New sessions for CBAA Conference to touch on fake news, podcasting and community engagement

In a short 7 weeks, we'll be enjoying the beautiful Gold Coast and company of hundreds of community broadcasters at the CBAA Conference.

Following our keynote address by Tania de Jong on Friday, 10 November, we'll be well and truly into the program, which includes a debate, workshops, plenary, Media Lab and more. See below for the latest sessions to be announced!

The Importance of Radio in 'Media-Dark' Areas

In Australia, news is valued and journalism enjoys professional respect - but it’s not like that everywhere. Since leaving AFTRS and starting AMT seven years ago, Steve Ahern has been working with news media in countries in the throes of war and unrest such as Afghanistan and ‘media-dark’ areas of the world. In this session, hear what happens when news media is under threat, when fake news is used to destabilise countries and the important role of radio in such challenging media environments.

Presented by Steve Ahern, international broadcast training consultant, broadcaster, author and media commentator and board member of the Community Broadcasting Foundation. 

Should You Make a Podcast?

What’s really involved in making a successful podcast? Are they really different to radio programs? How can you help your podcast rise to the top and cover complex or niche topics? What do audiences and the platforms need? How do you turn your ideas into online and real life events? Join the folks behind some of community radio’s most successful podcasts to learn from their experience.

Presented by Emma Lancaster (Executive Producer, Just Words, 2ser, The Wire, Radio National) and Bec Fary (Supervising Producer and Victorian State Coordinator, All the Best, SYN Media + more). Moderated by CBAA Vice President and General Manager of 2ser Melanie Withnall.

Engaging with Indigenous and Ethnic Communities

Community radio has an important role to play in cultural celebration and preservation for all Australians, including Indigenous Australians and those who’ve travelled from other countries to call Australia home. Stations of all communities of interest can engage these groups in their program-making to give a voice to those under-represented in other media and share their language, music and stories to help nurture strong cultural identities and broaden understanding in the wider community. In this workshop, learn more about the benefits of engaging with people in Indigenous and ethnic communities and the benefits of doing so for your station and community.

Presented by Chris Roper (SIAC member at CBF, previously Australian Indigenous Communications Association, 2XX + more), Charitha Dissanayake (PhD researcher in ethnic broadcasting at Deakin University, Board Member at 3MDR).

Find out more about the conference and register now.