2024 CAMA Snapshot shows sector is punching above its weight

The Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) is thrilled to release its 2024 CAMA Snapshot, which highlights the unique value of hyper-local, multi-language content made ‘by, for, and about’ under-represented communities in Aotearoa.

Combining a survey, public information, and data from Aotearoa’s 12 Community Access Media stations, the 2024 CAMA Snapshot shows the sector is punching above its weight, creating an average of 306 locally-produced shows per month, and in 53 languages.

Key data from the February/March 2024 survey reveals:

  • Two-thirds of all shows are locally produced.
  • Ninety-five per cent of all locally produced content serves communities prescribed by s36(c) of the Broadcasting Act, the sector’s core purpose.
  • Almost half of all locally produced shows have been broadcast for more than six years.
  • Almost a quarter of shows are broadcast in languages other than English.
  • At least 306 community groups and organisations are affiliated with the sector.

The Snapshot also highlights the significance of equipping content-makers with the tools to create content by, for, and about their respective communities:

  • Between February and March this year, Community Access Media staff spent 258 hours training the community to create content.
  • Almost 60 per cent of the training was dedicated to new content-makers.
  • In a single-day snapshot, staff across the 12 stations spent an average of 42 hours providing technical assistance to content makers.

CAMA chair Phil Grey says pastoral care and training give people a sense of purpose, worth, and confidence, which improves the community’s overall well-being.

“Our services also equip content-makers with skills that can lead to employment pathways and opportunities. There’s a public service element to our sector that’s like no other.”

Grey says providing a platform for traditionally hard-to-reach communities also allows communities and officials to share civic information, which enhances political participation, emergency preparedness, civic education, and social harmony.

The 2024 Snapshot is available here.

CAMA is the industry body representing Aotearoa New Zealand’s twelve Community Access media entities and is supported by NZ On Air. Read more, and find your nearest partner station at cama.nz.