The Ethnic Broadcaster Summer/Autumn 2002 Edition National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council Broadcasting Barriers to Broadcasting Identity, Language & 2001 Conference Reports Hip Hop:awayof life Communities New &Emerging Reporting onRefugees Inside: PRESIDENT’S PEN PLANNING AHEAD – THE PRIORITIES Contents The March meeting of the NEMBC Executive was held in Adelaide March 3 The Election and Ethnic Community 9th–10th. Having reviewed the situation Broadcasters in our broadcasting sector and considered the tasks and priorities for the next two years, the Executive 4 Reporting on Refugees resolved that:

1. Greater recognition by government for the invaluable 5 New and Emerging Communities: New role and services provided by ethnic community Broadcasters broadcasters becomes an even more pressing priority. The last increase in funding occurred six years ago in 6 Barriers to Broadcasting 1996 and since then ethnic community broadcasting has increased by 50% Current funding for the 8 Beyond Tolerance: the National Australian Ethnic Radio Training Project runs out next Conference on Racism year and the government’s decision not to fund the project in this year’s budget, is a serious [even fatal] 9 Youth Funding Changes blow to a scheme that has trained over 2500 broadcasters. It is therefore important that the Easy to Digest government’s decision is changed.

2. The previously identified areas of concern and 10 Music for Your [Listeners’] Ears growth, the greater involvement of young people and new/emerging communities, will be given top priority. 11 Routes of Rhythm

3. NEMBC resources will be directed more towards further strengthening and consolidating the sector’s 12 Local Macedonian Music absolutely primary asset: ethnic broadcasters and their communities. 13 Working with Interpreters

The Executive noted that communicating and working with broadcasters, their stations and communities, 14 Station News listening and responding to grass roots needs, and evaluating programs and projects would require a 14 Station News considerable degree of refocussing and reorganising of the NEMBC’s work. Whilst policy development should 18 The Satellite Gets Closer never cease, the Executive felt that implementation and monitoring of the excellent policies we have recently 20 2001 Ethnic Broadcasters’ Conference developed would be given greater attention.

The Executive also confirmed that the next NEMBC 24 Identity, Language and Broadcasting Conference would be held in Adelaide in November.

It looks like we are going to have a busy time ahead of 27 Hip Hop: A Way of Life us, with some barriers becoming harder to overcome. 28 Human Rights and Racism However I believe we can face the future with confidence in our collective capacity to survive and 31 CD Launch: Migrant Women in the progress. Workforce George Zangalis NEMBC President

Cover photo of the Woomera Detention Centre is courtesy of HREOC’s National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention Reproduced from website www.humanrights.gov.au The Election Ethnic Community& Broadcasters

It now seems like a long time community broadcasting since the federal election but and particularly in ethnic the election does have community broadcasting. important implications for all For ethnic community ethnic community broadcasters however broadcasters. The NEMBC the commitment to along side all the other maintaining current levels sectors in community of funding means that no broadcasting ran a spirited funding has been campaign to try and get an earmarked for the increase in funding not just Australian Ethnic Radio for ethnic community Training Project (AERTP). The NEMBC with the support of all broadcasters but for all other sector bodies in community Australian Ethnic Radio Training community broadcasters. broadcasting and with the support Project was funded with a one off of the ethnic sector will continue to The governor general’s attitudes to endowment in 1992. With prudent argue the case for the refunding of sexual abuse, the children expenditure the initial grant of $1.4 AERTP. While there is currently overboard affair and the fraudulent million has been made to last for 10 enough funding left for the 2002-3 accusations about High Court years. The project has trained 2500 financial year it is important that we Justice Michael Kirby, (not to ethnic community broadcasters at get a commitment from government mention the morals of AFL half the average cost of other to refund the project as soon as footballers) have been dominating workplace training. possible. the news headlines. However the The head of the policy advice election means that ethnic Community broadcasting, like many committee for the Australian Ethnic community broadcasting must other issues got lost in the ‘refugee Radio Training Project, Professor operate with the same level of election’. However it is things like Mary Kalantzis said, “It just doesn’t funding as prior to the election as ethnic community broadcasting that make any sense that a highly we were unable to get a actually make a difference to people successful and cost-effective commitment to new funding from on the ground and we need to be training scheme does not get either the government or the ALP. making this point over and over refunded. Surely it is the role of again to politicians at all levels and What this means is that neither government to support the efforts of from all parties. party was prepared to recognise a volunteer broadcasters with training need for increased funding to match so that their work is as effective as the growth that has taken place in possible”.

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 3 Reporting on Refugees

While the recent so-called assumptions concerning truth and “children overboard affair” reliability on the issue. It is no longer has done much to expose the safe for them to unquestioningly role politicians (and senior accept statements from the public servants) play in government, however it may take manipulating public opinion, it longer for them to see refugees and has done little to question the their supporters as credible sources. mainstream media’s coverage As community broadcasters it is of the refugee issue. important for us to remain cautious Of course, many journalists would despite the fact that it was possible about relying on the mainstream claim that it was their persistence to make contact by phone with media for information on these issues. There are many sources of that led to the uncovering of the people inside. truth about the photos of refugees information including some of the Refugee advocates and the websites and email addresses listed in the sea. To a certain extent this refugees themselves have had a on page 7. It is also possible to is right, but has the media’s role hard time getting their message record interviews with people in been as squeaky clean as they across to the public. Certainly detention centres over the phone would have us believe? refugee advocates who were former and to visit them to hear their Certainly in the early days of refugees themselves were not seen stories for yourself. coverage of the arrival of boats from as credible sources of information. Nicola Joseph Indonesia, terms such as “illegal During the recent disturbances in Radio Skid Row boat people” and “queue jumpers” the Woomera Detention Centre, the were commonly used by all of the Refugee Action Collective program mainstream media including the at Radio Skid Row Sydney ABC and SBS. The federal broadcast long phone interviews government’s press releases telling with people protesting inside. At the us that we were about to be same time the mainstream media inundated by a ‘flood’ of people who was outside the detention centre, were not like us were being moved further away by unquestioningly reprinted and retold police. Eventually, the ABC started by all the major media outlets. to run short snippets of comments There were very few stories about from detainees, the rest of the media did not follow suit. the inability of most of the people arriving here by boat to join a Of course, now the children queue which did not exist in their overboard affair has raised own country. Strangely, there were questions about the credibility of almost no stories from the government statements, the media detention centres themselves, has become more cautious about its Cartoon by a former asylum seeker

4 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 New and Emerging Communities: In recent years Australia has accepted migrants and refugees from a wider range of countries New than ever before. When they settle in Australia they face a number of barriers, from Broadcasters discrimination and uncertainty in the housing market, to difficulty having their overseas skills and work experience which exist for these groups in multiethnic or one-off productions. recognised. community broadcasting, as well as At the same time, partnerships with At the same time, given their small developing ways of offering support local migrant resource centres and numbers and short length of to groups when they are getting other settlement services can residence in Australia, they do not started. create the support the groups need to produce radio. This gives them have the support of an established An advisory committee of an opportunity to have a “taste” of community of people from their own settlement workers and radio before committing themselves ethnic background. Most of these broadcasters has already come up to a “full meal” so to speak. new communities have no media in with some proposals for changes to their own language. funding for new and emerging The NEMBC research project, It is important that the community communities. This funding would which has been funded by the Myer broadcasting sector recognises the include an initial one-off grant to Foundation, will produce a need to address the changing help new broadcasters establish handbook for community radio population of Australia, as well as their programs. stations with guidelines on how to work with smaller, emerging the changing landscape of media However, outside of funding communities. The NEMBC will also available in community languages. solutions there are other ways to produce promotional material about Four languages, Greek, Spanish, address the imbalance and to get community radio in some of the Italian and German have more than new language groups involved in many languages that are new and 80 hours of broadcasting around the community radio. The idea that the emerging in Australia. The country. At the other end of the only thing community radio has to information will also be available at scale there are 50 language groups offer ethnic communities is blocks the NEMBC website. that have less than four hours of of weekly programming needs to be broadcasting nationwide. reconsidered. New communities If you are a member of an emerging The NEMBC has recently begun which are made up of people still community that has started carrying out research into best looking for work, housing etc often broadcasting, you may want to practice models of working with new find it difficult to sustain weekly share your story with others. You and emerging communities programs. can contact Nicola Joseph, the co- ordinator of the research project on including refugee groups. This They could find it beneficial to get [email protected]. includes identifying the barriers involved with projects that are

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 5 BARRIERS to Broadcasting

Below are some of the the information needed to start a MAKING RADIO MAY NOT BE A barriers identified by the radio program. PRIORITY DURING THE FIRST NEMBC as making it difficult STAGES OF SETTLEMENT LACK OF AWARENESS OF for emerging and refugee Where communities are newly FUNDING AND TRAINING communities to become settled they are in the process of AVAILABLE ethnic community finding employment, training, Many community members and broadcasters. housing etc. While they would organisations had no idea that certainly be listeners of the Most of the barriers are common to funding was available for programs program, many may not be able to both refugee and emerging and that training could also be get involved in making the program. communities although some of arranged. If the government fails to them are probably more significant refund the Australian Ethnic Radio NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE FROM for refugees. These barriers have Training Project (AERTP) this will THE COMMUNITY WANTING TO been identified after consultations be an enormous impediment to the GET INVOLVED TO SUSTAIN A with communities, broadcasters, involvement of emerging and WEEKLY PROGRAM stations and organisations working refugee communities in Many stations only offer weekly with emerging communities. broadcasting. Without these funds programs to communities as the specific funds for training emerging path to become a broadcaster. The DON’T KNOW ABOUT and refugee communities will need sector needs to create a COMMUNITY RADIO to be found. development path into stations for Many new migrants don’t know that emerging communities who cannot community radio exists in Australia. LACK OF CONFIDENCE sustain weekly programs from the The importance of information This was especially the case with start. This can include radio being available about ethnic women’s groups and was linked to projects, special broadcasts, community broadcasting in the both a lack of English but also the segments, being part of a languages of emerging dislocation which is experienced multicultural program, etc. communities cannot be after migration. underestimated. Other strategies NOT ABLE TO SIGN UP ENOUGH LACK OF MOBILITY include incorporating ethnic radio PEOPLE AS MEMBERS IN Transport is one of the biggest information in DIMIA services and ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE obstacles in large cities and “visits to the radio station” into BROADCAST HOURS WHERE IT especially in relation to women’s English language teaching courses. IS REQUIRED groups. Arranging transport or Once again, this is a question of LACK OF ENGLISH SKILLS funding for transport is the solution. economics and priorities in the first Communities with low literacy rates stages of settlement. The lack of in English are less likely to access awareness of ethnic community

6 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 News Sources On Refugee Issues:

Ethnic News Digest www.nembc.org.au

Australians for Just Refugee Programs www.justrefugeeprograms.com.au

Indy Media www.melbourne.indymedia.org

Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) New South Wales (Bellingen) Email: [email protected]

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights www.alhr.asn.au

Children Out of Detention www.chilout.org

We Are All Boatpeople www.boat-people.org broadcasting amongst community specialist services to emerging members also makes paying communities. Stations that want to Refugee Action Collective NSW www.members.optusnet.com.au/~refugee/ membership fees difficult. Stations work with emerging communities with this sort of requirement need to will need to strengthen their links Refugee Action Collective Victoria waive it for emerging and refugee with local settlement services and www.rac-vic.org communities be proactive in the development of Refugee Council of Australia radio projects for new LACK OF RESOURCES TO PAY www.refugeecouncil.org.au FOR THE AIRTIME WHERE communities. To do this they will APPLICABLE need to find additional sources of Some stations charge for their funds for such projects. airtime and in many cases LACK OF OPPORTUNITY TO broadcasters rely on sponsorship COME IN CONTACT/ and donations to pay their fees. PARTICIPATE WITH THE Smaller communities cannot rely on STATION sponsorship or donations. Again Stations need to develop station stations with this requirement need visits and open days, as well as to waive it for emerging and refugee inviting potential broadcasters to communities station events. They need to have Migrant Resource Centres and LACK OF AIRTIME emerging community organisations Some stations identify the lack of participating in the station. airtime as a reason new communities aren’t on air. Some FLEXIBLE TRAINING stations identified the need to In some cases emerging reshape their programming to communities are made up mostly of accommodate new groups in their men. Other communities have stations. significant groups of women with children and no male member of the STATIONS UNDER RESOURCED family. Training needs to be both AND THEREFORE AREN’T flexible and meet the specific needs PROACTIVE of emerging communities to ensure Community radio stations are very all parts of these communities have under resourced organisations and access to the airwaves. do not have the human or financial resources to provide outreach and

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 7 Beyond Tolerance the national conference on racism

The Human Rights and concerns that institutional Equal Opportunity racism in Australia is Commission (HREOC) held embodied in the lack of a national conference in political leadership at the Sydney on the 12th and 13th national, state and regional of March on racism called levels. Furthermore, the failure ‘Beyond Tolerance’. of successive Federal governments to fully incorporate The conference examined the human rights conventions into nature and extent of racism in legislation perpetuates ongoing Australia and then a range of Another highlight of the conference violations against indigenous speakers outlined their views about was the insightful contribution made peoples, refugees, ethnic minorities how to tackle the challenges that by a range of indigenous speakers and other Australians. lay ahead of us. and participants over the course of We therefore urgently call for: Speaker after speaker however the conference. referred to a deteriorating situation (a) an end to divisive and negative At the end of the conference the in relation to racism in Australia language from our leaders and the acting Race Discrimination citing the treatment of refugees, the media which fosters and reinforces Commissioner Dr William Jonas reduction in funding for human racism, rights and ethnic/multicultural said that the road ahead would be (b) an immediate end to mandatory organisations and a failure to difficult as those opposed to human sentencing and mandatory complete the reconciliation process rights try to paint themselves as the as evidence of this deterioration. mainstream. He said, “Denial of racist detention policies, intent – I’m not a racist ,but… – is an The session on the media was (c) permanent appointment of a Australian cliché. Denial of racism is possibly the most lively of the Federal Race Discrimination even more insidious when it infiltrates conference as the frustration felt by Commissioner, policy and political discourse” many of us towards the media in (d) the immediate establishment of fanning and legitimising racism A group of human rights and a national committee to monitor the bubbled to the surface. Some on advocacy groups who attended the implementation of the World the media panel claimed that it was conference put the following Conference Against Racism not their role to educate and that resolution to the conference. While Declaration and Program of Action. the media weren’t ‘social workers’. the conference did not formally However these attempts to duck Many of the speeches delivered at endorse the resolution it does reflect responsibility for their actions were the conference are available from the thinking of the great majority of rejected by participants who called the HREOC web site at people who attended the conference. on the media to take greater www.humanrights.gov.au. responsibility for human rights and “That the National Conference on Bruce Francis the fight against racism. Racism expresses it grave NEMBC Executive Officer

8 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Youth Funding Changes

There have been some people involved in ethnic NEW YOUTH COMMITTEE important changes regarding broadcasting, there is now an 2002–2003 funding guidelines for ethnic additional hour of funding per youth broadcasting. language. This is in addition to the A new youth committee was also existing Multicultural Youth elected at the NEMBC Conference. Up till now, specific ethnic youth Development grants and Ethnic program funding has only been Current members are: Programming grants. available for “multicultural” youth Jo Fettke QLD [Convenor] programming. Whilst recognising To be eligible for this extra hour: Naim Saifullah ACT the value of this sort of program, the age of the broadacsters must Anthony Colombo NSW the NEMBC’s Youth Committee be under 30 Martin de Weerd SA recommended that similar funding in the first year that the program Kata Skratulja Tas guidelines also be extended to is broadcast, at least 25% of the Yalcin Adal VIC youth programming from specific spoken word content must be in a Vida Carabuva WA communities. language other than English. In Helen Ho Ying Fung WA This recommendation was accepted second and subsequent year, this If you’re interested in getting in be the Ethnic Grants Advisory language component must increase touch with the Youth Committee, Committee and is now official CBF to 50%. send an email to policy Further details of the funding [email protected]. In order to encourage stations to guidelines are available from the increase the number of young CBF’s website at www.cbf.com.au.

Easy To (Here is the news)

The Ethnic News Digest, the written specifically for community radio Digest NEMBC’s Australian News and broadcasters to use. It’s easy to use and Current Affairs service, has many broadcasters create a added a new language to its “Newsreader” position as a way of service. bringing a new, inexperienced broadcaster into their program. News stories are now available in Sinhalese. News stories are currently available in: ARABIC TRANSLATOR Amharic [Ethiopian] NEEDED There are 15 stations around Polish Australia that have Sinhalese Croatian Portuguese The Digest needs an Arabic broadcasting and the Sri Lankan Czech Russian translator. You need to have Serbian community has been heavily involved Dutch internet access and translate English Spanish five short stories three times a in ethnic community broadcasting French Tagalog [Filipino] week. since its beginnings. The service has Indonesian Turkish also restarted Turkish after a change Interested? Send an email to Italian Vietnamese. in volunteer translators. [email protected] or ring Macedonian The Ethnic News Digest provides [03] 9486 9549. See the Digest at www.nembc.org.au. short Australian news stories that are

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 9 Music for your Albanian Ambient Bulgarian Carribean Croatian Czech Georgian Pacific Islands PNG Russian West Indian Yiddish [Listeners’] Ears

Amrap is project designed to INKA MARKA from Paul Pearman Station increase the amount of On the Black Market record label, Manager of Perth station 6EBA. It Australian recorded music this was distributed to stations at went out to stations in February. played on community radio. the start of February. It’s a CULTURE CONNECT wonderfully produced CD that Apart from funding stations to One for the younger broadcasters. seeks to “capture the rhythm of produce compilation CDs [see This hip hop outfit come from Andean life” and features pan accompanying stories from 2NBC & Darwin and feature a line up of flutes, charango, quena, guitar and 3ZZZ] Amrap also offers a CD members with diverse cultural goat skin drum. Distribution service to help backgrounds (PNG, Pacific Islands, Australian musicians get Caribbean and West Indian). It’s all in English and there’s some

occasional coarse language but it’s promotional copies of their CDs to CAN BELTO a dynamic, clever record that community radio stations. Can Belto are a choir from deserves attention. Canberra whose independently Musicians and record labels provide released CD was distributed to Their CD was distributed to stations as many copies as they can afford stations in December 2001. Can in September last year but they also of their CDs and Amrap distributes Belto’s repertoire features material had a track on the compilation CD them to stations based on what sort in many different languages. This that Amrap produced in conjunction of music is on the CD and which CD features songs from Albania, with the noise festival. This CD also stations play that sort of music. Bulgaria, Georgia, Croatia, and featured a beautiful electronic track Czechoslovakia. by Poh Weng, under the name CDs are always sent from Amrap to VU IS DUS GAZELE “Antarctic Bear” which he describes a station address and it’s worth Released on the AM Records label as “fusing traditional music with the checking in the record library and and was distributed to stations in modern electronica”. with the station manager to see if March. This compilation CD of If you know of musicians in your anything new has arrived recently. contemporary and traditional community who have produced CDs are always marked clearly with Yiddish music addresses the CDs and could benefit from this an Amrap sticker that identifies the Jewish experience and in particular Amrap service, please give them genre of music it is and highlights the experience of Russian Jews. the Amrap contact details and we will do our best to help them out. any specific language groups it may ZEPHYR be of interest to. Below is a Probably best described as a mix Paul Mason selection of CDs that Amrap has between world, pop and ambient AMRAP Coordinator handled recently that may be of music, we’ve included this one [email protected] interest. because of the rave review it got [02] 9310 2999

10 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Routes of Rhythm

One of the most exciting of America, activities for me last year was Cuba, and my involvement as producer Brazil, for in 3ZZZ’s CD “Routes of example, was Rhythm”, a compilation of six enriched by the exciting and previously fusion of the unrecorded Melbourne music of various groups. ethnic groups.

The project was funded by a grant For this project from AMRAP and it was a project it was feasible very close to my heart as I had to use only six been very active in Melbourne’s groups, but music scene for many years. there were dozens under I can honestly say that some of the In our search for a suitable consideration, and I hope that the most interesting music that I have recording facility we were very ones that missed out this time can heard has been music broadcast fortunate to have the support of still be given the opportunity to from community radio stations. SBS, especially that of SBS record their music in the future. It is Even though I cannot always manager Mike Zafiropoulos, who music that deserves to be heard. understand the lyrics, I am often not only gave us their multi-track greatly moved by the music I hear, The groups that are featured on recording studios free but also because the language of music is Routes of Rhythm are: provided us with their recording universal and communicates Bagdad or Bust (Middle Eastern, engineer, George Papacotsias. directly with the soul. North African, Mediterranean I now hope that broadcasters all I believe that Australia has hundreds fusion) over Australia that have received of very talented musicians who Anthea Sidiropoulos (Greek and this CD “Routes of Rhythm” play the unfortunately do not get the English) music, thus giving these new artists opportunity to record their music. the exposure and recognition they Vincent Gimenez & Alfirio There are some wonderful deserve. Cristaldo (Paraguayan harp duo) collaborations between musicians Costas Tsicaderis from diverse backgrounds, creating Guney & Bulent Bektas (Kurdish 3ZZZ wonderful fusions with exciting duo) www.3zzz.org.au modes and rhythms. These La Casbah (Morrocan fusion) collaborations will enrich Australian George Christian Calou & Sunset music in the same way that the music (Mauritian)

“the language of music is universal and communicates directly with the soul…”

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 11 Local Macedonian Music

Folk Hit is a 2CD compilation of Macedonian 2NBC hopes that the positive response received to this folk music performed on traditional initiative will flow through the community broadcasting instruments and was the inspiration of Jon sector and will encourage further works which expand and Betty Trenoski, volunteer broadcasters at our knowledge of music from around the world. The 2NBC. station is pleased to have been involved with such an interesting project from conception to completion. After They spent some four months working on this project all, isn’t this part of what community broadcasting is including negotiating with the artists, 2NBC and about? AMRAP to ensure the success of this project. The recording was made “live” at the Croatian Club and Jon and Betty are already looking toward their next then re-mastered in a recording studio. project. This is to produce another CD, this time utilising the talents of songwriters who will contribute Featured artists on this CD are mostly Australian born new material in the folk genre. and came from all over Australia to perform in a Sydney Folk Music Festival. Jon and Betty were the I would also like to thank Paul Mason [AMRAP] and organisers and promoters of the festival and their aim Kitty [Troy Horse Studios] for their assistance without was to bring Macedonian folk music to the rest of the which we could have easily got lost in the fog of music world. industry jargon and procedures.

Copies of the CDs were sent to Macedonia, where it is 2NBC strongly encourages others to also avail receiving airplay on free to air radio. themselves of the opportunities the AMRAP project offers. Jon and Betty have received much encouragement from the artists, the listening audience and from Geoffrey Suranyi overseas, with the project receiving congratulatory 2NBC Manager letters from the Macedonian Minister for Immigration [email protected] and the Minister for Culture, Arts and Education.

The Boite is a Victorian based world music organisation that has produced a number of CDs. The Concert For East Timor was an AMRAP project and will be distributed shortly to your stations. You can visit the Boite at www.boite.asn.net.

12 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Working with Interpreters The Victorian Interpreting and Translating Service (VITS) has developed, produced and funded a ‘Working with Interpreters’ CD under our Good Corporate Citizen Program.

As a State Business Corporation, VITS prides itself on languages and aims to readdress this imbalance of its links with government and the multicultural information on the use of interpreters. We hope that community. the CD will assist the culturally and linguistically diverse community in their dealings with professionals Our Good Corporate Citizen Program (GCCP) allows and government personnel and understanding their us to fund important projects pertaining to language right to an interpreter. services and access to interpreters. Without funding these invaluable projects would not be possible. We have recorded the CD in twenty languages, to be played during community education segments, on all VITS has produced a number of publications under ethnic radio stations throughout Victoria. Two copies of GCCP, such as ‘We speak your language – A Guide to the CD have been sent to each station manager with a Cross-Cultural Communication’ and a list of ‘Countries request that the CD’s be accessible to all their ethnic and Languages Spoken’ and the latest, a CD titled broadcasters and volunteers. ‘Working with Interpreters’. Copies of the Working with Interpreters CD can be The CD is an example of our strong social commitment ordered by sending your request to [email protected]. to the Australian community and its culturally and linguistically diversity and was launched by the Minister We hope that the CD is both informative and beneficial Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, Hon. and congratulate the National Ethnic and Multicultural John Pandazopoulos at the National Ethnic and Broadcasters Council on their excellent organisation of Multicultural Broadcasters Conference on 9th the National Ethnic Broadcasters Conference, of which November 2001. VITS was proud to be the major sponsor.

