1. Organisational Structure in Participatory Media MA in Communications and Cultural Studies, 2001 Andrew Ó Baoill

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

3. The Case Study zFlirt FM: yGalway’s Student Radio Station y“Radio by Students for Students” yBroadcasts for 35 hours per week y Started in September 1995 y1 Paid Employee (Station Manager) yApproximately 60-65 active volunteers yStation Manager reports to Board of Directors

4. Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action zOperates on several levels: yModels human interaction yProvides an ideal towards which we can strive zPart of the Frankfurt School zBelief in the benefit of the Enlightenment zBest known for Theory of the Public Sphere

5. Lifeworld- Systems Perspective Personality Society Culture Guiding System: Economy/Money Guiding System: Power/Administration

6. The Paradox of Rationality z Through Enlightenment, we move from norms to rational norms z Increased rationality leads to colonisation by systems z We then move from rational norms to rules

7. The Project zDescribe and critique the L-S perspective zDevelop a practical model appropriate to community radio zCompare with the actual situation in Flirt FM yDoes the model apply? yHow does Flirt FM meet the ideal?

8. Research Progress zField Work yPilot Questionnaire x3 former volunteers still close to the station yQuestionnaire xworked with Station Manager x50 returned, of 62 yQuestionnaire Analysis yInterviews yFocus Group z Layout yIntroduction yCommunity Radio yReview of Theory yMethodology yFindings/Results yConclusions

9. Preliminary Results of Questionnaire zUnderlying happiness with involvement y70% of respondents intend to be involved next year yThose who do not gave reasons, such as leaving college/city y14% disagreed that involvement was good for their CV, all of whom had disagreed with statement that they had become involved because they wanted a career in radio

10. Preliminary Results of Questionnaire zGender not a major issue yOnly 6% disagreed that influence of males and females was well balanced (10% of females, 3% of males) y38% of respondents are female zInfluence of Experienced Volunteers y26% of respondents disagreed that experienced volunteers should have more influence than other volunteers

11. Preliminary Results of Questionnaire zLow GMIT involvement y3 respondents are GMIT students y2/3 of respondents disagreed that the influence of volunteers from the two colleges was well balanced ySeveral respondents mentioned, of their own accord, lack of GMIT involvement

12. Preliminary Results of Questionnaire zVolunteers mention a lack of contact with other volunteers zMany mention the importance of the role of the station manager zMany express a lack of knowledge about station structures yHowever, they stress the importance of informal structures, creating a relaxing atmosphere