News and Information: Crisis, Challenge and Opportunity #CBAA Conference 2022

Broadcasting news and other relevant fact-based content is an integral part of community radio programming.

At this years CBAA Conference in Cairns a panel discussed community radio’s role in producing good quality news, resources required, and the challenge for community broadcasters, especially in regional areas

Panellists Amanda Copp (NRN), Tangiora Hinaki (Ngaarda), Louisa Graham (Australian Scholarships Foundation), and host Andrea Ho (JNI) discussed the topic and radioinfo captured some of the key points and references.

Panelists pre-reading:Enhancing and supporting news and journalism in community radio Jon Bissett, CBAA March 2022

Quick definition: ‘news and factual content’ in the community broadcasting context

Reliable, accurate, independent information-based content that strives to be fair and apolitical. The makers and publishers of that content are transparent and accountable.

‘Independent news that is relevant to the community.’

‘information about local developments, local roads, local crime, local schools and medical services. Even the results of your local sporting team.’

‘The Ten Rules For Reporting’ by Alan Sunderland (2022)

Ref. introduction essay for ‘The Ten Rules For Reporting’ by Alan Sunderland (2022)

Draft Plan

Quick definition: ‘news and factual content’ in the community broadcasting context

Reliable, accurate, independent information-based content that strives to be fair and apolitical. The makers and publishers of that content are transparent and accountable.

‘Independent news that is relevant to the community.’

‘information about local developments, local roads, local crime, local schools and medical services. Even the results of your local sporting team.’

What factual content do audiences want and need, and how do stations make good choices about what to provide?

There’s never been more news than we have now. Do communities get enough news from other sources?
Should community radio be competing? comprehensive? or complementing?
Is news in a community radio context just about relaying the day’s events… or is there more to it? Is it important to have the station’s story choice and vision reflected?
What’s the view about newswire ‘rip-and-read’ input? Verification.
Let’s talk about emergencies. 2019-20 highlighted (again) the essential value of community broadcasters in devastated locations – but also the stresses on those stations.
- Rolling news coverage: yes / no? How?
- Resilience: preparation info, recovery info
- Maintaining capability in a volunteer organisation
- Communicating to your audience what you can (and can’t) provide
Not all factual content looks like traditional news and current affairs – some sections of the community don’t want these formats. What are some options and examples of informing the community without news bulletins or caff programs? [Tangiora – Tik Tok]

What is our responsibility to our communities?

All stations have a kind of community contract: it’s laid out in each station’s vision / mission statement. The CBAA defines this as:

“A mission statement is a brief description of your community radio station’s purpose and identifies the scope of what the organisation does…. It is important that the vision and mission reflect the aspirations of the station’s stakeholders, particularly its community of interest.” Do we know of any that mention news? (perhaps an audience Q)

What is a community station’s responsibility to set standards for being accurate, for identifying opinion vs fact? See self-regulation CBAA advice for Codes of Practice
Editorial oversight: developing and communicating editorial guidelines
What is a station’s responsibility to maintain standards?
Are you aware of your accountability under the sector’s self-regulation?

Can we do news and factual content differently and better?

Where are the resourcing opportunities – discuss (we all know and acknowledge there are resource limitations and crunches)
- People – capability > training; availability; obligation
- Funding – sponsors, donors, listener contributions (also partnerships, sharing – see below)
Where are the content opportunities – discuss:
- Micro / hyperlocal news
- Partnering with other local media esp. print/online (how does a not-for-profit vs profit partnership work?) [throw to Claire Stuchbery)
- Mixing in networked content with a community focus; CBAA NRN; FNMA NI;
- Cooperation with ABC during emergencies? What about local commercial station?
What are the publishing choices – discuss:
- On the station: what are some good examples?
- 3^rd party platforms (eg. social media): best practice and pitfalls?
- On-demand?