VITS has provided numerous cross-cultural training Senada Softic packages to private and government clients, on a General Manager, VITS regular basis, increasing the awareness of working www.vits.com.au with interpreters and communicating effectively with the multicultural community. As this cross-cultural training is targeted towards the professional community and government, the culturally and linguistically diverse receive only the end benefits.

The education message contained on the ‘Working with Interpreters’ CD has been recorded into twenty

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 13 STATION NEWS 2001 Tony Manicaros Award

The 2001 Tony Manicaros Award has been presented to Gavin Unsworth from Brisbane-based stations 4EB and 4ZZZ.

The Award of $1500 will allow Gavin to develop a low cost CODEC, a piece of equipment that allows high quality audio to be sent down a phone line. Till now CODECs have been high cost items and this can discourage stations New Manager from doing outside broadcasts at concerts, festivals and community events. The Award is presented each year in honour of Tony Manicaros, who at 3ZZZ played a large part in the development of ethnic community broadcasting. Applications for the 2002 Award will be called for later in the year and will 3ZZZ, Melbourne’s full time ethnic be available from the NEMBC website at www.nembc.org.au. broadcaster, has a new Station Manager, Maureen O’Keeffe. Maureen has a strong background in community radio, having worked Ethnic TV Digital Training as the Station Manager at the OPEN Channel, Channel 31 well as learning from the tutors,” Central Australian Aboriginal Media Melbourne and the National said Campbell Manderson, Association [CAAMA] in Alice Ethnic and Multicultural coordinator of the training course. Springs for two years. Prior to that Broadcasters Council have “It’s also great to have the National she worked at the ABC for a embarked on a training Ethnic and Multicultural number of years. Broadcasters Council onboard with course aimed at bringing Maureen first started in community this training course, and we are ethnic groups together. radio when she joined community looking forward to developing a broadcaster 3YYR [now Pulse FM] The course will follow in the steps of training curriculum that will benefit in Geelong in 1988 as a volunteer the first Digital Production all our ethnic production groups. Management course that was run in and later served on the station’s late 2001. This course produced a SKA TV and RMITV, both founding board of management. She helped new look station promo for Channel members of Channel 31, will be develop the early curriculum for the 31 Melbourne, which has also been supporting the training with access to Australian Ethnic Radio Training taken up in New South Wales by LINC digital cameras and editing facilities, Project and worked in post TV Lismore, and Channel 31 Sydney. as well as volunteer support for the apartheid South Africa setting up group’s projects. new community radio stations. With over 20 different ethnic Channel 31 and OPEN Channel were production groups, Channel 31 3ZZZ has just begun the recently recognised for their work Melbourne has the most diverse development of a fourth studio, together when they won the national multicultural programming in designed specifically for music award for excellence in training at the community television across recording and broadcasting, Community Broadcasting Association Australia. “One of the best things debates and live to air studio of Australia national conference in about this course is that it brings performance. Maureen joins new Hobart last year. people from different groups and Admin Worker Sylvia Kranbeck. backgrounds together, so that the You can visit Channel 31 at You can visit 3ZZZ at students learn from each other as www.channel31.org.au. www.3zzz.org.au.

14 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 AROUND AUSTRALIA

George Award for Sudull END journalist Honoured

Nicola Joseph, NEMBC Ethnic Mr. Zbigniew Jerzy Sudull News Digest Journalist and (better known as George) has Emerging Communities served the broadcasting Australia. His long service in Radio Worker, has won the 2001 community for the past twenty 4EB (now 4EBFM) has in many way Australian Arabic Women’s years. helped to build up and maintain the station. Media Award. He was one of the founding members of the NEMBC and served In addition to her involvement with His NEMBC life membership is a in various capacities including the NEMBC, Nicola has been a long well-deserved recognition of his President from 1987 to 1990. time broadcaster at Radio Skid Row contribution to the broadcasting sector. A very big thank you, in Sydney, as well as broadcasting George is well known in the ethnic George. at 2SER and 4ZZZ. She has broadcasting community and has delivered training at a number of for many years contributed to the Peter Ho radio stations in Australia and promotion of ethnic broadcasting in 4EBFM President internationally, and has worked as an Executive Producer at the ABC.

In making the award, the Australian Arabic Communities Council noted Oral History Series Nicola’s use of family history, throughout her writings and interviews, to dispel some of the Stopping Traffic! widely held myths about migrants in Feedback from the NEMBC’s Migrant bus driver and he wanted her to hear this country. Women in the Workforce Oral History it as the program contained the most The Award described Nicola as a project has been very enthusiastic. truthful comments he’d ever heard in woman who possesses an 5UV in Adelaide report that when public about bus driving! exceptional level of passion and they played the program ‘On The Other programs in the series include commitment, and who has Buses’ profiling two Maori women The Great ACT Laundry Strike of contributed to the different struggles bus drivers, the station received a call 1987, In the Woollen Mills and The of marginalised groups both in from a particularly enthusiastic Italian Cake Shop. Australia and overseas. listener. Copies of the 10 programs on CD The NEMBC congratulates Nicola The listener was himself an Adelaide were sent to all community stations on her award. bus driver who had heard the with ethnic broadcasting. If you’d like program whilst driving the bus. He more information about the project had to pull over to the side of the please contact road to write the station’s contact [email protected] or listen to number so he could get a copy of the excerpts on our web site at program. He said his wife was also a www.nembc.org.au.

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 15 What was Radio 4EB, now Radio 4EB-FM

On 1 December, 2001 at 12.01 Broadcasters; sharing and am, Radio 4EB commenced increasing the benefits for all. broadcasting at FM 98.1. 4EB has a long history with It has not been done without hard the first test broadcast of the work and dedication by staff, the Ethnic Broadcasting board and volunteers as well as Association of Queensland (EBAQ) Since December, a campaign has support from the communities that in 1977 and then 4EB received an ‘S’ class public broadcasting been underway to raise $20,000 exist within the Greater Brisbane license, and on 1 December 1979, from donations to help cover costs coverage area and financial support Radio 4EB commenced associated with the transfer to FM. from the Jupiters Casino broadcasting fulltime. With the hard work of volunteers Community Benefit Fund. 4EB now and staff and the support of the shares a council leased transmitter Radio 4EB-FM has over 4500 members and facilitates over 50 community I am sure we will site at Mt Coot-tha with four other language groups, providing them community broadcasters and we achieve that goal. with good facilities to broadcast look forward to a good relationship Peter Rohweder information, entertainment and with fellow Brisbane Community Station Manager education out to listeners.

New Afrika Connexions Melbourne All stations with ethnic community Sydney and was the winner of the broadcasting have been sent a copy 2001Tony Manicaros Award. of Afrika Connexions. The CD is a 60 The Tony Manicaros Award is an Stations minute English language annual award open to stations, documentary about the development The ABA has allocated four new programming groups and individuals of the African community in Sydney. community broadcasting licenses to fund a project of significance for for Melbourne. Out of the field of The African community is a growing ethnic community broadcasting. 17 aspirants, the successful part of Australia’s multicultural Applications forms for the 2002 broadcasters and their broad community. The program looks at award will be available from communities of interest were: how the Sydney community has www.nembc.org.au in May 2002. 3KND – indigenous grown and developed, as well as the tension that exists between a Pan If you’d like more information about JOY FM – gay & lesbian African ideology and individual the Award or the Afrika Connexions SYN FM - students/youth country identities. CD, email us at [email protected]. 777 FM – Christian The program was produced by Paul Thusi from Radio Skid Row in The NEMBC congratulates the new broadcasters and looks forward to working with them in the future.

16 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Community Organises Against Racism

Non-government organisations came together To create deeper understanding and acceptance of last year to co-ordinate their work in relation to various cultures. the United Nations World Conference Against To promote education for cross-cultural active Racism. listening with a view to changing attitudes and On 11th March this year over 40 of these organisations shifting power. were represented at a day long consultation held in To promote awareness of ‘whiteness’ and white Sydney about action against racism following on from privilege in the context of racism and racial identity. the world conference. The NGO Working Group has To challenge and educate the media and community now adopted the name National NGO Coalition about the impact of racial reporting Against Racism (NCAR). To achieve the cessation of the mandatory detention One of the group’s immediate objectives is to develop of asylum seekers. State and Territory coalitions of NGOs against racism Accepting one another as members of the one where these don’t exist. Mobilising at the local level is critically important. Some of the action required, even human family. on matters of national importance, needs to happen at The Coalition is also developing a Community Action Kit the local level. Against Racism. The kit provides information about The consultation identified seven priority goals and began racism and a series of action sheets with concrete ways to develop plans of action in relation to each of them. to take action against racism in Australia.

The seven priorities are: To get involved, contact Sandie Cornish [Tel 02 9956 5811 Email [email protected]]. To create a community which affirms human rights and diversity as an integral part of a cohesive and Sandie Cornish equal society. for the NCAR Steering Group

New Women’s Committee

A new Women’s Committee was elected at the 2001 NEMBC Conference.

Members are:

Blanca Llorente NSW

Judith Ventic NT In Tasmania, Hobart station 7THE FM Badihe Mohebbi QLD has awarded Life Membership to two of their ethnic broadcasters for Brenda Degenhart SA outstanding service to the station. Karina Ceron TAS (Convenor) Graziano Ceron [left] & Mahendra Pathik [right]. Jiselle Hanna VIC Diane Popovich WA

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 17 NEW Executive and EGAC Members

The 2001 NEMBC AGM Advisory Committee. EGAC meets elected a number of new twice each year to assess ethnic people onto the NEMBC grant funding applications and to Executive and the Ethnic make policy recommendations to Grants Advisory Committee of the CBF Board. Paul is both the the CBF. Manager of Radio Skid Row in New Executive members are Peter Sydney, as well as the presenter of Ho, Marisol Salinas and Ramkumar the program Afrika Connexions. Konesparamoorthy. Paul replaces Alex Lutero on EGAC. Imagine having oral history Peter Ho is the President of stories in your language, Brisbane’s full time ethnic A full listing of the NEMBC locally recorded music, broadcaster 4EBFM. Peter has been Executive is on the back cover. interviews with a visiting a Cantonese language broadcaster actor and written news from for 10 years and has been on the communities all over Board of 4EBFM since 1998. Australia, available at the Marisol Salinas is one of the push of a button in the producers of Mujeres studio… Latinamericanos, a Spanish This is what the Digital Delivery language Central American Network [DDN] could offer you as a women’s program on 3CR in programmer. The DDN is a Melbourne. She has been a computer system that will make the broadcaster for the last seven community radio satellite service years. easier to use. It will make recording Ramkumar Konesparamoorthy is programs from the satellite simple the President of Northern Territory and it can also keep a look out for Multilingual Broadcasters Council, the type of stories that you are the umbrella group for ethnic interested in. language broadcasters at Darwin The satellite currently distributes station TOP FM. Ram has been a programs made by community Tamil language broadcaster since broadcasters to 150 community 1990. stations all over Australia. Ethnic Retiring members of the Executive community broadcasters haven’t are Heinrich Stefanik, George been big users of the satellite to Sudull, Patricia Karvelas and Upali date. Most broadcasters naturally Ranasinghe. are keen to preserve the local aspect of their program. It’s also Paul Thusi was elected as the new currently a lot of work to record a member of the CBF’s Ethnic Grants program and then pull out just the one interview/music track you are interested in. The DDN will make it easier to do all this.

18 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 The Satellite gets closer…

Although the “back room” part of the course, there will only be material system is technically complex and available to record if a broadcaster very innovative, you can think of the [like you!] has given it to the DDN as basically a very smart satellite. That means you’ll need to alarm-clock/tape-recorder separate out and send that special connected to the satellite receiver interview or music track to the dish. satellite service in Sydney, as well as a short description of what it is. Your station will need to tell the Stations should be able to help you system [via a special website] what I’M INTERESTED, with this. types of programs, music and BUT WHAT DO I DO? information are of interest to The system is being tested and Discuss the project at your broadcasters. trialed currently. Stations have been station. Check that your station invited to apply for the computer For instance, you could nominate applied for a DDN computer/ and the software needed to make that you want to record any software from the CBF the system work. Software and interviews in Polish, any computers should start to appear at Talk to your station manager or Macedonian music, or any news stations in the coming months. coordinator about the types of about Indonesia, that is broadcast material you are interested in The project is funded by the on the satellite. You could even get recording. Remember that the Community Broadcasting text stories like the Ethnic News satellite distributes material Foundation as a resource for all Digest delivered onto the screen to produced in Australia read out. broadcasters Start thinking about whether If you’re interested in learning more Every time the computer hears one material on your program might be about the DDN, you can email of these items on the satellite, it will of interest to language David Sice [Project Coordinator] at turn on its recorder and record the programmers in other states. [email protected]. segment. If the computer is Remember they won’t want your accessible in the studio, then it will whole program, only specific parts be possible to play this recording of it like interviews or new local directly to air whenever you want. music. Talk to your station about a The DDN will also make it easy to survey what satellite material system to collect these pieces from people use and so help shape what your program and other programs material gets put on the satellite. Of at the station.

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 19 DIVERSE VOICES: NEW SKILLS The 2001 Ethnic Broadcasters’ Conference

multiculturalism in Australia. What struck me most about Arnold’s speech was his belief in the power of telling stories. He is a wonderful storyteller himself and he demonstrated the power of people telling their stories on radio. People The 2001 ethnic broadcasters Council told of the vilification, relate to the real experiences of conference held in Melbourne abuse, threats and violence others – it allows for understanding was a great success with the experienced by the Australian and empathy – and so builds the biggest participation yet from Arabic community and particularly basis for a more informed and broadcasters across by the women in that community. compassionate society. Australia. Bryan Andy gave us an insight into The workshops offered at the The conference opened with an Victoria’s Yorta Yorta tribe struggle conference were very popular and emotional and moving plenary to have their native title claim participants felt that they learnt a lot session looking at Human Rights & recognised and Community Aid in these sessions. Some of the Ethnic Broadcasting. This was a Abroad provided information about highlights included ABC highly emotional session as a the plight of indigenous people broadcaster Peter Clarke talking refugee on a temporary refugee around the world and how we might about outside broadcasts, sessions permit spoke about her experiences report on those issues. on digital technology, increasing your audience, writing funding in coming to Australia, her The reception and concert on submissions, getting sponsors and experiences in a detention camp Friday night saw the launch of the reading and reviewing for radio. and the difficulties she has faced NEMBC Oral History Radio Series, since being released into the Migrant Women in the Workforce, A big thanks to all our sponsors – community. For many this was the the 3ZZZ CD Routes of Rhythm and the National Australia Bank, first opportunity they’d had to hear book ‘From 3ZZ to 3ZZZ – a short Victorian Interpreting & Translating of these experiences first hand. history of ethnic broadcasting’. The Service, 3ZZZ, Adult Migrant Dr Sev Ozdowski’s speech gave an music at the concert was fantastic Education Services, Victorian overview of human rights issues in and demonstrated the depth of Multicultural Commission, the Australia. Sev had some very talent and creativity that exists in Community Broadcasting perceptive insights into the role and our communities. Foundation and the Australian Tax Office. Their support is essential in work of ethnic community The keynote address was delivered being able to conduct the broadcasters (His speech is by author Arnold Zable, who gave a conference. reprinted in this edition of the Ethnic compelling and thought provoking Broadcaster). Joumanah El Matrah, insight into the treatment of This year’s conference will be in from the Islamic Women’s Welfare refugees and the future for Adelaide – so see you there!

