Autumn Edition 2012 – Journal of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council Features Why Champion Multiculturalism? The Ethnic Broadcaster Ethnic The Politics Impact Social Cohesion Failing Asylum Seekers UN Calls for Calm Research Tools for Social Cohesion Next Generation Media NEMBC Conference Outcomes Welcome to the journal of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council, representing and resourcing ethnic community broadcasters across Australia. NEMBC Executive Committee President: Tangi Steen SA Contents Vice-President: Victor Marillanca ACT Treasurer: Joe De Luca NT Secretary: Cristina Descalzi SA President’s Pen .............................................................. 1 Werner Albrecht ACT Nick Dmyterko QLD Ghassan Hage - Why Champion Multiculturalism? 2-5 Osai Faiva NSW Nikola Nikolich WA Dr. Tim Soutphommasane............................................ 6 Luigi Romanelli TAS George Salloum VIC Ekaterina Loy SA Refugee Watch: Amnesty International ..................... 7 Irene Tavutavu QLD Call For Calm On Refugees........................................... 8 Honorary Executive Director: George Zangalis VIC The Scanlon Foundation Report .................................. 9 NEMBC Staff Executive and Policy Offi cer: Russell Anderson Youth and Women’s Offi cer: Rachael Bongiorno Next Generation Media Training .......................... 10-11 Membership Organiser: Bec Zajac Administration Offi cer: Clemmie Wetherall The 2011 National Conference Wrap Up ............ 12-13 Bookkeeper: Rod Borlase Conference Workshops .............................................. 14 The Ethnic Broadcaster Chief Editor: Russell Anderson The NEMBC 2011 Radio Awards ............................... 15 Editor: Clemmie Wetherall Layout and Design: Clemmie Wetherall & Russell NEMBC 2011 Conference photos ......................... 16-17 Anderson Editing Team: Rachael Bongiorno & Bec Zajac Report from the HED .................................................. 18 Journal Printers: Printgraphics The Ethnic Broadcaster is an environmentally friendly production, using recycled paper and non- Youth Broadcasters - Share your program! ............ 18 toxic inks. People of Australia Ambassadors ............................. 19 The Ethnic Broadcaster is the Journal of the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Around the Stations ............................................... 20-23 Council (NEMBC). The views expressed in The Ethnic Broadcaster are not necessarily the views of the NEMBC. Nobel Peace Prize ........................................................ 24 NEMBC Contact Details Front Cover - Joseph Vuicakau 3CR Women’s Snapshots ........................................... 25 Back Cover- Tomasi Vunivalu, David PO Box 1144 Smith, Joseph Vuicakau (Radio Skid Collingwood VIC 3066 Row) Youth Broadcasting ...................................................... 26 Phone: 03 9486 9549 Photography by Darce Cassidy Fax: 03 9486 9547 CBF News ..................................................................... 27 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nembc.org.au NEMBC Membership .................................................. 28 We welcome contributions to The Ethnic Broadcaster, especially from NEMBC Members. Clarifi cation: In the Ethnic Broadcaster Journal, Spring 2011 edition, the article titled ‘Training for Community Broadcasters’ stated that there was ‘a decision by the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) to close the National Training Project’ (NTP). This statement was incorrect because the CBF remodelled the training program and the NTP is still in operation in conjunction with the CMTO. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused. President’s Pen Maló e lelei (Greetings to you in Tongan) Behind a successful conference is a lot of hard work by many people In my fi rst ever President’s Pen for the Ethnic and organisations. I would like to Broadcaster (EB), I want to spend a bit of express our tremendous thanks to time refl ecting on how I got to this prestigious the host station: Launceston’s City and very important position as President Park Radio, all of the sponsors, the of the NEMBC! It is a road less travelled by Secretariat, the Executive Committee women as I am the fi rst female President of and the Sub-Committees for their this organisation since its inception. I want contribution in making the 2011 to sincerely thank the members of NEMBC conference a big success. Feedback on the conference for their trust and confi dence in me and I will will be provided to the relevant committees to assist endeavour to do my best in the role. with the planning of the 2012 conference. My venture into ethnic and multicultural radio was Other stories in this edition: the Director of Amnesty