Sector Roundtable - August 2020

The Community Broadcasting Sector Roundtable, chaired by the CBAA, met for the second time digitally in August 2020.

As the pandemic continues to cause challenges for our sector – financially, logistically, and on our people’s mental health – the sector has also never been more valued. Stations are connecting communities, broadcasting factual and up-to-date health messaging and comforting and entertaining those most isolated. Recognising the sector’s shared challenges and opportunities, the August 2020 Roundtable discussed the way forward to support station resilience – through funding, training, connection and collaboration.

The Roundtable discussed a number of issues, including:

• COVID-19’s continued impact on stations. The sector remains impressively resilient in the face of the pandemic, with JobKeeper and other Government support, including CBF funding, being vital for supporting station operations in the face of reduced income.
• The CBAA and CBF continue to work with Government to secure increased funding for the sector to support them through this crisis, as well as ensuring community radio stations are best utilised in the distribution of Government health messaging.
• The CBF is undertaking a review of how it funds and invests in station and sector resilience.
• And updates were shared regarding community TV’s future; NEMBC’s support for multilingual communities in Melbourne’s social housing towers; First Nations Media Australia’s measures to support First Nations media organisations’ mental health; RPH Australia’s future in championing disability radio; and Christian Media and Arts Australia successful pivot to an online Conference, delivering increased support to its members.

The Roundtable consists of representatives from:

• The Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA)
• Christian Media & Arts Australia (CMAA)
• The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
• First Nations Media Australia (FNMA)
• The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC)
• RPH Australia (RPHA), and
• The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF)

The Roundtable will meet again in April 2021.

Pictured: (Top L to bottom R): Jon Bisset (CBAA); Holly Friedlander Liddicoat (CBAA); Russell Anderson (NEMBC); Irene Bayldon Tavutavu (NEMBC); Scott Black (RPHA); Nick Ingram, Facilitator; Ian Hamm (CBF); Stephen O’Doherty (CMAA); Claire Stuchbery (FNMA); Jo Curtin (CBF); Catherine Liddle (FNMA); Shane Dunlop (ACTA); Nathan Brown (CMAA); Phillip Randall (CBAA).