MeCCSA Radio Studies Network

13/08/2025

Another Ofcom Consultation - this time on the provision of local news and information on analogue commercial radio stations in the UK. If you are an academic researcher and have experience or an interest in this, and would like to join our online discussion on 28th August, 3-4pm, let us know and we'll send you the Teams link.

13/04/2025

From our friends and colleagues in ECREA Radio and Sound Section **UPDATE**

Cog in a wheel? Radio and Sound in the Changing Mediascape

ECREA Radio and Sound Section
8-10 September 2025

CHANGE OF VENUE

"In the light of recent events in Istanbul, we have taken the difficult decision to move the conference with our main concern being the safety of delegates given the uncertain situation. This decision has also been taken on the advice of the main ECREA board.

After considering many options and consulting possible venues, we have decided to move the conference to the University of Sheffield in the UK.
They have kindly agreed to host the event at short notice. Sheffield is in a beautiful location in the Pennine hills and is renowned for the warm welcome it gives its visitors.

We are therefore re-opening the call for papers to include those who may be interested in attending the conference in the new venue of Sheffield in the UK. All submission details are below.

Extended deadline: 23 April 2025 (inclusive)

Abstract Submission site:

8th ECREA Radio and Sound ConferenceCog in a wheel? Radio and Sound in the Changing MediascapeIstanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, 2025

28/03/2025

Great opportunity for doctoral research in our field of study!!
Please pass on to students considering doing a PhD in local/community radio or community podcasting.

Our colleagues at Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, UK are offering two fully funded PhD scholarships in Creative Arts and Media at Canterbury Christ Church University.

One of the priority subject areas is local and/or community media.

For details, including how to apply, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/creative-arts-and-media-phd-scholarship

07/02/2025

Not to overlook our own MeCCSA Annual Conference taking place in September (the week before ECREA. https://www.meccsa.org.uk/events/conference/
This is always a great opportunity to touch base in person with UK and international colleagues in communications, media and cultural studies, and we often welcome our international and colleagues at this annual event too 🤓

We welcome submissions to the MeCCSA Annual Conference that are aligned with any area covered by MeCCSA and its sections or networks, or this year’s broad conference theme.

07/02/2025

It's Call for Papers season, alright! Let's be optimistic about budgets and travel plans 😅
Here's Info on the ECREA Radio and Sound Section Conference taking place in September in Istanbul.

8th ECREA Radio and Sound ConferenceCog in a wheel? Radio and Sound in the Changing MediascapeIstanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, 2025

07/02/2025

Just a few weeks to go before this brave and bold event takes place. There will be a riveting array of delegates sharing their tales, experiences and/or research findings. Tickets are still available for 'lay' people to attend and enjoy. The price includes refreshments, so they'll be looking after you at Uniof Beds 🎙
📡🏴‍☠️

A one-day conference at the University of Bedfordshire on Saturday 1st March, 9am to 5pm.   Unlicensed broadcasting dates back to at least the 1930s

23/01/2025

Tickets are now on sale for what promises to be a fun and fruitful day of all things Yes, it's being held in an academic setting University of Bedfordshire but there'll be a host of, well, hosts in the room too 😉
Tickets on sale from here: https://store.beds.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/creative-arts-technologies-and-science/exhibitionsconferences/signals-from-the-edge-land-based-pirate-radio-conference?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-wyZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHU-uXOolDHYgOzZT2FVWNaOyBxXaLM6wVRbMAmMrQdgVM8pe2XC0hjW9Sw_aem_1kiHxEQRu9meJEr9-KZF3Q

A one-day conference at the University of Bedfordshire on Saturday 1st March, 9am to 5pm.   Unlicensed broadcasting dates back to at least the 1930s

22/11/2024

CALL FOR PAPERS!

Signals from the Edge - A land-based “pirate” radio conference
at The University of Bedfordshire, Luton Campus
on Saturday 1st March 2025

Unlicensed broadcasting dates back to at least the 1930s and has often impacted the evolution of mainstream broadcasting. For example, land-based pirate broadcasting helped make the case for UK local commercial radio in the 1970s and forced the introduction of commercial and community radio in Ireland during the early 1980s. The more recent introduction of UK community radio was also aided by the existence of numerous unlicensed broadcasters during the 1990s and early 2000s.
This one-day conference will focus on land-based unlicenced radio broadcasting, in the UK, and Ireland, but also globally. We plan that the event will lead to a publication and to similar events in future.
Conference themes will include, but are not limited to, presentations that examine
• The current situation of land-based pirate radio,
• its history and influence
• the sociology of pirate radio
• the technologies used
• the politics and regulation of radio broadcasting.

The organisers welcome contributions that are either academic or practice related.

The event will include film screenings and a display of equipment and "pirate" paraphernalia.

The studios of the university's licensed Community Radio service - RadioLaB 97.1FM will also be open on the day.

The organisers invite proposals for 15-minute presentations from practitioners, academics, independent researchers, archivists, postgraduate students, and broadcasters. We are open to critical perspectives and encourage comparative case studies.

We are also happy to receive proposed panels comprising no more than four papers each but reserve the right to organise these as we think best.

Submitting a proposal (This bit is very important!)
Please use the following format for proposals:
• Name, affiliation, and email
• Title of paper or presentation
• 200 word abstract or summary of your paper or presentation
• 100 word biography

Send proposals as a Word doc by email to: Dr Lawrie Hallett
[email protected]

Deadline for proposals: midnight Monday 16th December 2024
Confirmation of accepted presentations will be by Friday the 10th of January 2024.

Details on how to register for the Conference and confirmation of ticket prices (-approximately UK £55.00 including lunch and refreshments) will follow. Registration will be via the University of Bedfordshire.

The organisers are happy to discuss proposals prior to submission – please contact either Lawrie Hallett ([email protected]) or Mark Wakely ([email protected])

We look forward to welcoming you to Luton next March.

14/06/2024

MeCCSA RSN are presenting a panel on pedagogy in London on 20th June at the first ever EPOD Conference being organised by Morley Radio. Our Panel has been put together by Dr Magz Hall (Course Director Film Radio and TV BA, Senior Lecturer, Digital Media, Canterbury Christchurch University), Dr Richard Berry (Programme Leader, MA Radio, Audio Podcasting, University of Sunderland) and Dr Katy McDonald (Associate Dean Education, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Newcastle University) with Dr Josephine Coleman (Senior Lecturer in Media and Public Relations, Brunel University) and Richard Shannon (outgoing Senior Lecturer Goldsmiths, MA Audio, Radio & Podcasting). See info here:

EPOD 2024 Morley Radio We are pleased to announce the launch of EPOD 2024, and innovative Education Through Podcasting Conference. EPOD is a collaboration between Keele University, York St John University and Morley College, sponsored by Broadcast Radio, HHB and Routledge.   Visit www.epod.org.uk f...

18/03/2024

We're hosting one more online reading group session this term. Next Monday 25th Mar, 5pm UK time.
This is free to join in! We'll be discussing two overviews of literature on radio, podcasting and community radio (in the Global South) in relation to how researchers position their work, try to identify gaps in scholarship and address them.