Technology has had an important influence on the constitution and participation of the commercial metropolitan radio audience. The introduction of ‘open-line’ radio from the 1960s was heralded as a novelty for audience participation in radio programming, but was hindered by technical impediments to the quality of telephone and radio recording technologies. In the 1990s, the advent of mobile telephony liberated talkback listeners from their anchoring in the domestic sphere. This article examines how successive media technologies have influenced the experience of commercial radio audiences from the 1960s through to the present. Acknowledging the increasing convergence between traditional media platforms and content, it considers whether newer technologies such as the internet are fundamentally altering the shape and function of listener participation in commercial metropolitan radio programs.

While many scholars rightly point to the contemporary influence of talkback radio as an increasingly prominent platform for civic and political debate, as talkback radio approaches its fortieth anniversary, little is known about the history and development of the format. It was in 1967 that metropolitan radio stations in Australia rushed to embrace a ‘new’ radio programming format, as talkback radio became formally — and finally — legally permissible. However, the documented history of commercial talkback in Australia began many years earlier and has been punctuated by frequent clashes between radio programmers and broadcasting regulators over issues relating to the nature of programming content. As a platform for the discussion of contemporary social issues, talkback has thrived by courting controversy and debate. The commercial talkback radio format has supported the rise of a small, but highly prominent, group of men and continues to be strongly guided by economic imperatives, as witnessed in recent developments such as the ‘cash for comment’ affair. This article details the growth of metropolitan commercial talkback radio in Australia over the last four decades and looks at the extent to which public policy and economic influences have shaped the development of the format.

Our third issue for 2019 coincides with the AES International Evaluation Conference with the theme of Evaluation un-boxed and promises rich intellectual sustenance, ideas, challenges and opportunities to 'create connections' and 'shape the ever-evolving role of evaluation and evaluators'. This year's sub themes profile areas include: what works (What's in, and beyond, the box?), who (Who should hold the box), and how (How do we stack up?). A plethora of exciting sessions and workshops will be providing the specific contexts, the nitty gritty of when and where, and the invaluable lessons learned. We cannot wait as AES evaluation conferences have a proven track record of being highly effective in providing a networking environ where future collaborations and the sharing of good practice can flourish. Evaluators are articulate, creative and effective communicators who thrive in this space. However, writing about good practice can be quite daunting so to all our evaluation practitioners out there we extend a challenge-get writing! Another strategy for developing and building discussion around good practice is to build your voice via social media and publishing in the EJA. A session on strategies and tools for lifting the profile of evaluation (and evaluator/s) features in the conference program. This session will explore what evaluators can do to elevate the discipline of evaluation. In a nutshell, ways to un-box evaluation by strategically engaging with social media, blogging and the Evaluation Journal of Australasia. In this session, the editors of the EJA join the AES blog and tweet gurus to share their tips on identifying a subject, structuring journal articles and blogs, and repurposing content of one type into another. Thereby finding and amplifying your voice. This session encourages established authors to provide ongoing support to emerging authors. Participants in previous EJA conference sessions have since published journal articles and book reviews. This issue demonstrates the power of writing collaboratively. Using a Critical Realist Review lens, Suzanne Hodgkin et al review a sample of reported interventions that are based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment tool. Statistics indicate a changing world demographic, with ageing now a growing global phenomenon. In 'Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment programs: possibilities, realities and outcomes, the authors map insights of their findings that have the potential to 878910E VJ0010.

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