COMMUNITY BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) champions community broadcasting by building stations’ capability and by creating a healthy environment for the sector to thrive. The CBAA is a cultural organisation established for the promotion of community broadcasting including both radio and television. Created to give a voice to those not otherwise heard on air, such as ethnic, Indigenous and other minority groups, as well as independent local music, the CBAA has always prided itself on maintaining a diverse sector, driven by volunteers and community- minded individuals. ABOUT THE CBAA

Helping stations build their capability Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Music Distribution) CBAA Member Savings CBAA Member Advice and Information The Community Radio Network Digital Radio Project Dispute Resolution Initiative Webinars Duty Solicitor Program National Listener Survey Radio Website Services Content Distribution Hub National Audio Documentary and Features Competition Digital Delivery Network CBX Magazine CBAA Conference CBAA Awards CBAA SERVICES

The Australian community broadcasting sector is recognised internationally as one of the most successful examples of grassroots media. Community broadcasting is Australia's largest independent media sector, with 460 independent community-owned and operated broadcasting services, including radio and television stations and remote Indigenous services. The national radio audience reach is 5 million per week. Stations provide news, information, cultural content and entertainment to serve the many needs and interests of local and/or specific communities of interest and broaden the media choices available to all Australians. COMMUNITY BROADCASTING

Community broadcasting is a vital part of the Australian media landscape. Community broadcasting services: Provide a diverse range of viewpoints that enrich the social and cultural fabric of Australian society and contribute to public interest outcomes Promote the identities of local communities and contribute to social inclusion Provide opportunities for participation in free-to-air public broadcasting and content production Contribute to media diversity Generate a high level of local content Provide a unique range of services and programs COMMUNITY BROADCASTING

The CBAA’s 270+ member stations broadcasting across Australia play an important role in providing a voice for communities that aren’t adequately serviced by other broadcasting sectors. These include: Indigenous Australians Ethnic communities Educational services Religious communities Print disabled communities Music, arts and cultural services Youth and seniors’ communities COMMUNITY BROADCASTING

Community broadcasters are united by six guiding principles. Promote harmony and diversity and contribute to an inclusive, cohesive and culturally diverse Australian community Pursue the principles of democracy, access and equity, especially for people and issues not adequately represented in other media Enhance the diversity of programming choices available to the public and present programs that expand the variety of viewpoints broadcast in Australia Demonstrate independence in programming as well as in editorial and management decisions Support and develop local arts and music Increase community involvement in broadcasting GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice (the Codes) set out the guiding principles and policies for programming on community broadcasting stations. They also outline the operational standards for stations that hold a community broadcasting licence. The Codes do not replace the licence conditions in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act); they are complementary and we are legally obliged to follow both the licence conditions and the Codes. CODES OF PRACTICE

Legal obligations Each community broadcasting station has legal obligations that relate to programming and station operations. The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) outlines a number of licence conditions and some program standards that apply to all stations. CODES OF PRACTICE

Legal obligations Key provisions in the Act require community broadcasters to: provide community broadcasting services for the benefit of the community and not operate them to make a profit, continue to represent the community interest that it represented when the licence was allocated or last renewed, although a licensee can apply to change that community interest at renewal, encourage community access and participation in all aspects of station operations, from programming to management, and only broadcast sponsorship announcements, rather than advertising, which total no more than five minutes in any hour of broadcasting. CODES OF PRACTICE

Australian Communications and Media Authority The broadcasting regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), is responsible for ensuring that community broadcasting stations meet the licence conditions in the Act and requirements outlined in the Codes. Some other key responsibilities of ACMA are to: Promote a system whereby broadcasters take responsibility for making sure they meet the licence conditions and the requirements in the Codes, Make sure that electronic media maintain community standards, Manage spectrum allocation and make sure that a range of media services is provided in all areas, and Administer the licence allocations and renewals process, including for temporary community broadcasting licences. REGULATORY AUTHORITY

TYPE OF COMPLAINT A station's choice of programming Disputes among station volunteers and members Internal conflict resolution Internal management or constitution matters Defamation claims against station STEPS IN HANDLING COMPLAINT Station’s responsibility according to its policies and procedures under Code 2 or 3. Station’s responsibility according to its policies and procedures under Code 1. Sector organisations may be able to provide some assistance. Consult the State or Territory Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs Department. Sector organisations may be able to provide some assistance. Seek own legal advice. REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Duty Solicitor Program The CBAA and Tress Cox Lawyers Australia have established a Duty Solicitor Program which provides CBAA member stations with access to a solicitor for a free 20 minute telephone consultation. The program provides CBAA member stations with easy access to legal advice from solicitors with expertise in broadcasting and media law. CBAA SERVICES

NATIONAL LISTENER SURVEY

How many people are listening to community radio? 26% of Australians aged 15+, or 4,797,000 people, listen to community radio in a typical week. Overall, 84% of Australians aged 15+ listen to some radio in the course of a typical week. The number of Australians aged 15+ listening to community radio in an average week has risen from 3,767,000 in 2004 to 4,797,000 in 2014, with some statistically insignificant fluctuations in between – with the peak in 2013 at 5,027,000. The estimated number of people in metropolitan areas (8 cities) aged 15+ listening to community radio in an average week has risen from 2,367,000 in 2004 to 3,161,000 people by the end of NATIONAL LISTENER SURVEY

Why do people listen to community radio? The key reasons for listening to community radio are that they have local information / local news (52%). This is true regardless of listeners’ age, location, how long they listen for or what time of day they listen. NATIONAL LISTENER SURVEY

Why do people listen to community radio? Specialist music programs (36%) Local voices / local personalities” (28%) Listeners aged really value that “they play Australian music / support local artists” on community radio (33%) NATIONAL LISTENER SURVEY

Why do people listen to community radio? For non-metro listeners, local information/local news is easily the most cited reason (66%), followed by other statements with a “local” emphasis. For metropolitan listeners, specialist music programs (38%) and “programs not available anywhere else” (28%) are the most frequent reason after local information/local news (45%). NATIONAL LISTENER SURVEY

PROFILE OF LISTENERS

How you can get involved Community Service Announcements Speaking as a guest of a program Providing information as part of a station event Producing a program focusing on a community need ENGAGING WITH THE SECTOR

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