Photo: Christina Goodman

Eight Sydney community radio stations have launched their digital transmission service, improving audio quality and doubling their broadcast capacity..

The newly launched digital radio stations 2RPH Digital, 2SER Digital, FBi Radio, Inspire Digital, Koori RadiOO, 2MBS Fine Music, 2MFM Muslim DR, 2000Languages are part of a nation-wide rollout of digital transmission services for all community radio stations. Phase one of the rollout is nearly complete with 33 capital city stations already transmitting digitally. Regional areas will follow.

Melanie Withnall, manager of Sydney’s 2SER said feedback has been good from listeners so far.

“The feedback that we have had is that people are listening to us on digital. We sound really nice and clear,” she said.

“The music sounds better and it does have that CD quality sound.”

Quality improvements for stations that broadcast in AM should be particularly noticeable.

Ms Withnall said going digital will give listeners more choice.

“One of the beauties of digital radio is that we do have that option now to say we’re still 2SER with the same great content, with the same interesting programs and music, but you can listen to us either on our website, FM radio, or on digital radio, or podcast us.”

According to Adrian Basso, head of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, transmitting in digital will double broadcast capacity for community stations. One of the benefits will be greater access to broadcast for multicultural stations that service niche communities.

“Often there wasn’t enough space, or if there was space it was late at night,” Mr Basso said.

“So this gives new avenues for those emerging communities.”

Most stations will start by ‘simulcasting’ – broadcasting in both mediums at the same time – and slowly introducing a wider variety based on listener feedback.

Ms Withnall is excited by 2SER’s ability to offer special features on the digital service, having already transmitted one special feature program on digital that was not available on FM.

“With special features it is quite hard to give over your whole station. WomAdelaide was something that we could put an extended version on our digital service and say to people “if you want more, here it is”.”

Stations can also choose to time-shift, offering similar content at different times.

Many community radio stations will also use the same transmission multiplex, allowing stations across Australia to share content, for example broadcasting the same show in different capital cities.

Mr Basso said: “We’ve built a backbone, where one radio station could do an outside broadcast and feed it through the chain, and all stations can pick it up and broadcast it.

“I know there are a few stations that will share and do some networking,” he said.

According to Basso, the audience for community radio is larger than many people realise.

“We reach 26% of Australian listeners every week. That’s pretty significant.”

On the future of community digital radio, Mr Basso said: “It’s not meant to replace AM or FM, it’s a supplementary service. This whole technology is so young that I think there are a lot of things that people haven’t thought of yet that will become a reality in the future.

“I think whatever happens community radio will be there pushing for the grassroots stuff and work out ways to really promote that with new technology.”

Source: Christina Goodman, Alternative Media

Janet Stewart says the station is going from strength to strength

More than two thirds of the 59 fully licensed community radio stations in Victoria are in country areas. The stations, mostly run by volunteers offer a range of programs and services often not found on commercial stations. Reporters Anthony Loncaric and Charlotte Cullum Jenkins speak to some of the people behind the microphone.

When Janet Stewart went out of her comfort zone to become a radio presenter on Melton’s 979fm she wouldn’t have thought she’d end up being the station’s president within three years.

Stewart, who came to Australia 31 years ago from Yorkshire in England, decided to join the station because she wanted to get involved with Melton community.

‘‘I’m a very community-minded person and I’m also the vice-president of the Lions Club of Melton,’’ she says.

‘‘It was quite scary to sit behind the microphone at first but I settled fairly quickly and I’ve really enjoyed working at the station.’’

She has her own music show Born to be Alive, which airs on Wednesdays from 8-10am. She spends the rest of her time attending to her administrative duties.

‘‘I play fast-paced music in my segment which I really enjoy doing because it gives young listeners something to look forward to in the morning,’’ she says.

‘‘We have 76 volunteer presenters on the station and they are all really hard-working people.’’

According to the National Listeners Survey, the station attracts 13,450 listeners in a typical week and an average of 29, 417 listeners a month.

‘‘When former president Bob Turner took over the station 10 years ago, it was really struggling. But now our listener numbers are rising each year,’’ Stewart says.

‘‘People of ethnic backgrounds listen for information on their cultures while young people tune in for announcements.

‘‘I definitely think we’re going from strength to strength.’’

The station hit the airwaves on November 29, 1981.

