What’s all the noise about? Youth radio & community broadcasting
Culture Spring has partnered with the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC) to expand its support for young people in radio, empowering the next generation of voices in community broadcasting and furthering NEMBC’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion through ethnic community radio.
In conversations with young broadcasters about their experiences, it’s clear how strongly this medium can connect people to their culture, language, and communities.
Radio is often an overlooked platform, despite being uniquely positioned to share stories in a way that other media cannot. Esther, a young broadcaster based in Shepparton, spoke to us about what radio means to her:
“Radio is a vital part of the way we can get information around; it’s real-time, and in emergency cases, people need to know that radio is important, it’s not just Instagram for sharing information.”
Starting off by broadcasting with her father in their native language, Esther soon learned how to edit, record, and manage her own program. She explained that her experience helped her connect more with her culture and gave her a sense of responsibility in sharing important information with her community.
She also noted that while many young people are unaware of the opportunities in radio, initiatives like NEMBC’s workshops, which started during COVID-19, are making it easier for young people from multicultural backgrounds to get involved.
In addition to young broadcasters like Esther, industry professionals are also championing the role of radio in elevating youth voices. Mahsa, an ABC producer who supports young people through the ABC Heywire storytelling competition, highlights how radio uniquely amplifies youth perspectives. “Radio allows for an intimate and personal connection with listeners… it’s accessible and can reach diverse audiences, even those in remote or rural areas who may not have reliable internet.” With her radio show in Toowoomba, regional Queensland, Mahsa shared how when she discussed navigating multiple cultural identities, it resonated deeply with young multicultural audiences.
“It was empowering for both myself and the audience, as I shared my personal struggles growing up with multiple cultural identities, and younger audiences resonated with these feelings too.”
She also addressed misconceptions about radio’s relevance for young people: “Radio remains a powerful platform for storytelling and sharing diverse voices. People often think young audiences are only interested in visual or social media, such as vertical videos, but radio offers a unique space for deeper reflection and engagement through conversation and narrative.
“Radio encourages storytelling in its raw form, where we can express ourselves authentically.”
As part of this growing movement, Culture Spring and the NEMBC are enabling young people to shape the future of community radio and empower the next generation of voices in community broadcasting through the 2025 Multicultural Youth Media Summit.
Be a part of this movement and keep updated with the summit by following @multiculturalyouthmediasummit