Organisational structure in participatory media

1. Organisational structure in participatory media MA in communications and cultural studies, 2001 Andrew Ó Baoill

2. Basic principles • AMARC Charter: • Community Radio Stations “Operate management … practices which oppose discrimination and which are open and accountable to all supporters, staff and volunteers” • How are we to measure the extent to which a station meets this commitment, specifically with regard to volunteers?

3. Habermas’ lifeworld- systems perspective Personality Culture Economic System Administrative System Society

4. The paradox of rationality • Through Enlightenment, we move from norms to rational norms • Increased rationality can lead to colonisation by systems • We then move from rational norms to rules

5. The project • Describe and critique the L-S perspective • Develop a practical model appropriate to community radio • Compare with the actual situation in Flirt FM • Does the model apply? • How does Flirt FM meet the ideal?

6. The case study • Flirt FM: • Galway’s Student Radio Station • “Radio by Students for Students” • Broadcasts for 35 hours per week • Started in September 1995 • 1 Paid Employee (Station Manager) • Approximately 60-65 active volunteers • Station Manager reports to Board of Directors

7. Flirt FM’s structure Volunteers / programme teams Station Manager Board of directors College campus radio ltd. Board of management

8. Field Work Questionnaire Distributed by Keith 50 returned, of 62 names Questionnaire Analysis Interviews Seminar/Workshop Structural Analysis Existence of spaces Volunteer Morale Fair access for all Rationality of Knowledge Solidarity of members System restrictions The case study

9. Results - existence of spaces • The Board of Management is not currently active • There is no forum for communication or consultation with volunteers • Volunteers feel they receive little information on issues such as station accommodation and schedule changes

10. Results - volunteer morale • Volunteers are happy to be involved • 70% plan to be involved next year • 92% answered 6 or 7 to “I enjoy being involved” • 74% of students agree that they feel part of the station. 8% disagree. • Many volunteers value the informality of the station • Some say the lack of input into decisions damages their morale

11. Results - fair access for all • Very few GMIT students are involved • Distance - especially in wet weather? • Different social interests? • 38% of volunteers are female, although 60% of NUI, Galway students are female • Socialisation of gender roles? • 70% of volunteers say their home residence is in Galway city or county

12. Results - rationality of knowledge • Volunteers have a confused knowledge of the station structure • Station difficulties are blamed on a vague ‘them’ • ‘The Watershed’ • There is little training, other than introductory training in studio use and media law

13. Results - solidarity of members • There are few opportunities for volunteers to meet each other and/or interact • Newer volunteers are less likely to feel part of the station • Only 75% of those who joined in the last 2 years, as opposed to all of those who joined in 1997 or earlier • One volunteer wrote that they had never been asked to train new volunteers

14. Results - system restrictions • Many people mentioned IRTC/licence rules as preventing changes in the station • The current scheduling method, with individual slots for each volunteer, was seen by many as being the only possible means of arranging the schedule • ‘The Watershed’ • Further involvement = committee membership