The first presenter was Leslie Vitale, at the time a 14-year-old student at Melton High School.

This first test broadcast was over two days, using borrowed equipment.

The original name of the station was Satellite City Radio but was soon changed to Melton Community Access Radio before becoming 979fm.

As well as a few name changes, there have also been location changes. Its first studio was at the Melton Resource Centre but soon moved into the regional shopping centre and is now at Mowbray College.

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, the national body for community radio stations, has set out some of the broadcasting guidelines that the station adheres to and supports the running of the station.

‘‘Community radio is based on the principles of access and participation to members of the community in a local area. It provides a broad range of programs produced and presented by people who are part of the local community, provides training and experience in broadcasting and in many communities forms an important part of the social framework and information network so critical to maintaining a strong sense of community,’’ the general manager of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, Kath Letch, says.

‘‘Community radio stations play a vital role in small communities throughout Australia, with 75 per cent of stations located in regional and remote areas. According to our industry research, approximately 30 per cent of regional community radio services are the only radio services providing information specific to their local community or region.’’

Community radio offers a variety of programs to cater to many interests.

But one of the challenges that community radio stations face is raising the money to run them. Mostly they rely on sponsors and membership.

In nearby Sunbury, it costs about $15,000 each year to run the town’s local station 3NRG.

Station manager Mike Cherriman says there are also grants available from local, state and federal governments and community groups.

‘‘Funding is a huge challenge … we have just enough money to manage our affairs so we’re not attractive to grant givers, which is a bit of a catch-22, so we rely on grant givers.

‘‘As a manager there’s a lot of networking, a lot of getting out there and helping people understand what community radio is, why it’s there, what it can do for them, engaging various community centres — providing them a platform to promote themselves. We offer the opportunity to anyone who wants to come along and stand on their soapbox and be heard. The airwaves are there for that.’’

Source: Melton Weekly

The station is also conducting a survey of residents, both current listeners and also non-listeners, to find out what people want to hear.

According to station president Basia Klim, the new name and the survey are part of a push to tap into and be more responsive to the community they are broadcasting to.

“We are trying to get 1000 responses to the survey so we have got statistically relevant information,” she said. “We are about halfway through and the main thing people have said they want is an emphasis on local content; local music and talent, arts, current affairs and local government issues. That’s been a big definite.

“Sport is obviously the national religion so we are planning to have a new sports show that will cover everything from local martial arts to soccer and the races. That will be on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10am. Then there will be a round up of the weekend sport on Monday from 3 till 4pm.”

Basia said the name, too, was an attempt to really identify with Lismore.

“Our thought was that the reason Lismore is here is because of the river. Its identity is tied up with the river, so we figured that would be a nice nickname for us. It’s local, it brings us home,” she said.

Basia also said there was still some confusion with 2NR, which is the old name for ABC North Coast.

“We get three or four calls a week from people who think we are the ABC,” she said. “We want people to know who we are. We are a community organisation… A lot of people still think we are attached to the university even though we haven’t been for about seven years. That’s how a lot of people see the station, which has limited people’s involvement.”

Basia has been involved with the station for about four years as a presenter and as president for a year. She said in the past six months they have been doing outside broadcasts at various events such as the Lismore Show, Lismore Cup, and the homeless shelter benefit as well as other ones from the skate rink and a nightclub.

“It gets us out there in the community and talking to people so they know who we are.

“We’re working hard to have a service that people will want to support.”

Basia said they are always looking for new people to volunteer in all areas of the station, not just on-air.

Other new programs they have in the pipeline include a weekly arts and culture show, a new environment show and a new Indigenous show.

Source: Echo News

We Buy Your Kids designers Sonny Day and Biddy Maroney in their Newtown Studio. Photo by Phil Blatch

Sydney artists are uniting to support a radio station that supports the arts in so many ways.

More than 30 Sydney artists are donating work to FBi Radio to go under the hammer at the Still Life art auction.

The Art Gallery of NSW is hosting the auction on Friday October 8, with all funds going to FBi.

A number of Inner West artists will have their work in the mix, which includes everything from visual arts, photography and design.

Newtown designers We Buy Your Kids, Sonny Day and Biddy Maroney, said they were more than happy to get on board.

“FBi has been very good to us over the last couple of years and we were asked to be a part of the auction last year when they were having all those major (financial) problems,” Day said.

