BY JASON CAHILL
BRISBANE — 4ZZZ FM is a community-based radio station that is famous for the support it gives to progressive movements. It is one of the few media outlets to freely publicise the activities of the anti-war movement. The station also isn't afraid to play music from new local talent.
4ZZZ began as an initiative of the University of Queensland (UQ) Student Union in 1975. Broadcasting alternative political, social and cultural views and openly supporting political struggles was a key feature of the station from the very beginning.
Their time at UQ came to an end with the election of an unfriendly Liberal student union in 1988, which didn't take kindly to its left-leaning broadcasts. They were forcibly removed from the campus and had to battle to find new premises or risk shutting down.
Managing to survive since then with stable lodgings in Fortitude Valley and a permanent licence, the battle today is with the almighty dollar. It costs roughly $5000 a month to keep the station running, with $1000 of that needed just to power the transmitter. 4ZZZ's main source of income is through supporter subscriptions.
Once a year, 4ZZZ runs a Radiothon subscription drive. This year's Radiothon runs from August 1-10. Subscribers are enticed with special prizes, including some very rare material from well-known artists and bands.
In a country with the world's most monopolised media, it's refreshing to know that, like Green Left Weekly, there are still some outlets which remain in the hands of the people and not the corporations.
To ensure these small outlets continue to exist means that their supporters must dig deep to help the fight for a viable independent media. So do it!
You can listen to 4ZZZ in the Brisbane area by tuning to 102.1 FM. You can also subscribe at <http://www.4zzzfm.org.au>.
From Green Left Weekly, July 30, 2003.
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