Is there any difference in WHCRs signal this week compared to the last few broadcasts?
3ZZZ breaches community radio broadcast rules in its coverage on Ukraine
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Melbourne-based community broadcaster 3ZZZ in breach of community broadcasting rules in its coverage of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
An ACMA investigation found that content broadcast on 3ZZZâs 'The Russian Programâ on 24 February 2022 breached rules around factual accuracy and also stereotyped and attempted to demean Ukrainian people.
During the program, which is presented in the Russian language, the host made a number of comments stating that Russian armed forces had not carried out any âmissile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraineâ. The ACMA investigation found this was not accurate at the time of broadcast, with credible evidence citing 24 February 2022 as the start of Russiaâs missile attacks against Ukrainian cities.
The investigation also noted the program host made statements presenting the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk from Ukraine as fact. In assessing credible external sources, including comments from Australiaâs then Minister for Foreign Affairs, the ACMA is of the view that these statements were inaccurate.
ACMA Chair Nerida OâLoughlin said rules around accuracy in community radio news are in place so that listeners can be confident that what is being reported is true and credible.
âCommunity radio, including in-language services, fulfils a vital role in Australiaâs broadcasting landscape, providing access to content audiences may not otherwise be able to find. Therefore, itâs important that audiences can trust that the information presented is accurate.
âIn this case, 3ZZZ has aired material that did not meet the accuracy standards expected of a community broadcaster,â Ms OâLoughlin said.
The ACMA also found the program included content that was demeaning towards Ukrainian people on the basis of their nationality, language and political affiliations. This included a song which mocks the Ukrainian government and people, presenting a stereotype of Ukrainians that attempted to undermine their dignity.
Following the findings, 3ZZZ has entered into a court-enforceable undertaking with the ACMA that will see it provide training for all relevant staff and volunteers on compliance with the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice. The station will also establish systems, processes and practices for the identification of geo-political matters and environmental sensitivities of a serious nature, so that these can be appropriately managed in broadcasts in the future.
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Thanks @TV.Cynic, isnât this the second time anti Ukraine sentiment from Melb community radio has come to the regulatorâs attention since Putinâs illegal action began?
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I think it is the same complaint. This is the outcome.
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Listening to The Vibe atm. It seems like same weak signalâŚ
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Some one in ACMA must be able to understand Russian otherwise how would they know? A listener wouldnât tell them because he would believe it was the truth.
They barely do anything over there⌠no one even announces who they are⌠what is their motivation to keep on with the same Charade after finding themselves in some trouble with their license breach situation⌠it will be interesting when the 6th rolls around that for sure.
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There would be plenty of dual English-Russian language speakers who donât rely on just ZZZ as a source of news. They would realise from the Australian media what was untrue. Many would probably be anti-Putin and wanting to shut down potential propaganda.
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iâm somewhat fluent in russian and as a native english speaker i certanlyl wouldnât get my news just from russian languge newspapers or podcasts.
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Very curious to get your thoughts on what gap it is they should target @crankymedia
Iâll admit itâs a hard sell doing what they do on AM, but even compared to the sub-metros itâs easy to forget they exist sometimes. Even when I do think to flick bands I seldom go north of 1116.
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what made ABA, or ACMA or whoever it was then, think it was good sense to put a youth station on AM
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They were lucky to get a community license at all. Sydney and Melbourne missed out on a community dance station largely because the ABA heard Novaâs concerns, as they had just paid a bucket load of money on their new FM stations, targeting the under 40s. I can understand their position.
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There were only 5 FM Brisbane - wide community stations, and in 2001 the remaining frequencies were given to multicultural (98.1) and Christian (96.5) communities, so AM was a good consolation for Switch, especially now that they are on DAB.
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Hang on, 4MBS and ZZZ original FM community licences.
4AAA added in the 90âs, pre BSA legacy.
4EB given an FM conversion by ABA in 2001 LAP. Been around since the 70âs on various AM frequencies.
96.5 Family FM given the new FM community licence in 2001 LAP as ABA lobbied hard by MPs and other influential types keen to see god power triumph and also to reduce any competitive impact to commercial stations.
Hence why Wild didnât get the Brisbane licence, the more stereotypical community looking Switch did yet on AM, the former 4GG frequency and the rest is history.
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Sure thing @tamago_otoko, thereâs a diverse range of music genres inadequately served by commercials, 4ZZZ or JJJ.
Add in connections with uni journalism of the three Brisbane unis and the radio degree offered by USQ Springfield within the licence area to provide content and you could have a winning formula to serve the youth demo, make a big dent in the 10-17, 18-24 and <30 surveyed station demos.
Station needs a lot more organisation and professional approach than present.
Whatâs your thoughts @tamago_otoko ? @Brianc68 , @TV.Cynic, @Karen_Cee1, what are your ideas? Anyone else local?
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Great thoughts. I like the idea of tying it into a local uni - not a campus station as such, but giving those studying to go into the media a vehicle with which to rehearse for the big time. SYN in Melbourne is probably a good comparable example with its links to RMIT.
I still think being stuck on AM is a significant limitation for a station working in that space. Of course in a perfect world, 4EB could have stayed on AM and a wider-appeal music-based community station would have taken the FM frequency, which would have given Brisbane listeners better options. But of course that didnât suit the commercial competitors.
Brisbane is, in my view, rather poorly served by community stations when compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Bridge, Bay and 101FM all play in a relatively similar space thatâs fairly mainstream, and Brisbane City itself doesnât have any local-area community stations like the other two capitals do. Itâs our loss that we donât too. You are right though that Switch, with a decent-powered licence, could do well to fill a bit of that void.
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Re-posting what I said over on the Super Radio Network Thread
In my opinion that was when it failed the most, It went from the vibrant switch1197 to the dull and boring Brisbane Youth Radio with the heart that was switch cut out.
During that time websites were lost graphics and studios disappeared and it basically shut down.
Iâm not however saying the current version of switch is any better, its nothing more then a name sake but still as lifeless as Brisbane Youth Radio.
They should really have a look at how Fresh927, Radio Metro or even Kiss FM Melbourne do things in connection with the community and take that to switch, add a bit of investment with a on-air/digital refresh and you will have a humming youth station.
PS.
Maybe the owner/manager should stop channeling funds into Switch FM (buying more frequencies and studios for that) and invest in switch1197.
(Yes its the same peopleâŚ)
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I tried to get involved with switch. Iâd finished producing a show on 96.5. Iâd also done some fill in shifts as well.
I contacted switch about it and was told about mandatory training that i needed to do, that only ran during working hours. I was just getting my feet in at my new (non radio related) job and i knew they were worried i was going to drop everything and go back to radio. i couldnât just ask for time off for mandatory training so i never bothered, which is a shame as i loved my time on air on 96.5
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So frustrating to read @Tejas57 and yet all too common, youâve had experience in Brisbane, so whatâs your thoughts on what format should be on the licence?