This is an audio recording of a talk by Nicky Edmonds, Deputy Director of the Community Media Association, opening the Festival of Community Media. The Festival was held on the 8-10th May 2003 at the Sheffield Showroom.

Nicky Edmonds outlines her role at the CMA and, having met many people all over the UK involved in community media, outlines key issues current at the time. Three key areas are production, training and learning, and distribution. She discusses the social benefit of community media: many projects, which may have started as youth or other community projects, are moving towards community media as it becomes increasingly accessible.

Discussion is focussed on the campaign around the communications bill, the regulatory body OFCOM, and possible future developments on this front. An important area for Community Media to promote is media literacy. Groups should look at the most successful projects which are often deeply rooted in their local communities, and link to other projects. The talk concludes with thoughts of how the community media sector ‘grows up’, following its first 20 years. Hopes for professional and democratic organisations which remain fun to work for are expressed.

This recording was broadcast on ‘Festival FM’ during the festival itself; other similar recordings made at the time are also available on The Showcase, which can found by searching on ‘CMA Festival’ on The Showcase search engine page. This audio recording lasts 13 minutes and 14 seconds.