“It’s a reciprocal thing, they support the arts, local music and they have really supported us.”

The designers, who do everything from illustrations to band posters and web design, are yet to decide which piece to donate.

Day said it was intense at last year’s auction where people were battling it out for pieces, some going for up to $20,000.

Dulwich Hill artist and inventor Simon Yates said he’ll be putting his piece Magic Ladders up for auction, which are toys made out of planks that are connected by ribbons.

“Making a work for auction is a chance for me to make something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” he said.

“I listen to FBi a lot and wanted to do something to help out the station. I feel like they’re one of the few stations that supports artists and interesting creative projects happening around Sydney.”

Newtington artist Wade Marynowsky is entering his piece Robots Everywhere which is about how people want to find faces in everything.

“I think FBi is a awesome community arts station. I think it brings a lot of people together,” he said.

With his studio in St Peters, Greg Hodge is another artist who felt compelled to get involved.

He’s entering an untitiled piece which came from a group of abstract paintings that are emotive and ambiguous.

“FBi have set up a pretty supportive network for all types of arts around Sydney and I think it’s a nice opportunity to be involved,” he said.

There will also be a range of artwork available for under $200 done by Sydney art students known as the Class of 2010.

If you would like to go to Still Life you can RSVP to rsvp@fbiradio.com by October 6.

For more information on Still Life go to fbiradio.com. For more information on We Buy Your Kids go to webuyyourkids.com, Simon Yates mechanickinetica.tripod.com, Wade Marynowsky marynowsky.net. Greg Hodge does not have a website but is part of an exhibition Positive Negative at the Artereal Gallery, Rozelle, from tomorrow.

Source: Inner West Courier

Illustration by Kerrie Leishman

In this time of stage-managed election campaigns, and increased role of public relations people in generating news and a tight media market, Australia’s community broadcasters provide an independent voice and a truly local forum for those who are excluded from the mainstream media.

And there couldn’t be a more appropriate time for our major political parties to support community broadcasting – Australia’s largest, non-profit, independent media sector.

Australia is in the healthy situation of having more licensed community radio stations (358) than the number of commercial (274), ABC (65) and SBS (4) stations combined.

Each month, up to 9.5 million Australians (more than half the population) tune in to their local community radio station. Why, you might ask? Maybe it’s because more than 23,000 of their peers participate in the operation of community stations across the country. Maybe it’s because no other radio sector offers more than 77 per cent locally produced programming (that is, not networked) every week tailored to their community, ethnicity, their denomination, their demographic or their disability.

For example there’s SYN-FM in Melbourne, which is restricted to people aged under 26 and in one year trained 4000 young people in broadcasting. JOY-FM is the only radio station in the world operated by and for the local gay and lesbian community. Goolarri Media in Broome are active in media and music production and in providing training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in their community.

Most importantly, community broadcasting allows people to be part of decision-making and ownership of stations. Community radio gives people who are otherwise denied it, access to the airwaves. But it’s not just the volunteers who benefit and appreciate it.

Qualitative research shows that people like community broadcasting for local news, for offering the ability to connect or create communities and for more accurately representing our social and cultural diversity than other media, according to a McNair National Listener Survey in 2008. The federal government needs to acknowledge this and provide more sustainable support.

Towards this end, the community broadcasting sector has developed a vision that re-invigorates its role in local communities by enabling the industry to leverage the rollout of digital technology.

The Vision 2015 proposal is community broadcasting’s appeal to the major political parties to fully acknowledge the role and impact community broadcasting has on the nation’s media landscape and its diverse communities. Put forward by national representative, Vision 2015 demonstrates that despite the sector’s strengths, community broadcasting can be improved with strategic government financial support.

Community stations can provide the facilities, training and infrastructure for people who support their ideals to connect with digital media. A level of initial funding support is needed to establish this vision.

In conversation with Peter Godfrey on The Daily Interview last week, Senator Scott Ludlam, communications spokesman of the Greens, agreed that the role of the community broadcasting sector is made all the more significant and important because of Australia’s tightly controlled media market.

According to Ludlam, the community broadcasting sector’s Vision 2015 funding proposal is on target. “In the context of the extraordinary value that is provided by the community broadcast sector, culturally and economically and as training grounds for people, I don’t think that you’re asking for too much.”

Despite the degree to which our national broadcasters – ABC and SBS – are cherished by people who value independent media, they are not enough, and never can be. Despite the degree to which they are resourced, they cannot cover the diverse interests that have developed in this old and new country. They are undeniably national broadcasters – no matter how much they try to dress up and call themselves public or even community, they are not “of” the community.

Recently, the ABC received funding to provide what they described as “town square” services, where people could contribute content. But Australians generally won’t fall for that. Despite the ABC calling themselves “local radio”, people in Cairns know when the overnight program on “their” local radio is coming from Melbourne. Without 10 times the funding, the ABC just cannot be local enough.

The digital future is here. Community broadcasting wants to offer people who believe in independent media and serving their own communities, pathways to digital literacy and digital economies. Community broadcasting wants to provide the facilities, training and infrastructure for people who support their ideals to connect with digital media. And they want to do it with the support of this country’s policy makers.

David Melzer is the deputy general manager of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA).www.communitymediavotes.org.au

Source: The Age

Kate Doak, who is Operations Manager of TUNE FM, unearthed the tape and played it on air. It is also available on the station’s website, where she writes:

“With a level of charm that only old Tape and Vinyl can deliver, I was whisked away to a time where Tony Abbott was way less recognizable than what he is now. Starting the interview off with the trials and tribulations of student politics and a healthy smattering of inter-university rivalry, Tony proceeds to take a firm swipe against both  Trade and Student Unions alike while recognizing their differences.

“Changing tack, he then switches topics to education, injects a streak of Christianity and sexism into the discussion and gets slightly put off when ambushed on the topic of Feminists, Gays, Migrants and Aboriginals forming their own supportive communities…

“Tony Abbott hasn’t been afraid to say what he thinks. So given his past record on issues such as Education, Unionism and Women in the Workplace, the contents of this recording aren’t all that surprising. What is extremely remarkable however is that Tony was able to present himself in such a manner at such a young age, and that his positions were so deeply entrenched at the time.”

Abbott apparently knew the value of community radio back then. It is not known whether he has current views on community radio’s ongoing funding campaign, whcih has been ramped up in the lead up to this election.

The station has challenged Tony Abbott to make a return to TUNE FM on a phone interview some time before election day. radioinfo has not yet had a response from Mr Abbott’s office to let us know if he intends to take up the interview offer.

To hear the 1979 interview click this link.

With his love of the alternative radio station he has listened to since university, and a passion for Brisbane music and community, volunteering at the station’s front desk is Mr Conway’s ideal job.

“The beauty of 4ZzZ FM is that it’s not mainstream, it’s community based and you get to meet different people from different backgrounds,“ he said.

“There are muso types to people off the street, very smart technical people, a whole variety of intellectuals.“

Mr Conway’s three years at the station’s front desk have placed him at the forefront of the association through his work with the public.

He has also worked at station events including the annual Brain Banana fundraiser, by promoting the station and selling merchandise.

Volunteer co-ordinator Giordana Caputo said the efforts of volunteers such as Mr Conway ensured the station’s continuing success.

Radiothon, 4ZzZ’s annual subscriber and volunteer drive, will run from August 13 to 14, with events including a week-long exhibit titled 2010: A Zed Odyssey at the Bleeding Heart Gallery, show- casing the station’s 35 years on air.

Visit 4ZzZ or tune into 102.1FM.

Source: Wynnum Herald

When incumbent, Michele Bawden, decided not to renew her contract after two years at the helm, the CBAA sought someone with the industry experience to steer Australia’s largest broadcast sector through the complexities of new media technologies and services.

Kath Letch has decided to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney to take on the challenge. Kath has most recently been in the role of Digital Radio Project Manager working with 37 mainland capital city metro-wide stations to establish the first wave of community digital radio services.

Kath’s list of accomplishments in community broadcasting is impressive. Under fourteen years of Kath’s management, Melbourne’s 3RRR was transformed from a fragile station with a dedicated audience into a robust multimedia beacon for independent and alternative views and music.

3RRR will always carry the legacy of Kath’s skills and dedication. Her ability to harness the commitment of people and resources to one of the most popular community stations in the country enabled her to bring together the complex tasks needed to secure a strong and successful future for the station.

She now moves to manage a national organisation representing more than 500 community radio and television services. The number of community radio licences in Australia (358) outnumber those in the commercial (274), ABC (65) and SBS (4) stations combined.

