Note: Image above is strictly a mock and not for sharing.
We're excited to share that we’re planning a new campaign to boost Community Radio Plus app downloads and awareness of community radio.
Community radio provides access to independent music, local voices and community content — all available anytime, anywhere, for free. Streaming platforms continue to increase costs, subscriptions stack up, and algorithms increasingly dictate what we hear. Yet community radio is free, curated by locals, and surveys show that listeners value music, news and local voices they hear.
This campaign promotes the appeal of community radio. It seeks to inspire new listeners to discover community radio through the Community Radio Plus app in car, on mobile, and on smart speakers – which carries all community radio stations.
We’ll be rolling out digital, social and street posters for a 10-week period featuring vibrant new creative.
We’d love for your station to complement this activity by sending high-quality photos of your staff/volunteers/presenters for us to use across our social channels, in the same look as the campaign. This is a great opportunity to promote the authentic faces of community radio and help lift community radio listening across the whole sector.
In addition to the general campaign, creative assets to promote listening to your station in your local area are available here.
1. Shoot vertical as well as horizontal
Capture some images in portrait orientation, not just landscape. Vertical shots are essential for social media (Instagram, Facebook Stories) and match the format used in our Community Radio Plus campaign creative.
2. Use natural, soft light where you can
Position your presenter near a window or use the studio's existing lighting rather than a harsh overhead light or on-camera flash. Soft, even light is more flattering and avoids strong shadows on faces.
3. Get close and fill the frame
Don't be afraid to move in close. A tight shot of a presenter mid-broadcast, headphones on, hand on the fader, feels more authentic and energetic than a wide shot taken from across the room.
4. Include the tools of the trade
Microphones, mixing desks, headphones, CD racks and on-air lights all help tell the story of community radio. Frame these elements into the shot rather than cropping them out.
5. Keep the background tidy
Before shooting, do a quick scan of the background for clutter, cables, coffee cups or personal items. A cleaner background keeps the focus on the presenter and the station's personality.
6. Shoot from a few different angles
Try eye level, slightly above, and slightly below. Move around the presenter rather than shooting everything from the same spot by the door. Variety gives us more to choose from.
7. Take more photos than you think you need
Aim for at least 10-15 shots per presenter. Expressions and moments change quickly, and having options means we can pick the strongest and most authentic images.
8. Reflect your station's diversity
Where possible, photograph a genuine mix of presenters, ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities across your program schedule. This helps us celebrate the full diversity of the community broadcasting sector.
9. Shoot at the highest resolution available
Set your camera or phone to its largest image size (avoid heavily compressed or messaging-app copies). High-resolution files give us the flexibility to crop and use images across different formats.
1. Take or source photos of real people at your stations, following the photo tips above.
2. Send them to [email protected]. Note your station and the people in the photo in the email.
3. Keep an eye out on the Community Radio Plus Instagram and Facebook for your photo/station to feature! If we feature your photo, we’ll send out a collaboration request to your station’s account, so make sure the person who manages your social media page looks out for these requests.
4. Promote listening to your station using the promotional assets prepared for the campaign.