Lake County, USA: Tune in with Lake County

LAKE COUNTY -- Two-way radio communication enthusiasts have the chance to win a President Washington 40 Channel AM and Side Band CB Radio this month.

The Lake County Radio Community (LCRC) is looking for candidates to give away several installed and working radio base stations free-of-cost within the coming months. Desired candidates are people who have time to devote to the hobby, but may not have the necessary funds to purchase a radio.

The radio will come with a microphone, mast, antenna and coax.

LCRC is reaching out to residents on the west side of Clear Lake in towns including Glenhaven, Lucerne, Upper Lake, Lakeport and Kelseyville.

The two-way radio communication hobby was most popular in the 70s and 80s, and has experienced resurgence with base and mobile radio stations popping up around the county.
Candidates do not need to have past experience transmitting, and no license is required.

LCRC will provide hands-on training and provide documentation with each base station put into operation, as required by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

With the radio and gear provided, people will be able to talk loudly and clearly throughout the area.
Candidates must be 18 years or older and live on the west side of the lake.

The radio and gear belongs to LCRC and cannot be sold, radio winners may keep them as long they as maintain a consistent transmission. For those who decide to no longer transmit, the gear will be uninstalled free-of-charge and passed along to another candidate. 


 For more information, email dave@rhythmmatters.org with address and phone number, or call 483-4792 and ask for Dave.

(Source: Record-Bee, Lake County, USA)

Seattle, USA: Tiny radio stations to give voice to communities

It doesn't get much more underground than Hollow Earth Radio, operating down a dark hole in the wall in Seattle's Central District. The non-profit, independent radio station puts its uniquely Seattle spin on things.

“The vision of Hollow Earth Radio is to represent Northwest culture and underrepresented voices,” said DJ Jesse Boggs, in between songs on his daily show.

In a world where people are forced to consume corporate media, independent voices like those at Hollow Earth are largely silent. Now, however, comes a rare opportunity to take over the airwaves

In October, the FCC will make the rare move of offering thousands of free licenses to 100 watt, non-profits to run their own radio stations. About eight will be available per zip code in King County.

“You literally can operate it out of your basement,” said Barb Morgen of Seattle’s Brown Paper Tickets, a major supporter of the initiative.

One-hundred watts is enough to power a light bulb and carry a radio signal up to 10 miles. From there, the possibilities are endless.

“It can be issue based. It can be neighborhood based. It's really whatever is important to the community,” said Morgen. “It’s giving the public airwaves back to the public.”

The FCC will start accepting applications in October, but it is an arduous process. The folks at Brown Paper Tickets are willing to help. You can find more information on the Brown Paper Tickets website. 

(Source: King5.com spotted by SCOOPWEB)

Zimbabwe: Young Children Targeted in Radio Raids By the Police

The illegal seizure of wind-up radios reached new levels this week with reports that the police are now using primary school pupils to source information about the receivers.

Villagers in Lupane revealed that the police have been visiting schools and asking little children in Grade 0 and Grade 1(aged between 4 and 6 years) whether their parents own or listen to any radios.

This follows reports that suspected state security agents on Tuesday raided several homesteads at Mpofu village in the Gwampa area and confiscated the wind-up radios.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa one villager who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said the police have been going to schools, writing down names, and then visiting those suspected of owning the radios by night.

She said although the agents will be wearing civilian clothes, the villagers know it is the police since they have been announcing their ban on radios.

Our source said she suspects the police are aware of the popularity of shortwave radios in the area, hence they are now confiscating them.

"The police have been announcing that villagers should not be in possession of these radios. Their reason is that we listen to news broadcasts from outside the country which criticise ZANU PF.

"Such harassment by the state security agents normally escalates during election time, which indicates that we are not free to exercise our individual choices if we can't even listen to different views offered by these shortwave radio stations," she added.

On Tuesday an MDC official from Mpofu Village, Cosmas Phiri, told the NewsDay newspaper that MDC members were raided shortly before midnight on Monday.

Phiri, who was with some of the affected villagers, told NewsDay that a group of state security agents confiscated at least 10 radios from more than 10 people.

The night raids have stirred up fear within the community, following threats that those who refused to surrender their radio receivers will be abducted and "made to disappear" invoking memories of Gukurahundi.

