The latest non-decision on youth radio by Marion Hobbs and Paul Swain is a good sign for youth, according to ACTivist President, Gavin Middleton.

Mr Middleton said the latest non-decisions on the future of the FM frequency band were the latest in a string of delays.

While some announcements had been made about National Radio, Concert radio and ethnic radio, the absence of news about youth radio was a good sign, Mr Middleton said.

“Youth radio comes down to a simple question: should young people listen to radio stations which reflect the opinions of young Kiwis, or some broadcasting bureaucrat who plays whatever Hobbs and Swain think is ‘groovy’?”

“Radio stations for young people should be free to take whatever form their audience wants. There is no place for crusty Government appointees in programming a radio station for the diverse tastes of young Kiwis.”

Mr Middleton said that young people want to choose for themselves what they want to listen to on the radio. The wide range of commercial stations provides a huge range of music and personalities that the Government could never hope to match.

“Who will the Government’s programmer sacrifice – a promising South Auckland hip-hop artist, or a Christchurch garage band? Decisions on programming should be left with radio stations who have the ability to cater for different tastes, rather than given to a Government station more concerned with politics than meeting the needs of its audience.”

Mr Middleton said “perhaps the most alarming thing is that the Ministers say there might be decisions in April next year. With Comrade Hobbs’ history of indecision, however, I, along with thousands of other young people, hope these non-decisions continue.”

ENDS

For more information, contact:
Gavin Middleton
(+64) (021) 505495
president@activists.org.nz
http://www.activists.org.nz

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