Girl Power Award 2014 : Promoting Community Radio Broadcasters in Contributing Rural Women Empowerment

Dhaka, Tuesday, 25 November, 2014 : Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is  going to honor 5 Community Radio Stations for their outstanding contribution in championing girls and young women empowerment issues.The upcoming event will also be intended to provide a ‘Certificate of Appreciations’ among all participated Community Radio Stations.

Girl Power Award of BNNRC has initiated to motivate Community Radio Broadcasters(CRB) in Bangladesh to contribute in reducing gender discrimination at their own communities. The awarding process has been started from 1^st October, 2014. The event was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) in collaboration with Plan International Bangladesh.

The objective of organizing this event was to encourage the Community Radio Broadcasters(CRB) and engage  them to contribute in producing various effective radio programs on ‘success and achievements of girls and young women’. The program producers and journalists from 14 community radio stations participated  in this contest. The theme of this event was : ‘Beause I am a Girl !’ . All the 14 Community Radios sent their programs and features based on this theme. The contest took place in two categories:

Category one:   Produce an audio magazine program (upto 15 mins duration) on a success story of a girl or young women.

Category two:   Feature/ report writing on any success story of a girl or young woman within 1500 words.

All 14 CR Stations participated in the contest under category one (audio magazine programs), where as 15 CR reporters from  11 CR Stations participated in category two (feature/ report writing) in this event.

Ms Nibedita Ahmed Tuli, Deputy Director (External Service), Bangladesh Betar, Mr.Qadir Kollol, Correspondent, BBC, Bangladesh, Mr Amin Al Rasheed, Editor, Community Media facilitated the event as a Jury Board Member.

According to the judgement of a three-member jury panel, the winners of this contest under category one (the audio magazine program) are :

Community Radio Padma 99.2 - 1st for Magazine program ‘Adommo’. This program was made based on various success stories of women. The program specially focused on the educational field of women. In magazine format, the program of 15 minutes duration was produced a folk song ‘Gambhiraa’ and with a drama, radio reporting on a woman, who won over the battle of her life.

Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 - 2nd for Magazie Program ‘ Shustho Maa, Shustho Shishu”. This program was made to sensitize the community about the needs and benefits of taking proper care of women during their pregnancy period and the role of her other family members was the prime theme of this program. The program included a radio report on spot visit, drama and talkshow with some concerned specialists.

Community Radio Radio Chilmari 99.2 - 3rd For Magazine Program ‘Shafollo Gatha’. This program was made based on a girl with disabilities -- Najmin, who achieved GPA 4.5 in recently published  Primary School Certificate exam result despite of her both paralyzed hands.This program covered her indomitable spirit to address any kind of challenges which can be inspiring to the other girls in the society.

The winners of this contest under category two (the Features or Reports) are 1st,   Mahfuj Faruque, Head of News, Community Radio Borendra 99.8 - for a feature  ‘Naam Taar Nishat Ara Chandona’. This inspiring story of a women, Nishat Ara who struggled throughout her life to achieve her own success. Nishat not only succeed in her own battle but she also initiated to rehabilate atleast 500 destitute women under an income generating initiative.

2nd Sabiha Islam, Producer, Community Radio Nalta 99.2 for a story ‘ Ami Meye Bolei Shoite Paree’ This success story is concentrated with a a ‘Baag Bidhoba’ (usally a woman, who’s husband is killed by a tiger is called ‘Baag Bidhoba at her own locality), named Jamirun. A victim of a child marriage then widow and again another disaster “Aaila’, which took away all of her last goods. But nothing could stop her. The born-fighter Jamirun again started her battle against poverty cycle and finally came out.  

3rd Abida Sultana, Fellow, Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 ‘Daridro Bijoyee Rina Begum’er Ghure Daranor Golpo’. Begum’er Ghure Daranor Golpo’. This case story is based on an another winner girl, who was a surviver with repeated disaster, like Sidor, Aila, Mohasen etc. But because of her strong spirit, she had overcome all these barriers. From this story, we can be inspired to see the ways she had achieved her success in life and take care of her family members as well.

