2NURFM - 'Community Radio Station'

Set up 21 years ago, Newcastle University Radio has seen many incarnations. Rumour has it: 2NUR, MORE OF YOUR EASY LISTENING FAVOURITES is the most bleak.

In 1999, due to the ever increasing economic pressure on Universities, it was called into question why the University was still running a radio station at such a loss. A shut down was proposed. This was met with huge community anger. Over 1000 people rallied at the University's great hall to fight for The Good Sounds, 2NUR FM('The Good Sounds' was dropped in favour of: 'Easy Listening 2NUR').

This community anger kept the station alive, but did not keep the University from applying constant economic pressure on the station. In 2000, the University's sponsorship of $350,000 for 'services provided to university students', was dropped to $50,000 p/a.

Former General Manager of 2NUR FM, Graham Steele, was sacked, and the search for a new General Manager began. Despite their experience, the current staion staff were ignored in favour of John McGahen of 2KO and NXFM (both OZstereo affiliates), was brought in - promising to make back the money the station now "owed" the University.

His first major change was to format the music, and add a call sign: 2NUR, Your EASY LISTENING favourites.
He then sacked the News Editor, subsequently leading to the closing down of the station's News Team, who supplied Natioal Radio News in the mornings to over 80 community radio stations around Australia.

As the volunteers began dropping like flies, (some of whom had been there since it's beginnings), there was a general decay in quality - at least from a community radio point of view. 2NUR was becoming more and more like a commercial station every day.

The students at the station were already waning in numbers, and the sounds of Buddy Holly, Dolly Parton, and Bryan Adams soon ensured there would only be a few students left who were able to see (or hear) past the easy listening, and remember that: ONE DAY - the Universities will suddenly stop running like businesses, John McGahen will be recognised as a fraud and fired, and Student Radio will be broadcast without any interference!

That day is still to come, and the battle is getting harder and harder.
With the loss of The Godfrey Tanner Project, there are around 5 students still on air at the radio station, and these students are not broadcasting 'student radio' per se, though on the upside - they are not being forced into submission to play easy listening... yet.


This site will be regularly updated to keep you fully informed.
To voice your concerns, please contact:

John McGahen : [email protected]

2NURFM: [email protected]

or phone:

(02) 4921 5555 (phone)
(02) 4921 7158 (fax)