The digital disruption of news and current affairs in the community broadcasting sector: An Australian perspective

Abstract

Changes in digital innovation have directly affected community radio broadcasting in Australia, thanks to the rapid growth of digital technologies. There is no denying the impact of digital disruption on community radio stations more broadly, as well as on the ways community radio programs are now produced, and the choices made about programming; even if we limit our attention to the production of news and current affairs. This paper maps the increased opportunities that digital disruption brings for community radio broadcasting in Australia to produce and disseminate news and current affairs content. More to the point, it draws on publicly available data to outline current trends in accessing syndicated news and current affairs programming within the Australian community radio sector, and considers both the consequences and repercussions of these increased opportunities. With the peak body for Australian community broadcasting – the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia – about to launch its Enhanced National News Project, this paper is timely and, while perhaps raising as many questions as it gives answers, it aims to highlight potential avenues for future research in this area.