Since the announcement of the constitutional referendum date on February 15th, Zimbabwean police have embarked on a nationwide campaign targeting civic society organisations and individuals.

On February 19th the police announced a ban on 'specially designed' radios, which they argued will be used to promote hate speech ahead of the polls.

Following the ban several organisations have been raided, including community radio initiative Radio Dialogue where police seized more than 180 wind-up radio sets and arrested its managing editor.

Last month, officers ransacked the offices of poll observers ZESN as well as those of violence monitoring group the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), in search of the so-called "illegal" radios.

The police have since arrested ZPP head Jestina Mukoko and charged her with, among other things, illegally importing short wave radios.

(Source : SW Radio Africa, London via allAfrica.com)

Zimbabwe Police Ban Radios in Run Up to Elections

Police in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, 19 February, 2013 banned the possession of "specially designed radios" and other communication devices on suspicion they are being used to communicate hate speech ahead of Zimbabwe's March referendum and general elections.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, told a news conference in Harare that possession and distribution of the devices in question was illegal.

She further accused some political parties of distributing the 'illegal devices' to unsuspecting members of the public with the intention "to sow seeds of disharmony within the country especially now that the country is about to embark on the referendum and harmonised elections".

The ban against the "specially designed radios" and communication devices came in the wake of a police raid on the offices of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) offices in Harare and the southern town of Masvingo.

Although the Zimbabwe Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) is not certain as to the exact specifications of the "specially designed radios" referred to by Charamba, these, however, could be transistor or portable radios being distributed to enhance citizens' right to access to information especially in remote areas that do not have access to mainstream media.

MISA-Zimbabwe position

MISA-Zimbabwe notes with grave concern the recent move by police to confiscate "communication devices" from the public, which devices according to the State-owned newspaper, The Herald, of Wednesday, 20 February 2013, includes radio sets.

Of particular concern to MISA-Zimbabwe is the lack of clarity on what exactly these "communications devices" that were confiscated were, as well as the lack of clarity on what basis the radio sets or their distribution is also deemed illegal.

MISA-Zimbabwe calls upon the police to specifically state the exact nature of the illegal devices and the relevant laws that criminalise their possession as opposed to arbitrary actions that infringe on constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

It is not clear as yet, on what basis possession of devices such as radios meant to receive broadcasting services can be deemed illegal as a reading of section 38B of the Broadcasting Services Act states that one is not prohibited from possession of a receiver as long as it is in accordance with the terms and conditions of a listener's licence as issued by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

The importance of a radio set cannot be over-emphasised as it is a generally affordable gadget used for receiving information by the public. The right to receive and impart information and ideas is enshrined in Section 20 of the current constitution as a vital component of citizens' right to freedom of expression.

This same right is also enshrined in Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights of which Zimbabwe is party to.

Access to information is a fundamental part of freedom of expression, which will assist citizens in making informed decisions and choices during the referendum and the forthcoming elections.

It is therefore critical that the police in their efforts to maintain law and order should not unilaterally infringe the public's right to information, especially as the country heads for the referendum and elections.

(Source: Press Release via Media Institute of Southern Africa via allAfrica.com)

Palm Beach, USA: How do you find Jupiter’s little radio station? Look for the antenna in the palm tree!

The antenna for WJTW is attached to a palm tree behind the radio station’s studio in Jupiter. (Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

While there are several ways to grow a radio station’s audience, not many include fertilizer.

But then, few radio stations use a 70-foot Washingtonian palm tree planted in back of its studio as an antenna pole.

“We try to take good care of that tree,” said Tom Boyhan, the owner of low-power WJTW, 100.3 FM, known as “Jupiter’s Home Town Radio Station.” “Our first one got hit by lightning.”

The palm tree was Boyhan’s workaround of a Town of Jupiter rule prohibiting antennas more than 50 feet tall near residential areas.

With an extra dose of fertilizer and regular watering, a few more listeners each year from Palm Beach Gardens to Hobe Sound might be able to tune in to the station’s mix of local news and nostalgia, with songs that range from ’50s crooners to ’70s soft rock, salted with plenty of show tunes.

“The joke around town is the taller that palm, the better the signal,” said Jennifer Sardone-Shiner, marketing director of Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

On a local radio dial dominated by homogenized super stations with corporate formats devised in board rooms, tiny home-grown WJTW is radio’s artisanal micro-brew.

