An Ipswich Case Study: How Does Local Broadcast Media Value, Esteem and Provide Voice to a Rapidly Changing Urban Centre?
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An Ipswich Case Study: How Does Local Broadcast Media value, esteem and provide voice to a rapidly changing urban centre? Doctor of Philosophy Ashley Paul Jones Graduate Diploma of Media Production Master of Arts in Media Production 2016 i ABSTRACT Radio is part of our everyday life experience in various rooms around the home, in the car and as a portable device. Its impact and connection with the local community was immediate since its inception in Australia in 1923. Radio became directly part of the City of Ipswich in 1935 with the birth of 4IP (Ipswich). Local people were avid consumers of broadcast media and recognised that, in particular, 4IP was something that they could both participate in and consume. It gave people a voice; historically 4IP broadcast local choirs, soloists, produced youth programs and generally reflected the community in which it existed. The radio station moved out of Ipswich and established itself in Brisbane during 1970s. This move resulted in a loss of a voice in the local area through broadcast radio. Similarly, the place, Ipswich City changed dramatically and is confronted with significant population growth and the emergence of an old and new Ipswich that is potentially problematic for the local council to manage. The aim is to provide a sense of localism that was strongly present in the early decades of Ipswich as evidenced by the interactions with 4IP; the identity of the two is remarkable because of their parallel flux. My thesis will provide a unique insight into the relationship between a community, that community’s membership and local radio services. My research is carried out in an applied approach using aspects of critical ethnography, grounded theory and case study. The analysis features a triangulation model of place, people and conduit (radio) developed from the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu where I overlay place and field, people and habitus and conduit (Radio) with practice. The body of knowledge discovered and recovered in this research identifies a socio- cultural practice in Ipswich and reveals the fundamental human interactions between broadcaster, people and place. This has far reaching implications to inform the radio industry, community development and cities undergoing major growth and transformation. ii CERTIFICATION OF THESIS I certify that the ideas, results, analyses, and conclusions reported in this thesis are entirely my own effort, except where otherwise acknowledged. I also certify that the work is original and has not been previously submitted for any other award, except where otherwise acknowledged. 18/01/2016 Date ENDORSEMENT _____________________ 18/01/2016 _____________________ __18/01/2016_ Signature of Supervisor/s Date iii DEDICATION To my wife Jan who has supported me on this endeavour. To my wonderful and supportive family and friends. In loving memory of: Arnold and Gladys Jones David and Neta Christensen Professor Jonathan Dawson - An agent Provocateur and mentor iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere thanks and deep appreciation to my principal supervisor Associate Professor Janet McDonald. No words can adequately express my gratitude for her support, enthusiasm and willingness to go over and above what is expected in her role. Her belief in me and this research was inspiring. Without her input, guidance and genuine support, my dissertation could not have been completed. I also wish to acknowledge and thank my Associate Supervisor, Dr. Rebecca Scollen for her insights and support through this journey. My thanks also to the Business, Education, Law and Arts Faculty and staff of the University of Southern Queensland who have assisted in a variety of ways to seek to make the pathway to completion as smooth as possible. To my industry colleagues who have supported me in undertaking this necessary body of work, thank you. My sincere appreciation goes to the number of people who completed the quantitative survey, to those members of the Ipswich community, radio industry and staff of 4IP, QFM, STAR 106.9 and River 949, who participated in interviews. I particularly acknowledge David Greenwood, Sir Frank Moore and Allan Brandt who passionately engaged in this work and gave generously in time and advice. I wish to acknowledge the staff of the University of Southern Queensland library, Ipswich City Council library, Picture Ipswich and the State Library of Queensland. Sincere thanks to my friends and colleagues who have supported and encouraged over this journey, thank you. Deep gratitude goes to Jillian Blacker who has supported as copy editor and friend, along with Gaynor Baker who has supported throughout and assisted in all of the many practical ways. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my wife, Jan and our family who have stood by me and supported my doctoral education. My wife has taken on a huge load of family matters while I have been working through the dissertation. It is appreciated beyond words. My family and close friends have been a tower of strength who have practically and prayerfully supported me to come to this place. I have come to this milestone through my unwavering faith in God, wonderful support network and the deep passion to complete this important work. The best is yet to come! v Table of Contents ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 3 CERTIFICATION OF THESIS ....................................................................................... 4 ENDORSEMENT .............................................................................................................. 4 DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................... 6 LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................... 9 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ 9 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 5 2.1. Bourdieu – The Theoretical Position .................................................................. 9 2.1.1. Habitus ...................................................................................................12 2.1.2. Field ........................................................................................................14 2.1.3. Capital.....................................................................................................16 2.2. The Transformation of Radio: Inception to Current Practice...............................20 2.2.1. Early Radio: Communication and Enterprise ..............................................20 2.2.2. Australian Radio: Beginnings, Limitations and Innovation ...........................22 2.3. Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC).......................................................27 2.4. Commercial Radio in Australia .........................................................................28 2.5. Radio Networks: Early Format..........................................................................29 2.6. Local Radio: The War Years and Beyond ...........................................................32 2.7. Changing Face of Radio: 1930s and 1940s.........................................................34 2.8. The 1950s and Beyond: Format........................................................................37 2.8.1. 1960s and 1970s ......................................................................................38 2.8.2. 1980s ......................................................................................................40 2.9. Broadcast Radio: Current Practice in a Social Context ........................................42 2.10. Commercial Radio in Australia ......................................................................43 3. METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................................52 3.1. Choice of Case Study and Research Bias ...........................................................52 3.2. Research Title and Key Questions.....................................................................54 3.3. Theoretical Lenses and Analytical Approach .....................................................55 3.4. Data Collection Methods .................................................................................57 3.5. Personal and Focus Group Interviews ...............................................................57 3.6. Quantitative Data............................................................................................61 v 3.7. Newspaper, Journal and Documents ................................................................62 3.8. Images............................................................................................................63 3.9. Data Storage ...................................................................................................63 4. FINDINGS ...............................................................................................................65 4.1. Johnson Era ....................................................................................................65