Community Radio station 3CR is running it’s annual radiothon in June and is looking to raise one third of the operating costs by gathering $200,000 in donations.

The station began in 1976 with the idea that it would be a media outlet to cater for all those ignored by the mainstream media of the day.

3CR has specialized in transmitting the voices of trade unions, indigenous community, youth groups and students, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, peace and social justice activists, greenies, socialists, anarchists, lovers of jazz and nostalgia music, feminists, homosexuals and people with disabilities.

Each week at 3CR, over 300 volunteer programmers present more than 130 shows. 3CR currently broadcasts in 28 languages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 3CR also actively discriminates in favour of Australian artists and composers, playing at least 55% Australian music.

Green Left reports that 3CR has supported, covered and taken part in many of Australia’s significant campaigns of dissent such as the Maritime Union dispute, East Timor Elections and Anti Work Choice rallies in Melbourne.

The 3CR radiothon is running June 4-17 2007 and every cent donated goes towards paying the bills, maintaining the building and updating equipment so that the station can continue to go out into the workplaces, prisons, parks and onto the streets. It costs $70 an hour to keep the station running — and to continue the unique perspective that isn’t read, heard or seen in the mainstream media.