Radio - we appear to have omitted the transmitted!

This is my final one for today - I promise!!

I've just been talking with my very informed parents and they've commented on a part of citizen journalism that I haven't really touched on yet...

Radio!

In particular, local radio. On many different local radio stations across the UK there are often 'chat-shows' where people can ring up and 'have their say'.

As my parents have just said, more and more people are becoming less intimidated to ring up radio stations. Also, slightly quashing my idea about 18-24 year-olds arguably being the main contributors to citizen journalism, people from the older generation, pensioners for example are constantly ringing up and chatting on the radio. Young people DO do this too! So my argument still stands...honestly!

On one hand it could be considered that by opening the radiowave floodgates to the audience it's merely a platform for personalised rant - a little like my idea of mutual off-loading and group therapy.

A lot of people, in some opinions, are contacting the media with news that's not necessarily news-worthy in a global sense, but is important specifically to them. If an editor of a news programme were to have all these things come up in front of them, he/she may not necessarily put them on air as they are not part of the news agenda of the day. Instead, with the media inviting comment from people the more localised problems are aired and discussed on air outside the news bulletins.

This is a good thing. On the other hand however, it could be considered local radio has become a similar thing to a town crier...! It means that people get their voice heard in a public sphere and enables subjects to be discussed and examined that wouldn't necessarily get air time any other way.

It's also more immediate than writing a letter, as people used to have to do.

So even though Mrs. Blogg's knickers being stolen from a washing line (this case actually happened in the Shetlands by the way, and reported on the back page of the Shetland Times in the 70s (although I have changed names!)) may not be the type of thing you'd hear Hugh on the 6 o'clock talking about, it's a local story, which local people will want discussed. Similarly, personal gripes with the recycling men, or the local police etc. etc. is important to a number of people to listen to, absorb and participate in the dialogue.

Local radio has opened up the one-way news process to a multi-faceted dialogue. If this vehicle for expression was taken away - I think people would be more than a little miffed...I don't know - have your say..!