This panel focused on the differences between commercial (”Big”) radio and its non-profit and community oriented alternatives. Big radio offers “cheap and exploitative” content but is financially profitable. On the filp end of the spectrum is community radio, which WXOU might fall under, tries to focus on local issues and providing content that is relevant to listeners lives, however, they are often not financially stable. Indeed, if WXOU were not a part of Oakland University, it likely would not exist.

There are 2 levels of sustainability:
1) Social – being relevant to the community
2) Commercial – Gettin’ Paid

As one can imagine, small radio stations often have more social sustainability than financial and vice versa. Community Radio is cited as having distinct features from big radio:
1) Small scale, non-profit
2) Social gain, and community benefit
3) Defined by location of niche interest

This was in interesting panel, however many of the ideas presented would likely not work in America as many of the presenters were from the UK and New Zealand, places where broadcasting laws are vastly different – it was interesting to see those countries focusing on community though and it would be interesting to see a focus on that in America.