Considering the level of disruption caused by Covid-19, Community Radio Stations are finding ways to continue providing this essential service and deliver a great public service to communities across the country sharing crucial public health, local and community updates to their listeners.

Adhering to Government public health measures on social distancing and cocooning mean most volunteers and staff in the Community Radio Sector cannot attend studios to present programmes but they are overcoming this as pop-up studios  are “popping” up all over the country.

Stations are working through the broadcasting challenges brought about by the pandemic  by introducing new schedules, work practices and upskilling volunteers and staff in IT skills to continue working from home.

Volunteers are recording, editing, and presenting  programmes from their kitchens, living rooms, spare rooms, sheds or anywhere they can find space ensuring their stations are delivering services to their communities.

Managers, Key staff/Volunteers and Technicians  are ensuring stations stay on air  through a variety of means including working part-time from studios or using remote access to ensure programmes are edited and aired.

Craol continues to provide  support to our member stations and welcomes the recent announcement that most Community Stations with  will not have to pay the Broadcasting  levy for 2020 and that Minister Bruton  has asked the Broadcasting Authority to put in place funding of €750,000 for the community radio sector for 2020. Craol looks forward to engaging with the BAI on this in the coming weeks.

Photo shows CR Volunteers and Staff working from home. Clockwise-Maria Murphy-Liffey Sound,                              Ernis-92.5 Phoenix FM, Pat Quinn- Liffey Sound, Fadó Fadó Team- Dundalk FM, Brian-92.5 Phoenix FM,                      Teresa Quinn-Liffey Sound