Activist Radio Panel hosted by Fran Dyson >> Amplify: Story, Resistance, Radio
Event description
PANEL: Activist Radio (hosted by Prof Fran Dyson)
12pm Saturday 21st October, 2023
As part of the public program for AMPLIFY: STORY, RESISTANCE, RADIO an exhibition at Tin Sheds Gallery (148 City Road, Darlington Sydney) running from Oct 5—Nov 18
This is a panel on how community radio can be an integral resource for activist groups across a range of campaigns, cause and projects, using our organisation - Blue Mountains Unions and Community (BMUC) as an example. The focus will be on 1) the ways in which our weekly radio show "Rights, Rorts and Rants" has integrated with other projects of the BMUC such as Politics in the Pub, our annual 'Sing it Say it: Activist Fest Talent Quest", local and state pre-election coverage, and ongoing community campaigns 2) the show's importance in maintaining solidarity during lockdowns 3) it's role as a networking hub for various groups and 4) it's role in supporting local political musicians, writers, poets and artists.
Panel featuring Deb Smith, (Secretary of BMUC and founding member of Rights, Rorts and Rants), Fran Dyson (producer and writer on activist/experimental radio and sound ), Nick Franklin ( 2JJ in Sydney in the 70’s, freelance and staff producer on Radio National working on a variety of feature and documentary programs and EP of the Breakfast program.) and Mike Holland (lawyer and legal academic for 40 plus years. and researcher/presenter specialising in corruption and government accountability).
About the panelists:
Mike Holland Spent several years in the merchant navy before drifting into law in late 70’s. Lawyer and legal academic for 40 plus years. Lifelong member of various trade unions included role as union branch president College of Law. Member of BMUC and legal commentator for Rights Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains
Nick Franklin worked for many years in radio and television in the UK and Australia. He was among the first journalists to work on 2JJ in Sydney in the 70’s where he was one of a team that started the Prisoners Program. He’s been a freelance and staff producer on Radio National working on a variety of feature and documentary programs and as EP of the Breakfast program. Nick lives in Katoomba and has been a member for the BMUC for over 20 years. A lifelong trade unionist, he’s been a member of the NUJ, the MEAA and the CPSU.
Debra Smith grew up in Sydney and has called the Blue Mountains home since the mid-1990s. Retired now, she has worked in many industries with the longest and most recent being 25 years with Centrelink in a customer service role. She became involved in community radio in 2019 via Radio Blue Mountains
Fran Dyson has worked in various community radio stations over 3 decades (including 3xxx Canberra, Radio Skid Row, Radio Redfern, 2SER fm, Davis Community Television (Davis,California) and currently Radio Blue Mountains) and has produced experimental sound features for the ABC's audio arts program 'the Listening Room'.