The CBAA has launched the final works from the 2020 National Features and Documentary Series.
 
Produced over the year by eight producers from around Australia, these quarter-hour features are multifaceted stories captured in a significant year.
 
From language and law to the state of aged care and home-schooling, the 2020 Series is as much about the year that was, as about what the future could be.
 
Each story will be released as a podcast from today and available on Apple Podcasts and Onmy.

The count is now in for all 32 CBAA Community Radio Awards. 

The coveted Tony Staley Award went to Highland FM, while Wayne Bynder at Wangki Radio received the Station Leadership Award.

Ulrik Haagerup Founder & CEO, Constructive Institute presented a Power Session on constructive journalism at this years virtual CBAA Conference.

The community radio sector is going digital big time next year with the planned launch of an app that will carry all community stations and a new interface to allow community stations to be heard on smart speakers and other digital audio devices.

The CBAA’s Andrew Morris foreshadowed the innovation today at a CBAA conference session titled To Infinity and Beyond - Community Radio's Transition to Multiplatform Content Delivery.

In this afternoon’s CBAA conference session on social media, Ryan Jones from Refuel Creative gave tips for community broadcasters on how to get the best from social media.

“The biggest barrier in success in social media for non profits is mental barrier,” he said.

President of the Community Broadcasting Foundation, Ian Hamm has welcomed participants to this year’s CBAA virtual conference, reflecting on a “year like no other”
 
In a year that has not only been a challenge for the broadcasting community, but Australia as a whole, with bushfires, a drought and now a pandemic and the possibility of floods at the end of the year, he says that “this year has shown the real value of community broadcasting”
 

Dr Cait McMahon, Dart Centre, Asia Pacific has presented a workshop at this years CBAA conference on the possible trauma that can be suffered by volunteers covering disasters such as fire, floods or pandemics.

With increasing pressure on media, including community radio stations, to be in the “eye of the storm”, and greater expectations from the community, it can be easy to lose sight of the dual roles of volunteers who are both community members and reporters.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, has opened the 2020 CBAA Virtual Conference by acknowledging the great work of community radio across Australia, especially in regional areas.