The winners of this event will be awarded crest and certificate through a ceremonial event of BNNRC. All participating CRSs will also get ‘Certificate of Appreciation’. BNNRC will announce the name of the winners and date of the event “Awarding the CR Journalists, for Their Best Practice” within a short notice.

Bazlu

________________________

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[In Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations]
 
House: 13/3, Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207|  Bangladesh|
Phone: +88-02-9130750| 9101479 | Cell: +88 01711881647 
Fax: 88-02-9138501 | E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net | bnnrcbd@gmail.com | 

www.bnnrc.net

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) represents the community electronic media [Community Radio | Community TV | Community Film]sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media, Academia and Development Partners from 2000. BNNRC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2010 & accredited with UN World Summit on the Information Society.

We are pleased to sending herewith the

web link

 

on 

booklet titled Our Voice Our Power: Empowering Women through Community Media in Bangladesh a publication that presents highlights in the professional and personal achievements of 12 young women that recently completed a community media fellowship at community radio stations. The program was designed and implemented by BNNRC in cooperation with 11 community radio stations and supported by Free Press Unlimited.   

https://www.scribd.com/doc/247913139/Our-Voice-Our-Power-Empowering-Women-Through-Community-Media-in-Bangladesh

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters within 4.6 million rural people in 67 upazillas under 13 districts.

BNNRC has initiated a process to explore the future of development cooperation and the role of electronic community media over the next 15 years, and we already have a new challenge! We have already started Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) & Community Media Newsletter   for building capacity of electronic community media sector.

We invite you to join in our STRUGGLE! We hope you are - or will become one of our future supporters for promoting electronic community media in rural Bangladesh.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your invaluable contribution towards BNNRC, which is a key to our success in line with community electronic media for development (CEM4D) in Bangladesh.

With best regards, 

Bazlu

________________________

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[In Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations]
 
House: 13/3, Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207|  Bangladesh|
Phone: +88-02-9130750| 9101479 | Cell: +88 01711881647 
Fax: 88-02-9138501 | E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net | bnnrcbd@gmail.com | 

www.bnnrc.net

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communivation(BNNRC) tribute to Zane Ibrahim

UNICEF - Meena Media Award 2014: Four Community Radio Stations in Bangladesh won the award

UNICEF - Meena Media Award 2014:

Four Community Radio Stations in Bangladesh won the award

UNICEF Bangladesh has honored four community radio stations for their outstanding contribution in championing child rights during the 10th Meena Media Award 2014.

Four Community Radio stations of Bangladesh received this award in “Radio category” are: Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2, Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2, Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2 and Community Radio Borendro 99.2.

Meena, is an animated cartoon character who symbolizes a change agent and advocates the cause of children across South Asia. The 10th award ceremony brought children’s voices to the forefront through a colourful cultural event. An eight member expert panel of judges comprising of creative writers, veteran media professionals and academics assessed each entry through a strict marking process where the names of the participants were replaced by a specific code number

H E Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, UNICEF Representative, Pascal Villeneuve and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador & Film Actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi presented the awards to the winners at a ceremony held in Dhaka in the presence of media representatives, children and other distinguished guests.

Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 has achieved the 1^st position in Radio Category on broadcasting an investigative report titled: “the children of ASRAYAN (the govt shelter village) program found less interested to come to the school.”The second prize was jointly shared by community radio Pollikontha 99.2 and Radio Bikrampur 99.2 for producing investigative reports on the children deprived of primary education and their way of using slang songs in day-to-day lives. Besides,Radio Bikrampur 99.2 won the 3^rd prize to produce and broadcast report on the life of Harijan- Dalits Community children. In creative media category Radio Borendra 99.2 won the 1^st prize for making a radio drama on the lives of Street Children. 

The radio stations were awarded taka 50,000(Around 600 US $) 25,000 (Around 300 US $) and 15,000 (Around 200 US $) according to their positions in order, along with a crest and certificate to each winner. 

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community media with other organizations since its emergence from 2000. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio and community TV access issue for helping to bridge the information gap of rural Bangladesh.

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters. Already the Community radio programs have been widely accepted among the local community.14 community radio stations presently covers more than 4.6 million listeners.

The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is congratulating UNICEF Bangladesh and our winning Community Radio stations.

