Research report

A major piece of research, commissioned by Media Trust, reveals there is an opportunity for Community Voices to add real value to current media activities within disadvantaged and isolated communities. We spoke to numerous community groups and stake holders through surveys and in depth consultations about how they use digital media within their community. The research aimed to get an overview of the success stories as well as identifying some of the biggest barriers that prevent disadvantaged communities from finding their voice. It demonstrated that there is a wide range of digital media already being used but there are also a number of challenges around information sharing and knowledge exchange, which has resulted in a lot of reinventing the wheel and a lack of sustainability.

In understanding how digital media can be both relevant to the community and can help empower the community itself, the report cautioned against a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Community Voices aims to address these barriers and build a lasting and sustainable legacy by inspiring communities to use digital media, engaging with them to develop the skills required to access the technology, and empowering them to take ownership of their voice and make themselves heard.

Download the research report.