Anthony Frangi
Industry Consultant, ABC Radio National 792 AM

Written by Michael Mortimore on 2009-10-13

Dividing his time between working for ABC Radio Brisbane as program director and as Industry Consultant for the School of Journalism and Communications in the University of Queensland, Anthony Frangi is one of Australia’s most respected communicators and broadcasters. With over 20 years in the radio industry Anthony has presented high rating talk shows on ABC Radio and Brisbane Talk Radio 4BC and commercial television with Channel Nine’s Extra. Anthony’s work in the industry has seen him earn numerous accolades including the Queensland Tourism award for Radio and a Queensland Lancare award.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in the media and communications industry?

I am one of the fortunate individuals who always knew what they wanted to do. Even at school I recognised the power of radio, the power to entertain, to connect, to make people smile and challenge their way of thinking. I have this opportunity to communicate with people. There is of course the entertainment factor, to make people laugh. I discovered during many years of doing night radio that I really did make a difference in people’s lives. Every night people had a companion to talk to, and they would describe me as a friend. That is one of the great joys of radio.

How does radio compare to other mediums such as television in its reach to listeners?

Radio is more immediate. You will find that in news around the world radio will reach people in places that television cannot. You see this in natural disasters such as those which happened in Samoa and Indonesia, where when a tremor struck, people turned to their radio to get critical information. After the tsunami people stayed with the radio for updated information, taking their radios with them as they were escaping the danger areas. They used it as a convenient way of finding important information immediately. Although, with that said, the mobile phone is certainly changing things, allowing people to connect in other ways.

What are the most important/valuable skills that graduates can bring to your industry?

I think what has been missing for a long time in the industry is the ability to ask questions. In the past the media has delivered content which is platform neutral, where we have written the story and presented it without really considering its meaning. Years ago I think there was a time where journalists were curious, where questions were there to challenge, and I think we have lost a bit of that. However, I am starting to see a resurgence of students who are curious, who are asking the tough questions, challenge the government and start lifting the lid on the big corporate moguls. Students now have this wonderful opportunity, because of technology, to access information a lot more easily, and that alone is going to make a big difference.

What features, both positive and negative, differentiate Brisbane-based media organisations to other national and international media hubs?

I think Brisbane has always been a very interesting market. If you look at Sydney and Melbourne, they are a lot larger, where a lot of programs produced there are for the rest of the country. Brisbane has always remained isolated in terms network programming. What makes Brisbane special is our ability to connect as a community. We are a lot more vocal and parochial. When there are stories that happen outside of Brisbane such as Rockhampton or Toowoomba we have a vested interest. Whereas stories that happen outside of Sydney and Melbourne sure there is some interest, but I think you would find that people in those areas are not as well connected as those in Brisbane. We share an interest in regional issues and are not just solely focused on those people that live in Brisbane, so think that is what makes us unique.

What do you think about the relationship between traditional media and new media (will radio and television still have relevance)?

The answer is yes. People will still want television and there will always be a place for radio, but it is the way in which these services are delivered that will change. Our habits are changing, we want information now. No longer do we have to wait for the current affairs show to air, we can now download or store it and watch it at a time which is convenient to us. So I think television stations may struggle with the fact that viewers are no longer confined to schedules, and they will have to meet that change. Radio is different, as it is not as packaged as television, and will probably survive in the same way that it has in the past. But again with digital radio, instead of taking the transistor around, you can listen to the radio on your mobile phone or the internet and not only listen to the radio, but also research the album or artist that’s being played.

How is the UQ Communications faculty evolving to meet the changes in the industry?

I think the school is aiming to look at the traditional and new platforms of media and merge the two. No longer is it about just teaching someone to stand in front of a camera, turn on a microphone and create radio, but having skills in all platforms. I think journalists of the future will not only have to write, but also to use a camera, edit, record sound and upload all those mediums as part of the story.

What changes do you see happening over the next five years in the radio industry?

Well if I knew the answer to that question I’d be a very rich man. With the introduction of digital radio this year, the uptake has been very small; people certainly have not rushed out to buy it. I think we are going to see some very big changes to radio over the next few years especially in the quantity of services offered. Currently there are about thirteen stations to choose from in Brisbane and with digital you will have thirty channels to choose from; and if internet radio continues to grow, then the sky’s the limit in terms of potential. The radio industry in the next five to ten years is going to become extremely competitive, but I think what is going to win out in the media of the future is the ability to connect with the community. So while the world becomes smaller with the global communication services on offer, I think what consumers will be craving is local information, so if they can champion the cause of the local area and focus on the community. That is where success lies in the future media market.