3CR is a
community radio
Community radio is a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial broadcasting, commercial and public broadcasting.
Community broadcasting, Community stations serve geographic communities and communities o ...
station that broadcasts on the AM band and on the digital spectrum as 3CR Digital in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. It features mainly talk-based programs with political (particularly
trade union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
s) and environmental themes, as well as some music and community language-based programs. Today the station hosts over 130 programs presented by over 400 volunteers.
The radio station is located in
Smith Street,
Fitzroy, Victoria
Fitzroy is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, northeast of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Yarra Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. Fitzroy recorded a population ...
. Initially broadcasting on 837
kHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...
, 3CR now broadcasts on 855 kHz at 2 kW into a directional aerial, from a site at
Hoppers Crossing
Hoppers Crossing is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, central business district, located within the City of Wyndham Local government areas of Victoria, local government ar ...
about 15 km west of Melbourne.
History
The station's broadcasting licence was approved on 10 October 1975, by the Minister for the Media, Dr
Moss Cass. Test broadcasting began on 1 May 1976, and full operation began 3 July 1976 from studios in High Street, Armadale. The station was Melbourne's first such community radio station to obtain a licence.
3CR began
digital broadcasting
Digital broadcasting is the practice of using digital signals rather than analogue signals for broadcasting over radio frequency bands (radio broadcasting). Digital television broadcasting (especially satellite television) is widespread. Digital ...
in 2010. In 2013 the station was part of the "Commit to Community Radio" campaign which successfully convinced the federal government to extend funding for community radio digital broadcasting until 2016. Over 30 shows now publish a podcast on the website.
In 2016, 3CR published a history of the station titled ''Radical radio: Celebrating 40 years of 3CR''.
Controversies
In 1978 ''
The Bulletin'' accused 3CR of being "the voice of terrorism", because of 3CR's support for the Palestinian position in the
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political conflict about Territory, land and self-determination within the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine. Key aspects of the conflict include the Israeli occupation ...
.
A series of meetings between 3CR, the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Public Broadcasting Association took place. As 3CR was not prepared to give in to the demands of the Jewish Board of Deputies, they initiated a full tribunal hearing about 3CR's coverage of the issue. During two weeks of a 'Fight Back' campaign in November, about 1,000 listener sponsors helped distribute nearly 500,000 leaflets throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area, supporting and outlining 3CR's views.
In the mid-1990s, the station was infiltrated by undercover members of the
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian States and territories of Australia, state of Victoria (Australia), Victoria. It was formed in 1853 and currently operates under the ''Victoria Police Act 2013''.
, Victor ...
who pretended to be volunteers to gather information.
[
]
Programming
Special broadcasts
Since its founding, 3CR has done regular live broadcasts from major activist events in Melbourne and beyond, including Occupy Melbourne, the S11 World Economic Forum protests, the Honeymoon Mine occupation, and union campaigns.
Regular special broadcasts include:
*"Beyond the Bars" - an annual broadcast since 2001, by Indigenous prisoners from inside various men's and women's prisons
* Survival Day – hosted by indigenous programmers on 26 January
* Sustainable Living Festival - 3CR holds live forums from the festival every year, including environmental science experts David Suzuki and Clive Hamilton
Clive Charles Hamilton Order of Australia, AM FRSA (born 12 March 1953) is an Australian public intellectual currently serving as Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE) and the Vice-Chancellor' ...
*International Women's Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, commemorating women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. International Women's Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive righ ...
- hosted by women on 8 March
* International Day of People with Disability – 12 hours of programming by and about people living with disabilities on 3 December
*Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day (HRD) is list of minor secular observances#December, celebrated annually around the world on 10 December every year.
The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December ...
– 10 December
Women
In 1986, 3CR became to first radio station in Australia to appoint a paid Women's Officer.[ The station hosts several programmes promoting women's voices in both English and community languages, and feminist current affairs shows. It also promotes training opportunities for girls and women, such as Girls Radio Club.
In July 2013, a program by Clemmie Wetherall from 'Women on the Line' on family violence was recognised by the Eliminating Violence Against Women Media Awards in the category 'Best Radio News / Current Affairs'. Her piece used a well–known Hollywood incident to explore family violence and make it relevant to the ordinary person.
]
Gay and lesbian ( LGBTIQA+)
Gay Liberation (Melbourne) was a founding member of 3CR in 1975, with the Gay Liberation Radio Collective producing their first program, and Australia's first gay radio program, in 1976. The Gay Liberation program was following by the Lesbian and Gay Show, HIV Plus (formerly Positively Primed), In Ya Face, Dykes on Mics, Out of the Pan, and Queering The Air; with lesbian, gay, trans*, and queer issues also covered in current affairs and social justice programming.
Governance
3CR is run by a combination of paid staff, an oversight committee, and over 300 volunteers. Oversight is provided by a Committee of Management made up of 3CR programmers, volunteers and supporters, elected annually. The station is supported by listener donations and fundraising. It does not accept commercial advertising or sponsorship.[
3CR is owned by the Community Radio Federation Ltd. The Federation is made up of representatives of 3CR affiliates, subscribers and station workers. It was formed at a public meeting held at The Pram Factory in Carlton on 23 June 1974.][
]
Awards
3CR has won several awards from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is the peak body and the national representative organisation for community radio and television stations in Australia. The CBAA provide leadership, advocacy and support for members to ac ...
, including:
*(2008) Most Innovative Outside Broadcast or Special Event Broadcast - for live coverage of the National Apology and Convergence
*(2009) Excellence in Digital Media - for the station's new website
*(2009) Contribution to Indigenous Broadcasting - for "Beyond the Bars 5"[
*(2010) Most Innovative Outside Broadcast or Special Event Broadcast - for Disability Day broadcast
*(2011) Excellence in Spoken Word, News and Current Affairs Programming - Earth Matters, an environmental program
*(2012) Excellence in Technical/IT Services - Greg Segal
*(2012) Excellence in Training - Brainwaves, a program about mental illness]
*(2012) Outstanding Volunteer Contribution - Michael Smith
*(2019) Best Radio Program (Talks) - QR Code
Further reading
*
References
External links
3CR official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:3CR Melbourne
Community radio stations in Australia
Radio stations established in 1976
Radio stations in Melbourne