Proper conversations, not ripping into each other: Christian radio
This article was first published in The Melbourne Anglican on 1 March 2025.
A Christian community broadcaster is paying for girls’ sports fees in response to a commercial radio disc jockey’s comments deriding women’s football, and women’s sport generally.
Marty Sheargold was this week cut from Triple M after his comments raised widespread anger and were branded “crude”, “disappointing” and “unacceptable”.
Broadcaster Positive Media has launched an initiative to cover sports fees for girls whose families are unable to afford the fees this term.
It comes amid a social media campaign by a group of women and men challenging sexism in media, aimed at removing shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson from Melbourne’s airwaves.
The campaign’s hashtag #vilekyle went viral due to the KIIS show’s reportedly inappropriate content.
Positive Media, which operates radio station 89.9 TheLight, said its initiative showed what was possible when communities banded together.
Families called in to share their daughters’ passion for sport following the announcement on the station’s the Lucy and Kel breakfast show.
A mother of a year 10 basketballer and soccer goalie said she loved the encouragement it gave her daughter.
Another said “I had to pull over, I’m crying so much…Thank you.”
Local businesses also called in, donating thousands toward the initiative.
The show’s host Lucy Holmes said they wanted their daughters to know their dreams matter.
“We see you, we support you and we’re cheering you on every step of the way,” she said.
Lucy Holmes speaks out in support of girls in sport. Audio: Supplied
Positive Media chief executive Clayton Bjelan said Christian radio was dedicated to building hope and community in a media space that had become increasingly angry and polarised.
“We’re not going to have calls ripping into each other or anything like that,” he said. “We’re going to have proper conversations.”
There are three major Christian radio broadcasters in Australia – Positive Media (Melbourne), Hope (Sydney) and Vision (Brisbane) – but many smaller stations across the country are run primarily by part-time and volunteer workers.
Canberra’s 1WAY FM general manager Jenny Anderson said listeners appreciated the sense of community and belonging that they experienced with Christian radio.
“We had one person tell us recently that 1WAY FM is the soundtrack of their life,” she said. Other listeners said that on days when they were down, the station gave them hope and encouragement.
“We provide family-friendly content that’s safe for little ears in the car, so you’re not going to get the shock value,” she said.
Mrs Anderson said some broadcasters miss the human connection in trying to sensationalise or entertain.
“We’re investing in our listeners, in their spiritual health and their relationships,” she said.
Image: Lucy Holmes and Kel McWilliam turn words into action to support women’s sport on Positive Media’s 89.9 TheLight FM. Picture: Supplied
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