Book launch: An Incomplete History of Community Radio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Housed in the basement at 2SER FM in inner-city Sydney, ‘46 boxes of stuff’ were literally in danger of going under (water). Most were uncatalogued, save for some texta marks on (mostly broken) cardboard. We just had to start somewhere, anywhere, so we began with the smallest box nearest to the door then kept going. 

These ‘46 boxes’ and their stories could have really come from any community media outlet. The boxes contain the stories of the station and its people - some have gone on to do great things in industry – others gotten haircuts and real jobs. All represent the unique opportunity community media provides for a diversity of listeners, artists and industry – to explore, innovate and be heard without the need to find a ‘place’ in the commercial industry, necessarily.'

The authors, Liz Giuffre and Demetrius (Dom) Romeo, were joined by Jess Scully and Robbie Buck. 

Demetrius Romeo

Demetrius has spent significant periods documenting the local comedy scene for the street press (Revolver, The Brag), national periodicals (FilmInk, GQ, Australian Style, Juice) and his own blog, http://standanddeliver.blogs.com (archived by the National Library of Australia). He has actively contributing to the comedy industry as a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry judge, Helpmann Comedy Award panellist and ‘hanging judge’ for the national Raw Comedy competition. He has also broadcast extensively about music, comedy and culture for commercial, community and public broadcasters (2GB, ABC, 2SER, FBi). More recently he returned to academia to complete an Honours degree concentrating on the online behaviour of Frank Zappa fans. He helped revive 2SER’s Listening Post with Liz Giuffre, as part of the process that gave rise to An Incomplete History of Community Radio: 2SER’s 46 Boxes of Stuff. Currently he is employed by 2SER as Sponsorship Coordinator, and is between appearances as a professional Santa. He’ll happily take bookings for either after this session.

Dr Liz Giuffre

Liz is a Senior Lecturer in Communication for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Liz teaches into Music and Sound Design and the Communications Core, and her research explores popular music and popular cultures, including audience studies, genre studies and (post) broadcast radio and television. Liz also works regularly in the national independent arts press as a journalist and commentator, including work as the regular contributing editor for Metro Magazine, a regular contributor to Critical Studies in Television, reviewer and interview for The Music and occasional contributor for The Conversation. With Dr Sarah Attfield, Liz is also the co-founding editor of the Journal of Working-Class Studies; and with Dr Shelley Brunt she is the co-producer, writer and host of Music Mothers and Others. Liz also serves as the archivist and podcast projects co-ordinator for Sydney Community radio station 2SER (leading and producing the station's recent 40th anniversary celebrations), and remains committed to current and historic productions for the community and public service sectors especially.