Radio National Christmas Appeal for Africa — On the weekend of December 12-13, the Radio National network will be suspending regular programs to raise funds for Community Aid Abroad's projects in Africa. The weekend of live broadcasting will include music, interviews and short features that celebrate the varied and vital cultures of the African continent. RN announcers will ask listeners to pledge donations to help CAA continue projects to provide better health care, clean water, literacy training, agricultural improvement and food security for Africa's people.
In The Mix: Student Works — A range of works from up and coming radio makers, produced out of the studios of the University of Technology, Sydney. The works will be introduced by the producers themselves. ABC Radio National, Mon December 14, 10.05 a.m. and 8.05 p.m.
'Round Midnight's Funky Christmas — Give Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", "Silent Night" and the "Little Drummer Boy" the flick and tune into a special of soul, funk, blues and jazz Christmas standards. ABC Radio National, Sat December 19, 9.02 p.m.
The Power of Beethoven — What exactly creates the enormous impact of Beethoven's music? ABC FM Stereo, Wed December 16, 9.02 a.m.
Out On Wednesday: Blues in the Night — Blues in the Night uses the great blues and jazz songs of the 1920s and 30s to reveal the lives of three women and a saloon singer in an end-of-the- line hotel during a long, memory-filled evening. It brings to life the songs of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Alberta Hunter. ABC FM Stereo, Wed December 16, 8 p.m.
Out On Wednesday: Christy Moore Live — The authentic voice of contemporary Ireland. On his 21 albums, Christy's songs have ranged from Irish folklore to the Malvinas/Falklands War. They have gained him the the status of patron saint of Irish folk-punk. ABC FM Stereo, Wed December 23, 8 p.m.
Women in new detective fiction — In The Mix looks at the new breed of women private eye characters. Women authors like Sara Paretsky and Marale Day are also reinvigorating a tiring formula and reaching a new generation of fans through their writing. ABC Radio National, Mon December 28, 10.05 a.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Noam Chomsky on the Middle East: Realities and Fantasies — The first of two programs made by US alternative station KGNU featuring the renowned MIT professor of linguistics, and political activist, Noam Chomsky. In Middle East: Realities and Fantasies Chomsky cuts through the veneer of soundbites, instant analyses, and illusions and gets to the critical core information about the Middle East. 2SER FM 107.3, Tues December 29, 7 p.m.
Out On Wednesday: Ladysmith Black Mambazo live! — South Africa's best known vocal group. ABC FM Stereo, Wed December 30, 8 p.m. Noam Chomsky on Media Control in Democracy — A perfect audio companion to the film on Chomsky's life and ideas, Manufacturing Consent, which will be screening on SBS in December. In "democratic" societies force in not always the most convenient option for ensuring state domination of its citizens. More subtle forms of manipulation and thought control are required. This is the domain that the big business mass media perform their unique and crucial task in shaping and managing public opinion. 2SER FM 107.3, Tues January 5, 7 p.m.