ON 2 AUGUST THIS year,London-based radio station XFM put out a press release saying it was “throwing a lifeline” to student radio ater the collapse of their main funder, the Student Broadcasting Net- work (SBN). This was reported, some- what flatteringly, on Guardian Unlim- ited. Then along came London Stu- dent news editor Chaminda Jayanet- ti, who decided to write about it. Or, to be more accurate, he decided to copy out the Guardian article with- out bothering to acknowledge it and then get one measly quotation from someone at Goldsmith’s. Bless you, Cham; we know you’re a nice man (even though you’re from Strand Poly) and capable of writing better than this; but the fact is, your plaigarism has caught you out.
XFM are not about to just start giving student radio stations money. As Matt Treacy, secretary of the Stu- dent Radio Association, told The Cheese Grater, XFM offers a differ- ent deal to each station, subject to discussion and in return for the sta- tion playing XFM’s night sustainer service. Apart from ‘funding for li- cences and radio equipment’, XFM make no mention of giving money.
The article found few friends at UCL’s radio station Rare FM, which needs to make up a £3000 shortfall after SBN’S demise. When the article appeared, Rare FM treasurer Fiona [INSERT] could be heard sounding off about XFM in the Clubs and So- cieties Centre. And not surprisingly: although XFM are not supporting Rare FM in any way, shape or form, the article was illustrated with a pho- to of a DJ, recognisable to many as Rare FM head of programming Ed Jefferson, who promptly e-mailed The Cheese Grater to tell us of this. “I wasn’t told it had anything to do with the XFM story,” he insisted, “just that they wanted a picture of the Rare FM studio!” Nor does Rare FM station manager Frankie Roberto expect much help from the station. “I think the main reason XFM are looking to act as a student sustainer service is simply to promote their radio station to students outside London...I doubt they’d be as interested in supporting us as we’re London based anyway.” He concudes: “Whilst it’s great that they’re offering some support ...they’re not filling the gap SBN left by a long way.”