Community broadcasters from two countries demonstrated how ingenuity, creativity and smart technology keeps them connected and engaged with remote, indigenous, and hard to reach listeners in a showcase session titled ‘Connecting with ALL your listeners’ at RadioAsia.
Jon Bisset, Chief Executive Officer, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) said the purpose of their organization is to make community radio stations stronger and more successful by providing support and resources, products and services that deliver economies of scale, communication and collective representation and networking and peer-to-peer support.
The community broadcasting sector in Australia is powered by 22,000 volunteers and 900 employees, 99 percent of whom find value in working in community radio.
He discussed the importance of community radio news and info as a crucial service for undeserved audiences, which are under-represented by mainstream media and how in regional areas community radio provides an essential connection in times of crisis.
He gave an example of Braidwood FM, a community radio in New South Wales, where during the bushfires, “there were people that had the radio on 24 hours a day every day just to hear what was happening. There was no on ground local coverage from the ABC here.”
Speaking about going beyond on-air broadcasts to reach local audiences, he said: “We want to keep community radio relevant in the next five to ten years. Without integration with other platforms, it is not possible.”
Bhumiraj Chapagain, Audit Committee Coordinator, Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB), Nepal, discussed various way in which they tried to reach local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They created an audio center which allowed listeners to contact the through IVR, took audio messages from audience as well as from member stations to disseminate information and updates.
“We are trying to receive voices of disadvantaged people from remote areas and take them to the authorities,” he said.
He also discussed plans to involve more girls and women in community radio journalism as ACORAB aims to create 35,000 volunteer journalists over the next five years.