Editing Triple J (section)

==== First broadcasts ====
Double Jay commenced broadcasting at 11:00 am on Sunday, 19 January 1975, at 1540 [[Hertz|kHz]] on the [[AM broadcasting|AM band]].<ref name="continuum_6_1">{{cite journal|url=http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/6.1/Dawson.html|title=JJJ:radical radio?|last=Dawson|first=Jonathan|journal=Continuum: The Australian Journal of Media & Culture|volume=6|issue=1|year=1992|access-date=9 March 2009|archive-date=5 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905011150/http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/6.1/Dawson.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The station was restricted largely to the [[Greater Sydney]] region, and its local reception was hampered by inadequate transmitter facilities. However, its frequency was a clear [[channel (broadcasting)|channel]] nationally, so it was easily heard at night throughout south-eastern Australia. After midnight, 2JJ would use off-air ABC networks to increase its broadcasting range.<ref name="Ricquish040208">{{cite web|url=http://www.radioheritage.net/Story90.asp|title=Radio Power Plays 1975–81 Melbourne, Sydney & Wellington|publisher=Radio Heritage Foundation|access-date=4 February 2008|first=David|last=Ricquish}}</ref>

{{external media
| float  = right
| width  = 250px
| audio1 = [https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/triplej/jfiles_podcast/2015_02_06_40years_1975.mp3?source=web&content_id=10274876 1975-1985: 40 Years of Triple J], from [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-j-files/1975-1985-40-years-of-triple-j/10274876 ABC Listen], Part one of an audio documentary series on Triple J's history.
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55rb-Gg6vE Double J: 1975], [[YouTube]] video featuring behind-the-scenes content from the 2JJ studio.
}}

Its first broadcast demonstrated a determination to distinguish itself from other Australian radio stations. The first on-air presenter, DJ Holger Brockmann, notably used his own name, which, at his previous role at [[2SM]], was considered "too foreign-sounding". After an introductory montage that featured sounds from the countdown and launch of [[Apollo 11]], Brockmann launched the station's first broadcast with the words, "Wow, and we're away!", and then played [[Skyhooks (band)|Skyhooks]]' "[[You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good in Bed]]".<ref name="Webb">{{Cite news|last=Marius|first=Webb|date=10 January 2015|title=Triple J's 40th birthday: High times with the department of youth|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/triple-js-40th-birthday-high-times-with-the-department-of-youth-20150108-12k5m4.html|access-date=12 January 2015|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> The choice of this song to introduce the station was significant, as it represented several important features of the 2JJ brand at the time. Choosing an Australian band reflected the network's commitment to [[Music of Australia|Australian content]] at a time when American acts dominated [[Contemporary hit radio|pop stations]]. Further, the song was one of several tracks from the Skyhooks' album that had been banned on [[Commercial broadcasting|commercial radio]] for its explicit sexual content.<ref name="Almanac1975" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Giuffre|first=Liz|date=|title=Gough Whitlam, Double J and the youth radio revolution|url=https://www.academia.edu/28251373|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=18 June 2005|title=Warwick McFadyen, "Strike Up The Banned", ''The Age'', 18 June 2005|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Strike-up-the-banned/2005/06/17/1118869080230.html|access-date=28 October 2009|publisher=Theage.com.au}}</ref> The station chose to play songs that were banned from commercial airwaves, including the [[Rolling Stones]]' "[[Sympathy for the Devil]]".<ref name=cresswell2025/> Because 2JJ was a government-funded station operating under the umbrella of the ABC, it was not bound by commercial censorship codes, and was not answerable to advertisers nor the station owners. In contrast, their Sydney rival, 2SM, was owned by a holding company controlled by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney|Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney]], resulting in the ban or editing of numerous songs.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coleman|first=Brian|date=15 December 2022|title=Radio Days: The Ian Macrae Tapes|url=https://www.cxnetwork.com.au/radio-days-the-ian-macrae-tapes/|access-date=18 November 2024|website=CX Network}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002|title=2SM|url=http://www.milesago.com/radio/2sm.htm|access-date=18 November 2024|website=Milesago}}</ref>

The internal politics of 2JJ were considered a radical departure from the formats of commercial stations. 2JJ's presenters had almost total freedom in their on-air delivery, and all staff participated in major policy decisions. For example, as former announcer Gayle Austin reflected: "In early March, women took over the station as announcers to celebrate [[International Women's Day]]", and "The listeners owned the station... and if they wanted to come to the meetings and join the debate, they were welcome".<ref name="Gay" />

In its early years 2JJ's on-air staff were mainly recruited from either commercial radio or other ABC stations. In another first for the industry, their roster also featured presenters who did not come from a radio background, including singer-songwriters [[Bob Hudson (Australian singer)|Bob Hudson]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Cafe |url=http://www.2st.com.au/shows/the-classic-cafe/65652-bob-hudson-the-newcastle-song|work=2ST|publisher=Grant Broadcasters radio network|access-date=12 April 2014|year=2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141553/http://www.2st.com.au/shows/the-classic-cafe/65652-bob-hudson-the-newcastle-song|archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> and [[John J. Francis (musician)|John J. Francis]],<ref>{{cite web|year=2014|title=John J Francis |url=http://www.reverbnation.com/artist_2449363/bio|access-date=12 April 2014|work=John J Francis on ReverbNation|publisher=eMinor, Inc}}</ref> and actor [[Lex Marinos]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lex Marinos|url=http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s3358160.htm|work=ABC|access-date=12 April 2014|date=7 November 2011}}</ref> Other notable foundation staff and presenters in January 1975 were Chris Winter, Marius Webb, Ron Moss,<ref name="Fast" /> [[Arnold Frolows]], [[Mark Colvin]], [[Jim Middleton (journalist)|Jim Middleton]], Don Cumming, and [[Mac Cocker]].<ref name="Fast" /><ref>Bruce Elder & David Wales, ''Radio With Pictures! The History of Double Jay AM and JJJ FM'' (Hale & Ironmonger, 1984), pp.6–7</ref> Alan McGirvan was the breakfast announcer. Early staff also included [[Ted Robinson (TV director)|Ted Robinson]], [[Chris Winter (television presenter)|Chris Winter]], and [[Jim Middleton (journalist)|Jim Middleton]]. Marius Webb and Ron Moss were the station coordinators, while Ros Cheney was progamme coordinator, and they established the workplace as kind of [[collective]]. Producer and programmer Sammy Collins later said of Cheney that she was "more political and more dedicated than the men", and it was her presence which enabled female representation at every level. Double Jay was the first Australian music radio station to allow women DJs; one of these was Gayle Austin.<ref name=cresswell2025>{{cite web | last=Creswell | first=Toby | title=Sex, drugs and a lot more than rock'n'roll: 50 years of Triple J, Australia's youth radio station | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=18 January 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/19/sex-drugs-and-a-lot-more-than-rocknroll-50-years-of-triple-j-australias-youth-radio-station | access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref>

Before the launch of Double Jay in Sydney, [[Melbourne]] was the undisputed capital of music; the new station shone the light on musicians from Sydney musicians, and publicised gigs happening in the city. The station played artists such as [[Midnight Oil]], [[Radio Birdman]], [[INXS]], [[Mental As Anything]], and [[AC/DC]] long before they had exposure on any other media.<ref name=cresswell2025/>