COVID-19 Special Edition

Hi all,

Right now we are in an unprecedented and challenging time for our society, our communities and our stations. Community radio stations across the country are feeling the financial strain from the flow on effect of local businesses and supporters losing revenue, as well as from the decimation of music and arts industries. But importantly, stations also report their enhanced role in their communities at this time – and community radio’s enduring power to comfort the most lonely, the most isolated, and the most vulnerable.

The CBAA is working hard to secure an update on whether community radio, and the media more broadly, will be designated “essential services” in each state and territory. With many stations moving to broadcast remotely or partially remote, this will ensure that if there is a nationwide lockdown, stations will remain accessible for one or two people at a time. Whether this is a tech in the case of an outage, or a solo presenter in the studio, stations will need this designation to ensure they can remain on air. Stations will need to continue following Government rules on social distancing and hygiene, now and for the foreseeable future.

While the next few months are uncertain, we don’t want you to feel alone. Please join our Community Radio COVID-19 Facebook group for live updates and to ask questions, and register for our weekly webinars. And of course, call us on 02 9310 2999 if you need support. We are working remotely, but we are here for you.

Best wishes,
Jon Bisset
CBAA CEO

Station Planning -
Coronavirus (COVID-19)

It is imperative we as a sector work together to ensure safety and continued service to our communities. Our focus will be to share information to help you stay on-air and safe while doing so. The CBAA has developed a website resource page providing information that will evolve in accordance with the current situation, so be sure to check back on a regular basis. If you have queries or concerns that are not covered on this page, please contact the CBAA on 02 9310 2999 or email us at support.officer@cbaa.org.au.

Stay on air with CBAA's CRN

The CBAA, through the Community Radio Network (CRN), is pleased to make available the full selection of CRN programming for stations adversely affected by COVID-19. The programming covers talk, engaging music content, current affairs and special events and will help your station remain on air and functioning. CRN are offering stations this content for the next six months so you can get back on your feet and keep your audience tuned in. Contact crn@cbaa.org.au for more.

FREE WEBINAR: Creating Content Remotely - Tomorrow (Thursday)
26 March, 2pm (AEDT)

As we continue to engage with the balance of providing a voice for our community with maintaining safe stations, the capability of recording and producing content from home has never been more important. Register for the latest in our special series of webinars which will look at how producers and presenters can create broadcast quality radio from their own home. Presented with support from the CMTO and NEMBC.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and services

Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, health and wellbeing services, family violence support, counselling and much more. The site is now offering Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and advice on available services.

CSAs available to play

The Australian Department of Health have begun their national awareness campaign for COVID-19, so to help get these informed messages to your listening community, CBAA's CRN is amassing these Community Service Announcements (CSAs) in its delivery systems for stations to add to local airplay.

You can access the CSA packages via this link. We encourage everyone, even if not regular users of CSA campaigns, to distribute this important information to their communities. CRN through the CBAA are happy for this to be shared across the sector, so if you think there is a station or a broadcaster that would benefit from this content, please do not hesitate to share this link with them.

The Informer - LGBTIQ issues to the forefront

At this time, community radio stations play a critical role in delivering their communities informed, factual information while also preventing the social stigma associated with COVID-19. To help keep audiences responsibly up-to-date with material for and by the sector, this week CBAA's CRN introduced The Informer Daily to the schedule from Melbourne's JOY 94.9. Distributing each weekday, the program maintains a national focus to keep community radio informed on the evolving situation.

Continuing production Monday to Friday is The Wire - Independent Current Affairs produced by a consortium of stations 2SER Sydney, Radio Adelaide and Brisbane's 4EB.

And National Radio News continues to bring stations all over the country 84 hourly bulletins each week covering the ongoing situation.

First Sounds Volume Two - entries closing soon

If you are a new and emerging First Nations artist head to indigiTUBE and submit your song by Monday 30 March. Hip hop, roots, RnB, rock, reggae, pop - whatever the style - spread the word! In this innovative series of releases, the CBAA and First Nations Media Australia have teamed up to deliver more new and emerging First Nations music to Australian community radio.

Sumbit your NFDS 2020 entry today!

Self-isolating? Why not use this time to get creative and submit your entry to CBAA's National Features and Documentary Series. Open to all producers based at community radio stations around the continent, this series is an annual showcase of work by new Australian community radio producers. Deadline extended - get your submissions in by Friday 3 April, 9am (AEDT). Questions or trouble applying? Get in touch!

It's uncertain times for a lot of your favourite local artists, so the Aussie music industry has launched Sound Of Silence! Sound Of Silence is a national campaign initiative from the music world asking music fans to donate to Support Act – an Australian music charity that provides crisis relief services to artist crew and workers!

The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Support Act to extend access to its Wellbeing Helpline to community broadcasters and station personnel.

Together, we can help support those who are suffering a severe loss of income that has come with widespread cancellations of festivals, concerts, shows, and local gigs. CBAA CRN subscribers can access the CRN hosted CSAs here.

As part of our ongoing response to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the CBAA staff will be working remotely. There will be no change to our operating hours or how we work. If you need to speak to a member of the team, you can still get in touch in the following ways:

General office phone: 02 9310 2999
Email: office@cbaa.org.au

Do you know someone who would like to keep up to date with the latest sector news by receiving CBAA eNews every fortnight? Direct them to this link to subscribe!

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