Community Radio Stations Logo in Bangladesh

About Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC)

Community Radio Station in Bangladesh - MAP

Community Media News Agency- CMNA Bangladesh

Community Television in Bangladesh

South Asia Network for Community Media Mooted

Community media practitioners and advocates from South Asia came together at the University of Hyderabad to form a South Asia Network for Community Media (SANCOM) on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Organised by the UNESCO Chair on Community Media, with support from UNESCO, the one-day consultation saw participation from about 30 representatives of organizations such as the Community Radio Forum (India), Community Radio Association (India), the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (Nepal), the Bangladesh Network of NGOs for Radio and Communication (Bangladesh), the Sri Lanka Development Journalists’ Forum (Sri Lanka), besides a few community radio stations from India.

Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 Awarded Family Planning Media Award 2014 in Bangladesh

Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 Awarded Family Planning Media Award 2014 in Bangladesh

Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 has been awarded Family Planning Media Award-2013-14 in Radio Category jointly with Bangladesh Betar in a nation-wide competition organized by Directorate of Family Planning of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the support of UNFPA. Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 took part in the competition with their 2-part Investigative spot radio reports.

Both the awardees-Jhenuk and Bangladesh Betar will receive the award in a program scheduled to be organized at Bangabandhu International Conference Center at Dhaka, on the occasion of observing world Family Planning day on July 11, 2014.Each of the awardees will receive a crest, certificate and a cheque of taka 25,000 as prize amount.

Mohammed Nasim, MP honorable Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will attend as Chef Guest in the awarding ceremony.

Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 has been initiated from Jhenaidah district of Bangladesh and now in operation in Pabahati, Jhenaidah.

There are 39 Young youth and youth women working with community Radio Jhenuk and now broadcasting 10 hours program per day. The station covers around 4 lac listeners of 4 Upazila in Jhenaidah district.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for radio and Communication (BNNRC) have been struggling for the last 12 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, Community Television and Community film) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless people. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio & community TV access issue for over a decade, almost since its emergence in the year 2000.

The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters. Another 18 community radio will start community broadcasting by December 2014.

Community Media in Bangladesh: Community Radio Stations Map in Bangladesh

Community Media in Bangladesh: Community Radio Stations Map in Bangladesh

Community Radio Stations Map in Bangladesh

Voices of the Rural People through Community Radio in Bangladesh

Community media are widely recognized by governments, international development agencies, and civil society organizations alike as key agents of participatory development. Their reach and practices are a unique way of reaching and involving people. This is particularly true of community radio, the most prevalent of all community media, which is a vital alternative both to state owned and commercial private radio. Community radio‘s affordability and reach make it a powerful agent of social change.

Recognition of community radio as a legitimate and key element in development efforts and the potential to empower marginalized and disenfranchised communities, has pushed a number of countries to introduce laws and regulations that acknowledge community radios as a distinct media sector. In those countries an enabling environment for community radios has been created.

Despite these advances, challenges persist at global and regional level and in their joint 2010 statement the four international special UN mandated rapporteurs on freedom of  expression expressed their concerns at the lack of specific legal recognition of the community broadcasting sector in licensing systems which are based on criteria that are appropriate to this sector as well as the failure to reserve adequate frequencies for community broadcasters or to establish appropriate funding support mechanism .

The Ministry of Information Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has declared Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008, which was the citizens’ expectation since the year 1998. Accordingly in April, 2010, Ministry of Information has approved 14 Community Radio Stations to operate for the first time in the country.

After the approval of license Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has allocated frequency and then the Community Radio stations started broadcasting from 2011.

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters

These programs are quite supportive to the activities reflected in 6th 5-year plan of Government of Bangladesh, UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan, and UN Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) and UN Convention Against Corruption (UN CAC)

The success of the 1st batch of Community Radio stations has earned appreciation from all levels because of their commendable success. For that we give our thanks to those initiating organizations.

We are also giving thanks to the Ministry of Information that it is because of their good intention and sincere efforts which made possible a full-fledged community radio policy, the only one in South East Asia. India has got only a Guideline to operate Community Radio stations, while Nepal does not have any of this kind. In 2012 Ministry of Information has declared National Strategy for Community Radio to support implementation of Community Radio Installation, broadcast and Operation Policy.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community radio with other organizations since its emergence from 2000. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio and community TV access issue for over a decade, helping to bridge the information gap of rural Bangladesh.

