Embargoed to 6AM, Friday 12 October 2007

Community access radio eyes opportunities in changing broadcasting landscape - annual conference

Community access radio broadcasting is among growth industries in an increasingly diverse New Zealand, the sector says.

The Association of Community Access Broadcasters (ACAB) 2007 conference is being held in Wellington, on 12-14 October, and is hosted by Access 783AM Wellington.

Broadcasting Minister Hon Steve Maherey is hosting a Parliamentary breakfast to open the conference, on 12 October. Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast will also be speaking at the event.

In choosing the theme “Voices in Harmony” for the conference, its organiser Ros Rice said today the event was about New Zealand’s 11 community access radio stations coming together in one place to share their experiences and goals.

ACAB chair Patrick Flynn said holding the conference in Wellington this year was an opportunity to remind the government and other agencies supporting access radio of its energy and commitment. “We are keen to get the most out of the dynamic environment we are operating in.”

“Wellington was the birthplace of community access radio 26 years ago and it is fitting that we should meet this year in the Capital at a time when there are so many exciting options becoming available to enable the increasingly diverse communities of New Zealand to broadcast and share their differing cultures.”

The government’s digital strategy, and plans to allocate FM frequencies to the non-profit sector are among new opportunities or potential opportunities being offered.

Radio Broadcasters Association executive director David Innes said while there has been little contact between community access broadcasters and the commercial sector over the past few years, there are now many potential benefits in both sectors working together.

“With the intersection of government policy on frequencies and all sorts of new radio technologies, it’s important that radio broadcasting, in all its diversity, speaks with a single voice – at least, as far as possible.”

Access 783AM Wellington general manager Kedron Parker said with imaginative leadership, the future for community access radio could be much more than that of broadcasting on AM radio, for stations wishing to go down this route.

“One day the Cook Island community in Wellington will be able to listen to their favourite programme whenever they want as a podcast on the Internet, or tune in at their time during the week to listen to items in their language. Actually, they can do a lot of that already, it’s a matter of tuning into the way the information world is changing.”

“Many car radios no longer have access to the AM band, for instance. Internet formats like Facebook, MySpace and U-tube were unknown a couple of years ago. Now they are gaining hugely in popularity. Community access ‘radio’ can fit into this new multi-media environment. This is an area I’m keen to explore with my colleagues.”

“Technology aside, the heart and soul of community access radio, nationwide, is our programme makers. It’s heartening for them to know that what they are doing is also for the public good. The support we get from NZ on Air, gratefully acknowledged, is another way of saying that community access radio is good for New Zealand as a whole.”

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