Escapades, RGO, Inter-Val and Radio 16 feared for their future, after the first budgetary announcements which envisaged a 35% reduction in credits, at the national level, from the fund to support local radio expression (FSER). Visibly supported by the Minister of Culture, community radio stations have saved their credit. But remain vigilant for the future, they who fulfill missions in terms of education, culture or development in the broad sense… but on a local scale.
At RGO, Aurélie Harautiounian, Moïse Grelier, Yves De Fago and Jérémie Adrian • François Desmeures
“Was it just a writing game?”asks Yves de Fago, one of the co-presidents of Radio Grille Ouvert (RGO), an Alésian community radio station located in the Prés Saint-Jean district. Others speak of an idea that came out of the head of an RN deputy, or of a “budgetary lost bullet”the meager amount of which saved endangered the entire eco-system of the country's 750 free associative radio stations. The aim was to save 10 million euros. Not enough to save France but enough to condemn a total radio expression support fund (FSER) budget of 35 million.
“The last commission took place last week in Paris”informs Siham Mineur, of Radio Escapades, in Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, also co-president of ARRA, regional assembly of associative radio stations in Occitanie, which sits on the national confederation of associative radio stations (CNRA). Siham Mineur is also a radio representative within the FSER. The Paris meeting of November 14 did not confirm “a flashbackshe explains. But we are on an option of + 10 or 12 million euros budget”. That is, enough to compensate for the initial loss. “We do not know, however, if there will also be the rural bonus appearing in 2024 for rural and overseas resorts”. It amounted to approximately €2.2 million.
Siham Minor in the premises of Radio Escapades • François Desmeures
“Which leaves us wondering, says Walter Koopmans, president of radio Inter-Val, in Saint-Christol-lès-Alès, This is because the FSER comes from a tax on commercial radio advertisements. It is a dedicated tax. Why would the State eliminate this money? To plug a hole that was not planned? Did the fund lose money? It's incomprehensible and it calls into question the entire financing of free radio stations.” At Inter-Val, we say to ourselves “reassured, a little. But not completely.” Same story with Laurent Bonnefoy, president of Radio 16, in Bessèges: “The concern persists for the years to come. We have a deadline, we will see what will happen in two years, after the presidential election…”
“35% drop, it was the announced death of a good part of community radio stations”
Siham Mineur, from radio Escapades in Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort and vice-president of ARRA (regional assembly of associative radio stations)
The 750 radio stations were not impacted in the same way. Of this total, “440 or 450 radio stations submit a grant application in the selective part”explains Siham Mineur, to access the FSER. The work is enough to discourage radio stations which do not have sufficient staff to establish it, because it involves compiling a large file which lists actions in the areas of education and culture, the fight against discrimination, environment and local development. Everything must be recorded there, in particular “testimonies of structures with which we work”details Jérémie Adrian, from RGO. This annual file, for a station like his, weighs a whopping 3.5 kg. At Inter-Val, it's four months of work to recover the documents and put together the file, assesses one of the three part-time employees, Estelle Mazaudier.
From left to right, at radio Inter-Val: Christine Koch, Jean-Baptiste Stamper, Estelle Mazaudier, Walter Koopmans and Monique Robert • François Desmeures
“35% drop, it was the announced death of a good part of community radio stations”slices Siham Mineur. Out of four employees, Radio Escapeds already imagined having to part ways with two. RGO expected a loss of €27,000 out of 77,000, or one job less. “This also meant fewer workshops with middle school students, whereas we have a weekly session in the four middle schools in the area we cover, and fewer reports”continues Siham Mineur. Inter-Val estimated the loss at €10,000, or a tenth of the total budget. In Bessèges, Radio 16 would certainly not have been able to keep its two employees at 23 hours per week, so the radio's budget only amounts to €55,000.
The sector nevertheless remains vigilant, while the Senate is currently discussing the budget and its final adoption could take the route of 49-3. But the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, promised to confirm the government's commitment in the culture committee. “Dati this “we love you”. But the National Rally also demands that we be better controlled, notes Yves De Fago at RGO. It's not surprising, I don't think there are many community radio stations that are friends of the RN…” If Laurent Bonnefoy gives himself two years, it is for the same reason. “We are worried about the next deadlines, admits the president of Radio 16. The plurality, at the RN, they made us understand that it was not their priority.”
“We have had so many announcements that it is still difficult to see clearly”
Laurent Bonnefoy, president of Radio 16 in Bessèges
“The problem remains, because scrounging everywhere always adds up to a few sums, continues Laurent Bonnefoy. And we've had so many announcements that it's still difficult to see clearly.” Inter-Val knows that the work will in any case continue to rely, in large part, on “an enormous investment from members and volunteers”, even though the station has around thirty. But that the missions covered by community radio stations would be lacking if they no longer existed. “We have partnership agreements with the Cévennes National Park, lists Monique Robert, secretary of Inter-Val, we often bring in artists from Cratère.” While Escapades brings together once a year, in the courtyard of the Barracks of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, students from the four colleges in its area for a day of meetings. So many examples of fields of action that no other media could cover.
Last June, the Les Locales association was created to bring together community radio stations in the same structure and “stand up for media education”insists Siham Mineur, at a time when alternative facts are taking on more importance than reality on social networks. “The week after the announcement, we found ourselves at 200 radio stations on video,” recalls Jérémie Adrian. “An exceptional broadcast took place on all stations, to take stock of the independence of information in all regions”also notes Jean-Baptiste Stamper, volunteer at Inter-Val. And at the beginning of December, “a meeting of Gard radio stations must take place at the Maison du Protestantisme in Nîmes”underlines Jérémie Adrian. The announcement of a budgetary cut will have increased uncertainty about the future, but also prepared the future common front that community radio stations will not fail to open, if Bercy one day returns to the charge. “Germany is also currently cutting its radio budgets”points out Christine Koch, from radio Inter-Val. It would therefore be almost surprising if the French state did not quickly return to the charge.
To find out the stations, their FM frequency or listen to them online, all four have a website in their name. Radio Escapades can be found here; Open Grid radio here; Inter-Val radio here; radio 16 here.