20 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Diverse Voices New Skills was THE BIG SPEECH THOUGHTS the theme of Conference 2001 Melbourne writer Arnold Zable gave It was my pleasure to attend the held in Melbourne in the Conference key note address Conference… and I congratulate all November. But whilst there on Refugees & Multiculturalism. concerned for a really fantastic was diversity in voices, there Delivered in the lead up to the function. It was my first time at such was near unanimity in praise Federal election, his provocative a function and I gained a wealth of when delegates were asked talk looked at the role that ethnic information which I have passed on for feedback about the broadcasters can play in developing to my fellow broadcasters…. Conference. a rational debate about refugees I’m still coping with the follow up at WHO CAME? and multiculturalism. The popularity my local station… One hundred and eighty-five of his talk can be gauged by how A lovely and well organised delegates attended the Conference long the session ran over time with conference… in Melbourne, making it the biggest questions and comments from the Wonderful participation by the ever and 10% bigger than floor. Whilst some delegates were broadcasters… Conference 2000 in Sydney. In concerned about the political nature Keep up the good work! Conference 2001: Views from the Floor

addition to delegates from stations, of the issues being debated, many there were also representatives feedback forms were glowing and from 13 other organisations variously described the talk as including the ABA, CBAA, CBF, inspirational… superb… best SBS Radio and the Victorian Office presentation ever heard… of Multicultural Affairs. There were AND DISLIKES… two “new” stations at the Conference: 2BLU [Katoomba/Blue The most common problems Mountains, NSW] and 4CBL [Logan identified were that sessions ran City, Qld] over time because of discussion and that delegates wanted to attend THE BIG PICTURE more than one workshop in each NEMBC Life member Mickey Hayward and Plenary sessions on “big picture” session. Heinrich Stefanik up close and personal at the issues like Ethnic Broadcasting & Conference. Human Rights and The Future for Multilingualism were very popular. In feedback forms, 80% of Diverse Voices CD delegates described them as Good A CD featuring highlights of the 2001 ethnic broadcasters conference or Excellent. THE FUTURE OF MULTILINGUALISM THUMBS UP FOR HANDS ON a montage from the speeches of Professors Helen Borland & Michael Singh The workshop sessions with (16 minutes) Programming and Skills HUMAN RIGHTS Development were also very Dr Sev Ozdowski, Human Rights (10 minutes) appreciated with over 90% of Joumanah El Matrah, Vilification (8 minutes) delegates rating these as excellent or Experiences of an Asylum Seeker (15 minutes) good. Over 85% of delegates felt there was enough opportunity for A copy of the CD has been sent to your station – ask about getting access – them to participate in the Conference. burn your own copy to use over the coming weeks or download it off our web site [www.nembc.org.au].

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 21 22 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Motions from the 2001 Conference & AGM

EMERGING COMMUNITIES increase to 50 per cent of the spoken word content of the It was recommended that: programme. the NEMBC identify the barriers The guidelines for age that exist within community radio determinates of ‘youth’ should stations and the community in reflect the UN definition of ‘youth’ general, which discourage refugees we are relaxed when we go to air (under 30). and emerging communities from that we incorporate the brief participating in community “As a result of EGAC’s decision to breathing exercises demonstrated broadcasting. modify the NEMBC during the women’s workshop into recommendation for language the AERTP curriculum. the NEMBC encourage specific youth funding, without partnerships with other service any amendments to legislation consultation with the NEMBC, it is providers who work with newly relevant to women’s issues and all recommended that EGAC develop arrived migrants and refugees. new community services for appropriate consultative women, to be added to the NEMBC the NEMBC consider it a matter of mechanisms to discuss with the Women’s home page. urgency that ongoing funding be NEMBC and associated Action: First recommendation is for secured for the Australian Ethnic committees, when a policy Radio Training Project. recommendation is modified. This stations to consider. The second recommendation has been referred Action: All of these process should be developed to the AERTP Co-ordinator. The recommendations are currently together by the NEMBC and EGAC NEMBC web site has been being acted on. in a timely manner.” designed to allow recommendation YOUTH Action: The new funding guidelines three to be easily put in place. Once have been adopted by EGAC and notified the secretariat can add this “That the NEMBC Youth Committee the CBF. The issue of consultation information quickly. and the NEMBC recommend that has been raised in the context of EGAC at their next meeting the CBF strategic plan and very ETHNIC PROGRAMMING consider a motion to modify the productive discussions with the GUIDELINES funding guidelines for language chair of EGAC has taken place on “That the NEMBC, in consultation specific youth programming grants this issue. with EGAC review the Ethnic to reflect the following”: WOMEN Programming Grant Guidelines and that the language content should Conditions to remove, on the basis be part of an incremental process to It was recommended that: of language, ethnicity or broadcast acknowledge the language in order to ensure that updated station, discriminatory barriers and challenges some young people may information relating to women’s outcomes.” face. This should take the form of: health issues is broadcast, station Action: The NEMBC executive has for the first year, 25 percent of programmers should be advised agreed to establish a committee to the spoken word content should when health information is arriving look at these issues and report be in a language other than at the station and to allocate time back to the members. English and in the second and slots for them to be broadcast. subsequent years this non- in order to improve the quality of English language content must our broadcasting and ensure that

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 23 Identity, Language & ŒBroadcasting Below is an edited extract from Professor Michael Singh’s speech delivered at last year’s conference dealing with the issues of identity, language and broadcasting. A copy of his speech in full is available from the NEMBC web site at www.nembc.org.au.

Alfred Deakin, the founding see multilingualism as weakening Australians, Indigenous and Attorney General of a federated their dominating power to dictate immigrant alike. what it means to be ‘Australian’, Australia, three times Prime CRITICAL LANGUAGE and their promotion of policies of Minister and among the most AWARENESS influential advocates of Federation cultural and linguistic exclusionism. Australia’s ethnic broadcasters are proclaimed its corporate vision thus: Australian ethnic broadcasters have playing a significant role in struggled long with efforts to reject “that we should be one people, and developing their listeners’ vernacular broadcasting and the remain one people, without the consciousness of the debates over admixture of other races” . denigration of languages. In doing the sustainability of linguistic so they have demonstrated that it is diversity, sustaining egalitarian That the century of the Federation’s not necessary to prescribe English- multilingualism; laying claim to and failed social experiment to create a only broadcasting in order to create redefining constructions of Whites-only Australia has now an egalitarian sense of Australianness. passed is cause for celebration. Australianness that embraces Anglo- “Australian ethnic broadcasters However, Anglo-fundamentalism, ethnics and all Other Australians. White Australia politics and the offer a view of languages, culture tensions associated with these To suggest that Australianness and identity as dynamic – as legacies of colonial racisms are still cannot survive the incorporation of constantly adjusting to social with us. bi and multilingualism implies a pressures” (Ivaanic, 1990). This is a static conception of Australian positive expression of the power of IDENTITY, LANGUAGE AND history and denies social dynamics. people to change the status and BROADCASTING The point is that Australian identity use of languages in this society. Australian identity is incorrectly must change in response to its Multilingual broadcasting plays an seen as being inextricably bound up growing admixture of Other important role in shaping the day- with the English language. English Australians through the creation of to-day practices of Australian is mistakenly taken as a sign of visible markers that express the multiculturalism through: national identity and identity new found desires of the admixture recognising and making explicit conversion. Anglo-fundamentalists of Anglo-ethnics with all Other the power people have to influence

24 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 changes in language use and identity construction in Australia;

promoting a commitment to the sustainability of linguistic diversity within Australia and beyond, and

• encouraging a commitment to appropriating and remaking the Australian identity and Australian English(es).

