BBC Radio Leicester’s claim to be “the only station made in Leicester for Leicester” has been challenged, with the BBC now admitting the promotion overstated its case. In a Freedom of Information response, the BBC acknowledged the vital role of community radio, regretting the campaign overlooked their contribution. This episode highlights the importance of collaboration and respect across the city’s media landscape.

Saturday Heritage Fair is a FREE city centre heritage event on Saturday 11th October between 10:00-15:00 at the Leicester Adult Education Centre, 54 Belvoir Street, LE1 6QL. Saturday Heritage Fair …

By John Coster, Director, Independent Heritage Network Imagine you’ve just experienced a bereavement. A box of personal belongings – school reports, passports, old photographs, perhaps mementos fro…

By John Coster, Director, Independent Heritage Network Imagine you’ve just experienced a bereavement. A box of personal belongings – school reports, passports, old photographs, perhaps mementos fro…

Available on Amazon or directly from me at a discount price. The Holocaust. The darkest chapter in the history of humankind. A pivotal period in humanity’s struggle with the dangers of di…

This proposal outlines an opportunity to integrate Community Media Hubs into Leicester’s network of libraries and community centres as part of the current reorganisation proposals by Leicester City Council. These hubs will serve as vital platforms for locally based civic participation, digital inclusion, media literacy, cultural, civic and democratic engagement—offering residents the means to share their voices, stories, and knowledge through a range of community-driven media formats.

Community media is frequently described in terms of its potential to support civic participation, foster local identity, and promote inclusive communication. Yet for those seeking to research or evaluate community media, a fundamental question often goes unasked: Can this work be fully understood from the outside? At Decentered Media, our view is that it cannot. Community media is not a spectator sport.

In this edition of Spotlight on Heritage, recorded for the Modern Cockney Festival , John Coster is joined by his mother, Joan, for a thoughtful conversation th

In a recent interview for the Soar Sound Spotlight programme, youth worker Aaron Todd highlighted the power of podcasting as a transformative tool for young people. Reflecting on his own creative journey, Todd described how podcasting offers an accessible and engaging way for individuals to express themselves, find their voices, and build confidence. By participating in podcast production, young people who might otherwise struggle to articulate their thoughts can develop a sense of agency, refining their communication skills in a supportive, community-driven environment. Podcasting, as a form of reflexive media engagement, offers unique opportunities for both personal and collective transformation.