By Kyla Slaven
We all know about the railing, nasty and simplistic messages put forward by commercial radio, television and print media in Australia. News and current affairs are presented as objective, "natural" reporting of the "most important events of the day". They absolutely refuse to acknowledge that they are constantly and actively making narrow political choices, as well as stifling discussion of alternatives and opposing world views. It is a march towards total Ray Martinism.
The struggle against right-wing, fear-inducing, apathy-breeding media mush comes in many forms ... as you're no doubt aware since you're reading one example of it. Protests, consumer boycotts, and grass roots, word of mouth organising or lobbying for stricter media ownership rules and regulatory mechanisms are just some of the approaches, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
One of the most powerful ways of saying "No" is to actively support alternative community radio. It's an aural world much more interesting than those radio stations with only stuff to sell or business interests to placate.
Across Australia there a more than 200 stations broadcasting non-commercial, local, accessible radio. Their differences reflect the different communities they are part of — politically radical or conservative, lesbian and gay, suburban or rural, or the 30-odd broadcasters to remote Aboriginal communities.
One program on one of these stations is Mutiny which broadcasts weekly on Radio 2SER-FM in Sydney.
Mutiny is a program devoted to exploring conflict, protest and activism in its many forms. In the mainstream media these issues are reported, at best, as isolated "events": a forest blockade is in process; anti-roads protesters are arrested; Aboriginal negotiators are in parliament lobbying for radical change to the Wik legislation; Police estimate rally numbers, organisers estimate rally numbers.
Mutiny works from the premise that it's vital to understand the social, economic and political relations that create, nurture and empower movements for change.
The program is more interested in questioning the strategic assumptions and actions of a movement and the way in which those groups deal with powerful oppositional forces. Many of the lessons of anti-tobacco industry activists are useful for activists campaigning against large mining companies, for example.
Mutiny is a forum for building on knowledge accumulated over the years, in different parts of the world and across diverse groups and movements.
In recent weeks, Mutiny has broadcast former Black Panther Lorenzo Irvin's talk in Redfern, Sydney. We've spoken with a student activist from the Philippines about protest strategies. We've explored the deal by multinational tobacco companies with attorney's general in the US and discussed the tactical naivety of the Australian health industry with a former activist in the anti-tobacco group BUGAUP.
We've discussed many other vital issues and need your support to continue doing so. Mutiny survives through the hard work of its predominantly volunteer work force of 400, and through the financial contributions from it's listeners and supporters.
Please tune in and become a member of 2SER-FM during the station's annual membership drive, September 20-27 by phoning (02) 9514 9500.