S EED S O F DISSENT Melb ou rn e ’s in d e p e nd en t v oice since 1976 3CR philosophy 3CR is a dynamic community hub that has produced radio for over 30 years. Around 400 volunteer programmers present more than 130 programs that go to air each week. The station broadcasts in approximately 20 languages including English, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Listeners can tune in, stream live through the web or download podcasts of our shows. Many 3CR broadcasters are community activists and therefore uniquely placed to present alternative current affairs, news and views. The station stages a number of special broadcasts annually to promote human rights issues including Indigenous, women’s and worker’s rights. 3CR provides programming of interest to a broad general audience and to specific interest groups. We actively discriminate in favour of Australian artists and composers, and play at least 55% Australian music. Groups broadcasting on 3CR cover the areas of social justice, the environment, ethnic communities, the arts and music, and trade unions. When major social justice events are happening in WHY 3cr? Melbourne – such as strikes, rallies and demonstrations – 3CR is usually the first place social justice activists and supporters tune in to. THE RADIO STATION WAS Unlike almost all other media organisations in ESTABLISHED IN 1976 TO Australia, 3CR is genuinely owned by the community: by the groups and individuals who broadcast, and by PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THOSE the people who listen to the station. DENIED ACCESS TO THE MASS The station is financially independent, relying on MEDIA, PARTICULARLY THE memberships and donations for financial support. WORKING CLASS, WOMEN, We do not advertise nor do our programs depend on commercial sponsorship. Government funding is INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE accepted in the form of one-off grants for specific MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS projects or program payments through the Community Broadcasting Foundation. AND COMMUNITY ISSUES DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN AND BY THE MASS MEDIA. 3CR ANNUAL REPORT [ 1 3cr: who we are COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT STAFF COMMITTEES Chairperson Station Manager Finance Sub Committee Piergiorgio Moro Libby Jamieson Convener James McKenzie Vice Chairperson Programming Coordinator Training Sub Committee Perambalam Senthooran Juliet Fox Convener Leanne McLean Secretary Special Projects Coordinator Programming Sub Committee Vacant Bree McKilligan Convener Juliet Fox/Gab Reade Treasurer Current Affairs Coordinator Promotions/Membership Sub James McKenzie Gab Reade Committee Convener Bree McKilligan Directors Administration Coordinator Fiona Blackburn Loretta O'Brien Station Workers and Meredith Butler Subscribers Reps Committee Fiona Dean Volunteer Training Coordinator Mohammed El-eissy Leanne McLean Chris Gaffney Technical Coordinator Nicole Hurtubise Greg Segal Gonzalo Illesca Colm McNaughton IT Coordinator Marisol Salinas Chi Tran Richard Tate Staff: Leanne McLean, Loretta O'Brien, Libby Jamieson, Juliet Fox, Gab Reade and Bree McKilligan. Committee of Management: Chris Gaffney, Richard Tate, Meredith Butler, Nicole Hurtubise, Piergiorgio Moro, Perambalam Senthooran and, in front, Marisol Salinas and James McKenzie. Absent from photo: Gonzalo Illesca, Fiona Blackburn, Colm McNaughton, Fiona Dean and Mohammed El-eissy. 2 ] 3CR ANNUAL REPORT CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT After last year’s 30th birthday While 2006 saw the start of 3CR celebrations 3CR Radio has on the web via live streaming continued to grow and expand. over the Internet, 2007 saw us Even with ongoing staffing take a further step forward with shortages, the station has podcasting. This technology allows continued to be innovative and radio programs to be available on at the political cutting edge. our website weeks after they were broadcast. Allowing listeners, As in previous years, we have anywhere around the world, to continued to train new people tune in when and where they from new communities and prefer. Again, in the years to come, organisations, giving them the I’m sure we will continue to see a skills to express, in their own big uptake of this technology as words, their points of view. more programs are provided as 2007 also saw a further expansion podcasts. into the digital era for the station One of the big events of 2007 with the launch of our new, more was the Federal Election. After and I feel that it is time to move interactive website. At the birth what seemed way too many on and give space to someone else. of 3CR Radio in 1976, our media years, the conservative Liberal I will remain on the Committee was totally separated into print, government was finally defeated. for the time being, but I know audio and visual modes. This Many of our communities and that I leave 3CR Radio in good separation is now fast blurring. listeners were very badly affected hands, with a competent As many other organisations have by the policies of John Howard Committee of Management, a found, to keep up with technology and his government. By providing hard-working Station Manager and the expectations of our a voice of dissent, 3CR played its in Libby Jamieson, and a fantastic listeners, 3CR has had to embrace part in the campaigns against the staff who make sure that the change and the digital world is conservative agenda, especially radio keeps ticking over. now very much a reality at the the anti Work Choices campaign station. Lastly, but certainly not least, I initiated and organised by the would like to say thank you to all A big note of thanks to the trade unions, some of which are the volunteers and listeners website collective who worked our affiliates. whose passion, energy and loyalty very hard to redesign the site. We do not know what the new are the ingredients that make this It now allows us much better ALP Federal government will bring radio station such a unique media communication with our digital but, as always, 3CR Radio will be maker in the political landscape audience and enables them to there to provide an alternative of Australia. access the depth and breadth of view and a forum for people to air knowledge and resources that Piergiorgio Moro and discuss dissenting opinions. 3CR can provide. I’m sure that in Chairperson the years to come, the website This is my last report as Chair of 3CR Federation will continue to develop in many 3CR as I will not be restanding in new and exciting ways. 2008. I have been Chairperson at 3CR for five years, with many more as a member of the Committee, 3CR ANNUAL REPORT [ 3 station manager’s REPORT NEW STAFF While a final decision has yet to studio will be used to upload be agreed upon, there has been material for the station’s Digital Gab Reade is 3CR’s Current Affairs some valuable information sharing Radio broadcasts. We expect to Coordinator. Gab has just completed regarding the financial situation reach the target and begin work a year as Programming Coordinator that the station faces and the in 2008. while Juliet Fox took time off for plans to boost the station’s yearly maternity leave. Gab has been When completed, this studio will income. broadcasting at 3CR since 2001 be named the Jan Bartlett Studio and is a current member of the in honour of the hard work and BEQUESTS Earth Matters program team. 3CR dedication of long-term volunteer warmly welcomes Gab as the new This year the station received a Jan Bartlett. Current Affairs Coordinator. bequest of $10,000 from the estate of Marion Canty, a long-time 3CR’s previous Current Affairs RADIOTHON supporter of 3CR. Part of the Coordinator, Sarojini Krishnapillai The target for 2007 was $200,000. money has been used to upgrade (2004–06), will continue The station received tremendous the computers in the newsroom, broadcasting at 3CR on Earth support from programmers and to the delight of many of the Matters. 3CR farewells Saro from our loyal audience. A special programmers. The rest of the the staff team and thanks her for mention must go to Anarchist money has been placed in a her energy and commitment to World This Week, The Concrete special Bequest account. The the position. Gang, DoGS, Tamil Voice and the Committee of Management has Vietnamese Youth Student Show. developed a list of guidelines for STAFFING LEVELS using bequests at the station. 3CR Staffing levels at the station were recognises and appreciates the DIGITAL RADIO TRANSITION at an all-time low again this year, special nature of bequest giving; Digital radio will be launched in with two staff members away on as the last gesture of support a Australia on 1 January 2009. 3CR maternity leave. The station’s funds person will make, a bequest is one of nine community radio did not stretch to replacing both indicates the commitment the stations in metro Melbourne to workers and this placed added donor has to 3CR and to its be offered access to the digital stress on the remaining staff, all philosophy and practice. radio spectrum as part of the of whom have managed very well Federal government’s given their additional workloads. STUDIO 4 APPEAL commitment to access for The station is indebted to them for community radio stations. The In 2005 3CR launched a special their commitment and perseverance. other stations are ZZZ, RRR, PBS, appeal for $20,000 to renovate KND, RPH, MBS, SYN and Light FM. Studio 4. Our production studios ETHICAL SPONSORSHIP PLAN These stations will form a Digital are in high demand from Radio Company as legislated by For the past year and a half the programmers and we only have the Broadcasting Legislation station has been consulting with two that have full pre-production Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill subscribers, members of the function (Studios 2 and 3).