Philosophy of ACAB

The Association of Community Access Broadcasters Aotearoa/New Zealand.

This is an Association to which most Access Radio Stations choose to belong. It is our national body, and philosophically it is here to represent the views of the many independent Access stations.

ACAB can act as a lobbyist.

ACAB holds its annual AGM at the annual conference which is hosted by individual stations.

ACAB is currently looking towards its place in Access Radio, what it is there for, and to define its exisistence.

ACAB does not act on behalf of any station or its governing body.

ACAB is not a funding mechanism for stations.

ACAB has no power over Stations and /or how they operate.

Hallmarks of Access Radio

What is access radio? What distinguishes access radio from other local and community radio services?

These are common questions and in response, we have drawn up a (not necessarily exclusive) list of the characteristics of access radio, the features that make access radio different.

Our list of the "hallmarks of access radio" goes like this:

• Characterised by programmes made by the community as opposed to programmes made for the community.
• The programme is put together by non-profit community groups and individuals, not professional broadcasters.
• Editorial control resides with the community programme makers, subject only to the laws of the land and codes of broadcasting practice defined in the Broadcasting Act and promoted by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
• Anybody and everybody in the community is a potential programme maker, regardless of colour, race and creed.
• Special emphasis is given to programmes by groups in Section 36(c) of the Broadcasting Act - women, children, people with disabilities and minorities in the community, including ethnic minorities, youth, religious and ethnical programmes.
• Access radio gives a voice to those in the community whose voice is not heard elsewhere on the airwaves.
• Access radio is "like a blank sheet of paper which community groups write their own words upon until the page is full".
• Two-thirds of the station's income may come from NZ On Air but the other one-third comes "from the community", principally by way of payments made by programme makers for airtime. Local community grants are another important source of income but income from advertising is insignificant.
• The programme comprises material not duplicated elsewhere on radio. Access radio does not sound like regular commercial radio, either in terms of the music played or the programming policies and practices.