RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

consideređ only a minor source of information and communication. In Groningen there was much interest initia!ly in a cooperative effort on the part of the local newspaper . This resulted in a series of cooperative news programs . After the experimental period, however , interest f rom the newspaper đeminished; they hađ concluded that the local station did not create a serious threat to the paper J s news monopoly position in the city . But from the perspective of the local stations , there is considerable reason to seek cooperation with other media operating with their respective localities . Because of the limited financial resources and personnel of the local stations there is virtually a necessity to seek cooperation and support. But because of the absence of interest on the part of the establisheđ press , local stations are forced to search for partners amomg media which are in a similar 'underdog' situation, Possible partners include closed circuit stations in hospitals , cable newspapers unaff iliated with traditional newspaper publishers , and other organizations which develop cable services. It is important to point out , however , that even where forms of cooperation are considered this is not done on the basis of substantiative or ideal positions , but for practical motives . Regarding the local pirate stations, there is an exchange in volunteers between these and the legal local radio and television stations . The exchange occurs in both directions : technically skilled persons from pirate stations offer their services to the legal stations , and volunteers from the legal stations have given preference for the commercial attractiveness and larger audience pirate stations are capable of reaching . CONCLUSIONS It appears that local stations in the Netherlanđs are in a phase where orgamzational development anđ maintenance reguire considerable attention anđ that little time and епегду is available to devote to developing a relationship with the local community . The reason underlying this situation can be founđ in the nature of the station organizations : non-profit, operated by volunteers , and dependent on external financing . Another contributing factor to this situation parallel to the type of station organization, is the policy of the national government which more or less forces local stations to function on the periphery of their respective localities . The future of local stations , shoulđ be current problems remam unresolved , looks bleak . There are , guite simply , msufficient I

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