Instead of “Don’t Touch That Dial” bombast, there’s a handmade quality to the airwaves emanating from this four-room office suite, where the transmitter room is the size of a closet and the production studio doesn’t have soundproofing.

Read More at The Palm Beach Post

(Source : The Palm Beach Post, spotted by SCOOPWEB)

Austin, Texas, USA: Hundreds of New Low-Power FM (LPFM) Radio Station Licenses To Be Awarded to Nonprofits If They Apply

Austin, TX (PRWEB) March 12, 2013 Brown Paper Tickets, the Not-Just-For-Profit event registration and ticketing company, is launching a National Make Radio Challenge during South-by-Southwest (SXSW) to bring awareness and guidance to nonprofits eligible to apply for a low-power FM (LPFM) radio license, in preparation for a once-in-a-lifetime application window being offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this fall.

“Now is the time for nonprofits to prepare their application to own a part of the public airwaves,” said Sabrina Roach, a Doer specializing in public interest media for Brown Paper Tickets. “Most traditional media have not included the LPFM application window in news coverage, and the majority of groups eligible to apply are not aware that this opportunity exists. This is a problem, because the application will take about three months to complete. 

“The National Make Radio Challenge is needed to make groups aware of the opportunity, to inspire them to think about how they could use the power of radio to serve their communities, to guide them to resources that make building and operating a radio station realistic, and to help them to organize and successfully complete the application in time,” Roach said. 

Read More at Yahoo News

(Source: PRWeb via Yahoo News spotted by SCOOPWEB)

UN reporting fellowship accepting applications [Worldwide]

Journalists who are 25 to 35 years old and from developing countries can apply for a fellowship to report on the United Nations.

The fellowship, sponsored by the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship Fund for Journalists, gives participants the opportunity to report on international affairs during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Fellows will make professional contacts, interact with seasoned journalists and gain a broader perspective on global issues.

The fellowship is open to journalists currently working full time in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In an effort to rotate recipient countries, the fellowship will not consider journalist applications for 2013 from nations selected in 2012: Argentina, Liberia, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. Journalists from these countries may apply in 2014.

The fellowship includes travel, accommodations and a per diem allowance.

The application deadline is April 5.

For more information, click here.

(Source: ijnet.org)

Iran to set up foreign media control committee

Iran is to set up a special committee, which will control the work of foreign media during presidential elections slated for June 14, Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for Press and Information Mohammad-Jafar Mohammadzadeh said Monday.

He added that that the registration of foreign reporters who are to cover the elections has already begun.

(Source: Voice of Russia, TASS)

AM and FM to disappear from cars?

An article appeared a few days ago on US website, Radio INK. It was written by their publisher Eric Rhoads. The story is this :- 

Radio INK held a conference last week where digital experts talked about the growth of online radio listening over the past 12 months in the US.

At one session, 3 reps from the car industry spoke about what is happening to the in-car entertainment experience, the digital dashboard and what's next. Then this statement came from the stage:

"AM and FM are being eliminated from the dash of two car companies within two years and will be eliminated from the dash of all cars within five years."

The panelists said that, after much research, the trends tell them that young people don't use radio anymore, they want streaming services.

Read More at Radio INK

 (Source : Radio Ink via Radio Today, Australia)

Swaziland: Broadcasting Bills Go to Parliament

Broadcasting legislation enters Swazi parliament - good news or bad?

Media Institute of Southern Africa - Swaziland

Alert - Media Analysis, 7 March 2013

Swaziland's minister of information, communication and technology has tabled two broadcasting-related Bills in the Senate, according to the Swaziland Senate running sheet dated Wednesday 6 March 2013

Minister Winnie Magagula tabled the Swaziland Broadcasting Bill 2013 and the Swaziland Broadcasting Corporation Bill 2013.

It is now expected the Bills will be discussed by various parliamentary committees who, it is understood, will seek consultation from anyone interested in the future of Swaziland's television and radio. No dates or information are yet forthcoming on the government's public consultation process.

The Bills appear in the Swaziland Government Gazette of Friday 15 February 2013, vol. LI, No. 19.

