Hallmarks of Access Radio
What is access radio? What distinguishes access radio from other local and community radio services?
These are common questions and in response, we have drawn up a (not necessarily exclusive) list of the characteristics of access radio, the features that make access radio different.
Our list of the "hallmarks of access radio" goes like this:
- Characterised by programmes made by the community as opposed to programmes made for the community.
- The programme is put together by non-profit community groups and individuals, not professional broadcasters.
- Editorial control resides with the community programme makers (subject only to the laws of the land and codes of broadcasting practice defined in the Broadcasting Act and promoted by the Broadcasting Standards Authority), not with the station.
- Anybody and everybody in the community is a potential programme maker, regardless of colour, race and creed.
- Special emphasis is given to programmes by groups in Section 36(c) of the Broadcasting Act - women, youth, children, people with disabilities and minorities in the community, including ethnic minorities.
- Access radio gives a voice to those in the community whose voice is not heard elsewhere on the airwaves.
- Access radio is "like a blank sheet of paper which community groups write their own words upon until the page is full".
- Two-thirds of the station's income may come from NZ On Air but the other one-third comes "from the community", principally by way of payments made by programme makers for airtime. Local community grants are another important source of income but income from advertising is insignificant.
- The programme comprises material not duplicated elsewhere on radio. Access radio does not sound like regular commercial radio, either in terms of the music played or the programming policies and practices.
Police dog and friends visiting Southland's Community Access station (Picture courtesy Southland Times)
