I do know public radio and am certainly not seduced by the RBA.

Consider the complex arrangement Niu FM has with govt, noting there is a commercial feasibility element (see: requirement) that influences the whole intiative. I worked with this ‘to and fro’ for 4 years. It has been fiercly discussed at public fono (public meetings), much like the open debate about Kiwi FM.

A sound framework away from any commercial or political influence I agree is where it must begin.

Point 2 has cleared my muddy interpretation of your post. I’ll go clean my antennae tonight.

thanks mate

1) Kids = children. Youth = teens.

2) I’m not saying you address sex education. I’m saying you address issues of self-esteem, belonging, social and interpersonal skills. These things are the pre-requisite that you bring before you get to the mechanics.

3) Radio is an incredibly powerful medium to address children – but it’s not mutually exclusive to the internet. You could not do a new radio station without thinking about its online, interactive component. But just because there’s a website, that does not mean it can do all the things radio does so well. Compartmentalised thinking doesn’t help here.

4) Public media does not equal government. Quite the opposite. It means exempt from all commercial and political influence. The whole public radio = “state” radio idea is essentially RBA propaganda bullshit. Surprised they got you with that one.

5) Likewise, providing good content to the education sector does not mean letting parents off the hook.

Kids radio, or Children’s radio?

I think it got a bit blurred in there when you mentioned youth suicide and teen pregnancy. A clear definition between ‘youth radio’ and ‘kids radio’ needs to be given consideration. Primary and Intermediate kids have very different social behaviours. For example, I believe sex education only comes in at intermediate age.

There are schools running LPFM stations up and down the country, which does capture their interest in ‘radio’ as a social skill, so I wouldn’t expect kids in future to lose a connection to the medium of radio, however with the media landscape continually expanding, the strong bond to radio that you and I have (or once had) may not be “as necessary” for our kids in future, therefore less relevant.

10 to 15 year old intermediate kids are of the age of early drug addiction, smoking, pregnancy and pimples. Despite the commercial environment, many iwi stations try these issues daily, and The Edge seems to be the social hub of their life and identity at hand – for better or worse.

Is “radio” where a childrens network should be? Is radio the best outlet for this, or television? Or the internet? Or all of it?

If education is a big driver behind a “Youth” network, then perhaps there should be a publicly run network to teach “Adults” how to be better parents, offering financial advice, and other coaching and education programming for adults, in order to stay connected with their child – even if that means understanding Facebook to do so.

We cannot lump *everything* on schools, nor the government. I still firmly believe there is always the responsibility to be a good parent.

Time has been of the essence for the last 10 years as you well know. The more time passes, the more challenges this proposed network faces.

Triple J here in Oz is considered a Youth Network. Would you consider dance parties and battle of the bands appropriate for an 8 year old boy to actively learn about?

Kids radio, or Children’s radio is the first question I think needs answering. I’m pro either, but not both as one.