Read more at allAfrica

(Source Swazi Media Commentary, Gabon via allAfrcia.com)

South Africa: President Zuma Has Received a Resignation Letter From SABC Board Chairperson and Deputy

President Jacob Zuma has today, 11 March 2013, received the joint letter of resignation from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Chairperson, Dr Ben Ngubane and Deputy Chairperson, Mr Thami ka Plaatjie.

The President is currently considering the resignations.

(Source: Press release of South African Govt. via allAfrica.com)

Morocco Reveals First Press Freedom Report

Morocco's first annual report on press freedom highlighted the progress that the country has made in the last year.

Communications Minister Mustapha El Khalfi said that 2012 was characterised by an attitude in the courts that encouraged reconciliation in cases involving journalists, and the creation of a system of sanctions that does not threaten the economic structure of press establishments.

The February 23rd document did not mention any physical or moral attack on Moroccan journalists.

The report also claimed that no publication was banned or censored during the past year, and no journalist was sent to prison.

Read More at allAfrica

(Source : Magharebia, Washington DC via allAfrica.com) 

Colorado, USA: Local radio host honored at Colorado Broadcasters Association awards

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — During his more than 20 years on the radio, Axel Contreras has gotten plenty of listener recognition — fans routinely call to request a song or compliment his news coverage.

This past weekend, though, the 38-year-old Contreras finally received some official recognition to match, in the form of two awards from the Colorado Broadcasters Association.

At the association's annual banquet in Denver, Contreras won best afternoon show in the small market category for “The Axel Contreras Show.” It airs from 2-6 p.m. every weekday on 94.5 FM KQSE, also know as ‘La Nueva Mix.'

Read More at Post Independent

(Source: Post Independent via SCOOPWEB)

AMSAT now preparing for two launch opportunities

AMSAT's focus on STEM education and development of a cubesat platform capable of flying a science mission with a reliable communications link resulted in our previous selection of Fox-1 in the third round and RadFxSat (Fox-1B) in the recent fourth round of NASA's Cubesat Launch Initiative. Actual launch vehicle selections are dependent on the availability of auxiliary payload space and on what orbits are required.

AMSAT VP Engineering Tony Monteiro reports that he has been in  conversation with NASA about our orbital preferences/priorities and we're awaiting a response from NASA as to a specific launch selection. In the meantime, the engineering team expects to complete Fox-1 in 2013 and have RadFxSat ready in the 2nd half of 2014 in order to take advantage of launch opportunities that may be offered by NASA.

Fox-1 and the RadFxSat missions are based on similar system architecture. 

Read more at Southgate Amateur Radio News

(Source: ANS via Sourthgate Amateur Radio News)

Low-cost 24MHz-1.85GHz Software Defined Radio

Essex radio amateur Pete Sipple M0PSX picked up a Realtek RTL2832U Radio & TV Dongle for £18 at the Rainham Rally.

By simply installing some additional software he was able to covert it into a multi-mode receiver covering from 24MHz-1.85 GHz.

He notes that the Dongle can be bought on Amazon for as little as £14.

Read his article about how to install the free software on the Essex Ham website
http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/realtek-sdr-pc-dongle-for-under-20-pounds.html

(Source : Southgate Amateur Radio News)

EBU appoints new Director of Public Affairs and Communications

European thought leader Guillaume Klossa is to join the management team of the European Broadcasting Committee (EBU) as Director of Public Affairs and Communications (PAC).

His responsibilities include the EBU's Public Affairs office in Brussels, and the Media Intelligence Service (MIS), the Knowledge & Information Unit and the Communications Service in Geneva. 

Mr Klossa, who is French, will report to EBU director general Ingrid Deltenre. 

Mrs Deltenre said Mr Klossa's arrival at the EBU is timely, as the organization helps prepare Members to face a future characterised by change.

"This new position underlines the increasing importance communication and public affairs play in highlighting the value of Public Service Media in advancing democracy and society," said Ms Deltenre. "Mr Klossa's political insight and experience of strategic issues will be a major strength to the EBU as we work towards achieving the best possible legal, financial and technical frameworks for our Members."  

Mr Klossa said he looked forward to taking up his position on July 1 and contributing towards the development of a modern PSM strengthened by innovation drawn from a solid base of knowledge.