Kath Letch has worked in voluntary and paid capacities in community broadcasting in two states and on a national level for over 20 years. After growing up in bayside Melbourne, she moved to Perth in her twenties to work in education and became involved in the early days of community radio there. She began broadcasting on 6UVS, and became Station Manager when the station returned to the airwaves as 6RTR in 1991.

She has worked on numerous national bodies including the CBAA National Committee as President for four years, the AMRAP advisory committee, and the Digital Radio Consultative Committee.

Kath’s commitment to independent community media and extensive knowledge of the sector in programming, management, training, co-ordinating volunteers and staff, chairing committees, technical knowledge, understanding audiences, promotions, project management, administration, finance, and the special ‘birds eye view’ gained through her time at the national level will be great assets to her role as CBAA General Manager.

Kath commences at the CBAA on September 20.

The day kicked off with a performance from SYN Free Kick Competition winners Money for Rope, followed by Little Freddy and the Pops and the Blackeyed Susans before the big game had even started.

The first half of the match was all Rockdogs. Megahertz fans were forced to busy themselves at the bar and immerse themselves in the halftime performance from The Living End rather than even think about the second half of football to come, with the Rockdogs leading 28 points to 2 at the major break.

The Megahertz ran out of the rooms after halftime like women and men possessed and started winning possessions all over the ground with far fresher legs than their rivals. Still victory felt out of reach until Jess McGuire (RRR’s Wired For Sound) made a fifty metre penalty count over a tall line of Rockdogs’ defense with only minutes to go.

Stew Farrell (despite ongoing taunts from his All Over The Shop co-host and commentator Leapin Larry L) put the nail in the Rockdogs’ coffin and sealed a one point Megahertz victory with a mark and goal from the forward pocket with less than 10 seconds on the clock.

Consistent all day at both ends of the field, Chris Gill (RRR’s Get Down) took out best on ground in the post match awards before Nick Barker and the Reptiles closed proceedings capping off a brilliant day for all.

Thanks to everyone who came down to rejoice in community spirit and help charity partner Reclink raise funds to provide sporting, social and arts activities to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage.

Source: CBAA 3PBS

Even before an episode of the radio drama, Kasa Por Yarn, had been aired, it already has a huge following with about 800 fans on Facebook; thus showing positive signs that it will be a big hit.

The radio drama hit the airwaves in the Torres Strait when it was launched at the Torres Strait Islander Media Association’s radio station, 4MW, on Thursday Island on April 15. (The number at April 23 was more than 1700.)

The 12-part series, focusing on youth and relationships, went to air in front of a live audience and live broadcast hosted by Radio 4MW.

Before airing the first episode, Bishop Saibo Mabo gave the Opening Prayer and Mayor Pedro Stephen gave the Welcome, however, Kaurareg Elder Joseph Wasaga sent his apology for not being able to do the Welcome to Country due to cultural commitments.

Aaron Fa’aoso, who plays the role of Billy, as well as, being the creative and cultural consultant of Kasa Por Yarn. was guest speaker and spoke about having strong community ties.

He said: “If there are strong families then they makes strong communities.

“The internet and today’s technology has a strong impact on our youths and it’s alarming what they are facing.”

Fa’aoso acknowledged the Youth and Relationships Network (YARN) committees on NPA and Thursday Island, as well as, students input and the material used for stories.

“Students workshops were informative on what’s happening in their world, and. once you hear it on radio, you’ll then realise the magnitude of such a radio drama.”

Mau Power, along with Danny Boy, performed a couple of songs including the theme song Kasa Por Yarn which was written in just two days.

Radio interviews were conducted with cast members and others including Director/Writer Simon Luckhurst, who felt it was a privilege to work on this project.

“When people put their hearts into it, you walk away remembering such a project.

“I hope you like the play because it’s a good drama and culturally appropriate.”

When Kasa Por Yarn was being played, outside the TSIMA/4MW offices on Douglas Street, the interest by the audience was great and they showed their appreciation by clapping at the end of the first episode.

Just a day before the radio drama was launched at Bamaga with NPA cast members, Simon Luckhurst and Queensland Health representatives.

Apart from having a Facebook page Kasa Por Yarn also has a Bebo page.

Source: Torres News