UNDERSTANDING LANGUAGE

Australian ethnic broadcasters perform an important function by talking with people about their understandings of how Australia’s bans on the teaching of these choices they have and can make languages are shaped by social and languages. Now the project of informed choices. historical forces. Instead of globalising English is cause for It is important to engage people in regarding monolingual fluency in concern as it threatens the an examination and development of English as everyone’s ideal, they sustainability of global linguistic their own language use on the ask really useful questions such as: diversity. basis of “person respecting” What are the social forces that WHAT LANGUAGE MEANS principles. This involves discussing value English monolingualism over anti-racist and anti-sexist issues bi- or multilingualism? How do we Australian ethnic broadcasters talk work to give value to, and gain to people about how they feel about regarding language use. This helps value for Australia’s bi- and learning and using standardised people to understand that there are multilingualism? How do power Australian English and about the differences between “person relations affect language use? political press for English-only respecting” and offensive sexist and monolingualism. Ethnic racist language. Finding out from “There are concerns about the broadcasters also play an important people what they find offensive and English language’s colonisation of role in publicly airing how people what they prefer instead is a the space of other languages, feel about the language/s they valuable public service. knowledge and identities” (Crystal, already use; about their multiple, CHOOSING THE LANGUAGE WE 2000; Nettle and Romaine 2000). It trans-national identities. is in this context that standardised USE Further, broadcasters make their Australian English can be regarded Australian ethnic broadcasters are audiences aware of how language as a mask that hides the loss of instrumental in giving their listeners is used in ways that are demeaning, many of Australia’s Indigenous and the self- assurance to make choices disrespectful, offensive, or immigrant languages. in how they use language and exclusive. People’s experiences of which language they use. This self- So many of these languages have being labelled, patronised or assurance is developed through been forcibly suppressed despite excluded are discussed. Knowing talk back discussions that explore the efforts of active citizens who what the differences are means that have struggled for years to overturn your listeners know about the understandings of social situations,

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 25 knowing the options for language Sometimes bilingual Australians broadcasters help bilingual use, and knowing the choose to conform to the Australians understand that they consequences of using different convention of appearing to be an too can contribute to changing languages. English-only monolingual speaker English-only politics, and that if they because opposing this practice is do not, egalitarian multilingualism These on-air discussions provide a too demanding. Most bilingual will have less chance of becoming a measure of confidence building – or Australians try very hard to use reality. even assertiveness training – with standardised Australian English in a respect to people’s rights regarding Bilingual Australians can contribute job interview; typically they conform language use, and can be to normalising multilingualism as to this convention in the pursuit of supported with reference to relevant part of everyday practices. They their material interests. laws and agencies relating to anti- may sometimes feel confident and discrimination, human rights and An enhanced awareness of safe enough to explain to equal opportunities. language can help people to Anglophones to pronounce their conform to these conventions ‘with names properly, and thereafter ask Once listeners understand that the their eyes and ears wide open’, them to do so. They may make a rules of accuracy and thereby recognising the speech in their first language at a appropriateness of language use compromises they are making, public gathering that includes many are not forever fixed but subject to helping them to identify their Anglophones – and not translate it. social influences they have a better feelings about this, and enabling They may code switch during a sense of the choices they can them to maintain a positive, public presentation without feeling make. They may want to choose independent self-image. guilty – and without apologising. between conforming to the social Clearly ethnic broadcasters are Bilingual Australians need rules governing language use and dealing with important language opportunities to discuss how they thereby reproduce existing issues. might weigh up the advantages and conventions as they are, or they disadvantages of challenging the Professor Singh may want to challenge them to help conventions associated with Professor of Language and break new ground. English-only politics. Ethnic Culture, RMIT University

26 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 Hip Hop a way of life

‘Rap’ has been around for a become musical instruments. They poverty, racism, crime, drug abuse, very long time. Before people remove the difference between family neglect and being had writing they playing and listening to music. misunderstood by the world. communicated in an oral Anyone can make music now. You Some youth just get drawn to the culture. They did not have the can mix in any style of music to do racist stereotypes and violence of technology for artificial it – r&b, soul, funk and disco all hip hop and do not understand the memory – eg. books and what serve as its foundation. irony that is also part of this music. we now call recording. But HIP HOP IN AUSTRALIA They get carried away with the they had ways of telling sensational, excessive ‘bad’ talk as stories and passing them on. In Australia, hip hop is essentially a if that was what was intended. new phenomena. Given that For example, in Greece, the epic Australians are fixated with But hip hop is not about being ‘bad’ poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey American culture, a high but about saying explicitly how bad it were well known. And guess what – percentage of hip hop music comes is for young black youth. Hip hop is these were called ‘Rhapsodies‘. from US music charts and is seen more than a music, it’s a way of life, Poets of the ancient world ‘rapped as, mostly, African American music. it’s a way of dressing, a way of seeing odes’, which literally meant they wove and being in the world for youth. or stitched together songs. They were Indigenous and Ethnic hip hop the MCs of the ancient world. made in this country is not The intensity of the words commercially picked up. Hip hop expressing this way of life is ‘Rap’ today is different from this oral music brings ethnic youth together available to any youth – they can heritage. It’s been twenty years because it remakes the rest of the take what they are looking for as it since Grandmaster Flash world as outsiders. Anglos’ don’t talks of their own feelings and popularised scratching and Africa pick it up, so they are the ones left emotions even if their lives are Bambaataa formulated hip hop as a out. Hip hop provides young people practically different. cool sound. with the musical and lyrical It is possible for Australian youth to People continue to debate the value language to: understand the genre and know of rap & hip hop music. Is it positive? express the anger they feel, where it is coming from (ie. African Is it negative? Is hip hop neutral? Or American disadvantage, self is it all of the above? Whatever we explain or excuse their destruction, racism ,etc) and still use think of hip hop, the music is just behaviour, it for their own life. Hip hop’s rhymes today’s version of rhapsody. shock and scare those that make allows any youth to talk about their them feel bad and However, it’s a mistake to think hip trials and tribulations – it’s a language gives them a sense of belonging hop is a revival (or the survival) of for getting things off your chest – to a group. ancient poetic traditions. Hip hop did getting the truth out on the street. not come from an oral or ancient The metaphors hip hop uses to There are many different styles of culture. It has been the product of portray reality are subtle – you have rap, even in Australia. Hip hop will electronic culture. Hip hop is unique to be inside the music to get it. become bigger and bigger in for showing that machines made for Ethnic kids in Australia claim to be Australia and needs to be taken consuming music can be re-used for closest to US rap because of their seriously by the music industry and producing original music. treatment at the hands of the those interested in the lives of It’s about collage – a cut’n’paste Australian mainstream. They think young people in this country. method for making music. And, they are the ones in Australian who turntables and samplers have have an authentic experience of Phillip Kalantzis-Cope

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 27 Human Rights & Racism

This is an edited version of the speech given to the 2001 National Ethnic Broadcasters conference by Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Australian Human Rights Commissioner with the Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge Cultural diversity is also protected some national soul searching about the traditional owners of the land on by a range of human rights what a fair go actually means. which we are now meeting, the legislation. We have, both at the The community reaction to the Kulin Nation. Recognition of the Federal and State levels, legislation latest wave of asylum seekers has traditional owners reflects respect prohibiting racial discrimination and confirmed that unfortunately for the elders of this land. It also racial vilification. Under the Australians are able to allow their acknowledges that Australia as a International Covenant on prejudices and bigotry to rise to the nation is at least 40,000 years old. Economic, Social and Cultural surface. This is not a new Rights, ratified in 1975, Australia is MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA IS phenomenon in our history. obliged to ensure that all people A REALITY here – including those in In the past, for example, the first act Australian society is one of the immigration detention – receive of Federal Parliament established most, if not the most, culturally health care and education, provided the White Australia Policy. The diverse in the world. It has an in a manner which is culturally sentiments expressed against Jews enormous breadth of cultures, appropriate and which respects the in the 1930s and 40s are precisely attitudes, beliefs and mores. inherent dignity of the human those being expressed now about Australia has a range of person. Muslim asylum seekers. At present multicultural policies that were Muslim asylum seekers are also CHALLENGES TO OUR developed over the years, by all being collectively labelled as CULTURALLY DIVERSE SOCIETY levels of government, in a response terrorists, in spite of the fact that the to our diversity. The National Australia has traditionally prided vast majority are accepted as Agenda for a Multicultural Australia itself on being a multicultural and genuine refugees. or the Access and Equity Strategy tolerant society. It has championed RACISM IS AN EVERYDAY which mandates that government and cherished the notion of a “fair EXPERIENCE services should be available to go” for everyone. However, events everyone free of any form of of the recent past – starting with Racism is like a cancer. For discrimination irrespective of a Pauline Hanson’s ill informed members of many ethnic person’s country of birth, language, bigotry and more recently with communities, racism is not merely a culture and religion – provide good emerging prejudice against Islamic broad, abstract philosophical examples of policy responses. communities – has given rise to construct, but is part of their