 The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news & building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh. 

We have now started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up Community Television for Development. We hope that, community television will come into being within a short time in Bangladesh.

In this context the present status of community radio stations regarding social, economic and institutional sustainability can be pointed as below:

Social Sustainability:

i.          Management Committee formed at 14 Community Radio station level

ii.         Advisory Committee formed for each station that included UNO and Additional District Commissioner

iii.        2115 Listeners Clubs formed at CR Station level

iv.        The present number of CR listeners is around 46,47,000

v.         People of 67 Upazila under 13 districts now listen Community Radio Programs

Sustainability at Govt. level:

i.          Ministry of Information declared Community Radio Installation, broadcast and operation Policy 2008.

ii.         Ministry of Information prepared and declared Community Radio Strategy 2012

iii.        Digital Bangladesh Strategy Paper-prepared by the Prime Minister’s Office

iv.        Charter of Chang 2008

Institutional Sustainability

i.          Presently 14 community radio stations are broadcasting different stations

ii.         Every day all the stations are broadcasting a total of 109 hours program

iii.        Code of Conduct for Community Radio formulated

iv.        Gender Policy for Community Radio prepared and published

iv.        Human Resource Development Policy formulation for Community Radio Stations (in process)

v.         Financial Management Policy formulation (in process)

Economic Sustainability

i.          Non-Profitable business model (under process)

ii.         Funding of development partners

iii.        Facilitation of Initiating organization

iv.        Formulation and Implementation of Development Advertisement Policy

v.         Sharing allocation of local and national budget/s.

vi.        Community Radio Development Fund creation and operation.

Potentials of Community Radio in Bangladesh

a.         Community Radio has created scope for the poor and marginalized community to raise their own voice; it becomes the voice for the voiceless. This neo-media outlets opened scope to establish their rights of Information and communication in social, political, cultural and environmental arena.

b.         Scope widened for poverty reduction and sustainable development because of the rights to raise voice of the community and accessibility to knowledge and information.

c.         Scope opened for exchange of dialogue between local elected representatives, govt. and NGO professionals for the sake of establishing good governance. 

d.         Direct linkage established between the community and the main sectors reflected in MDGs and 6th 5-year plan.

e.         Scope created for Social debate, inclusion and preservation of cultural diversity by ensuring the inclusion of the marginalized community.

f.          Community Radio is now able to play more active role in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) due to establishment of effective linkage between the govt. departments and local/rural community.

Already the Community radio programs have been widely accepted among the local community.14 community radio stations presently covers more than 4.6 million listeners. This journey was not a bed of roses, we are to cross ups and downs-everyday we are to face newer challenges.  

The Community Radios are becoming an active ground for organizing dialogues at rural level. These dialogues will help the rural mass to find out their own voice and ensure leverage their free opinion in respect of social, economic, political ,cultural and environmental issues

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​

Bazlu

________________________

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council]
 
House: 13/3, Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207|  Bangladesh|
Phone: +88-02-9130750| 9101479 | Cell: +88 01711881647 
Fax: 88-02-9138501 | E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net | bnnrcbd@gmail.com | 

www.bnnrc.net

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication represents the community media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication

Field 1

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication represents the community media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners. 

                                                          

BNNRC’s work has a strategic emphasis and the organization was been intensely involved in Community Media sector with Government, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and other strategic bodies.

BNNRC's outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating Knowledge for Development.  Our working strategies are:

·         Communicating on the Public Sphere

·         Communicating Knowledge

·         Civil Rights in Communication

·         Cultural Rights in Communication.

Field 2

Vision: BNNRC does like to see the rural people have the easy, quick and low cost access to global communication so that they are enriched and updated by knowledge.

Mission: BNNRC organize strategically important activities, studies, and advocacy so that the population of the rural areas will have easy, manageable and low cost communication facilities.

Field 3 

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters

Potentials of BNNRC program

Community Radio has created scope for the poor and marginalized community to raise their own

voice; it becomes the voice for the voiceless. Scope widened for poverty reduction and

sustainable development because of the rights to raise voice of the community and accessibility

to knowledge and information. Scope opened for exchange of dialogue between local elected

representatives, govt. and NGO professionals for the sake of establishing good governance. 

Community Radio is now able to play more active role in Disaster Risk

Reduction

Field 4

By having the Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2010, BNNRC has been intensely working to contribute in achieving UN Mandates.

All of its programs and projects are dedicated specifically to support the WSIS Action Plan-C9 and UN Convention against Corruption (UN CAC). It has been implementing projects in partnership with UNSECO, UNICEF and FAO for the growth of community media sector in Bangladesh. Other than implementing capacity enhancement projects for community media

BNNRC is observing World Press Freedom day and World Radio day  every year and organize different programs like seminar, talk show, rally in partnership with community radio stations, government ministries and CBOs at local and national level. All of these programs highlight and reflect the theme and mandates of UN and thus contribute in promotion of UN objectives.

Field 5

BNNRC has joined in UN CSTD meeting in the year 2011.  

Field 6 

In recent years, BNNRC has successfully implemented a couple of projects under financial and technical assistance some of those:

i.                    Empowering Communities: Strengthening and Building Capacity of the Community Radio in Bangladesh (September 2010-December 2011)-supported by UNICEF Bangladesh.

ii.                  Small Scale Funding for consultation with Radio                Listeners Groups

And the Community (26 June 2012- 31 July 2012) - supported by UNICEF Bangladesh.

iii.                Capacity Building of Community Radio Personal in Bangladesh (April 2010- December 2010) – supported by UNESCO India (IPDC).

iv.                Enhancing Rural         Communication Services for Agricultural Development through Community Rural Radio (December 2010-December 2011)-supported by FAO.

v.                  Flagship UN Action for Community Radio in Bangladesh (ended in November 2013) – supported by UNESCO IPDC

Field 7   

All the initiatives taken by BNNRC essentially comply with Millennium Development Goals. By using the community media effectively, its activities particularly target to contribute in achieving the goal of  4.6 million people.

BNNRC translated MDGs in Bangla and publish it in booklet and handbook on community radio. Still BNNRC is providing capacity building related support on MDG to the all community radio station.

BNNRC is now in a process  on post-2015 MDGs to SDGs in line with UN thematic perspectives.

 Field 8    

The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

Dhaka Bangladesh 8 May 2014

H E Joe Hockey MP

Hon’ble Treasurer of Commonwealth of Australia

House of Representatives

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Subject:           Regarding Ensure a Future for Community Broadcasting by making sure Funding to Community Radio Stations is not cut in the upcoming Budget - or anytime in the future in Australia.

Dear Hon’ble Minister,

Greetings from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

BNNRC is in special consultative status with Economic and Social Council of United Nations.

BNNRC represents the community media sector (Community radio, Community TV and Community film) to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners in Bangladesh.

We know how vital community radio stations are for millions of Australians like us in Bangladesh, which is why we are so concerned about the Commission of Audit's recommendation that funding for the Community Broadcasting Program be abolished.

Without funding, our community radio stations could be forced off air. We would be very happy if you to ensure a future for community broadcasting by making sure funding to our community radio stations is not cut in the upcoming budget - or anytime in the future.

Community radio provides vital content for so many different communities, especially Indigenous, ethnic, seniors, youth, the vision impaired, religious, and the arts. We can't afford to lose any of the stations who provide the local content that commercial and public broadcasters can't or won't cater for.

We are hopeful that you and the Federal Government can see the Commission of Audit's recommendation for what it is - a sure fire way to undo the vital work community broadcasting has done to promote the identities of local communities and the invaluable contribution it makes to social inclusion.

With over five million Australians tuning in every week, community radio is integral to Australia's broadcasting landscape. It's critical for media diversity, specialist programming and promoting local Australian content. Government cuts to funding would cripple the community broadcasting sector's operations and development and leave millions of Australians without access to the media content they rely on.

Please commit to keeping our community radio stations on air in Australia.

With best regards,

AHM Bazlur Rahman- S21BR

Chief Executive Officer | ceo@bnnrc.net