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What is Australian community radio ?
    The name change from public broadcasters to community broadcasters introduced by the Broadcasting Services Act 1992  came about because of a perceived need by the government to differentiate between the non-government “public broadcasters” – that claimed the term “public” by allowing public access – and the government “public broadcaster” (the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) – who claimed the term “public” because it was funded from the public purse and broadcast in “the public interest”. So the term “public” has diverse meanings according to its use by different sectors claiming the term for themselves. Not only is the term public open to contest but there are indeed different publics as the diverse meanings claimed for the term suggest. 
       
    The history of community stretches back to 1961 when the seed was planted. Yet  Broadcasting in Australia did not commence until 1972 when the Federal Government recognised that a third tier of electronic media needed to be established.
    For over twenty two years now, enthusiasm and hard work by thousands of people has created over one hundred and thirty stations in most regional and metropolitan areas of the country. Another eighty or so groups are actively seeking full-time licences. 

    Independent audience surveys indicate that an average of twenty one per cent of the population over the age of fourteen claim to listen to community radio in Australia. 

    Community Radio offers listeners a wide range of programming. Some stations reflect specific community interests, such as ethnic, Aboriginal and educational broadcasting. Other programmes respond to the whole community, mixing programmes for the aged, jazz or folk music enthusiasts, prisoners in gaol, youth, farmers, and so on. 

    The principal role of the community broadcasting sector in Australia is to provide opportunities for community groups to express views, present programming and participate in the management and operation of radio and television services. The sector provides a welcome degree of localism and diversity. 

    The community sector is a place to innovate and take risks. It is a breeding ground for new ideas and new talent, particularly musical talent. It develops and serves niche audiences such as the indigenous community, young people, ethnic communities and the print handicapped, the specific needs of which the larger commercial and national broadcasters cannot afford to meet. In spite of minimal public funding, community radio now services the vast majority of the Australian population. 

    In addition, the community sector fulfils an often unrecognised media training role. It provides much of the broadcasting industry's entry-level skills development. Many electronic media journalists, who have moved on to careers in the national or commercial broadcasting sectors, began their careers in community media. 
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    NB: There are many aspirant community radio stations in Australia who are broadcasting part-time, waiting to be awarded a full-time license by the ABA, Australian Broadcasting Authority the independent licensing body, who are law unto themselves. See their new web site 
     
    Question?   How do you go about starting a community radio
    station from scratch?
     

    The coordinating body for public radio stations in Australia is The Communuty Broadcasting Association of Australia CBAA Home Page based in Sydney, who can provide lots of great info. 
    The CBAA are asking community radio stations in Australia to adopt this logo. It is suggested that all stations use this logo for among other things, roadsigns and press advertisements, thus giving the sector an easily recognisable emblem. 

    Originals of the symbol, are available from 2NCR at PO Box 5123, East Lismore, NSW, 2480 

    South Australian Community Broadcasting Association (SACBA) is the coordinating body for South Australian community radio stations. 

    South Australia - In 1994 the eleven stations from the Community Radio group, plus three aspirant stations striving for full time broadcasting licenses, collectively made an innovative decision to operate as a network called Active Radio Network, now grown to 19 stations delivering the local focus sought  by todays radio listeners. 

    Each station has maintained its own autonomy and identity, but as a network they provide a major marketing opportunity. 

    Active Radio is represented by Media Sales Network  08 8363 4547 

     NEWS !! 

    I was interested to hear a story from the Media Report on ABC Radio National
    The management of 3CR community radio in Victoria claim their station was infiltrated by  police undercover agents. The station spokesperson claimed the police were concerned about subversive activities particularly on the Environment Show. However they reported that the police gained valuable information as to the position of endangered species such as the hairy nosed wombat and the current environmental situation in East Timor.  I hear the management of 3CR have sent a bill to the police department for studio time and training, suggesting thay take action on their new found environmental information. 
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    Relevant Newsgroups
    aus.radio 
    aus.radio.broadcasting Australians discussing broadcast radio; includes some discussion of    community radio.

    rec.radio.broadcasting Largely American discussion of radio stations, but some international discussion occurs. 

    CAMP List -  Grab your appropriate beverage and take a seat by the fire, this is a camping ground for serious discussion of  the issues in community media. Send a message to majordomo@peg.apc.org, with the subject line blank, and the following in the body of the message:  subscribe camp-l    As the flames lick and crackle, you can chat with people in community radio and TV stations, and anyone who wants to join in, about production, policy, 
    volunteers, management, funding, technical issues, and whether wood fires are environmentally correct. 
     
    A comprehensive survey of SA community radio stations undertaken by McGregor Marketing conducted state-wide including a sample of 1200 people in Adelaide, indicated that 250,000 people listen regularly to one or more of the stations. In Adelaide 30% of respondents report that they listen to a community radio station and 200,000 listened in the previous seven days, most listened attentively. In regional Australia the results were even more impressive, one third to half of their listeners chose their community station as their preferred option. 
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    The aim of community radio in Australia is to inform, entertain,educate and above all without prujudice reflect the nature, lifestyle and concerns of the local community. 

    Community radio on-line talkback 
    Search Page 
    Media Magazine on Community Radio in Australia 
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    Authored by Jai Goulding
    Updated Regularly '99

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