driven by my community’s need to have a weekly International Australia calls for abandoning offshore language program of news and music. Consequently, processing and for Australia to live up to its reputation the fi rst Tongan language radio program in South as a country that recognises the rights of individuals Australia was broadcast through Adelaide’s full-time to seek asylum. This is very pertinent especially with ethnic radio station 5EBI 103.1FM on 1 February 2002, the UNHCR refugee chief saying that our obsession the same year I attended my fi rst NEMBC conference. with the thousands of asylum seekers arriving by boat I was introduced to the NEMBC’s internal governance is out of proportion compared to the millions that processes and management structure in 2004/5; fi rstly arrive in other countries. The 4th Scanlon Foundation through being co-opted into the Women’s Committee ‘Mapping Social Cohesion’ report found ‘a marginal as the SA representative and again co-opted and later upward movement in indicators of belonging, participation elected to the NEMBC Board as the SA member, I and social justice’.... Since our core business is to then became Vice President for 4 years ‘til last year. advocate for language, cultural and identity, I believe that we have made a huge contribution to ethnic and When asked by one of the eChamps in the 2011 multicultural communities’ having a strong sense of NEMBC conference at Launceston to comment on my belonging, not only at the local level but also national. experiences of the NEMBC and my vision as President; I can only remember talking about the thrill of being The NEMBC and ethnic community broadcasters are involved in the continuing processes of improving involved in a range of issues as is visible in reports on work and organisational practices of the NEMBC our activities and the popular ‘Around the Stations’ and developing better outcomes for our members. reports. The journal is also acting responsibly and Upon refl ection on my experiences of NEMBC, I provides a clarifi cation on an article which appeared in draw on CS Lewis’ statement ‘Experience: the most our last edition(see inside cover). brutal of teachers...but you learn, my God do you learn.’ I have no doubt at all that what I have experienced, I would like to take this opportunity to warmly the good and the bad, since joining the NEMBC welcome the announcement by the Prime Minister, Ms has taught me so much about the organisation and Julia Gillard, to establish and in fact restore a Ministry its cultural practices. Now and in the future, I will for Multicultural Affairs and we congratulate her for continue to learn and experience through challenges appointing Senator Kate Lundy to that portfolio. and opportunities presented while undertaking this The NEMBC looks forward to continuing to work role. With the help and support of my fellow Board productively with Minister Kate Lundy in developing members, we will work together to ensure benefi ts and implementing progressive multicultural policies are delivered to the NEMBC’s members. and programs. A main focus of this edition are the important issues Enjoy this edition of the EB, as we hope you will with raised at the NEMBC’s 2011 National Conference, one future ones! of our most successful to date. The successes of the 2011 NEMBC Conference were measured not only in terms of high attendance, but also in the superb quality of speakers that we were able to attract. The speakers presented a gargantuan feast for the mind. Tangi Steen Thanks have been extended to the following people: NEMBC President Senator Kate Lundy, Hon Cassy O’Connor, Mayor Albert van Zetten, Professor Ghassan Hage, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Ms Samah Hadid and Esther Blank of Deutsche Welle. The Ethnic Broadcaster -Autumn - 1 What Should Championing Multiculturalism Mean Today?* I like very much the is not dependent on policy, it is dependent precisely theme “Champions of on those we have called, and we can still call, the Multiculturalism’. This is champions of multiculturalism; those who struggled, because sometimes you and who are still struggling, to build multiculturalism can still open Australian as a reality, regardless of what the White state thinks history books and read of multiculturalism. Indeed it can be said, and I think about the transition this was very true of the Howard years, that when from Assimilation to the government stops being nicely multicultural by Multiculturalism and funding multicultural programs, a more enduring kind think that the only hero of multicultural reality is created. This is because of this transition is the community activists, and other people who are Australian state. struggling at the grassroots level, end up creating multicultural networks that are not reliant