Community Radio Makes Waves

 The Western Sydney Awards in Business Excellence (WSABE) have brought into focus the power and reach of community radio stations. The awards have been picked up as a subject of interest by stations covering all of Western Sydney from Parramatta to the Hawkesbury to the Campbelltown area.

 The far reaching Hope Media has even taken a major sponsorship position with the awards, based on a comprehensive on-air advertising campaign.

 2CCR 90.5 FM covering Parramatta, The Hills and Holroyd have really got behind the awards having Chairman Paul Dillon on two of their programs for interviews and 91.3 FM in Campbelltown has done likewise.

 Like the awards, these community radio stations not only speak to their Western Sydney audiences they also speak for them. Local identity and local reach are critical factors for advertisers and WSABE is no exception, gaining a high profile from the exposure the stations can bring.

 Certainly the awards, like so many other organisations, are using the now well established social media to spread the word, but the medium of community radio also has much to offer; particularly as it is, by definition and design, targeted to its audience.

 Thanks to community radio bringing the awards to local businesses, those that enter will be showcased to a much wider audience; across our west and across our State.

Trevor Oldfield AM JP

President