2SER, one of Sydney's most popular community radio stations, is facing the imminent threat of closing down in July this year after 45 years of broadcasting. Urgent funding is needed, or else Sydney will lose a fundamental piece of the community radio sector and, more generally, yet another platform that encourages creativity.
2SER has been around for a while, founded in 1979 by UTS and Macquarie University. The station has fostered an environment and platform for young artists, podcasters, and aspiring journalists to gain experience and experiment with their voices. Macquarie University, however, recently announced its decision to withdraw its funding, and 2SER is now in a scramble to find a long-term and reliable solution.
2SER has been able to act as a platform and voice for those who otherwise would not have one. For example, it was home to Sydney's first queer radio program called Gaywaves. Introduced in 1979 when being openly gay was illegal, Gaywaves created an open and shared space where queer people could express and promote issues affecting their community without persecution.
The station has also kickstarted the careers of some politicians and public figures like Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek, head of entertainment and culture podcasts at LiSTNR Mike Williams, and ABC's World Today presenters Eleanor Hall and Richard Kingsmill.
So, what are the current options for saving 2SER?
One option is transferring the broadcast licence to another non-for-profit community interest group that has a lower-cost form of operating.
Alternatively, 2SER is considering finding a second (currently unknown) university to replace Macquarie’s funding. As Cheryl Northey wrote in the public statement, “It has become clear that we now need to carefully consider alternative long-term models that could provide the stability the station needs."
UTS is a billion-dollar enterprise. Why can’t our university spare some additional funding for 2SER, at least temporarily, until an alternative source of funding is found? This could potentially be bigger than just cutting funding for a community radio, following a path of cutting funding for all creative pathways at UTS. Our university has been gradually cutting and merging its arts sector and staff, and students have been striking consistently against it. It seems as though this is part of a plan more broadly attacking the arts and creative industries exclusively for financial benefit.
The corporatisation of universities is a growing trend in the neoliberalisation and commodification of our education. UTS, along with other universities, are currently more concerned with their stakeholders and money making CEOs than educating their students. This has led to cutting hundreds of classes and entire degrees, merging of polar opposite faculties and hundreds of job cuts and resignations.
A joint letter has been sent by 2SER Alumni to the station, urging the board to rectify the financial crisis. Additionally, students throughout UTS have been reposting “I <3 2SER” from the 2SER Instagram to raise awareness and hopefully bring attention to the issue.
Sydney’s art scene is going downhill, and all possible strings should be pulled in order to save another fundamental organisation from going under. 2SER created an incredible ecosystem of artists and creators. By having live music, it supported the local music scene with 55-60% of the music played being from Australian artists, and having keen speakers to support aspiring journalists and radio hosts. Furthermore, by having a large platform, it was an opportunity to gain experience in back-of-house jobs like event management, social media marketing, and more.
Abandoning these opportunities would be a great loss and would only further disadvantage students in times where it is already extremely difficult for them to assert and establish themselves professionally.
Calling all students, staff, and general public: Please use your voice and your platform to raise awareness so we can save this incredibly valuable community.
We can’t afford to lose another environment for creatives. There would be nothing without art, so why do we keep cutting and neglecting these sectors?
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