SYN Media
| File:Synradio.jpg | |
| Broadcast area | Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 90.7 MHz FM |
| Branding | SYN nine-oh-seven |
| Programming | |
| Format | No formal playlist |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Student Youth Network Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | 28 January 2003 |
Former call signs | 3SRA/3TD |
Call sign meaning | 3SYN - Student Youth Network |
| Technical information | |
| Class | Community |
| Links | |
| Webcast | http://www.syn.org.au/listen/syn-wm.asx |
| Website | http://www.syn.org.au/ |
SYN (pronounced sin) stands for Student Youth Network. The Student Youth Network (SYN) is a not-for-profit, youth-driven organisation based in Melbourne, Australia, launched in January 2003.
SYN provides access, participation, education and training to all students and youth aged 12-25 that are into radio, television, print and web media, providing practical hand-on experience. It is one of the only media organisations in the world run solely by people aged under 26. Everything from administration, finances, talent casting and sponsorship is organised by youth between 12-25, in an aim to provide a base for young talent in all fields of media production and journalism.
The House of SYN (which stages the SYN offices & reception) is at 16 Cardigan Street, Carlton. The Radio Studios are located in RMIT University's City Campus. SYN’s leadership role was formally recognised in 2003 when the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia presented SYN with the Tony Staley Award for excellence in community broadcasting.
History
The Student Youth Network Inc. was formed in 2000 as a result of a merger between two youth radio projects: 3TD (an AM station run by high school students from Thornbury-Darebin Secondary College) and SRA (Student Radio Association), the RMIT University radio station that also spawned 3RRR in 1976.
In December 2001, following a competitive bidding process, the ABA awarded SYN a Melbourne-wide FM community radio broadcasting licence. Given the commercial value of the licence and the strong competition from 26 aspirant broadcasters this was a monumental achievement for a fledgling organisation (only 2 FM licences and 1 AM licence were awarded).
After an intense twelve-month period focused on raising $1 million to purchase and set up the necessary infrastructure, SYN 90.7 FM commenced permanent broadcasting at midday on 28 January, 2003.
SYN’s expansion into television was soon to follow with the launch of SYN TV in 2003. A live music-video program simulcast on C31 Melbourne and 90.7 SYN FM, SYN TV was the first program in Australia, commercial or community, to be simulcast on TV, radio and the internet. It was also the first television show to be hosted by young people exclusively under the age of 18. By November 2003 it was airing in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and attracting audiences of up to 80,000 viewers in Melbourne alone. SYN’s television department has since gone onto produce over 1000 hours of live television including: SYN Summer, SYN City, The Sauce and current production: 1700.
In February 2004, SYN launched its publication arm with the inaugural issue of Pecado (Spanish for sin). This completed SYN’s ambition of producing media in all its forms: radio, TV, online and print. Around the same time SYN launched The Nodfather – a hip-hop compilation album showcasing both fresh and established Australian talent. It received airtime on radio stations across Australia and achieved moderate sales success. It was also the first time a US-based hip-hop artist Chino XL collaborated with the Australian hip-hop scene.
After just 4 years of full-time broadcasting it is estimated that over 5000 young people have been directly involved in SYN, many of which have gone to other media industries. It has an estimated listening audience of 124,000 per week (McNair Ingenuity Research 2006).
Education and Training
Education and training is a major focus of the Student Youth Network. Since full-time radio broadcasting commenced in January 2003 over 100 secondary-schools from across Victoria have directly participated in SYN’s on-air programming. Secondary colleges have used SYN in curriculum areas such as Media, Music in Industry, SOSE, Oral English and ESL. SYN has also developed curriculum for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning in the areas of Personal Development and Industry Experience through radio production and media studies.
SYN has the formal support of every major tertiary student union in Melbourne, the National Union of Students, and several TAFE colleges. Secondary colleges use SYN for curriculum initiatives such as Oral English and ESL. SYN has also developed curriculum for the Victorian Certificate of Advanced Learning (VCAL) in the areas of radio production and media studies. All SYN’s education and training programs are delivered on a peer-to-peer basis.
Youth Participation in SYN
Since 2003, SYN-FM has put over 3200 young people to-air on both radio and television. It has been estimated that over 4300 young people have been involved in SYN’s extensive education and training programs. For nearly three years, SYN has successfully applied media learning to young people from diverse cultural backgrounds including:
- Indigenous communities
- at-risk environments
- the juvenile justice system
- VCAL candidates
Young people have the opportunity to be involved at every level of the organisation. Currently, the majority of SYN’s Board, paid staff and volunteers are under 26. While many volunteers at SYN are attracted to the on-air component of the organisation, SYN encourages volunteers in a range of management and operational roles.