SBS’s Jewish programs move closer to extinction
THE end of Hebrew and Yiddish programs on SBS radio now seems more likely than ever, after the broadcaster announced the criteria it will use to determine which programs will be cut.
THE end of Hebrew and Yiddish programs on SBS radio now seems more likely than ever, after the broadcaster announced the criteria it will use to determine which programs will be cut.
SBS will take into account the English language proficiency, recentness of arrival in Australia, household resources, unemployment levels and ageing population of each show’s listeners to determine the need for a language-specific show.
The community has until April 30 to give feedback and submissions to SBS on the criteria before the plan is implemented.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) executive director Peter Wertheim said the SBS charter requires the broadcaster to reflect Australia’s multicultural society and does not narrowly confine it to catering for language groups, as would happen under the proposed criteria.
“The proposed new language-based criteria for radio programming are very concerning as they appear to be a roundabout way of eliminating Jewish radio programs altogether,” Wertheim said.
“SBS appears to be backtracking on nearly 40 years of policy in which it has recognised that the Jewish community is a significant part of Australia’s multicultural society that has particular needs for radio programming which are not exclusively language-based.”
He said the ECAJ will be making a submission in response to the consultation, and would be taking further action, however declined to elaborate.
Representatives of the NSW and Victorian Jewish communities went further.
“As a significant component of Australia’s multicultural society, it would be simply wrong for Jewish programming to be eliminated from SBS Radio,” NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff said.
“The implications, if that were to happen, would run far more deeply than removing Jewish programs from one broadcaster; it would effectively delete the Jewish community from the Australian communities deemed significant enough to warrant a dedicated slot on the nation’s multicultural broadcaster.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) president Nina Bassat said she had real concerns for Melbourne’s Jewish community.
“Many people in our community, particularly the elderly, rely on the Yiddish and Hebrew language programs as their contact with the community,” Bassat said. “It is part of their heritage and culture and their lives would be diminished if they were to be deprived of these programs.”
SBS spokesperson Thang Ngo said he was surprised to hear that the ECAJ will take further action without discussing the matter with the broadcaster first. “SBS will seek a meeting with the ECAJ to discuss their concerns before we make a public statement,” Ngo said.
To see the full consultation process and give feedback go to http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/consultation.
JOSHUA LEVI
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) executive director Peter Wertheim said the ECAJ will be making a submission in response to the consultation.
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