Interviewing and editing the archive: Exploring the living history of community radio through practice-research

As the Australian community radio sector approaches its 50th birthday, many stations are reflecting on their own colourful pasts. Regional community radio stations are under-represented in historical literature, with most Australian community radio histories focusing on metropolitan stations. This research explores how community radio histories can find new life through practice-based research. Drawing on historical research conducted for and alongside a regional Australian community radio station, this article critically reflects on both the importance of preserving and sharing community radio histories and the potential of radio production as an approach to reciprocal research in this space. The findings suggest that radio production has a key role to play not only in increasing the accessibility of research findings in the platform age but also as a way of shaping and guiding inquiry itself. This is vital for both preserving historical research and ensuring that these stories remain accessible to their communities.