28 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 40 000 Melburnians rally in support of refugees. Photo courtesy of Refugee Action Collective www.rac-vic.org.

everyday experience. A common THE NEED TO TACKLE RACISM facts and solid analysis. You should theme that emerged from Race not be afraid if your analysis and Combating prejudice and racism Commissioner Bill Jonas’ facts differ from the information needs to be given priority on the community consultations, in the provided by mainstream domestic front. Here in Australia, lead-up to the World Conference broadcasters. In terms of combating we must build a community in which against Racism, was that racism is prejudices and adding clarity into all are entitled to freedom of religion an experience many Australians the public arena, it would be a know only too well. and belief, and freedom from fear major achievement if ethnic and want. We must promote a broadcasters could assist with the Here are a few examples of racism society that respects the inherent separation of the issue of border related to dress: dignity and the equal and protection from that of asylum Anyone, but particularly women, inalienable rights of all members of seekers. who wear culture-specific clothing the human family. It is vital that we Secondly, ethnic community such as a hijab or a sari, encounter now heed the lessons of 50 years broadcasting has a vital role to play racism on a daily basis. ago, and return to the principles of in providing a forum for debate and Most women who choose to wear the 1948 Universal Declaration of discussion of the different forms the hijab found that they were Human Rights. and effects of racism. It is only treated as new immigrants, ROLE OF ETHNIC COMMUNITY through understanding the different regardless of how long they had BROADCASTERS specific causes and effects of been in Australia. racism that the Australian One of the root causes of racism is Women’s traditional clothing community can begin to address stereotyping based on often prevents them from getting the systemic prejudices that have misinformation and fear of jobs, as being “well dressed” is unfortunately taken hold at difference. This places a particular defined in terms of western community and institutional levels. standards of dress. Women in responsibility on the Australian Share with others your individual cultural dress are therefore virtually media. Ethnic community experiences. Invite refugees to your invisible in public life. It is extremely broadcasters have several studios to talk about why they left rare, for example, to see service important roles to play in their countries, how they made the providers wearing a hijab at your addressing racism and promoting trip to Australia, and so on. local Medicare centre. mutual understanding and a Australians want to know the facts commitment to human rights by all first hand. In my recent consultations in Australians. Brisbane the young people of Thirdly, ethnic community migrant families saw themselves as Firstly, ethnic community broadcasters play a vital role in the subject of stereotyping by police broadcasters need to provide community cultural development. who associate certain ethnic groups intellectual leadership through the According to the Universal with crime. provision of information based on Declaration of Human Rights,

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 29 Cartoon by a former asylum seeker.

everyone has the right to freely Ethnic community broadcasters TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERISM participate in the cultural life of his enable communities to develop and Ethnic community broadcasters or her community. The International embrace their own culture, while play a very important role in Covenant on Civil and Political exposing the wider Australian facilitating the participation of Rights states that everyone has the community to aspects of that members of ethnically and culturally right to enjoy their own culture, to culture with which they would diverse communities in the cultural, profess and practise their own otherwise have been unfamiliar. social and political life of Australian religion, or to use their own This is what we call society. In so doing, you make a language. Expressing one’s culture, multiculturalism. great contribution to creating a religion, language or beliefs are not Similarly, ethnic community more tolerant society based upon privileges – they are in fact broadcasters facilitate the mutual understanding, in which the fundamental human rights, to which participation in Australian society by human rights of all are every person is entitled. new migrants and those with poor acknowledged and respected. This Ethnic community broadcasters English skills, by making community means you must continue to speak play a vital role in extending the information, news, current events, out against injustice, bigotry and enjoyment of this right to all debates and discussions accessible racism. members of Australian society, to ethnic communities in their own This contribution would not be particularly those who because of languages. possible without the tireless and cultural or linguistic differences Finally, the recent World selfless efforts of the numerous would otherwise be isolated from Conference Against Racism volunteers who devote many hours Australian society. This often highlighted the importance of civil to providing information, cultural includes new migrants, asylum society in combating racism, and and language services to their seekers, the elderly, the the ways and means by which it can communities. They deserve special unemployed and people who are do so. The Declaration and recognition for their contribution to less mobile due to physical Program of Action produced at the the development of multicultural disabilities. Conference are available both on Australia and their effective Fourthly, ethnic community the website of the United Nations promotion of the human rights of broadcasters play an important role Office of the High Commissioner for every member of Australian society. in facilitating mutual understanding Human Rights and HREOC. and tolerance between ethnically Perusal of these documents will be and culturally diverse communities useful for ethnic community Human Rights & Equal and others in Australian society. broadcasters. Opportunity Commission www.humanrights.gov.au

30 - The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2002 CD Launch Migrant Women in the Workforce

Below is a speech delivered by Dr Nouria the restaurant achieved both my aims in subtly Salehi in launching the NEMBC’s migrant educating the Australian community and it has women’s oral history series. Dr Salehi received supported many of my family members and friends in an OAM in recognition of her work in assisting employment. with the settlement of new migrants. Like a typical migrant from a non-English Speaking Copies of the series have been sent to all community Background, I had to work hard in my newfound home. radio stations in Australia and are available from the Initially I worked as a physicist during the day and a NEMBC on [03] 9486 9549. chef during the evening. In my spare time I sought to inform migrant and other organisations about I am honoured to be here tonight to launch this oral Afghanistan and the need for their support of my history series on Migrant Women’s contribution to the people. I joined many human rights organisations. Australian workforce. The series clearly demonstrates the strength of these women, the difficulties that they Afghanistan is in turmoil and still a war zone. Like me, have faced, their struggles and their hopes for their Afghan women who live in Australia are very happy to families in their new country – Australia. live in a peaceful and democratic country. All of us

They have met and overcome challenges – challenges cannot forget the place and the people we left behind. shared by many migrant women including Afghan women, like many other women, have sought to escape wars for the sake of their children. They or learning a new language members of their family have often experienced torture learning about a new culture at the same time as and the violation of their human rights. they try to maintain their own culture and traditions Out of sheer desperation, they flee their own countries working hard to support and hold their families by whatever means available, be it by air or sea, legally together or illegally. They all have the same aim – to introduce peace and tranquillity into their family life and to offer trying for recognition of their qualifications and to re- them a secure future. establish their professional careers. However settlement in a new land is often fraught with Let me share some of my own experiences with you. difficulty. It takes some time to settle as homesickness When I came to Australia in 1981, I initially worked as a can last for many years, as does getting used to a volunteer physicist for more than two years to re- different culture. establish my career. In addition I established a business – the Afghan Gallery Restaurant – to promote my The women in the CD in my eyes are heroes. Their culture and homeland and to assist my efforts to bring families and children should be very proud of them, I Afghan refugees to Australia. I am pleased to say that certainly am.

The Ethnic Broadcaster, Summer/Autumn 2001 - 31 Ethnic Training Grants Applications close 17th May For information and applications: www.cbf.com.au

The NEMBC Executive President: George Zangalis, Vic Vice-President: Victor Marillanca, ACT Secretary: Marisol Salinas, Vic Treasurer: Joanne Fettke, Qld Members: Karina Ceron,Tas Hans Degenhart, SA Osai Faiva,NSW Peter Ho, Qld Alex Lutero, WA Ramkumar Konesparamoorthy, NT

NEMBC Staff Executive/Policy Officer: Bruce Francis Office Manager: Nick Bastow Bookkeeper: Denis West AERTP Coordinator: Helen Bowman Ethnic News Digest Co-ord.: Nick Bastow Ethnic News Digest Journalist: Nicola Joseph

Editorial Committee: Osai Faiva

Broadcaster George Zangalis

Editorial Coordinators: Bruce Francis and Nick Bastow Newsletter Design and Layout: Michael Nolan

The Ethnic Broadcaster: is the quarterly journal of the NEMBC, National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council.

We welcome contributions from members and other interested parties. Advertisements are also welcome. Please contact the office for rates.

The views expressed in The Ethnic Broadacster are not necessarily the views of the NEMBC.

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