Eastside Radio 89.7FM, the community radio station which serves Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and beyond has launched a daily program to cover COVID-19 news and views.

Called For The Duration the 15-minute slot will air at 3pm every weekday to bring the community the latest and most reliable information about the outbreak.

With the closure of the print edition of the local newspaper Eastside Radio (89.7 FM, and streaming at eastsidefm.org), is in a unique position to reassert its community- based focus and broadcast information tailored for the local audience.

For The Duration will feature interviews with the Eastern Suburb’s politicians, police, medical experts and authoritative figures whom can help us all navigate and make sense of current developments.

It will also give the community the opportunity to ask questions of the authorities and share their experience of, and solutions around dealing with the shutdown.

Local businesses and services, which are still open, will also have a chance to explain their offerings.

“We are side-by-side with the local community, not only in dealing with the situation day-by-day but just as importantly by being a part of the recovery effort,” says Eastside Radio Managing Director Tony Smythe.

The first episode of For The Duration went to air on Easter Monday April 13. It will initially be jointly presented and produced by journalists John McNamara and Christopher Zinn with other producers of the weekday Drive programs also involved.

If you’d like to be part of our contact list for news and views or be involved in FTD in any way please send your details to fortheduration@eastsidefm.org