New hope for SBS Jewish programs
JEWISH programming on SBS Radio seems to have been saved from the chop.
JEWISH programming on SBS Radio seems to have been saved from the chop.
When SBS released the draft criteria it was going to use to determine which programs would remain on radio, Jewish leaders feared the community would not fit into either category – the high-needs language group or the large languages group.
SBS received more than 1200 submissions regarding the proposed criteria and met with Jewish leaders on several occasions and, as a result, SBS has added a third category.
“SBS may also include a sizeable ethnic community if its needs are significant but not adequately captured in the Large Language or High Needs selection criteria,” the final selection criteria states.
“Factors which SBS may also take into account include: Discrimination /Vilification: where a group is subject to frequent discrimination or vilification in Australia based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.”
Jewish leaders believe that the Yiddish and Hebrew programs should be considered under the third criteria and that the programs will be saved when SBS announces its new analogue and digital radio schedule in November.
“The original criteria had no room to accommodate the needs of a community like ours,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) executive director Peter Wertheim said.
“But the revised criteria include a mechanism to correct this omission and that is a welcome step forward.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff praised the broadcaster. “SBS has been a very constructive partner in this process and there has been a genuine effort to meet our concerns,” Alhadeff said.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Nina Bassat welcomed the changes.
“I think that is a very positive response and it has been very mindful of what the ECAJ, and we as part of the ECAJ, promoted,” Bassat said.
“It isn’t simply about looking at numbers because there are other factors to take into account and we are very grateful.”
JOSHUA LEVI
ECAJ executive director Peter Wertheim.
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