We recently spoke to Sasha Borissenko from the Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) about the vital role community access media plays in New Zealand. As the representative body for 12 community access radio stations, CAMA ensures that the diverse communities across the country - from Auckland to Southland - have a voice. These stations share a common mission: to amplify underrepresented voices and serve the needs of their local communities.
"Essentially, we champion the stations, the sector, and our membership, which includes content makers and staff," Sasha told us. "Our mandate is to provide a vehicle for underrepresented communities. We're mandated by the Broadcasting Act to allow communities like women, children, people living with disabilities, and ethnic minority groups a platform to broadcast content by, for, and about those communities."
While mainstream media tends to focus on broad audiences, community access stations are all about hyperlocal content, making sure that local stories and perspectives are at the forefront. Sasha emphasised how these stations help keep "local stories alive" in an era where regional media outlets are disappearing. "We’re the opposite of the centralised media trend," she said. "We're totally driven by and for the communities of interest, and it’s this localised approach that makes us absolutely vital for a democratic society."
Community access media isn't just about serving day-to-day needs; it's also crucial during emergencies. When disasters strike, local broadcasters are there to provide up-to-the-minute information to communities that larger networks may struggle to reach. "During emergencies, when the internet goes down, people still turn to the radio," Sasha explained. "It's that sense of community and preparedness that makes what we do so essential."
Sasha is looking forward to these topics and more being explored at
our upcoming conference, "It's great to see what's going on over there in Australia, and hopefully, we can learn from each other, strengthen those ties, and build on our relationships," she said. With participants from Nepal and the US also attending, the conference will be a melting pot of perspectives.
If you haven't already registered, we welcome you to join us on the Gold Coast next week. Find out more and register now at
https://conference.cbaa.org.au/.