I'm not sure where to start because I'm overwhelmed with emotion and love for this wonderful…read morecommunity radio station. Based in Collingwood, PBS FM prides itself on being 'the home of little heard music', and that's exactly what they deliver all day, every day. You'll hear the finest in rock, indie, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, jazz, world, blues and roots, and genres of music I've never even heard of. Each program in the schedule goes for two to three hours and what you'll get in every show is a DJ who is passionate about music and wants to share their record collection and knowledge of the genre with you. That's it. Being a non-commercial, community radio station, PBS do not get any financial support from government or through advertising. PBS members and the generosity of its volunteers and DJs, are its lifeblood. There are various levels of membership available from business, to band, to individual. Even your pet can become a member. You can become a Proud member for just $75, and less if you have a concession card. For becoming a member, you can win loads of giveaways, get cheaper entry to PBS events (like the brilliant Soul-a-Go-Go at Bella Union), discounted movie tickets at Cinema Nova, and loads of other benefits, but mostly, you'll have that warm and fuzzy glow in your heart knowing that you've helped to make Melbourne, and inadvertently, the whole world, a better place.

PBS have to be Melbourne's second best radio station. They are a music focused community station…read moreand they host multiple specialist weekly music shows across every aspect and genre of music imaginable. They run on a similar model to RRR, whereby subscribers contribute a large portion of the annual revenue required to keep the station going (by all accounts, it costs a shitload). Why they come in second for me is that RRR has superior talks programs on during the day and a more generalist approach to music. Where PBS gets a little tiresome is that due to its music focus, it can be hit and miss as to whether you like whatever's on at any given time. You have to be smart, and this is where PBS rules. If you pick the programs you love and return to them weekly, the station has so much to offer it's not funny. Community radio is so important in the fabric of this city, and PBS plays a vital role in the perpetuation of the medium.

Thursdays are one my favourite RRR days, so how very fitting that I write this review on a…read moreThursday. I start the morning with Richard Watts' SmartArts program, which starts at 9am and goes on till noon. This man knows the Melbourne arts scene inside and out and his regular guests of industry peeps, each knowledgeable in their area of the local arts environment, fatten out the program and makes it essential listening for anyone interested in knowing what's on offer in the thriving and abundant Melbourne arts community. SmartArts is smoothly followed by Chris Gill's funk and soul program, Get Down. From noon till 2pm, he'll have you shakin' what you've got all the way through your lunch break. At 4 o'clock, Karen Leng tickles your eardrums with her Kinky Afro, playing an eclectic mix of mostly new releases with the occasional oldie-but-goodie favourite thrown in. I always end up with a list of albums I need to buy after listening to this program. RRR and PBS together make Melbourne radio a pleasure to listen to. If you love your community radio stations, support them and become a member. There are loads of perks with becoming a member, but the greatest one of all is knowing that you're helping to keep what the people truly want to hear on the air.

We are blessed in Melbourne with nothing short of the best community radio in the world. It's a…read morebold statement, but it's true. Triple R stand at the forefront of public broadcasting. They offer open, accessible radio in a format that allows the community to be involved in the discussion of all issues, large and small, local and abroad, and they wrap it up in killer tunes delivered by many of Melbourne's top music nerds and DJs. The coolest thing about RRR is that anybody can drop by, say giddy and the folk there are cool as shit. The survive on subscriber funding (it's $75 to join) and they offer a shitpile of prizes and cool stuff for your money - outside of the every day prize of gifting us all amazing INDEPENDENT radio. They take no funding from government, so they can say whatever they like. If you don't already, you should subscribe. This is a Melbourne institution of such enormous importance, we must keep it alive. The end.

SYN, an acronym for the Student Youth Network, is a fantastic organisation that Melbourne should be…read morevery proud of. A radio station that gives young people the opportunity to have their own spots should be applauded and lauded across town. If you are under 25 and would like to have your very own media career or radio show for that matter then make sure you get in touch with SYN. Each semester (they are closely affiliated with RMIT and other local univerisites) they offer radio training for a small fee - after all they have bills to pay. You'll get studio time, practice on the decks and lessons in producing a radio show. Once you have completed that, you can apply for the different slots and get your own show - free reign pretty much! I used the studios for a podcast before I got too old :( and loved every minute of it. So much fun. If you are more into TV then go and find out about close relation Channel 31. They have close links.

Sick of listening to radio announcers who are YELLING down the microphone at you? Sick of listening…read moreto moronic advertisements? Want to hear someone YOUNG and COOL talk to you about what's important to them? Thank God for SYN. This youth media company (all presenters and producers are under the age of 25) is renowned for its refreshing, youthful voice and quirky shows. Quirky? Well, on their radio station 90.7fm, there is a whole night dedicated to Asian Pop Music, during the day school kids take over the air and on Sunday nights you can get some sex and relationship advice. Most importantly, SYN provides a platform for young people to learn about the media and to make new friends. So if you are under 25 and keen to get your thoughts out to Melbourne, give these guys a call!

This large newsagent has the trappings of any great Newsagency. A wide selection of magazines and…read morestationary, cards and gifts and of course tattslotto counter. They are well set out and not poky like some newsagents tend to be. However what makes this one stand out is that it is also a Ticketmaster outlet. I used to visit Greensborough Newsagent for all my concert and event tickets, as they offered good advice and always sent me on my way with the best possible seats, despite doing it online now, I d drop by when I want amazing seats to really popular shows. Although the business address is on the main street the actually location is in Greensborough Plaza just before the ramp. If you look up Cotton On Kids in the Store Directory you will find Greensborough Newsagency too!

Lana & Greg are the owners and have been delivering the paper and serving us all for 20+ years…read more Their shop makes our local shops a little community. They sell Tattslotto tickets, scratchies, MYKI tickets and top-ups for public transport, phone cards, magazines, newspapers, cookbooks, stationary, cigarettes, small selection of lollies and drinks. Always a free smile here and a sincere chat.

The Herald Sun is one the jewels in Rupert Murdoch's Australian crown, with the tabloid the…read morehighest-selling paper in the country. The Herald Sun is squarely aimed at the middle-market and has a distinct lean to the far right- you don't come here for sophisticated political analysis. It is a great paper for those who love AFL- virtually half if not more of the paper on any given day is devoted to the sport, and it boasts columnist Mike Sheahan who has a huge and loyal following among footy devotees. The paper is picture and celebrity-heavy and on weekends features lifestyle and entertainment lift-outs.

This large news agent is full of magazines, stationary and cards however it is also part gift…read morestore. Think 18, 21 and 30 birthday gifts, notebooks, photo frames and albums. Grab a book for your train ride, lollies for your road trip or your next Halloween costume. As you do! This newsagent is manned by friendly staff, a tattslotto counter and lots of random yet interesting newsagent goodies. Get your Lego here or school stationary or just the weekend papers. If your in urgent need of a gift after (or before) retail hours then this is where you head in Ivanhoe.

The thing that makes this newsagents stand out is the staff. They are the friendliest, most…read morehard-working bunch of people I have ever seen in a shop of this type. Forget approaching the counter for service, there are staff stocking the shelves, walking amongst shoppers and checking to make sure that you are fine to find what you want. Don't forget to give the people behind the counter a smile as you walk in, but if you do they will be sure to greet you at their earliest convenience. The store is clean. There is heaps of magazines, cards and newsagency-type items. They sell Tattslotto tickets and scratchies and have the usual blue counter. For service with a smile and a shopping experience that is sure to brighten your day, I would definitely recommend this place!