"I am extremely proud to be joining the EBU.  At a time of profound change, the need for strong Public Service Media (PSM) is immense. In promoting excellence, innovation and pluralism, and as a provider of quality content in the digital age, their contribution to a lively democracy is unparalleled."

In his present role, Mr Klossa chairs EuropaNova, the Paris-based NGO he established in 2003 to promote dialogue on European issues and foster a new generation of opinion shapers. He has also acted as an advisor to the Reflection Group for the Future of Europe and was previously VP, Communications & Corporate Affairs, McDonalds, France.

(Source : EBU)

Germany opens Development Media Awards to international applicants

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) have agreed to open The German Development Media Awards to applicants from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

The German Development Media Awards recognise excellence in human rights and development journalism. The awards champion media independence around the world and emphasize the important role human rights and development work play in strengthening democracy, good governance, civil society and the freedom of the press.

Germany’s State Secretary Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz and DW Akademie Director Gerda Meuer presented the new concept for the German Development Media Awards. "We want to show that human rights aren't abstract theory, but that they influence the development of every single one of us," said Mr Beerfeltz.  “The aim of the new initiative, he said, is to encourage journalists around the world to report critically on grievances and abuses, but also to tell successful and unusual stories about development”, Ms Meuer added.

Journalists from the Awards' target regions are eligible to compete for one of the seven categories. Their entries can be stories in all journalistic formats: print, radio, TV and online. While the competition is open to Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish languages, other entries can be accepted provided they are in one of Deutsche Welle's 30 broadcast languages, and are accompanied by a translation into one of the official competition languages.

Overall winners will be chosen for Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Germany. The winner of the seventh media award - the People's Choice Award for Human Rights Photography - will be determined by an online vote.

More information on the Awards is available from the DW website.

(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Montreal, Canada: Campaign to Save TSN Radio 690 Begins Today

- TSN Radio 690's many Montreal supporters can now sign a petition at SaveTSN690.ca -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/ZfNw3C

MONTREAL, March 6, 2013 /CNW/ - TSN Radio 690 in Montreal officially began its campaign today to retain its status as an English-language, all-sports radio station. After an impressive response from sports fans in Montreal who passionately voiced their support, parent company Bell Media has filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to keep TSN Radio 690 as it is.

Beginning today, listeners can help save TSN Radio 690 by signing a petition and/or writing to the CRTC at a newly launched website, SaveTSN690.ca.

Bell Media had earlier proposed to convert the station to a French-language RDS sports station to meet the CRTC's radio ownership policy, which led to an outpouring of community support to preserve TSN Radio 690 in its present English-language format. As a result, the company is now requesting to operate four English-language stations (two AM and two FM) in Montreal - one more than what is generally permitted under CRTC rules. This exception will allow Bell Media to continue to own and operate TSN Radio 690 and maintain its current format as an English-language, all-sports radio station.

"We filed this application on behalf of the thousands of loyal sports fans in Montreal who passionately articulated how TSN Radio 690 and English all-sports radio coverage remains such a valued service to the community," said Wayne Bews, General Manager, TSN Radio 690 Montreal. "All of us at the station were overwhelmed and humbled by the support of Montreal sports fans last summer. We are asking our listeners to rally once again and join the drive to save TSN Radio 690 and ensure the English all-sports format remains a vibrant part of the Montreal sports scene."

As part of the request for an exception to the CRTC's common ownership policy for radio, made public today, Bell Media has confirmed the following:

• Bell Media would continue to own and operate TSN Radio 690 - and maintain its current English all-sports format for at least the next seven years
• English-language radio coverage of Montreal Canadiens games will continue to be broadcast in the greater Montreal area on TSN Radio 690 for the duration of its current broadcast agreement with the team
• TSN Radio 690 will contribute $245,000 over the next seven years to sports journalism scholarships at Concordia University and to amateur sports in Montreal
• The exception will have no adverse effects on other radio stations in the market or on the entry of new competitors

About TSN Radio 690 Montreal
TSN Radio 690 is Montreal's English-language all-sports station. As the official home of the Montreal Canadiens, the station broadcasts every Habs game live on AM 690 in Montreal and nationally online at TSN.ca/Montreal. Along with wall-to-wall coverage of the Canadiens, TSN Radio 690 delivers in-depth coverage of all Montreal sports teams, including the Alouettes and the Impact. Led by Elliott Price, Ted Bird, and Shaun Starr in the morning, Tony Marinaro in the mid-morning, and Mitch Melnick in the afternoon, TSN Radio 690 delivers an all-star line-up of local coverage. The station was launched in 2001 under its original name Team Radio. It was rebranded to TSN Radio in October 2011 and moved to AM 690 in September 2012 to improve the station's reception for fans.

