3CR Melbourne

3CR is a community radio station that broadcasts on the AM band and on the digital spectrum as 3CR Digital in Melbourne, Australia. It features mainly talk-based programs with political (particularly trade unions) 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.

3CR
The station's exterior (2009)
Broadcast areaMelbourne RA1
Frequency
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCommunity access
Ownership
OwnerCommunity Radio Federation Limited
History
First air date
3 July 1976 (1976-07-03)
Former frequencies
  • AM: 840 kHz (1976–1978)
  • AM: 837 kHz (1978–1983)
Call sign meaning
Community Radio
Technical information
Licensing authority
ACMA
Power3500 W
Transmitter coordinates
37.886459°S 144.704492°E / -37.886459; 144.704492
Links
Public licence information
Profile
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.3cr.org.au

The radio station is located in Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria. Initially broadcasting on 837 kHz, 3CR now broadcasts on 855 kHz at 2 kW into a directional aerial, from a site at Hoppers Crossing 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.[1]

3CR began digital broadcasting 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4][5] 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.[6]

In the mid-1990s, the station was infiltrated by undercover members of the Victoria Police who pretended to be volunteers to gather information.[5]

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.[7]

Regular special broadcasts include:

Women

In 1986, 3CR became to first radio station in Australia to appoint a paid Women's Officer.[6] 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.[14]

In July 2013, a program by Clemmie Wetherall from 'Women on the Line'[15] 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.[16]

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's studios in 2020

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.[17] The station is supported by listener donations and fundraising. It does not accept commercial advertising or sponsorship.[4]

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.[6]

Awards

3CR has won several awards from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, including:[18][19]

  • (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"[8]
  • (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[20]
  • (2012) Excellence in Technical/IT Services - Greg Segal
  • (2012) Excellence in Training - Brainwaves, a program about mental illness[21]
  • (2012) Outstanding Volunteer Contribution - Michael Smith
  • (2019) Best Radio Program (Talks) - QR Code

Further reading
  • Radical radio : celebrating 40 years of 3CR. 3CR Community Radio. 2016. ISBN 9780646952505.

References
  1. Fox, Juliet (2016). Radical radio : celebrating 40 years of 3CR / 3CR Community Radio. 3CR.org.au. ISBN 9780646952505.
  2. "3CR Melbourne". Commit to Community Radio. Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  3. "Radical radio : celebrating 40 years of 3CR". Trove. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. Boyle, Peter (10 July 1991). "A voice that won't be silenced". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  5. Lallo, Michael (4 June 2009). "No right turn for 3CR in hard times". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  6. "The 3CR Story". 3CR. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. "Special Broadcasts". 3CR. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  8. "Beyond the Bars". 3CR.
  9. "Survival Day". 3CR.
  10. "Sustainable Living Festival". 3CR.
  11. "International Women's Day". 3CR.
  12. "Disability Day". 3CR.
  13. "Human Rights Day". 3CR.
  14. "Girls Radio Club". 3CR. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  15. "Women on the Line". 3CR. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  16. "2013 EVAs Winners". EVAs Media Awards. Eliminating Violence Against Women Media Awards. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  17. "Staff and committees". 3CR.
  18. "CBAA Awards Past Winners". Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  19. "CBAA Awards 2012: Full List of Winners". RadioInfo. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  20. "Earth Matters". 3CR.
  21. "Brainwaves". 3CR.
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