In 2005 researchers at Swinburne University formed a partnership with SYN FM and The Salvation Army called ‘Youthworx’. The team set out to investigate a new approach to social enterprise, combining The Salvo’s welfare programs with SYN’s community radio training and participation.

Before too long, the radio aspects of the project took an unexpected turn. SYN decided to drop the ‘FM’ from their bumper stickers and began restructuring their operations for cross-platform distribution. Researcher Ellie Rennie documented the transition and has produced a detailed study of community broadcasting within today’s complex media environment. The Youthworx team simultaneously continued to examine the role of community media in social development.

It is now generally accepted that open and accessible technologies have accelerated non-market production, challenging and transforming our cultural and economic institutional frameworks. What is missing from this analysis is the role of ‘open source organisations’ – defined by access, collaborative effort and transparency – and their role in securing social outcomes in a seemingly chaotic domain. Presenters in this session will chart the changing role of third sector media and what it means to ‘get it right’ in the Prosumer era.