Better Media works alongside organisations, trade union groups, independent media projects, technology providers and civil society initiatives that share an interest in more diverse, democratic and accountable media.
Our supporters and associates bring experience from journalism, publishing, broadcasting, documentary practice, community media, trade union organisation, independent media, social change, technical infrastructure and civic participation. Together, they reflect the breadth of work needed to develop a media system that better serves citizens and communities.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom
The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF) was established in 1979 and campaigned for a freer, more diverse and democratically accountable media. Its work addressed media ownership, public service broadcasting, regulation, communication rights and the relationship between media power and democracy.
The national organisation closed in 2018, but its website remains available as an important archive of more than three decades of media reform campaigning, including editions of Free Press, policy submissions and campaign material.
Visit the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom archive
Unite Graphical, Paper, Media & Information Technology Sector
Unite’s Graphical, Paper, Media & Information Technology sector represents workers across publishing, printing, electronic media, digital and technology industries, paper production, distribution and related occupations.
The sector brings the perspective of media workers, employment conditions, industrial change and technological development into discussion about the future organisation of media and communications.
Visit Unite Graphical, Paper, Media & Information Technology
Unite National Publishing & Media Branch
The Unite National Publishing & Media Branch brings together Unite members working across publishing and media.
Its involvement with Better Media reflects the importance of including the experience of people working within media industries when questions of ownership, employment, technological change, editorial practice and the future organisation of publishing and media are discussed.
The branch forms part of Unite’s wider Graphical, Paper, Media & Information Technology sector.
Find out more through Unite GPM/IT
Unite Graphical, Print, Media & IT – Bristol Branch
The Unite Graphical, Print, Media & IT – Bristol Branch is part of Unite’s organisation of workers across the graphical, publishing, media, print and information technology industries.
Local and workplace organisation connects debates about media reform with the practical experience of workers dealing with industrial restructuring, technological change, employment standards and the changing organisation of media production.
Find out more through Unite GPM/IT
NUJ London Magazine Branch
The NUJ London Magazine Branch is a democratic branch of the National Union of Journalists for members working in magazines, journals and related areas of publishing.
The branch gives members opportunities to participate in union policy, organise around workplace and professional issues, hear from speakers and maintain connections with other journalists. Its involvement with Better Media connects discussions about structural media reform with questions of journalistic practice, employment and professional independence.
Visit NUJ London Magazine Branch
The Social Change Nest
The Social Change Nest is a community interest company providing fiscal hosting, grant management, organisational infrastructure and capacity-building support for grassroots groups and social-change initiatives.
Its work helps groups access funding and administrative support without requiring every emerging project to establish a complete organisational infrastructure of its own. This provides an important connection between media reform and the wider civic and social-change environment in which independent initiatives operate.
Grow Social Capital
Grow Social Capital CIC works to strengthen social capital: the relationships, trust, networks and forms of cooperation that enable people, organisations and communities to work together effectively.
Its activities address issues including declining trust, reduced civic participation, social isolation and social division. The organisation develops approaches that connect community development, communication, organisational purpose and social change.
Its work is particularly relevant to Better Media because media systems do not operate separately from civic life. Independent, community and public-interest media can help create the connections, shared knowledge and opportunities for participation through which social capital develops.
Documentary Media Centre
The Documentary Media Centre supports documentary practice, learning and participation across film, photography, audio and new media.
Based in Leicester, its activities have included documentary festivals, screenings, workshops, exhibitions, training and opportunities for people to develop practical storytelling and media-production skills. Its approach connects documentary practice with education, participation and opportunities for people to represent experiences, places and social issues through media.
The Documentary Media Centre provides an important practical connection between Better Media’s interest in media reform and the development of independent, participatory and documentary forms of media production.
Visit Documentary Media Centre
Decentered Media
Decentered Media is an independent community media consultancy and research initiative focused on foundational, decentralised and community-centred approaches to communication.
Its work includes research and knowledge development, training and mentoring, facilitation, project development, evaluation, policy discussion and media production. It works with civic organisations, voluntary groups, public services and community media projects to develop forms of communication that encourage participation, self-representation and stronger civic relationships.
Decentered Media also develops and advocates the concept of Foundational Media: the idea that community, civic and independent media should be understood as part of the basic social and cultural infrastructure that enables communities to communicate, deliberate, document their experiences and participate in public life.
Its relationship with Better Media connects practical community media development with wider questions about media plurality, civic infrastructure, public-interest communication and media policy.
Maxxwave Ltd
Maxxwave Ltd is a UK radio engineering and communications company that designs, builds and operates broadcast and radio networks. Its activities include small-scale DAB multiplex operation, transmission infrastructure, broadcast encoding and specialist radio technology.
Maxxwave operates small-scale DAB multiplexes across parts of the Midlands, Derbyshire and Shropshire and is developing further services. It also develops technical systems for small-scale broadcasting, including the DabMan multiplex-management platform, DAB+ encoding technology and tools for planning radio coverage.
Its involvement with Better Media brings an important infrastructure perspective to discussions about media plurality. A diverse media system depends not only on editorial and civic initiatives, but also on affordable, accessible and independently operated distribution infrastructure that enables smaller broadcasters to reach audiences.
Maxxwave’s work in small-scale DAB demonstrates how technical innovation and lower-cost transmission infrastructure can help widen access to terrestrial broadcasting for independent, community and specialist radio services.
Livingstone Media
Livingstone Media is an Edinburgh-based media production company working across film, documentary, journalism and written media.
Its work uses media and storytelling to explore issues, communicate ideas and encourage audiences to think critically. Its association with Better Media brings an independent production perspective to discussions about media diversity and the range of organisations capable of producing public-interest and socially engaged media.
Evington Echo
Evington Echo is a long-established community newspaper and online publication serving Evington in Leicester. First published in 1981, it was created to provide local news, information about community organisations and events, and opportunities for local people to contribute their own stories and perspectives.
The Echo is produced through volunteer participation and is managed by Friends of Evington. Its print and online publishing activities provide an example of place-based community media that combines local reporting, civic information, community participation and opportunities for people to develop practical reporting and publishing skills.
The Evington Echo’s involvement with Better Media reflects the importance of independent local and community publishing within a plural media system. Community newspapers can provide forms of reporting, connection and civic participation that are difficult to sustain through increasingly centralised commercial and public-service media structures.
Soar Sound
Soar Sound CIC is a Leicester-based community radio and media organisation providing broadcasting and media services for Leicester, Leicestershire and surrounding areas.
Soar Sound was established as a community-focused service with objectives around education, wellbeing, employment, economic development, community cohesion and civic participation. Its programming and media activities provide opportunities for volunteers, community organisations and local contributors to participate directly in media production and broadcasting.
The organisation uses radio as a practical civic platform, connecting listeners with community activities, support services, cultural initiatives and opportunities to participate in local life. Its work also demonstrates how digital broadcasting and small-scale DAB can support forms of radio that are locally accountable and rooted in community participation.
Soar Sound’s relationship with Better Media brings direct experience of operating community broadcasting infrastructure, supporting volunteer-led production and developing sustainable approaches to local radio outside the major commercial and public-service networks.
Working With Better Media
Better Media aims to build relationships across journalism, broadcasting, independent and community media, trade unions, research, documentary practice, civil society, social infrastructure and communications technology.
We are interested in hearing from organisations and projects that share an interest in developing a more diverse, accountable, plural and participatory media system.
Contact Better Media to discuss becoming a supporter or associate.