JOY BLOG

1 Dec 2023

JOY30: Celebrating 30 years Out. Loud. Proud.

Today, December 1st 2023, marks 30 years since the commencement of JOY Media, Australia’s only LGBTQIA+ community media organisation.

Over the coming twelve months, JOY will feature a series of on-air commemorations, archival interviews, and historical moments to reflect on and celebrate JOY’s three decades on air and online. Radio programs, audio love letters, social media and podcasts will tell the stories of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community through the eyes of JOY.

“Our aim is to inspire our audience to remember, to laugh, to celebrate and see a future for a strong independent media presence for the LGBTQIA+ community,” said JOY Media CEO Ange Barry. “Community media enables the sharing of stories, fueled by lived experience, that engage, uplift and most importantly acknowledge the identities of our beautiful Rainbow community.”

“We have arranged a series of on-air interviews, featuring our pioneers, reflecting our growing audience of the LGBTQIA+ community,” shared JOY Media President David ‘Macca’ McCarthy, adding, “Technology has changed significantly from the sticky-tape and blu-tack days from our first studio in South Melbourne, then Bourke St, Melbourne and now, the Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda.”

JOY was founded in 1993 in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Three decades on, JOY creates and reflects the stories of our community, featuring LGBTQIA+ music and artists, news bulletins and digital content. In that time, not only has JOY 94.9 remained a dedicated community radio station, but as a media organisation JOY Media has evolved to deliver workplace diversity and inclusion training, radio and podcasting training courses, and provide tech services for community events.

JOY has come a long way with the support and belief of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

JOY is delighted to look back at what we have accomplished together as a community media organisation, to inspire future story tellers, advocates and champions as we continue the important work of representing our diverse community.

Join us on Friday 1st December to celebrate JOY’s 30 year anniversary, commemorate World AIDS Day, and to enjoy the stories of the many of the people who have contributed to the legacy of JOY.

JOY Media is Australia’s only not-for-profit rainbow community media organisation, made up of the diverse voices of the LGBTQIA+ rainbow. Powered by more than 160 volunteers and led by a small leadership team, JOY’s presenters, producers, newsreaders, creators, and curators deliver quality community media, every hour, every day of the year, broadcasting on JOY 94.9 and online via joy.org.au.