World Radio Day took place this week on Thursday 13 February, and called on broadcasters to reflect on the role of radio in climate change communication. There are a range of community radio programs that grapple with the topic of climate change as well as the environment more broadly, one of which is Water Watch.
Originally produced in outback New South Wales by Megan Williams and Dan Schulz the program seeks to explore life and culture along Australia’s waterways while also investigating the systems and events that impact life for the humans and animals that rely on them.
It has garnered well-deserved attention as a unique source of storytelling and journalism on an underreported topic, having earned two Walkley Award nominations as well as the 2023 Community Broadcasting Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Water Watch originally aired on 2DRY FM on Broken Hill and has gone on to air on the Community Radio Network as well as being available as a standalone podcast. Its next season is due to air on 6 March.
We spoke to producer Dan Schulz about the origins of Water Watch, the lessons learned in producing it and what’s coming next.
What led you to create Water Watch?
Prior to our creation of Water Watch, Megan and I had both separately been involved in independent media about the water crisis facing the Darling-Baaka River for more than five years between us. I had been a filmmaker and Megan had been doing radio programs about rivers for 3CR's Earth Matters. We both began living in Broken Hill because we fell in love with Far Western NSW while covering the ecological crisis facing the Darling-Baaka River. We started our community radio program in 2022 while the local paper, the Barrier Daily Truth, a critically important media outlet for local water issues, was on the verge of collapse (due to financial problems during COVID) and had ceased publishing in-depth policy discussions about the Darling-Baaka River. We felt there was a significant gap that we might be able to fill with a community radio program.
When we first started we weren't sure whether there would be enough content to create a weekly show, but it turned out there was too much content! We gradually realised that water concerns right across Australia were important to broaden our listener's perspectives on the big issues facing our nation's river systems. We have now completed programs featuring Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
What lessons did you learn in producing the show?
While producing Water Watch I've learned to not be afraid of staking your claim within the political/policy discourse. At first, we were very hesitant about covering things that might appear controversial and very much wanted to be respected as producers of the highest integrity journalism. Over time we have become much more comfortable with our ability to cover big and complex issues that include social and environmental injustice and government failures. It is one thing to state your political opinion on the radio, it is another to request an interview with a state or federal minister, or department representative, conduct a respectful but honest interview, and have that Minister/Rep want to return for an interview.
I always remind myself when I am thinking about journalistic integrity to 'tell the truth' of the matter. The truth must also mean holding power to account and getting into the detail of how decisions are made about our environment, who is making them, why they are made, who benefits from those decisions and whose needs are sacrificed for the beneficiary. These are difficult conversations to have with those in power, who can become defensive or aggressive. It requires a fair bit of nuance, knowing when to step back and knowing when to put your foot on the gas.
NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson, Megan Williams and Dan Schulz
What are you most proud of about the show?
Our 2023 Menindee Fish Kill Series and 2024 Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project series were both nominated for Walkley awards. It's exciting to see community radio on the short list at the national journalism awards and demonstrates the huge role that community radio plays in offering alternative and independent journalism. We are both proud to see two community radio journalists covering such niche topics such as water politics, represented at the awards!
I am also proud of the fact we have sustained a weekly radio program for three seasons, some programs taking up to 30 hours to complete; researching, interviewing, writing, producing and doing social media. It amounts to a significant catalogue of journalism specifically covering water issues. It hasn't been easy, but I believe we've had some impacts on NSW water politics, having had the opportunity to brief Ministers' offices on discoveries we've made during our investigations, and seeing policy discourse change over particular issues we've covered. It is always hard to measure whether your work is having an effect on the political landscape, but every bit of hard-hitting journalism helps maintain pressure toward transformation change.
What advice do you have for community broadcasters who want to pursue investigative journalism?
Get amongst it! Honestly, this is the moment where we really need hard-hitting independent journalism with a focus on truth-telling. Our corporate-owned media industry is highly concentrated and is responsible for supporting unjust systems of violent oppression worldwide and at home. Megan and I took a subject we had significant expertise in, water policy. Megan had worked for an environmental NGO on Murray-Darling Basin water policy and I am about to complete a four-year PhD on water policy of the Darling-Baaka River and Menindee Lakes. I would suggest doing investigative journalism that is your passion. If you're always reading about something, studying something, or finding yourself having conversations about issues that could be interviews, why not make that research into a community radio program?
Another important piece of advice would be to follow community voices when looking for stories. Ground-truth your work. I have learned everything I know from ordinary people living on the coalface of environmental crises. Experts are important too but the community members who live and breathe the issues will have the key insights and make up the heart of the story. Community informants are a journalist's best asset. Respect their time. Respect their knowledge and maintain good relationships with your informants. Call them just for a chat if they're up for it, or meet them at the pub. You might find yourself hearing the first few sentences of a brilliant investigative radio piece!
Water Watch producer Megan Williams and Barkindji Malyangapa artist David Doyle
What's planned for Water Watch?
Water Watch is starting its 4th season of original content on 6 March. We are certainly looking to ease the weekly production pressure required to maintain Water Watch so we would love to include producers from across the country who might have stories about waterways they have a connection to, whether that be an investigative piece, or a story about a musician or artist who sings or paints stories of your local river. It is our dream to have other producers contribute to the show. If you have an idea for a piece and the know how to get it done, please send us an email [email protected]!
Dan Schulz, Megan Williams and 2DRY Volunteer Alaisha Donohoe at the CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards
Disclosure: Megan Williams is an employee of the CBAA.