A new daily current affairs program with an “independent approach” begins this Monday on community and indigenous radio stations around the country.
The Wire, produced by program teams based in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, “will offer critical coverage and challenge all points of view, with a focus on bringing to light the views of those most affected by events or decisions or excluded from power and influence.”
Adelaide producer Annie Hastwell says the program will “aim to avoid some of the cliches of current affairs journalism with
a program for people who want to think over ideas, form their own
opinions and be inspired to action, rather than defeated by the problems
affecting the world around us.”
Hastwell is one of four co-ordinating producers, working with Kirrily
Bolton at the National Indigenous Radio Service in Brisbane, Cinnamon
Nippard at 2SER Sydney and Jay Lamey, also at Radio Adelaide.
Each
producer will work with a team of volunteer journalists, building on the
resources of their host station and a shared commitment to expanding the
range of viewpoints available to listeners.
The Wire will brign a special focus to issues affecting
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with the team of
indigenous journalists at NIRS in Brisbane leading the way.
The Wire’s three producer stations, 2SER, Radio Adelaide and NIRS have
formed a consortium to manage and fund the program.
Consortium Manager, 2SER’s Philip Shine told radioinfo: “We believe it’s critical that community broadcasting provides a clear
alternative for listeners. Not only content, but also avoiding the
combination of self-importance, PR-speak and not-so-subtle
editorialising that characterises most mainstream and some alternative
media.”
The Wire will be broadcast on 35 community stations and 160 indigenous stations via ComRadSat and NIRS. It will be sent at 5.30pm EST weekdays for replay at local times.
Daily rundowns, audio for down-load and the latest information on
broadcast stations will be available on the website (click below) as the program goes to air.