Challenge Hegemony With Australian Community Media
Community media offer a unique voice to Australian communities. They can challenge hegemony in a number of ways.
They are a vital part of local news in regional Australia. They can tell the stories that larger metropolitan-based news outlets can’t or won’t.
Earlier this week, ACM announced it was scaling back the printed editions of some of its regional newspapers.
Dr Bridget Backhaus
Dr Bridget Backhaus is a lecturer in journalism and media studies at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. She has a background in community radio and is interested in how alternative media can promote social change. Her research explores the intersections of voice, listening and participation.
She has been working with Indigenous communities in their efforts to make climate action a central focus of their local media. This has included helping to develop the National Indigenous Radio Service, NIRS, which was launched in 2020.
She is also a member of the Board of 3MDR, which is part of the Australian Community Media company that owns 138 regional newspapers across Australia. These publications include the Bay Post, Narooma News, Moruya Examiner, Bega District News, Merimbula News Weekly and the Canberra Times.
Dr Juliet Fox
Juliet Fox is a medical doctor who has seen how much the world needs her help. She helps people understand how they live inside stories and how to change those stories. She also helps them discover their legacies. She does this through her work with the Hero’s Journey framework.
Juliet grew up in Narooma and knows the region well. She has led a number of initiatives to improve teaching and learning at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), including a curriculum review and the introduction of new assessment methods, leading to significant student satisfaction improvements.
The sale of 160-odd regional and rural newspapers by Australian Community Media to Nine Entertainment Co may signal better fortunes for the industry. But that must be tempered by concerns about a loss of local content. It is important to remember that community media is often the only source of local news in many communities. It provides a voice that is distinct and regenerative.
Dr Charlotte Bedford
In this episode Casey and Dave have a chat with Charlotte Bedford, an alternative media trainer and researcher who has more than 30 years’ experience of designing and managing media projects alongside diverse and marginalised groups. Her work includes being instrumental in setting up the world’s first UK-based prison radio service, a story documented in her 2018 book Making Waves Behind Bars.
She is also the author of New Voices, a program that supports audio storytellers in regional and rural Australia. New Voices aims to promote excellence in community broadcasting and amplify bold new voices.
The program is run by the Community Media Training Organisation and supported by a grant from the Australian government. It is an excellent way to learn about the role of community media and how you can get involved. More information can be found here.
Dr Alex Waislitz
The chairman of Melbourne-based private investment company Thorney Investment Group (TIG), billionaire Alex Waislitz is a big supporter of community broadcasters. He says it’s a “great way to reach people with news, cultural content and entertainment”.
He has a strong track record in business and capital markets. He has served on many public company boards and is a current director of Collingwood Football Club Limited.
Australian Community Media co-owner Antony Catalano and billionaire backer Alex Waislitz are growing their stake in Southern Cross Austereo in an attempt to block ARN Media’s purchase of the regional publisher. Sources say they’re hoping to merge the company with their publishing operations.
The annual Save a Child’s Heart gala dinner raised $1.3 million for the organisation, with guests treated to a night of entertainment and networking. The event was headlined by Dr Enas from Gaza and Dr Ziwa from Zambia, who spoke about the life-saving work they are doing in Israel on a Save a Child’s Heart medical scholarship funded by the foundation.