15 Mar 2022
In milestone news for aspiring culturally diverse and regionally-based journalists across the country, the Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Queensland (Radio 4EB) has today announced successful grant funding from The Walkley Foundation under the Facebook Australian News Fund to open a radio newsroom to train and support community journalists from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, increasing the availability of content relevant to diverse communities right across Australia.
Based in Brisbane, Radio 4EB is Queensland’s only dedicated culturally diverse broadcaster, airing in over 50 different languages across two radio stations (4EB FM and ‘Global Digital’) and an extensive network of combined digital platforms.
The funds will see the Radio 4EB Newsroom, in collaboration with a range of sector partners, including the Community Broadcasting Association Australia (CBAA), the Community Radio Network (CRN), the National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC) and the Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO); train community CALD journalists and publish their work via established public interest journalism platforms such as award winning, national current affairs program ‘The Wire’, Queensland focused current affairs program, ‘Fair Comment’ and new programs such as ‘4EB News’.
4EB’s CEO and Station Manager, Jo Pratt said the project will boost the output of CALD journalists across the industry.
“Our media needs to reflect our communities, not just in terms of relevant content, but also the diversity of voices telling the stories. This support from The Walkley Foundation is an exceptionally exciting opportunity to diversify the journalism landscape across Australia, providing both training for emerging journalists, creation of content from diverse perspectives and platforms for telling those stories to national audiences”.
The training element of this project is very important, with a lot of established journalists getting their start in community media, one of the best ways to start a career in the sector.
The grant will also facilitate the support of journalists in regional communities across the country to produce stories from those regions and showcase them.
Queensland Producer of ‘The Wire’ radio program at Radio 4EB Dr Eduardo Jordan said regional issues are under reported in commercial media, and community radio needs to fill this gap by providing a platform for regional correspondents.
“Regional communities are usually in the media when things like a natural disaster happens, but more issues and stories develop in these communities, so it is important to give a space to local journalists”.
Importantly, the grant will also help ‘4EB News’ to produce daily news and current event explainers in languages other than English, once again ensuring CALD communities have access to pertinent information.
“Radio 4EB is always looking to find new ways to connect with listeners and the wider community across Brisbane and Queensland. The Radio 4EB Newsroom is an initiative designed to not only continue to ensure communities can be kept informed but to simultaneously build in a framework of self-directed capacity for the future” Ms Pratt said.
Operating out of 5 studios via custom-built premises in Kangaroo Point, Radio 4EB is the point of connection where Queensland’s culturally diverse communities, government services, music, news, entertainment, businesses, and community support information – come together.
For more information or interview enquiries please contact:
Evan Alexander – [email protected] | 0415 983 331
More information: