Presentation to ICA pre-conference event, "Cultural Research and Political Theory: New Intersections", Singapore, June 22, 2010

1. Public Broadcasters, Online News Media and Questions of ‘Voice’: Developments at Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service Cultural Research and Political Theory: New Intersections Preconference at International Communications Association 60th Annual Conference, Singapore, 22 June, 2010 Professor Terry Flew ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation Queensland University of Technology Brisbane, Australia

2. SBS: Australia’s multicultural public broadcaster Established in 1978 - began TV in 1980 SBS ‘has given cultural diversity visibility in the media and in the process it has made Australian culture richer, more varied and more inclusive’ (IenAnget. al., 2008: 4). 2

3. SBS and Multicultural Citizenship Challenges for SBS in the 2000s Did it go too far down the path of popular multiculturalism (populism – Top Gear, South Park)? How does it reconnect with newer ethnic communities in Australia? Can it still claim distinctiveness in a multi-channel universe? 3

4. Rapid growth of Internet as a site of media consumption

5. The wider picture

8. What opportunities do new digital broadcasting and other platforms provide for the national broadcasters to more effectively deliver programming in languages other than English?

11. Potential for SBS to lever links to Australia’s ethnic communities for new perspectives

12. UCC could never be the primary solution to diversifying news content - importance of perceived quality and SBS ‘brand’

13. UCC increases the importance of editorial functions in news selection

15. Opening up SBS Online for user-created content OPPORTUNITIES Harnessing cultural diversity as a productive resource New sources of news agenda-setting New forms of participation/public sphere Engaging disenfranchised communities (e.g. young) Telling different stories/new forms of identification with SBS THREATS Credibility and quality/regularity of output from non-SBS sources Site moderation and legal risks Editorial management of site Scope for conflict between SBS professional and UCC ‘pro-ams’ 11

17. WNA: 1,157,000

18. Insight: 186,000

20. 60% from Australia (118,000)