Links
Website: SaveTSN690.ca
Hashtag: #saveTSN690

(Source: PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance via SCOOPWEB)

Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA: Radio station gives free advice to community

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -

A radio station in Glenwood Springs is getting more popular by the day, but the reason so many people are calling-in might surprise you.

Phones are constantly ringing at the small station, some callers even waiting on hold for as long as 40 minutes, all to get some legal and more importantly, free advice.

When "La Nueva Mix" radio turns over to its "Punto Legal" show, things start to get busy, and fast.

For four years now, the show has given legal advice to local undocumented immigrants who are afraid to talk with U.S. authorities.

Callers remain anonymous while they chat with a trusted immigration attorney, all while remaining live on air.

"You ask any question and it's free, you don't have to go and sit down with an attorney. The only requirement is, it's going to be live on air," said Axel Contreras.

The show first began as a half hour segment on Saturdays but now it's a full hour on Wednesdays at 5:00 for rush hour.

Radio employees told us as much as 35% of the surrounding communities are Spanish speaking.

Most calls they get are immigration and deportation questions.

The radio station saw more than 80 thousand hits when its website went live.

If you're interested in contacting the station, here’s a link to the stations website & phone number:

http://tunein.com/radio/La-Nueva-Mix-945-s98983/

(Source: kjct8.com via SCOOPWEB)

DBS - Disaster warning workshop “a tremendous opportunity” to share information

Broadcasters from around the region are meeting in Malaysia to build upon a regional disaster warning system.

They are attending a two-day workshop on Emergency Warnings and Disaster Risk Reduction Broadcasting, an initiative by the ABU and the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The ABU Disaster Risk Reduction Broadcast Media Initiative project aims to establish broadcasters and their networks as a party in the work of national disaster management systems in countries at risk.

Project Consultant Walter Welz told the workshop in Kuala Lumpur that each of the project countries was at different stages of early warning and early warning broadcasting. 

“Our objective is not to bring every country to the same level but rather to further develop the capacity of each of the project countries,” he said. “But because each country is at a different level, there are tremendous opportunities for sharing experience, knowledge and expertise.”

The first day of the workshop on 8 March 2013 scheduled several sessions with a variety of presenters from throughout the region sharing their expertise and experiences. The second day is set aside for induction briefings for broadcasters new to the scheme.

The organisers say it is not enough for governments and disaster warning agencies to provide information to the media. Broadcasters in particular need to develop fast and effective ways of getting that message to their audiences and - just as important – the population must have receivers able to pick up warnings as they are transmitted.

“The broadcasters role in Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction requires an understanding of two different perspectives”, says Russell Isaac, Director of SMS and ABU project consultant. 

“There is a necessity is to form a link between NGOs and Government bodies so that media participation comes in a positive and inventive manner. The media has to take on a responsibility and be proactive in their approach rather than reactive. If they only react, lives will already have been lost! The aims of the media and the organisations concerned need to be mutually understood and continually re-stressed,” Mr Isaac added.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

South Africa: New Local Radio Station Gets Name, New Team

The new local radio station for Cape Town now has a name, Smile 90.4fm. This was announced by the joint chairpersons of Cape Town Radio, Anant Singh and Dr Ernest Messina on Wednesday, 6 March 2013.

They stated, "Our purpose is to use the broadcast frequency we have been entrusted with to build audience and client relationships, bridge cultural divides, promote a sense of community, do good business and spread optimism while presenting the most entertaining, interesting and informative audio content which will manifest in the proverbial smile."

Clive Ridgway, programme director of Smile 90.4fm added, "Radio as we know it is at the media crossroads - facing the challenges of the internet, new media and social networks. Launching into a world dominated by new media requires something unique and special. For this reason, it is launching not as a radio station, but as an audio brand, with the purpose of making a positive contribution to the Cape Town community and being relevant in the information age.

More 

(Source : Biz Community, Cape Town via allAfrica.com)