Media and Communications Resources

Social Policy Group

Media and Communications Resource Guide

Commonwealth Government Resources

Media and Telecommunications Research and Links

National Organisations

Overseas Government Sites

Other Parliamentary Library Sites

Recent Reports

This Resource Guide provides links to a selection of websites and electronic resources to meet the information needs of senators and members of the Australian Parliament.

Commonwealth Government Resources

Commonwealth Regulatory and Administrative Authorities

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) was created on 1 July 2005, following the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission site contains speeches, press releases and other policy material dealing with competition aspects of telecommunications policy.
The Department of Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) site provides extensive access to media releases, policy documents and related sites.
The Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) develops and coordinates information policy, including online services and information technology.
The Classification Board and Classification Review Board administers Australia's censorship and classification policy.
The Online and Communications Council comprises members of the Commonwealth, state/territory and local governments who are responsible for policy on online issues and the information economy. The site contains information on the activities of the Council as well as links to the relevant state and local government authorities.

Commonwealth Government - Other Organisations

Commonwealth Legislation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 provides for the establishment and operation of the ABC.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 establishes the ACMA for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications.
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 provides for the establishment and operation of the School.
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the regulation of broadcasting services by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.
The Radiocommunications Act 1992 establishes the radiocommunications regulatory regime.
The Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 provides for the establishment and operations of the SBS.
The Telecommunications Act 1997 provides for the regulation of telecommunications.
The Telstra Corporation Act 1991 provides for the ownership and operations of Telstra.

Media and Telecommunications Research and Links

Research Sites

The Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, based at the University of Sydney, is an organisation that aims to stimulate the production of high quality investigative journalism.
The International Institute of Communications is an organisation for international debate about communications.
The Australian Children's Television Foundation develops and produces high quality television programs for children.
Young Media Australia is a community based organisation that deals with issues concerning children and the media.
The La Trobe University Online Media Program provides information and links on Australian social and policy research in telecommunications.
The Communications Law Centre is a public interest, research and education organisation specialising in media and communications law and policy. The site contains an extensive range of material and links relevant to the subject.
The Information and Telecommunications Needs Research Group site has information on the group and its work.
The Convergent Communications Research Group is a virtual research centre.
The OECD provides information about Information and Communication Technologies.
Australian TV ratings are compiled by OzTAM which conducts television audience measurement (TAM), covering the five city metropolitan areas and nationally for Subscription TV. The most recent weekly viewing reports are available free of charge, more data are available through subscription.

National Organisations

The Australian Film Commission is a government agency which ensures the creation, preservation and availability of Australian audiovisual content. It manages Get the Picture, the AFC's comprehensive collection of media statistics.
The Australasian Performing Rights Association / Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society work to ensure music publishers and writers receive royalties.
The Advertising Standards Bureau administers a national system of advertising self-regulation through the Advertising Standards Board and the Advertising Claims Board.
The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association is the peak body for interactive content and digital media in Australia.
Broadcast Australia owns and operates the most extensive multimedia transmission infrastructure in Australia, and provides analogue and digital television and analogue radio for the ABC and SBS.
Commercial Radio Australia is the national industry body representing Australia's commercial radio broadcasters.
Free TV Australia (formerly Commercial Television Australia) is the industry body that represents Australia's commercial free-to-air televisionl licencees.
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia is the peak body for community radio and television stations.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is the union and professional organisation for people in the media, entertainment, sports and art industries.
Nielsen Media Research provides statistical information about television and radio.

Overseas Government Sites

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides information about policies and programs.
The Office of Communications OFCOM is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is an independent agency responsible for regulating Canada's broadcasting and telecommunication systems.
The Communications Research Centre is the Canadian federal government's centre of excellence for communications R&D.
The Federal Communications Commission is the American government agency charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

Other Parliamentary Library Sites

Recent Reports

R Jolly, Going digital - digital terrestrial radio in Australia, Research paper, no.18, 2008-09, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2008.
R Jolly, Media ownership deregulation in the United States and Australia: in the public interest?, Research paper, no.1, 2007-08, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2007.
R Jolly, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS): operations and funding, E-brief, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, March 2007.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has published a series of reports, including Communications, Infrastructure and Services Availability in Australia 2006-07, 2007 and Digital Media in Australian Homes - 2006, 2007.
R Jolly, Funding of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, E-brief, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, November 2006.
Australian Press Council, State of the News Print Media in Australia Report 2006.
The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) conducted a number of Digital broadcasting policy reviews. The reports of reviews conducted in 2004 and 2005 and those conducted previously as required through the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 are also available.
Productivity Commission, Broadcasting Inquiry Report (March 2000).