Independent media and community control...

by Hilary Harper (Current Affairs Coordinator 3CR)

The struggle for a more independent and accountable media in Australia is 
not a new thing — it's been going on for the duration of white settlement, 
in a variety of ways. And while it can feel like this is a particularly 
repressive and frustrating time — with the continuing marginalisation of 
the voices of Indigenous people, women, non-English speakers, gay and 
lesbian people, the disabled, the working class, and others largely ignored 
by government and commercial outlets; not to mention the misinformation, 
misrepresentation and silence surrounding refugees and asylum seekers — 
it's important to remember how the strong history of public and independent 
media in this country has helped shape the political and social landscape 
over the years.

In 1974, the Community Radio Federation — the founding body of Melbourne's 
3CR Community Radio station — was set up as part of a campaign to 
establish public broadcasting in Australia.

The campaigns of that time aimed to counter monopoly control of the media, 
which had blocked community broadcasters' access to 300 spare frequency 
allocations, to the great benefit of the commercial sector.

When a licence became available for a restricted AM commercial station, 
with a radius of only 16 kilometres, the CRF applied for it. But they made 
it clear that their aims were starkly different from the commercial 
sector's.

The CRF aims were to encourage community participation in the station 
through training; to actively discriminate in favour of marginalised 
groups; to be financially independent and rely on community support, 
refusing advertising; and to allow listener participation via 
representation on the station's governing bodies.

These were radical commitments then, and still raise eyebrows today, even 
within the community broadcasting sector.

Perhaps this is because there are not many examples of successfully 
independent, accessible and progressive media in Australia, people seem 
unable to see how a station might survive and thrive for over 25 years 
without commercial sponsorship.

But since its inception the station has relied on community support to set 
up studios, help move sites (twice), relocate the transmitter, and donate 
about a third of the annual running costs during the June Radiothon.

Over 400 people volunteer at the station each week, and about 1000 
subscribe every year.

As well, the station often holds special on-air appeals and donates money 
to various causes — $6000 went to striking workers at the Rosella factory 
in 1984, $7500 to El Salvador public radio in 1988, and $14,000 for locked 
out tramways workers in 1990.

This year, 10 percent of the Radiothon target will go towards supporting 
refugees and asylum seekers, with on-the-ground services to people on 
Temporary Protection Visas, who are denied government support.

Radiothon is also a litmus test for the continuing relevance and importance 
of Community Radio's work — if we are still covering issues the community 
is interested in, and providing analysis and information people can't get 
anywhere else, then we're rewarded with concrete support from listeners.

As was born out by our coverage of the S11 anti-corporate globalisation 
protests, the MUA's blockade of Melbourne's docks, and East Timor's 
struggles for independence, there is a huge need for independent media 
which gives a voice to those directly involved in political action and 
directly affected by government policies.

As newer independent media outlets grow in strength, with the increasing 
awareness of Indymedia websites, email lists, volunteer-driven print media 
such as The Paper, and community TV, it looks like non-corporate media will 
go on empowering people into the future.

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Donations to 3CR can be made by calling 03 9419 8377,

or by mail to P.O. Box 1277 Collingwood, Vic., 3066.

This year's target is $125,000.