Greek voices will be among those heard at next weekend’s Radioactive 2010 Multicultural and Indigenous Youth Media Conference.
It’s personal and professional, but also a human rights issue for me – whether you’re Greek or not, you have to have a voice.
Held over two days, the conference aims to provide young people from all backgrounds an opportunity to tune into a career in the media.
Anthea Sideropoulos is a broadcaster at 3ZZZ radio and a project officer at the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Service (NEMBC), who is organising the conference.
She says Greek-Australians always say they need to be heard, and community media offers the perfect opportunity.
“The Greek language needs to be sustained, but it’s so easy for it to disappear,” she says.
“It’s personal and professional, but also a human rights issue for me – whether you’re Greek or not, you have to have a voice,” she says.
Sideropoulos says 3ZZZ has been important to the Greek Australian community since it began broadcasting in 1989.
“If you don’t speak fluent English, you can feel alienated,” she says. “It’s important that just because people have an accent, it doesn’t mean they’re disabled.”
The conference is aimed specifically at young people, and Sideropoulos says it’s a great opportunity for young Greek-Australians to make connections within the media, and with other cultures.
“We’re not tolerant to sit and listen and be patient with what a person is communicating to us – that’s what happened to our parents, and what have we learned from that?” she says.
Rachel Bongiorno, NEMBC Youth Officer and Conference Organiser, says the conference helps young people determine their own ethnic identities.
“It’s particularly important for these young people to gain the skills necessary to counter discrimination they face in the media, to build their self-esteem to be leaders in their communities and enhance their sense of belonging in Australian society,” she says.
She’s expecting over 80 young people will turn up for the event at Canberra’s Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre.
Highlights include the popular presenter of Channel 10’s Video Hits, Faustina ‘Fuzzy’ Agolley; Channel 10’s Political Editor, Paul Bongiorno and Collingwood AFL footballer, Harry O’Brien.
Now in its third year, the conference offers two days of workshops, presentations and the chance to meet media professionals and those curious about becoming involved in their community.
“Community radio is about community, it’s not about entertainment or advertising,” Sideropoulos says.
The workshop costs $30 for both days, and registration is now open online at www.nembc.org.au. For more information call NEMBC on 03 9486 9549.