The eighth review of Digital Contention in a Divided Society has been published in Estudios Irlandeses . Sarah Ritt (University of Vienna) provides a very comprehensive reflection on the book's key themes. Some quotes from the review are below: "Online communities are their own little microcosms. Often either overlooked or blamed for everything wrong with today’s society, the online space has only rather recently become a subject of academic study, probably partly because in order to produce telling results, large datasets need to be retrieved, categorized, and analyzed This is exactly what Paul Reilly does in his monograph…

I'm excited to share a set of community-focused activities taking place across Leicester in spring 2026 that may be of interest to volunteers and organisations involved in community media, local storytelling, and civic participation. These events offer practical opportunities to develop skills in community reporting, hosting and facilitating public activities, and sharing ideas about how local media contributes to a sense of belonging, shared history, and understanding of the places we live in and come from.

In this episode of Spotlight on Heritage, John Coster and Rob Watson meet artist and creative educator Tina Barton to talk about the value of scrapbooking as a way of preserving personal and family memories. Recorded in the Basement Gallery at the Leicester Adult Education Centre, the discussion looks ahead to the Saturday Heritage Fair, where Tina will be running a hands-on scrapbooking drop-in session alongside other creative workshops and displays. Tina describes scrapbooking as more than just a craft activity. It’s a way for people to explore their own stories, reconnect with the past, and record moments that might otherwise be lost.

BBC Radio Leicester’s claim to be “the only station made in Leicester for Leicester” has been challenged, with the BBC now admitting the promotion overstated its case. In a Freedom of Information response, the BBC acknowledged the vital role of community radio, regretting the campaign overlooked their contribution. This episode highlights the importance of collaboration and respect across the city’s media landscape.

Saturday Heritage Fair is a FREE city centre heritage event on Saturday 11th October between 10:00-15:00 at the Leicester Adult Education Centre, 54 Belvoir Street, LE1 6QL. Saturday Heritage Fair …

By John Coster, Director, Independent Heritage Network Imagine you’ve just experienced a bereavement. A box of personal belongings – school reports, passports, old photographs, perhaps mementos fro…

By John Coster, Director, Independent Heritage Network Imagine you’ve just experienced a bereavement. A box of personal belongings – school reports, passports, old photographs, perhaps mementos fro…

Available on Amazon or directly from me at a discount price. The Holocaust. The darkest chapter in the history of humankind. A pivotal period in humanity’s struggle with the dangers of di…

This proposal outlines an opportunity to integrate Community Media Hubs into Leicester’s network of libraries and community centres as part of the current reorganisation proposals by Leicester City Council. These hubs will serve as vital platforms for locally based civic participation, digital inclusion, media literacy, cultural, civic and democratic engagement—offering residents the means to share their voices, stories, and knowledge through a range of community-driven media formats.

Community media is frequently described in terms of its potential to support civic participation, foster local identity, and promote inclusive communication. Yet for those seeking to research or evaluate community media, a fundamental question often goes unasked: Can this work be fully understood from the outside? At Decentered Media, our view is that it cannot. Community media is not a spectator sport.

In this edition of Spotlight on Heritage, recorded for the Modern Cockney Festival , John Coster is joined by his mother, Joan, for a thoughtful conversation th

In a recent interview for the Soar Sound Spotlight programme, youth worker Aaron Todd highlighted the power of podcasting as a transformative tool for young people. Reflecting on his own creative journey, Todd described how podcasting offers an accessible and engaging way for individuals to express themselves, find their voices, and build confidence. By participating in podcast production, young people who might otherwise struggle to articulate their thoughts can develop a sense of agency, refining their communication skills in a supportive, community-driven environment. Podcasting, as a form of reflexive media engagement, offers unique opportunities for both personal and collective transformation.

Heritage is more than just preserving the past; it’s about understanding where we come from and how our histories connect us. In this episode of Spotlight on Heritage, John Coster and Rob Watson si…

Conflict Memory Series: #10DaysOfConflictMemory 19th – 28th February 2025 Day 8: Wednesday 26th February John Coster (Director, Conflict Memory Education Centre) talks with Soma Basu, Tampere Unive…

Conflict Memory Series: #10DaysOfConflictMemory 19th – 28th February 2025 Day 5: Sunday 23rd February John Coster (Director, Conflict Memory Education Centre) talks with Silas Udenze, Universitat O…

Conflict Memory Series: #10DaysOfConflictMemory 19th – 28th February 2025 Day 4: Saturday 22nd February Mphathisi Ndlovu, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe Gukurahundi genocid…

Conflict Memory Series: #10DaysOfConflictMemory 19th – 28th February 2025 Day 3: Friday 21st February David Andrés Lotero Castro, University of Passau; António Reis Baía, Universidad Carlos II…