Perfect Match? Qualitative audience research and the community media sector

摘要: Griffith University researchers in 2002 presented the final results of a national survey community radio stations. The report ‘Culture Commitment Community – Australian Radio Sector’ contained wealth information on sector and covered many ‘station–based’ perspectives issues such as localism, funding sponsorship, Indigenous ethnic programming training. A key criticism this was lack data audiences. Two years later, an expanded research team received from Research Council along with financial in-kind support Department Communication, Information Technology Arts (DCITA), Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) Association Australia (CBAA) to investigate television This project is first comprehensive qualitative audience study media responds need within sector, policy bodies broader community, better understand broadcasters their diverse Internationally, project, both scale approach, unprecedented. Thus, it heralds exciting pioneering stage broadcasting research. paper outlines aims objectives our methodology for accessing engagement diversity audiences characteristic has demanded new ways doing discusses some methodological hurdles we have crossed attempts negotiate terrain raise questions associated method assert its validity portability tool understanding knowing nature composition