Young Australians launch new national digital radio service

Young people across the country will have their own broadcast platform following the launch of brand new community digital radio channel, SYN Nation, on April 2.

Launched by Federal Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, the service brings together programming produced and presented entirely by communities of young people around Australia, starting with Byron Bay, Canberra and Hobart, along with Melbourne, Warrnambool and Gippsland in Victoria.

'Young people are at the forefront of new technology and SYN Nation is a great example of that. This project is innovative in the way it uses digital and online media and will help amplify the diverse voices of young people across this country,' says Mr Turnbull.

SYN Nation will broadcast on digital radio to Melbourne-wide audiences and stream nationally at syn.org.au, with additional digital media content including videos and podcasts contributed regularly by each community to create a constantly evolving repository of youth made media from around the country.

The launch of SYN Nation was celebrated with special guests including Federal Member for Melbourne and Deputy Greens Leader Adam Bandt, Lord Mayor of Melbourne and President of the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation Robert Doyle, former Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tony Staley, President of the Community Broadcasting Foundation Peter Batchelor, Telstra Chief Sustainability Officer and Telstra Foundation Board Member Tim O’Leary and President of the CBAA Adrian Basso, among many youth and community broadcasting supporters.

Developed by Melbourne-based community youth broadcaster SYN Media, the service is being driven by young leaders based at local community radio stations in each region, with the support of established media industry mentors from the likes of the ABC and SBS, community stations Triple R, PBS FM, Joy 94.9, 2RRR, RTR FM and 3ZZZ, the Australian Film Television and Radio School and the CBAA.

More than just a broadcast service, SYN Nation offers young people living in all corners of the country a platform to have their perspectives heard at a national level and the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of media-making, says SYN General Manager Tahlia Azaria.

'Since SYN Media launched in 2003 we’ve heard consistently from young people in other parts of the country who wish they had access to the types of opportunities we offer young people in Melbourne, and now they can get involved without having to leave their town.

'Having access to a new technology in digital radio gives us an incredible opportunity to experiment and innovate. The goal is to keep expanding the service into new communities each year so any young person, wherever they may be, can be part of this national movement of young media-makers,' says Azaria.

SYN Nation is an initiative by SYN Media and has been developed with the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation, Telstra Foundation and Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the CBAA’s Digital Radio Project.