Last year Macquarie University pulled its funding from 2SER, Sydney Educational Radio, which is owned by Macquarie and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and broadcasts out of UTS’s Ultimo campus and from what was once the AFTRS radio studios at Macquarie.
Today ABC Sydney reported that 2ser manager Cheryl Northey had shared to station volunteers that UTS was not going to be able to fund the station on its own.
The email said:
“Should the station close this year, which could be as early as July, 2SER must do the right thing by our staff. A decision to close would not be taken lightly, and work is being done to avoid that outcome
Since Macquarie’s announcement, the board and I have explored the option of securing one or more new university partners.
Through this process, it has become clear that we now need to carefully consider alternative long-term models that could provide the stability the station needs.”
2SER celebrated 40 years in October 2019, and ignited the careers of Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (Minister for Social Services), Robbie Buck (ABC Sydney/triple j), LiSTNR Head of Entertainment & Culture Mike Williams, ABC’s The World Today host Eleanor Hall, ABC Rural‘s National Political Reporter Anna Vidot, Ian Rogerson, Richard Kingsmill and many, many more.
It holds a community radio licence with a special interest in education.
Associate Professor in Media at UTS Liz Guiffre said on LinkedIn,
‘I am so very sad and hope a solution can be found. 2ser is a community where everyone has a place xx’
Robbie Buck is among 2SER alumni who have written to the station urging the board to act to rectify the financial shortfall. He told the ABC:
“It would be dire loss for the city of Sydney for a cultural icon like 2SER to be closed through a lack of funding from UTS.
“It’s a wonderful place for people to learn how to broadcast and how to do journalism … it supports local music, it supports local artists and writers and all sorts of things.”
UTS vice-chancellor of external engagement and partnerships Alana Piper has said that they continue to work with 2SER to find another partnership.
2SER image via ABC Radio National, by Sophie Kesteven
If we can learn from Radio Adelaide, 5UV, funding from the University of Adelaide as its facilities were withdrawn in December 2015 and a new entity with new facilities and funding sources were available from February 2016.
Source:
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/7397
I enjoyed my time as a volunteer, employee and trainer at 2SER.
Not only did my time involve presenting, editing, teaching/training I also gained some engineering experience learning a computer language.
The atmosphere was inclusive, non-discriminatory and a pleasure to work in.
It was fun.
Furthermore 2SER provided various training sessions including a course in training in the workplace.
I would hate to see an institution go off air.
I hope the experience of Radio Adelaide applies to 2SER-FM so it continues in the future.
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wamgal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation