ABC signs MOU and launches ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched ABC Radio Australia on FM in Tuvalu for the first time, marking another milestone in the network’s expansion in the Pacific. Tuvalu audiences can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full suite of Pacific-focused news, music, sport and cultural programming on 102FM.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC), demonstrating the ongoing partnership between the two public broadcasters. The MOU supports future opportunities for the ABC and TVBC to share technical knowledge and content, and recognises each organisation’s respective role providing public interest broadcasting services to their national audiences.

The ABC and TVBC signed the MOU and celebrated the historic launch of the new service at a ceremony in Funafuti, Tuvalu.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman, who co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We are incredibly excited to be commemorating the collaboration between the ABC and TVBC in launching ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu and welcome everyone to enjoy the new FM radio service. The MOU between the ABC and TVBC also marks an important milestone in our partnership, and I look forward to future opportunities for us both to work together in supporting our audiences across Tuvalu and Australia.”

TVBC Managing Director Yvette D’Unienville Isaac, who also co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We welcome the new ABC Radio Australia FM service with open arms and are thrilled to be formalising the excellent relationship that TVBC enjoys with the ABC. We hope the new MOU leads to a greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information and deepens the connections and friendships between our countries.”

ABC Radio Australia has recently expanded its FM transmission footprint to include Nauru, Palau, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and plans to launch in more new locations in coming months including Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Lorengau in Papua New Guinea, and Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

Tuvalu residents can now listen on 102FM to high quality ABC Radio Australia programming including Pacific BeatNesia Daily, Climate Mana, Culture CompassPacific PulsePacific SoulStories from the PacificFresh Off The Field , Nesian Footy, Island Music and Sista Sounds.

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations, or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

About ABC International Services

Since 1939, the ABC has been broadcasting to audiences overseas. The International division reaches an estimated 14,224,065 unique monthly overseas audiences through owned and operated platforms including ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia and ABC websites and apps including ABC Pacific and ABC Asia. The ABC’s international audiences come from all corners of the globe. ABC Australia, the ABC’s international television service available in 37 markets throughout Asia and the Pacific, has a monthly viewership of at least 3,905,050. ABC Radio Australia, the ABC’s international radio service available via FM in the Pacific and Timor Leste, has a monthly listenership of at least 321,225. Outside Australia, ABC websites and apps have an average global monthly usership of 9,997,790 which includes approximately 7,505,085 users across the Americas, Europe and Africa and 1,865,655 users in Asia.

*Figures based on the ABC 2022-23 Annual Report

LiSTNR IS AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 SALES REPRESENTATION NETWORK FOR A RECORD 21 TIMES OUTPACING THE TOTAL MARKET

– Hamish & Andy remains Australia’s no.1 podcast –

LiSTNR has broken new records as Australia’s no. 1 sales representation podcast network nationally^ for 21 of the 23 months since its inception on the Australian Podcast Ranker in July 2022. The LiSTNR sales representatives podcast network reached more than 7.76 million monthly listeners^ in May, an increase of more than 474,000 monthly listeners from April’s ranker results and almost one million listeners ahead of its closest competitor. The LiSTNR Original published podcast network also grew ahead of the market with 254,000 new monthly listeners.

Australia’s favourite podcast, Hamish & Andy also keeps breaking records, once again taking the crown as Australia’s top podcast for the 21st time, reaching 970,415 listeners in May and growing the pair’s audience month on month, according to the Australian Podcast Ranker*.

In addition to Hamish & Andy, many of LiSTNR’s other owned and operated podcast titles grew in monthly listeners** including: Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot, The Briefing, Darling, Shine!, KICPOD, Triple M’s Marty Sheargold Breakfast Show, CommSec Market Update, Crime Insiders, Everyone Relax, Triple M Rocks Footy NRL, Matt and Alex All Day Breakfast, Secrets of a Self-Starter and The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick.

The Briefing achieved its highest ever monthly listeners in May to reach 218,656 monthly listeners in what is an increasingly competitive daily news podcast market.

LiSTNR had 18 podcasts in the top 50 of the Top 200 Australian Podcast Ranker* in May, once again more than double that of its closest competitor.

Popular podcasts in the top 20 included Hamish & Andy, which also claimed the number one comedy podcast, 7am with Schwartz Media, Happy Hour with Lucky & Nikki, It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, Crime Junkie, and SmartLess.

Other titles that moved significantly up the ranker in May included Sit With Us, Crime Insiders, Something Was Wrong, and Prosecuting Donald Trump.

In addition, Secrets of a Self-Starter and Mr Ballen’s Medical Mysteries made their debut on the Top 200 Podcasts ranker, and CounterClock and The Grade Cricketer marked their return to the Top 200.

“It’s great to see such strong growth from our locally co-produced and created podcasts. Hamish & Andy grew their audience month on month.  It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, KICPOD with Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith, The Happy Hour with Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, Darling, Shine! with Chloe Fisher and Ellidy Pullin, and Do you F*king Mind? with Alexis Fernandez show that this group of content creators are starting to really connect with under 35 women, growing their audiences and communities,” Executive Head of LiSTNR Podcasts, Grant Tothill, said.

“To see the growth of The Briefing and Crime Insiders is credit to the team in the competitive News and Crime genres. Today’s results reaffirm LiSTNR’s investment in Australian podcast creators offering advertisers local voices and communities to drive their brand messages.

“It’s encouraging to see the increase in both LiSTNR’s sales and publisher network audiences match the LiSTNR sales results for May as LiSTNR continues to drive podcast sales in Australia. The LiSTNR sales team achieved podcast revenue growth of 40.5% year on year, almost double the total podcast market average of 21.6% and driving market growth, CRA figures showed.”

Sources: *Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – May 2024, ^Australian Podcast Ranker – Top Sales Representatives – May 2024. ^^ LiSTNR owned and operated  published podcast titles. ** All Australian Podcast Ranker – May 2024.

THE HIT NETWORK FIRES UP ITS 2024 METRO WINTER LINE UP WITH JIMMY & NATH AND LUCY & NIKKI TAKING OVER FROM 3PM

The Hit Network today announced its two-week metro winter break line up from Monday, 24 June with fan-favourites Jimmy & Nath taking over Drive and Lucy & Nikki making their weeknight radio debut.

Hit Network’s Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye from The Jimmy & Nath Show are jumping back in the Drive seat to keep the radio airwaves warm across the country. As the nation prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the boys will be sporting their best green and gold, chatting to some of the country’s most recognised Olympians, past and present, each weekday from 3-6pm.

“Well, this is nice that they keep asking us to do this, I guess it means we haven’t screwed it up yet! We love bringing our show to national Drive and gently warming the earlobes of the Winter 3-6pm listeners around the country.”

“As always, we are packing the show with some wild ideas, big guests, plenty of prizes and the classic Jimmy & Nath spin on content. It will be big; it will be infectious and it will be wild this winter because ya boys are back in town!” said Jimmy and Nath.

Bringing their infectious fun are the hugely popular podcast and radio stars, Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott from Hit Network’s Saturday Nights show, Lucy & Nikki and LiSTNR podcast Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki, who will broadcast nationally each weeknight from 7-10pm.

Head of Hit Metro Content and 101.9 The Fox Content Director, Amanda Lee, said: “We are thrilled to have Jimmy & Nath back for Drive and to see podcast powerhouses Lucy & Nikki joining the weekday radio line up for the first time.

“We know how much our listeners love these fun fuelled shows, and we can’t wait to hear them across the country as they heat up the winter break.”

Hear the two-week winter lineup across the Hit Network and on LiSTNR from Monday, 24 June.

 

THE LINE UP
2Day FM – The Fox – B105 – SAFM – Mix94.5
METRO BREAKFAST 6AM – 9AM Local ‘Best Of’ metro Breakfast shows
METRO WORKDAY 9AM – 3PM Local workday line-up and #1 Hit Music
NATIONAL DRIVE 3PM – 6PM The Jimmy & Nath Show
METRO EARLY NIGHTS 6PM – 7PM Local metro Breakfast Show Happy Hour
NATIONAL NIGHTS 7PM – 10PM Lucy & Nikki
NATIONAL LATE NIGHTS FROM 10PM #1 Hit Music

 

About The Hit Network

The Hit Network is Australia’s biggest radio network broadcasting across metro and regional markets with a unique collection of 50 FM and DAB+ stations. The Hit Network targets people aged 25 – 54, skews female and features a mood focused, ‘feel great’ pop music format alongside the most entertaining local breakfast and national drive shows. It is home to popular personalities including Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little, Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola, Nick Cody, Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes, Erin Molan, Abby Coleman, Matty Acton, Stav Davidson and many more.  

The Hit Network entertains more than 6 million Aussie radio listeners across B105, 2Day, The Fox, SAFM, Mix94.5, Sea FM, 41 Hit stations plus DAB+ stations including Oldskool 90s Hits, Buddha Hits, Oldskool 80s Hits, RnB Fridays Radio and Dance Hits. All Hit Network’s content is also available live or on demand on the LiSTNR app. 

New podcast Grand Gestures is the nonna bear hug we all need

Get to the heart of our deepest multicultural Australian relationships – the one with our grandparents!

There’s something special about the nonnas, zeidas and babushkas who have shaped not just the generations that followed them, but Australia itself.

Comedian Lizzy Hoo is the host of SBS’s new podcast Grand Gestures, an interview podcast with 10 notable Australians re-telling family stories and speaking about the special bonds they have with their grandparents.

Hear heart-warming and heart-breaking stories of grandparents who were second parents, confidants, heroes, and custodians of knowledge and traditions.

Grand Gestures is like a warm hug from your grandparents – it’s full of warmth and stories that remind you of your own loved ones,” said Hoo.

“Especially as we get older, we start to realise our grandparents are the keepers of all the family stories and histories.”

A tapestry of multicultural and multilingual Australia, Grand Gestures talks candidly about the triumphs and challenges of settling in Australia, the migrant experience, and multi-generational, cross-cultural family life.

“There’s a lot of laughs, beautiful stories about happy times but also stories of overcoming life’s challenges like illness, disability and discrimination.”

Unique and personal, Grand Gestures has a diverse line-up of guests:

  • Singer Deni Hines talks about growing up in a family of three strong women; her mother pop icon Marcia and her Jamaican grandmother Esme who moved in to help raise Deni when Marcia became pregnant as a teenager.
  • Former Masterchef contestant Alice Zaslavsky shares how her love of gardening, food and teaching comes from her Georgian grandmother.
  • Actress Pia Miranda became a household name through the Australian cult classic, Looking for AlibrandiShe speaks about deepening her connection to her nonno and nonna’s family and religion, including spending her 50th birthday in a Sicilian cemetery.
  • Walkley Award winning journalist Pat Abboud shares the love story behind his grandparents’ arranged marriage and learning Arabic in the kitchen with his teita (grandmother).
  • Singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara reflects on growing up going between her gagu (grandmother) in the Northern Territory learning Dreamtime stories and singing karaoke at her Filipino grandmother’s house.
  • Comedian Emo Majok’s reflects on the legacy of his grandmother, who escaped war-torn Sudan and now has around 50 descendants in Australia.
  • Nadine J. Cohen shares how, after the death of her parents, she and her sister were left with the responsibility of caring for her grandmother who survived the Holocaust, but whose mind returned to that time increasingly as her health declined.

Grand Gestures is available on the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LiSTNR, and wherever you stream podcasts. Grand Gestures was produced in partnership with Deadset Studios.

ABC has the number one news and digital first sport podcast in May

ABC News Top Stories is the number one news podcast and ABC SPORT Daily is the number one digital first sport podcast in the May Triton Podcast ranker released today.

After entering the list last month, ABC News Top Stories has maintained its number 3 position. The ABC also has the 2nd highest ranked news podcast with ABC News Daily climbing 4 ranks to number 11 on the list and adding 16,000 listeners.

ABC SPORT Daily is Australia’s number 1 digital first sport podcast climbing 3 positions to number 27.

This month featured 3 ABC podcasts in the top 20 with Conversations also appearing at number 8.

The ABC has 29 podcasts in this month’s list and is the number 3 publisher, a position we have held for the 6 months since we joined the ranker in December.

ABC Head of Audio Ben Latimer said: “This month we’re celebrating six months as the #1 contributor to the Australian podcast ranker with more titles than any other publisher.”

“When it comes to News & Sports, ABC remains the undisputed leader. ABC News Stream, ABC News Daily and ABC Sports Daily continue to dominate in the May results.”

The full Triton Australian Podcast Ranker can be found here.

Audiences can enjoy all the ABC’s podcasts for free and ad free on ABC listen.

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a regular monthly snapshot of Australia’s most popular podcasts. The Ranker has been reporting podcast listening in Australia since 2019 and includes a wide cross section of Australian podcast publishers, from both radio and non-radio backgrounds.

AUSTRALIAN PODCAST RANKER – MAY

The Australian Podcast Ranker has been released by Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) and Triton Digital. The average number of weekly listeners rose 3.51% in May to 5.9 million – the highest ever monthly listener figure. Below are the top five for May, and the complete charts can be found here.

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcasts May 2024
      Podcast Producer Monthly Listeners
1 Hamish & Andy LiSTNR (SCA) 918,977
2 Casefile True Crime Audioboom 814,928
3 ABC News Top Stories Australian Broadcasting Corporation 668,722
4 Mamamia Out loud Mamamia 547,801
5 Shameless Shameless Media 527,448

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five genres May 2024
     Genre Monthly Listeners
1 Society & Culture 4,481,604
2 News 3,923,573
3 True Crime 3,896,248
4 Comedy 3,866,210
5 Sports 3,482,539

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcast publishers May 2024
     Publisher Monthly Listeners
1 ARN/iHeart 4,645,361
2 LiSTNR (SCA) 3,924,899
3 Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2,321,505
4 Audioboom 2,218,812
5 SiriusXM Podcast Network 1,993,766

 

Top five sales representatives by monthly listeners May 2024
    Sales representatives Publishers represented Listeners
1 LiSTNR (SCA) LiSTNR (SCA), Schwartz Media, SiriusXM Podcast Network, audiochuck, Wondery/DM Podcasts, NBCUniversal News Group 7,767,439
2 ARN/iHeart ARN, iHeartMedia, Audioboom, AdLarge Media, Sport Social Podcast Network, The Investors Podcast Network, All Ears English, Sony Music, Clubby Sports, NZME, TED, The Athletic 6,824,352
3 NOVA Entertainment NOVA Entertainment, News Corp Australia,  Podshape 2,453,177
4 News Corp Australia News Corp Australia 1,674,362
5 Nine Nine Radio / Nine Publishing 1,387,096

About the Australian Podcast Ranker
The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of the top 200 podcasts listened to by Australians, the top 200 Australian podcasts, the 20 biggest publishers and the 20 most successful podcast sales representatives.
The Australian Podcast Ranker is an industry initiative commissioned by CRA and published by Triton Digital. Results comply with IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines.

ABC Radio Hobart number one station for 40+

ABC Radio Hobart is the number one station in reach and station most listened to for audiences 40 years and over in XTRA insights 2024 survey. The station also achieved our highest cumulative reach since 2016.

More than half of the Hobart audience listens to the ABC across our local and national networks. The ABC reaches 142,100 people in Hobart, our highest total network result since 2014 and 52.8% of the available audience in the market.

Audiences choose to start their day with ABC Radio Hobart’s Breakfast with Ryk Goddard, the number one Breakfast program for audiences 40+. Weekends and Evenings on ABC Radio Hobart were also number 1 with audiences 40+ this survey and Leon Compton in Mornings was 2nd in his slot for 40+ audiences.

ABC Radio Hobart Manager Samantha Stayner said: “Every day, we’re covering issues that matter to people right across Hobart and it’s fantastic to be growing our audience.”

“At ABC Radio Hobart we’re proudly local and we’re great company wherever you choose to listen with a fantastic mix of local news, insights, sport and entertainment – we have a lot of fun!”

In addition to the strong results in today’s survey, the ABC has a growing local audience on ABC listen including record-breaking results in March with 42,500 listening to ABC Radio Hobart in the week following the Tasmanian state election.

ABC Classic had a particularly strong survey result increasing their cumulative audience from 18,000 to 31,600 by adding between 4,700 and 7,600 audience to each surveyed session. The station had its highest reach since 2014 and is up 13,600 on 2023.

triple j saw its highest reach since 2014 and is up 7,800 on 2023 to be the number 3 station for 18–39-year-olds in the market.

THE AUDIO EDGE LAUNCHES IN MELBOURNE NEXT MONTH

Get ready to amplify your audio knowledge! Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) is excited to announce The Audio Edge, an event dedicated to exploring the effectiveness of audio in today’s media landscape, happening at The Edge in Melbourne’s Fed Square on Thursday, 18 July.

“We are thrilled to host The Audio Edge, an essential event for media agencies and advertisers who want to optimise their campaigns and learn more about the impact of audio,” said Jo Dick, chief commercial officer of CRA.

“Radio advertising is inherently creative, delivering cost-effective results and driving consumer engagement like no other medium. When combined with podcasting and radio streaming, the opportunities for advertisers are endless,” Ms Dick added.

The event, hosted by Nova’s Jase & Lauren, will feature insights into the latest trends and strategies in audio, all while celebrating the dynamic and evolving audio market. Attendees can look forward to hearing from a stellar lineup of industry leaders, including:

  • Russel Howcroft, Breakfast Co-Host at 3AW
  • Fifi Box, Breakfast Co-Host at 101.9 The Fox
  • Christian O’Connell, Breakfast Host at Gold 104.3
  • Joel Creasey, Drive Co-Host at Nova
  • Jacqui Felgate, Drive Host at 3AW
  • Paul Sinkinson, Managing Director at Analytic Partners
  • Rob Brittain, Marketing Consultant
  • Denise McCormack, Head of Digital/Data & Tech at Hatched Media
  • Nicole Bence, Chief Commercial Officer at Nova
  • Kim Loasby, Head of LiSTNR Ad Product and Operations at SCA
  • Corey Layton, Head of Digital Audio / iHeart Australia at ARN
  • Ben Campbell, Digital Commercial Director at Nine
  • Nikki Clarkson, Chief Marketing Officer at SCA
  • Jo Dick, Chief Commercial Officer at Commercial Radio & Audio

These esteemed speakers will share their knowledge across four dynamic sessions: The Audio Edge – Director’s Cut, Sonic Boom – Digital Audio’s Exponential Growth, Radio – The Ultimate Sidekick, and Giving Brands the Audio Edge. The sessions will explore audio’s role in the marketing funnel, radio’s ROI, and how audio can build relationships and foster brand loyalty.

Attendees can also look forward to an exclusive preview of upcoming audio insights. Audio Edge will run from 9am until 11am. Don’t miss out, spots are filling fast! Register your interest at Audio Edge Melbourne

POSITION: Journalist, 2MCE/National Radio News, Bathurst NSW

  • Reach a national audience of over 1.5 million listeners per week
  • Work from the beautiful Central West city of Bathurst and enjoy a short commute and affordable housing
  • Contribute to an independent and valued national news service

The role

  • 2 positions available, Fixed term (until December 2024)
  • Bathurst
  • 1x Journalist – Full time, 35 h/w
    • Level 4 – $68,892 to $74,785 (plus 17% superannuation)
    • Shift work: 5am to 12pm, 9am to 4pm, or 12pm to 7pm.
  • 1x Journalist – Part time, 14 h/w
    • Level 4 – $27,556 to $29,914 pro rata pa (plus 17% superannuation)
    • Set roster: 5am to 12pm Saturdays and Sundays. Weekend penalties apply.

You will be responsible for producing stories and bulletins for National Radio News. You will produce stories that reflect the principles of community broadcasting, showcasing diverse voices and perspectives and providing insights that aren’t generally reflected in other news outlets.

About you

  • An associate diploma level qualification in journalism or a related discipline with relevant work-related experience or equivalent level of knowledge gained through any other combination of education, training and/or experience.
  • Knowledge of the community broadcasting sector audience
  • High level writing and communication skills for a target audience
  • Experience in presenting and producing radio news and/or current affairs

Benefits

Visit our website to learn more about our great range of employee benefits.

