Radiofabrik
Encyclopedia
Radiofabrik is Salzburg
’s community radio
. It is an independent, non-commercial, non-profit radio station in Salzburg
, Austria
.
Some of the founders, for example Wolfgang Hirner (who became CEO of the Radiofabrik later on) of Radiofabrik were broadcasting illegal pirate radio
already in 1992. The programme was called «Radio Bongo 500».
Radiofabrik was the second Austrian community Radio, which started broadcasting immediately after the breakup of the radio broadcasting monopoly (Radio Helsinki at Graz
, already started in 1995). In the beginning Radiofabrik had a five-hour broadcast-slot at the commercial radio station «Radio Arabella».
The daily broadcasting service started in January 2002, in alliance with the «Objektwerbung GmbH». After «Objektwerbung GmbH» faced financial turbulences, it retired from the broadcasting alliance in October 2003. By that time Radiofabrik received the full broadcasting licence.
Nowadays more than 280 volunteers create a twenty-four-seven radio programme, which is broadcasted via the frequences 107,5 MHz and 97,3 MHz and via cable 98,6 MHz.
In the early days of Radiofabrik programme was produced in a container-studio. In 2005 the broadcast station moved into the «ARGE-Kultur Salzburg», the largest autonomic cultural centre of Western Austria, where professional infrastructure and equipment (office, studio, production rooms and workshop rooms) is available.
of opinion in Salzburg.
Everyone who wants to create his own radio programme can become a community member and has to pass a workshop, in which media law, technical skills and basic journalistic skills are taught.
The person in charge of his own programme is free to choose topic and content of his or her broadcast. There is definitely no space for programmes with racist, sexist, pro-violent or anti-democratic content as well as religious propaganda
.
The journalist Georg Wimmer, who has already won several journalistic awards, is responsible for the coordination of the programme. Georg Wimmer is on paternity leave since the end of 2008. In January 2009 project manager Eva Schmidhuber took on the programme administration.
in charge of the infrastructure (Sendeanlagen GesmbH), who also holds the broadcasting licence.
The board of management consists of cultural scientist Elke Zobl (chairwoman of the association), communication scientist Alois Pluschkowitz, journalist Michaela Gründler (editor-in-chief of Street newspaper Apropos) and Anton Prlic (journalist of newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten) and management-consultant Wolfgang Stöger.
Until 2007 Radiofabrik was managed by founder Wolfgang Hirner. Adult educator Andreas Wagner was CEO from 2007 forward. In March 2008 media artist and media manager Alf Altendorf became CEO of Radiofabrik.
, which culminates in participating in many projects initiated by the EU. Radiofabrik shares its programs via online-platforms of Community Radios in Austria
and Germany
.
The significance of activities in the field of media-related education has increased. One example is the Interreg-IIIA-Project “EuRegio Medienzentrum”, where the “Aktion Film Salzburg” and the District Office of Traunstein
are involved.
2005 IT-engineer Hermann Huber presented the Radio Automation Software YARM
(Yet Another Radio Manager) at the Ars Electronica
. Many Austrian community radios are now using YARM.
Production director, musician and innovater Marcus Diess created the signal monitoring system “Signal Watchdog”, which checks functioning of the Radiofabrik transmitters and immediately reports technical breakdowns via SMS. A sound editing software for blind editors (“Studioguard”) is under way.
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
’s community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
. It is an independent, non-commercial, non-profit radio station in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
History
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
already in 1992. The programme was called «Radio Bongo 500».
Radiofabrik was the second Austrian community Radio, which started broadcasting immediately after the breakup of the radio broadcasting monopoly (Radio Helsinki at Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, already started in 1995). In the beginning Radiofabrik had a five-hour broadcast-slot at the commercial radio station «Radio Arabella».
The daily broadcasting service started in January 2002, in alliance with the «Objektwerbung GmbH». After «Objektwerbung GmbH» faced financial turbulences, it retired from the broadcasting alliance in October 2003. By that time Radiofabrik received the full broadcasting licence.
In the early days of Radiofabrik programme was produced in a container-studio. In 2005 the broadcast station moved into the «ARGE-Kultur Salzburg», the largest autonomic cultural centre of Western Austria, where professional infrastructure and equipment (office, studio, production rooms and workshop rooms) is available.
Programme and concept
As a non-commercial, independent Community Radio Radiofabrik is intended for everyone, individuals and groups, especially for those, who tend to be underrepresented in both private and public media. Therefore there are programmes produced by and for people senior 50, a special programme produced by youth for people under 18, and also programmes in more than 10 different languages. Radiofabrik is the broadcasting service with the largest diversityDiversity (politics)
In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....
of opinion in Salzburg.
Everyone who wants to create his own radio programme can become a community member and has to pass a workshop, in which media law, technical skills and basic journalistic skills are taught.
