PSM INNOVATIONS

ABCQueer: Australia’s public broadcaster representing marginalised groups

“ABCQueer is an opportunity to help increase the visibility of all sorts of queer folks so that young people, no matter who they are, never feel alone.” 

5 April 2022

Sunny, Korra and Bexx from youth-led LGBTQIA+ program '(in)visible', ABCQueer.
Sunny, Korra and Bexx from youth-led LGBTQIA+ program '(in)visible', ABCQueer. Credit: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ABC Australia has a mission to represent diverse voices across Australia and connect with new audiences in innovative ways. ABCQueer is ABC’s dedicated, experimental channel for young LGBTQIA+ Australians, which helps ensure the Australian public broadcaster is including and representing these groups.

ABCQueer first came to light with a pilot Instagram account for underrepresented LGBTQIA+ Australians in February 2020. Its content included LGBTQIA+ related trivia, news, stories, and advice, as well as explainer videos such as what it means to be asexual, non-binary or queer. In just over two years, the account amassed 23,000 followers.

ABCQueer has since developed its offering with the launch of the podcast, ‘Innies + Outies’, featuring uniquely Australian stories about coming out or staying in. It was launched on National Coming Out Day in October 2021. According to Mon Schafter, ABC Queer’s Content Lead (they/them) and Jack Gow, the Social Media Producer (he/him), ‘Innies + Outies’ reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners via podcast platforms such as ABC listen, as well as through ABC Radio and Radio National where the podcast is broadcast.

On 3 February, to coincide with its Mardi Gras broadcasts, ABCQueer also launched a monthly newsletter to better connect audiences with LGBTQIA+ content across a variety of platforms.

“It’s vital that our national public broadcaster represents all Australians, particularly marginalised groups like the LGBTQIA+ community who are underrepresented in the mainstream media,” said Mx. Schafter and Mr. Gow. “ABCQueer is an opportunity to help increase the visibility of all sorts of queer folks so that young people, no matter who they are, never feel alone.”

 

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At a societal level, diversity behind and in front of mics and cameras adds richness and depth to the content which is made by the national broadcaster. This in turn informs society and helps to build democracy by creating a better understanding of the world we live in.

“It’s important the ABC highlights these experiences because, at the end of the day, LGBTQIA+ stories are just human stories that we’re all connected to through family members, friends, colleagues or even teammates.”

Historically, public media around the world has served older audiences well, but younger and more diverse audiences have not been sufficiently included or represented. If public media is to fulfil its mandate to represent all audiences and to remain relevant in the future, organisations must find new and innovative ways to connect with them. As ABCQueer demonstrates, this does not always have to be through traditional, linear formats, but can be done using different platforms and newer forms of content consumption.

“It’s important the ABC highlights these experiences because, at the end of the day, LGBTQIA+ stories are just human stories that we’re all connected to through family members, friends, colleagues or even teammates.” – Mon Schafter, ABC Queer’s Content Lead (they/them) and Jack Gow, Social Media Producer (he/him)

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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is a member of the Public Media Alliance.

Featured image: Sunny, Korra and Bexx from youth-led LGBTQIA+ program ‘(in)visible’, ABCQueer. Credit: Australian Broadcasting Corporation