Hawkesbury community radio reprimanded by ACMA for failing to include the community
Community radio station Hawkesbury Radio has earned the ire of the media watchdog over its failure it to broaden its membership and better engage the public in its community.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been forced to issue new requirements – so called “remedial action” – to Hawesbury Radio, which operates licence 2VTR in Windsor, New South Wales, after it was first reprimanded over its lack of community involvement, back in March 2014
The ACMA found the committee operating the licensee were in breach of a legal licence condition requiring all community radio stations to encourage community participation in the operations of 2VTR – a key differentiator between community radio and other commercial broadcasters.
Not a surprise. Many community radio stations go through a phase of forgetting they are mean to be anchored in the community. Usually this happens when a few tyros get involved and quickly move to board level (pushing the ‘oldies’ out of the way) with the desire to turn it into ‘a real radio station’ which skirts just this side of commercial turf. Good to see the ACMA coming down on this. Community radio can be a great training ground for those who want to ‘step up’ to commercial radio, but if it becomes pseudo- commercial then that’s a step too far.
Any hope that the sub-editor Mumbrella promised us can start work ASAP, and avert these annoying typos????
….. – so called “remedial action” – to Hawesbury Radio, which operates licence 2VTR in Windsor, New South Wales…..
Thanks Troll,
Fixed up now. Sub ed process progressing.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
Community Radio can be a law onto themselves. Some users treat it as a personal fiefdom, shutting out others from running the station and closing down programmes they don’t like.