About us

National Radio News (NRN) is the national news service for the community broadcasting sector, produced by Charles Sturt University in partnership with the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) for over 25 years. It reaches over 1.5 million listeners a week. NRN is a learning and teaching resource for the Bachelor of Communication in the School of Information and Communication studies. Cadet journalists are drawn from the course and students contribute to the service through their class work.

National Radio News provides timely, relevant news from across the country and across the world, with a dedication to being a counterpoint to the commercial news services. Built on the community broadcasting sector’s principles of democracy, independence and access, NRN has no commercial ties or political agenda, and covers stories often overlooked by commercial services.

We are a university of the land and people of our regions. True to the character of regional Australia we have gumption, we have soul and we collaborate with others. We develop holistic, far-sighted people who help their communities grow and flourish.

The Wiradjuri phrase yindyamarra winhanganha means the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in. This phrase represents who we are at Charles Sturt University – our ethos. It comes from traditional Indigenous Australian knowledge, but it also speaks to the mission of universities – to develop and spread wisdom to make the world a better place.

Harnessing technology, we thrive as a distributed yet connected community, welcoming and engaging with people across Australia and the world.

Charles Sturt University is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. This is demonstrated through our Athena SWAN Bronze Institutional Award and our participation as a member in the Australian Workplace Equality Index. Applications are encouraged from Indigenous Australians; people with a disability; women (particularly for senior and non-traditional roles); people who identify as LGBTIQA+; and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

To apply

Click the Apply button on this page and complete your application online, address the selection criteria in the position description and upload your CV. Applicants are required to submit a recent air check with their application. This should be in .mp3 format and no longer than 2 minutes in length.

If you experience difficulties applying online or for further information on completing the application process please visit our how to apply page or contact us.

This position is open to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents; or applicants who hold a current valid work visa commensurate with this position.

Further information

Additional information is available in the position description or by contacting:

Rebecca Wotzko | Community Radio and NRN Manager | rwotzko@csu.edu.au | Ph:  02 6338 4774

Closing Date: 11pm, 30 June 2024

SBS News named Australia’s most trusted news brand

University of Canberra’s preeminent annual report on trust in the news ecosystem sees SBS move to number one for all public and commercial media.

National broadcaster SBS has been named the most trusted news brand in Australia by the University of Canberra and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s annual global Digital News Report 2024.

Each year the report delivers comparative data on media usage in 47 countries including Australia. The University of Canberra conducts the Australian research for the global report, examining Australians’ attitudes to news and journalism and in recent years has charted the declining trust and growing misinformation within the news and social media ecosystems.

Commenting on the report’s findings SBS News Director Mandi Wicks said: “As SBS prepares to move into our 50th year, this report is a strong validation of the work our teams do across all news platforms to provide accurate, impartial and trustworthy news and information to all Australians.

“With more people consuming their news through social media platforms, the presence of trusted brands in that space is more crucial than ever.”

Screenshot from the University of Canberra report looking at trust in news brands in 2024.

In addition to SBS World News’ nightly TV bulletins and comprehensive digital offerings, SBS Audio also serves millions of diverse Australians through multilingual audio services across radio and digital/podcasting in more than 60 languages.

Acting Director of SBS Audio Pamela Cook added: “We work hard each day to preserve the trust our audiences have in us. Our producers serve communities in more than 60 languages, and that is enabled because of the deep connections and trust we’ve built and nurtured which often means we tell the stories that others don’t or can’t.”

The Digital News Report also noted the growing concern about misinformation in Australia, which rose to 75% from 64% in 2022 and that audiences are reporting greater difficulty in identifying untrustworthy information.

Writing in the report, Wicks commented on the importance of trust especially in a climate where the use of artificial intelligence is being increasingly used in news.

“Trust in news has been declining during the past few years, news avoidance has been increasing, and misinformation and disinformation pervade our social feeds and threaten to undermine our democratic way of life,” wrote Wicks.

“The role is increasingly falling to news publishers to report on the news of the day, to combat ‘fake news’ and to moderate hate speech on their social media profiles, comments which are often AI generated via bots.

“Newsrooms grappled with this during the Voice Referendum in 2023 and there will be similar challenges in 2024 with AI having the potential to influence domestic and geopolitical issues, with more than 60 countries and nearly half the world’s population going to the polls in 2024.”

For a pdf copy of this release, click here.