Diversity in Action: minority group media and social change Melissa Kay Giles BA (Hons), Grad Cert Hist, Grad Dip Journ Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Research) School of Journalism Faculty of Creative Industries Queensland University of Technology 2011 Keywords Aboriginal, alternative media, bisexual, blind, community radio, gay, gay press, Indigenous radio, lesbian, low vision, minority group media, print disability, print handicapped, social change, social inclusion, Torres Strait Islander, transgender, vision- impaired Page i Abstract My thesis consists of a creative work plus an exegesis. This exegesis uses case study research to investigate three Brisbane-based media organisations and the role they play in encouraging social inclusion and other positive social change for specific disadvantaged and stigmatised minority groups. Bailey, Cammaerts and Carpentier’s theoretical approach to alternative media forms the basis of this research. Bailey et al. (2008, p. 156) view alternative media organisations as having four important roles, two media-centred and two society- centred, which must all be considered to best understand them: serving their communities acting as an alternative to mainstream media discourses promoting and advocating democratisation in the media and through the media in society functioning as a crossroads in civil society. The first case study, about community radio station 4RPH (Radio for the Print Handicapped), centres on promoting social inclusion for people with a print disability through access to printed materials (primarily mainstream print media) in an audio format. The station also provides important opportunities for members of this group to produce media and, to a lesser extent, provides disability-specific information and discussions. The second case study, about gay print and online magazine Queensland Pride, focuses on promoting social inclusion and combating the discrimination and repression of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Central issues include the representation (including sexualised representation) of a subculture and niche target market, and the impact of commercialisation on this free publication. The third case study, about community radio station 98.9FM, explores the promotion of social inclusion for peoples whose identity, cultures, issues, politics and contributions are often absent or misrepresented in the mainstream media. This radio station provides “a first level of service” (Meadows & van Vuuren, 1998, p. 104) to these people, but also informs and entertains those in the majority society. The findings of this research suggest that there are two key mechanisms that help these media organisations to effect social change: first, strengthening the minority community and serving its needs, and second, fostering connections with the broader society. Page ii Table of Contents Keywords ....................................................................................................................... i Abstract ........................................................................................................................ ii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................v List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................... vi Statement of Original Authorship ............................................................................... vii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Objectives and significance ................................................................................ 2 1.3 Defining alternative media ................................................................................. 4 1.4 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Chapter summaries ........................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2: RADIO 4RPH CASE STUDY ............................................................... 17 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Origins, role and audience ................................................................................ 18 2.3 Volunteer recruitment, training and integration ............................................. 22 2.4 Regulation and content .................................................................................... 25 2.5 Funding, networks and technology .................................................................. 28 2.6 Conclusion......................................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 3: QUEENSLAND PRIDE CASE STUDY .................................................. 34 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 34 3.2 Origins, role and audience ................................................................................ 35 3.3 Editorial and advertising content, staff and networks ..................................... 42 3.4 Conclusion......................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER 4: 98.9FM CASE STUDY ....................................................................... 50 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 50 4.2 Origins, role and audience ................................................................................ 51 4.3 Funding, content and networks ........................................................................ 58 4.4 Staff and training .............................................................................................. 62 4.5 Conclusion......................................................................................................... 63 Page iii CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE .............................................................. 66 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 66 5.2 Review of theoretical framework and methodology ....................................... 66 5.3 Additional findings from the creative work ...................................................... 69 5.4 The creative work as alternative media ........................................................... 72 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION ................................................................................. 76 6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 76 6.2 Minority group media and social change ......................................................... 76 6.3 The future ......................................................................................................... 80 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 82 Page iv List of Tables Table 1.1 Interviewees for Radio 4RPH case study Table 1.2 Interviewees for Queensland Pride case study Table 1.3 Interviewees for 98.9FM case study Page v List of Abbreviations ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation ACMA Australian Communications and Media Authority AFL Australian Football League AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AM Amplitude Modulation BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BIMA Brisbane Indigenous Media Association CAAMA Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association CD Compact Disc DAISY Digital Accessible Information System (file format) DSQ Disability Services Queensland EPUB Electronic Publication (file format) FM Frequency Modulation GLBTI Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex GLBTQ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer GLTBIQ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender MP3 Type of compressed digital audio file NAPWA National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS NINS National Indigenous News Service NIT National Indigenous Times NIRS National Indigenous Radio Service NMG New Mardi Gras PDF Portable Document Format (file format) QAHC Queensland Association for Healthy Communities QNS Queensland Narrating Service RPH Radio for the Print Handicapped Page vi Statement of Original Authorship The work contained in this thesis has not been previously submitted to meet requirements for an award at this or any other higher education institution. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made. Signature: _________________________ Date: _________________________ Page vii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my QUT supervisors, Dr Angela Romano and Dr Christina Spurgeon, for their advice and support in writing this thesis. I am also