5 days Ago By [email protected] (Fionn Burrows)
After a decade on the airwaves, a community radio station has secured its future for many years to come. Radio Newark will celebrate its 10th anniversary of broadcasting full-time to the people of Newark and the surrounding areas on May 2. Now, it has received the welcome news that it will be able to continue providing the free service for at least another five years after securing an extension to the broadcasting licence.
The radio station holds an FM community radio license from Ofcom — the government’s broadcast regulator — which are offered on five-year terms. So, as staff approach their 10th anniversary and the end of their second term, it was necessary to apply for a third five-year term, which has now been awarded. This means that Radio Newark will remain on air until at least May 2030.
Operations director, Phil Johnson, was thrilled to be able to share the news and excited about what the future would hold. “In a time when local media is becoming scarce, it's a source of immense pride to know that Radio Newark, a unique and vital part of our community, will continue to thrive and expand into the next decade,” he said. “Many community radio stations find it very hard to pay the bills.
If you can do this, then it's a good start. “Maintaining focus on the community is key, and offering a hyper-local radio service is the only way to prove to fellow locals that Radio Newark is worth tuning into over regional and, more so, national networks. “Recently, the BBC cut back on local radio programming at its stations, favouring regional programming for much of the day.
In addition, most commercial radio stations have sold to one of two national networks. “The radio station names we grew up with are no longer in existence. One of the benefits of community radio is that, as the holding companies are not-for-profit businesses, they cannot be bought and sold in the same manner or programming adjusted to effectively be large regional stations masquerading as local ones.
” Radio Newark is set up as a registered charity and ran entirely by volunteers who put together specialised music shows seven days a week, conduct on-air interviews, and provide coverage of live events. “Our volunteers, the unsung heroes of Radio Newark, are the backbone of the station,” said Phil. “They selflessly contribute 168 hours of programming each week, driven not by payment but by their love for our town and their desire to connect with our listeners.
” Last year, Radio Newark moved into new premises at Navigation Yard, launched new shows including Newark Amplified, and partnered with The Advertiser to provide local news bulletins on weekday mornings and afternoons. Looking to the future, Phil hopes to build upon recent success by training new presenters, expanding their programming, and working on more events in partnership with Newark College, Newark Town Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, and We Are Newark..
