Winter 2009 Edition – Journal of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Winter 2009 Edition – Journal Features Bushfires and Community Radio Federal Budget Pro. Jo Lo Bianco on Language The Ethnic Broadcaster 2008 NEMBC Conference Radioactive Youth Forum Welcome to the journal of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council, representing and resourcing ethnic community broadcasters across Australia. NEMBC Executive President: George Zangalis VIC Vice-President: Tangi Steen SA Treasurer: Nikola Nikolich WA Secretary: Victor Marillanca ACT Executive Committee Members: Contents Joe De Luca NT Cristina Descalzi SA Federal Budget and the Lobby Campaign .................... 2 Osai Faiva NSW Nick Dmyterko QLD Bushfires and Community Radio .................................... 3 Adam Lo QLD Luigi Romanelli TAS 2008 Conference Reflections .......................................... 6 Dana Popovich WA Prof Jo Lo Bianco .............................................................. 7 NEMBC Staff Executive and Policy Officer: Russell Anderson Radioactive Forum ......................................................... 10 Youth and Women’s Officer: Rachael Bongiorno Membership Organiser: Stephanie Lim Community Television.................................................... 12 Administration Officer: Nancy Falcone Bookkeeper: Dennis West Better Human Rights .................................................... 12 Editorial Sub-Committee Media Convergance........................................................ 13 George Zangalis Victor Marillanca Conference Pictures ...................................................... 14 Luigi Romanelli Osai Faiva NEMBC New Office ....................................................... 16 Adam Lo Womens Award .............................................................. 17 The Ethnic Broadcaster Editor: Russell Anderson Youth Broadcasters ........................................................ 18 Coordinator: Nancy Falcone Designer: Tamborine Tammy Nicholson and Russell Anderson Oxygen ............................................................................ 19 Front Cover: Newspix/ Photographer Coppel Alex Proofreading: Romina Calabro Around the Stations .................................................21- 25 Journal Printers: Highlight Printing Pty Ltd NEMBC Membership ..............................................26 - 27 The Ethnic Broadcaster is an environmentally friendly production, using recycled paper and non-toxic inks. CBF Grants .................................................................... 28 The Ethnic Broadcaster is the Journal of the National Ethnic Tony Manicaros Awards ................................................ 29 & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC).The views expressed in The Ethnic Broadcaster are not necessarily the views of the NEMBC. NEMBC contact details PO Box 1144 Collingwood VIC 3066 Phone: 03 9486 9549 Fax: 03 9486 9547 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nembc.org.au We welcome contributions to The Ethnic Broadcaster, especially from NEMBC Members. Submit contributions to: [email protected] President’s Pen In the last few months, we have been extremely busy and active (d) The funds for training should preferably go to the stations in a number of areas particularly in making sure the government to use in accordance with their own approved training heard our voices for an increase in funding for ethnic and other needs, covering all levels of training from elementary to top community broadcasting, in the midst of many competing cries for accredited. help and ensuring our funding submission to the CBF was timely (e) AMRAP was asked to discuss with the NEMBC and AICA and well prepared. The Federal Government budget outcome was how to deliver better outcomes for ethnic and indigenous a disappointment. See the article on the next page. broadcasters. Project Co-ordination (f) The NTP management was asked to explore the training 0n the 3 & 4 of April 2009, I represented the NEMBC at the needs of broadcasters in languages other than English. inaugural meeting of the (community) Sector Project Consultative The meeting also clarified the policy that NTP funding under Committee (SPCC) in Sydney. the present scheme does not exclude training below accredited levels, that is, stations cannot apply for funds to run station This committee has brought together in one body a most approved courses as well. welcome development – the previously separate advisory committees for the special government funded projects of: More information on how to access these projects go to the CBAA and NEMBC websites. 1. The Australian Music Radio Air Play Projects (AMRAP) 2. The CB Online Project and The 2009 Conference The 2009 NEMBC National Conference will be held in 3. The National Training Project (NTP) Melbourne in late November, following Victorian Government All these projects are managed by the CBAA on behalf of the financial and other support and co-sponsorship of the conference CBF. by 3ZZZ. The SPCC is made up of representatives from all peak bodies of Unfortunately the Tasmanian government could not provide community broadcasters such as NEMBC, AICA, CBAA, and RPH. support on this occasion for the conference to be held in The role of this committee is to consider and make Launceston, which was the NEMBC’s first preference, despite the recommendations to the CBAA Board on strategic and valiant effort of executive committe member Luigi Romanelli and operational planning and budgeting matters. the local community radio station City Park Radio. These projects are funded from the Federal Government through The Next NEMBC Executive Meeting the CBF and they are up for review every 2-3 years. In total The Executive Committee meetings are usually held in Melbourne these projects received about $1 million annually, an amount and occasionally in other cities. We are pleased that the July 4-5 extremely short of what is needed. So, meeting the needs of all NEMBC executive commitee meeting will be held in Adelaide. the projects is a hard road of negotiation and decision. This provides an opportunity for Adelaide ethnic broadcasters The April meeting endorsed in the main, the strategic and and others to meet with executive members at a special Saturday operational proposals and agreed to totally review the NTP in evening function at 5EBI. October, now that the government has agreed to fund it for three The budget is a major item, and the executive committee will years. also deal with preparations for the Conference and AGM, reports Some other issues raised in discussion and some on the constitutional amendments, review of the CBF funding recommendations of particular interest to the NEMBC are: guidelines, the Radioactive Youth Forum, etc. (a) That as a matter of principle the management of such May I take this opportunity to thank Nancy Falcone, the projects should not automatically be given to the CBAA. The Administration Officer who has left us, for her dedicated work opportunity should be provided to other sector organisations and wish her all the best in her retirement. (NEMBC, AICA, RPH) to share in the development of policies and the delivery of services that these projects create, thus strengthening their own capacities and contributing from their own expertise and wide community links. George Zangalis (b) That diversity should not be compromised for the purpose “of President mainstream efficiencies”. NEMBC (c) That ethnic and multicultural broadcasters derive little benefit from AMRAP and CBOnline, given the huge diversity in language broadcasts, and complex programming schedules. The Ethnic Broadcaster - The Federal Budget Failed Ethnic Community Broadcasting The government presented this year’s federal budget and ethnic The NEMBC played a major role in developing the new policy and multicultural community broadcasting has been left out in the proposal called ‘Value Our Voices’ and other lobby material. cold, after a seven month lobby campaign by the NEMBC and the Copies can be found on our website. There was a series of community broadcasting sector organisations. meetings in the beginning of the year with different Ministries in Canberra during parliamentary sittings. These included meetings The NEMBC is pleased that its lobbying effort has been able with the Minister for Communications, Ministry for Immigration, to maintain the present level of funding with a small increase. Assistant to the Treasurer’s office, Department of Finance and However the additional 2.3 million that the NEMBC was Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement requesting has not been delivered. Services. The funding strategy group also met with the Prime The funding for ethnic community broadcasting has remained Minister’s Office. static for the last 12 years, apart from partial indexation. By April 2009 it was clear that the recession was going to have Ethnic and other community broadcasters have every right to be an effect on the 2009/2010 budget. When it did come out there disappointed. The claim for an increase was modest, affordable was a 60 billion dollar deficit. Ethnic and multicultural community and best value for money in these difficult times. broadcasting were part of the fall-out. With the long recession ahead of us, community radio has not The NEMBC issued a press realese soon after the budget was been recognised for its input into building economic pathways, announced to express