The person in charge of his own programme is free to choose topic and content of his or her broadcast. There is definitely no space for programmes with racist, sexist, pro-violent or anti-democratic content as well as religious propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
.
The journalist Georg Wimmer, who has already won several journalistic awards, is responsible for the coordination of the programme. Georg Wimmer is on paternity leave since the end of 2008. In January 2009 project manager Eva Schmidhuber took on the programme administration.
Organisation
The organization of Radiofabrik is based on two pillars: The „Verein Freier Rundfunk Salzburg“ is a registered association, in which all programme creators and supporters are members on institutional level. The association is responsible for the broadcasting service. The association owns a corporationCorporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
in charge of the infrastructure (Sendeanlagen GesmbH), who also holds the broadcasting licence.
The board of management consists of cultural scientist Elke Zobl (chairwoman of the association), communication scientist Alois Pluschkowitz, journalist Michaela Gründler (editor-in-chief of Street newspaper Apropos) and Anton Prlic (journalist of newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten) and management-consultant Wolfgang Stöger.
Until 2007 Radiofabrik was managed by founder Wolfgang Hirner. Adult educator Andreas Wagner was CEO from 2007 forward. In March 2008 media artist and media manager Alf Altendorf became CEO of Radiofabrik.
Project work
Radiofabrik's local connection to NGOs and cultural sites in Salzburg is as vital for the programme of Radiofabrik as the orientation towards the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, which culminates in participating in many projects initiated by the EU. Radiofabrik shares its programs via online-platforms of Community Radios in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The significance of activities in the field of media-related education has increased. One example is the Interreg-IIIA-Project “EuRegio Medienzentrum”, where the “Aktion Film Salzburg” and the District Office of Traunstein
Traunstein
Traunstein is a town in the south-eastern part of Bavaria, Germany, and is the administrative center of a district by the same name. It is situated at the heart of a region called Chiemgau, approximately 11 km east of Lake Chiemsee between Munich and Salzburg, 15 km north of the Alps, and...
are involved.
Projects
- EU-Project Civilmedia (annual convention since 2006)
- EU-Project Radiodialogues – voices of diversity
- EU-Project Talk About It
- EU-Project Let's Talk About Science
- EU-Project I Speak Football
- EuregioEuroregionIn European politics, the term Euroregion usually refers to a transnational co-operation structure between two contiguous territories located in different European countries. Euroregions represent a specific type of cross-border region.-Scope:...
-Project EuRegio Media Center (EMZ) - EuRegio Children's Radio – Radio of, for and with children
- belle of the ball – project “Rasende Reporterin” at EURO2008
- mozartRemixed
Technic
Radiofabrik develops hard- and software for the editorial board of radio stations.2005 IT-engineer Hermann Huber presented the Radio Automation Software YARM
Yarm
Yarm is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in North Yorkshire...
(Yet Another Radio Manager) at the Ars Electronica
Ars Electronica
Ars Electronica is an organization based in Linz, Austria, founded in 1979 around a festival for art, technology and society that was part of the International Bruckner Festival. Herbert W. Franke is one of its founders. It became its own festival and a yearly event in 1986. Its director until 1995...
. Many Austrian community radios are now using YARM.
Production director, musician and innovater Marcus Diess created the signal monitoring system “Signal Watchdog”, which checks functioning of the Radiofabrik transmitters and immediately reports technical breakdowns via SMS. A sound editing software for blind editors (“Studioguard”) is under way.
Partnerships
Radiofabrik 107,5 is a member of the Association of Community Radios in Austria (Verband Freier Radios Österreich – VFRÖ) and of the umbrella organization of Salzburg's cultural sites (Dachverband Salzburger Kulturstätten).Awards
Radiofabrik received i.a. the following awards:- Cultural award for integration and human rights (“Kulturpreis für Integration und Menschenrechte“) endowed by the Green Party of Salzburg and Gerard MortierGérard MortierGerard Alfons August, Baron Mortier is a Belgian opera director and administrator of Flemish origin.Mortier has served as general director of La Monnaie and of the Salzburg Festival...
. - Cultural Award of the federal state of Salzburg (Kulturpreis des Landes Salzburg)
- Radio Award of adult education – Eduard-Ploier-Award (2007, 2008)
- Alternative Media Award of Media academy Nürnberg and Friedrich Ebert FoundationFriedrich Ebert FoundationThe Friedrich Ebert Foundation is a German political foundation associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany , yet independent of it...
(FES) - Media award of the German organisation KindernothilfeKindernothilfeKindernothilfe is a charity organization and was founded in 1959 by a group of Christians in Duisburg, Germany, in order to help needy children in India. Over time, it has become one of the largest Christian organizations in Europe for children's aid....
- ESIS – Seal for innovative multilingual projects (2003, 2008)