think that
we have enough interesting and closer relationships between the radio
station and its off air work. I see our developments as complimentary
to public service broadcasting and we shouldn't be regarded as a
threat; on the contrary, we have always striven to work hand in hand
with all existing media.
During the
time I have been with the organisation we have also established a
training ground for would be broadcasters with the introduction of
community radio training course, because from a community base one
can then move to local regional and then hopefully into mainstream.
We see that afrocaribbeans are the people that are least
satisfied with services which are provided because of the way the
mass media is structured. It is generally expected by all that the
media has a very powerful influence on its audience - if this is so
where is the justification in preventing the public in deciding for itself?
I would
suggest that PCRL and the British Media in all its forms is allowed
to have freedom of speech and leave an intelligent British public to
decide whether to support it or not. (Cecil Morris - 1987)
D.T.I.
PRESSURE on P.C.R.L.
RADIO STATION
In 1978 a man
had a vision about us black people in Birmingham. Our own radio
station that would cater for all nationalities, and so Radio Star,
Mother of P.C.R.L. Radio 103.5FM was born to serve this community
more than any media.
When we are in
a jolly mood we listen to P.C.R.L. When we are down we listen to
P.C.R.L. When we want to communicate with loved ones, family,
friends, we listen to P.C.R.L. Radio. In times of celebration
weddings, births, birthdays, announcement of bereavement, we use
P.C.R.L. This organisation P.C.R.L. has picked up the mantle for
Black People here in Birmingham, and fought a struggle on our behalf
so we could be more educated about ourself and others through radio.
The legal
Media/Radio and T.V. who are predominantly white are run and
programmed without any positive input for Black People P.C.R.L.
applied for a Broadcasting Licence with a backing of £300,000
and because P.C.R.L. will not turn coat and be a coconut (black on
the outside white in the inside.) They were robbed of that licence
that went to Buzz FM who went bust three times in their short life span.
Now after we
have got our own Radio Station P.C.R.L. the D.T.I. (Department of
Trade and Industry) are hell bent on taking our radio station. The
D.T.I. raided 151 Dudley Rd, Ideal Record shop on Wednesday 19th
August 1992. They were searching for evidence of who really runs P.C.R.L.
P.C.R.L. Radio
Station, that is our Radio is under attack from the Home Office
Officials namely ISI (Radio Investigators Service D.T.I.). Unless we
the community start UNITING TOGETHER to save this Radio Station
P.C.R.L., we will live to regret this. So let us come together and
show the authorities that we are not going to stand aside and watch
them break down and abolish the inspiration that found our Foundation
of, Peoples Community Radio.
March we will
on Black History Month on the same date that one of our National Hero
walked. Paul Bogle walked for freedom on Sunday 11th October 1865 in
Jamaica. P.C.R.L. Radio will March by 100's of 1000's on Sunday 11th
October 1992 in tribute to Paul Bogle and for Freedom of speech,
LEGALISE BLACK RADIO STATION P.C.R.L. NOW.
The March will
take place from: Handsworth Park, Hinstock Rd, Oxhill Rd, to
Rookery Rd, off Soho Rd, Dudley Rd Edgbaston to Winson Green Rd, back
onto Soho Rd, off Soho Rd, Whitehall Rd back to the Park.
This March
MOTTO is: Healthy Walking, Unity to be together and freedom to
demonstrate our frustration without BLACK RADIO and P.C.R.L.
HEALTH, UNITY,
AND FREEDOM (1992 from the Ideal Cinema Club book)
COMMUNITY
RADIO TRAINING (C.R.T)
The Birmingham
Community Training Project was set up in 1986 for the following reasons:
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To meet the
challenge and demand of Community Radio Broadcasting in the early
1990's, when the air waves will be accessible to the community
generally, and minority groups in particular.
-
Out of a sense of
duty and responsibility to the community, to ensure a recognition and
fulfillment of inherent needs and aspirations, as regards to
representation in radio broadcasting.
It is the case
that throughout the UK there exists communities whose origin lies in
the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Asia, Africa, Europe and other parts
of the globe which are not adequately represented or catered for by
the established Broadcasting Media.
As a consequence
of this lack of representation we have witnessed the evolution of
"NESTS' of small radio operations, otherwise know as Pirate
Stations, whose primary aim is the provision of a more representative
form of radio broadcasting.
These operations,
throughout their existence, have been constantly pursued and
prosecuted by the licensing authority.
Nevertheless,
despite all this, out of a sense of duty to the forgotten and
apparently invisible communities these pioneers have defiantly
remained on the air.
Additionally,
pirate stations have with substandard equipment and untrained
personnel, provided all invaluable service to the community, large
proportions of which are unemployed, infirm, depressed or just at a
loss. To these residents the only ray of sunshine in their lives is,
the daily output from pirate/community radio.
The Community
Radio Training Project is concerned with ensuring that these pioneers
and others of such persuasion are afforded the facility to be
integrated into an established media framework as proposed in the
Government's deregulation of Radio Broadcasting for the 1990's.
The Birmingham
Community Radio Training Project will provide the framework for the
initial training and education of those, especially from minority
communities, with a desire to pursue a career in the electronic media
Radio Training
Project Birmingham will be hosting a conference on Radio and the
Community, with an emphasis on Minority Communities.
This event will
take place at:
Handsworth
Employment Scheme Limited,
Camp Lane,
Handsworth,
Birmingham B2l 8JF.
The title
"Radio and the Community" is broadly based and it is
expected that issues such as Training, Employment, Equal
Opportunities, and the present/future development of Radio as applied
to these communities, in particular Afro Caribbean and Asian, will be explored.
This forum will
give interested groups and individuals. the opportunity to share,
exchange and explore issues pertinent to the development of Radio Broadcasting.
In consideration
of the importance of present Radio initiatives you are invited to
participate at this conference.
(The above was
taken from PCRL 'Bulletin' magazine Issue 1., 1988 (The two
founders of CRT were Musicmaster & Pilot)) |
