Community Radio as a Tool for Development

Excerpts from the document follow:

"Aims and Objectives of the workshops:

• To understand our community better as a resource for community radio programming and content.
• To understand the overall slogan of the workshops:

Community Radio as a Tool for Development

Expected outcomes

• For Community Radio trainees (CRs) to be able to plan interactive radio programmes with the non government organizations (NGOs) and community based organizations (CBOs) in the area
• To enable NGOs/CBOs to plan a 5-day community campaign in conjunction with the CR, and produce a daily interactive radio programme based on a community needs’ assessment
• For both CRs and NGOs/CBOs to learn the skill of presenting and pitching a combined campaign/ radio programme concept to a funder.

Preparation: 22 community radio presenters from all nine provinces across South Africa were invited to link up with 22 NGOs or CBOs from their area and together attend two separate 5-day workshop in Johannesburg. The first workshop had 11 pairs of CR/NGO workers; the second had 19 attending. One CBO worker failed to turn up and, due to miscommunication within Highway Radio, two radio presenters came instead of one with no accompanying NGO/CBO worker.

The training schedule for the 1st workshop: 13-17 Feb. 2006 and the 2nd workshop held a week later, 20-24 Feb 2006 aimed to equip trainees with the tools to understand and analyze their communities’ needs better. They were based on ABC Ulwazi’s radio productions. HIVOS funded the 6th Rebuilding Civil Society drama series, “Say It- Make a Difference!” and the MOTT Foundation funded the three features Reach Out! aimed at promoting community radio as a forum for freedom of expression, and as an essential part of the public sphere.

Training techniques

Community mapping: the aim was to sketch out each community, indicating the main facilities of the community, the position of the radio station as well as to identify which facilities were lacking. The issues identified were mainly around the lack of facilities for youth; e.g. recreation centres, sports fields, employment opportunities, as well as basic services like water, tarred roads, safety and security and decent housing for all.

Discussions played an important part. Guest speaker Prof. John van Zyl introduced the principle of CRs/NGOs/CBOS as being built on a culture of human rights. The trainees were given the booklets on South Africa’s 1996 Constitution and Bill of Rights in addition to his book, A Sense of Belonging which emphasises the significance of building the community radio sector on solid foundations of research, professionalism and community support. Discussions followed concerning the 3-tier broadcast system, the role of The Independent Communications Authority for South Africa - ICASA and the aims of objectives of state, commercial and community radio.

Radio presentation skills: To equip the trainees for radio skills presentation skills they were each asked to prepare a 2-5-minute radio talk with the aim of building up radio confidence especially among the non-radio people. The topic was “My Community in Ten Years Time - a Vision!” Radio writing techniques such as writing for the ‘blind’ were introduced and reinforced, preparing the trainees for producing a good script that speaks to ONE listener, grabs and keeps that listener’s attention, as well as techniques for sounding natural on radio, microphone techniques, understanding the cassette recorder, and producing broadcast-quality programmes.

Practical studio work: The facilitator laid great importance on practical work and the trainees were given the morning to use recording facilities at ABC Ulwazi. Each was given a cassette and the opportunity to record, listen back individually and get feedback from the trainer and the rest of the group. The recordings were done in the vernacular so that everyone would feel free-er to express themselves fluently. The non-radio people found this a very helpful exercise and were given tips as to how to improve their radio presentation for the future. They were also trained in the use of the field recorder. The purpose and skill of a good radio interview was explained and the trainees were encouraged to practise by interviewing each other.

Feedback sessions were very useful in drawing attention to the weaknesses and strengths of their interview techniques and urging improvements in preparation and research before going on air.

Listening sessions: This is a valuable exercise for CRs in particular to listen to the dramas and features that ABC Ulwazi produces, with the aim of identifying the main messages in each episode. The presenters in particular are called upon to participate in the broadcasting of the material, in order to follow up each programme with a guest speaker and offer listeners the chance to take part if they wish in discussing issues that have arisen from the episode. The presenter is now better able to pinpoint these as a result of knowing the material more intimately ahead of the broadcast.

The radio drama: This is the sixth in the Rebuilding Civil Society series (RCS6), and is called, “Say it! Make a Difference”. In addition there are three features Reach Out! which reinforce the concept of CR as a public sphere for freedom of expression, a forum for NGOs/CBOs and a tool for development. The features are racy and not the typical sequence of voice and sound effects, but a demonstration of the value of interactive radio for the listeners. They contain a range of radio formats which are seen to be effective ways of conveying social messages: vox pops (sample of opinions); the interview; dialogue; music.

Preparing a 5-day radio campaign: an exercise in

a) planning for a daily interactive radio show around community issues identified in the community mapping

b) presenting the show along with a poster as part of a ‘pitch’ for funding

c) offering non-radio people the chance to host a show and build up confidence for future radio programmes they should aim to present.

Groups were mixed to include radio and non-radio trainees. Each group was to choose a fictitious name for their

(i) community

(ii) their radio station

(iii) their radio talk show.

They then mapped out a week’s programming showing the daily breakdown of topic and the guest speakers they would invite. Each group enacted a programme and recorded it onto cassette.

Visit to YFM and Khaya FM - two locally situated commercial radio stations were selected for the radio trainees to visit in order to experience the ‘ethos’ of commercial radio, meet the presenters and management and ask questions. The non-radio trainees stayed behind to prepare the poster campaign.

“Pitching” to funders: a presentation: Three members of ABC Ulwazi experienced in the ‘art’ of proposal writing and presenting to funders came to judge each group’s poster and presentation for an awareness-raising campaign on radio and in the community. Their criteria were:

• Did the group understand the importance of knowing their target audience?
• Did the group to direct their request for funding in such a way as to display a sound knowledge of the funders' activities?
• Did the presenter speak well, smile and make eye contact with the funders?
• Did the group present an itemized budget and speak well to it?

Wrapping up

Dr. Monji and Thato Mfundisi were invited Friday morning to address the question, how to promote and protect the community radio sector. This challenged the trainees to define the ideal community radio station and compare how their own community station lives up to the conditions stipulated by ICASA as obligatory for renewal of a community radio licence. Questions were raised about the nature of community participation and ownership and the possibility of improving content through promoting relevant community issues and through the more active collaboration of NGOs/CBO/s and CRs in the direction and planning of radio programming. Suggestions included the value of building up Listeners’ Associations, work very close to ABC Ulwazi’s heart. These were all discussed in the harsh light of reality. Some stations are run entirely by ‘volunteer presenters’ who feel vulnerable and are afraid they could lose their jobs if they appear to be too proactive, given the authoritarian structures of the community station and the egoism of the station manager who may consider his position as being one for life.

However it was stressed that it is not through conflict but through contributing to the life of the community, gaining public support and coming up with workable ideas that will generate more listeners and income for the station. The necessity of implementing democratic procedures in order to bring up issues of programming and increase community participation were of paramount importance.

Summary and conclusion

The expected outcomes of the training course were achieved, though in the case of the second group, English language skills were more limited. Also most presenters and community workers were very young and lacked general life skills, reducing their ability to handle community issues on air with proper conviction or authority. This is endemic to the NGO and CR sector whose organisations are more often than not, a resort that unemployed youth turn to, to work as volunteers and gain experience, but who can offer few solid communication or organizational skills. This they make up for in enthusiasm and passion for their community.

Improving these skills however remains the dedicated mission of ABC Ulwazi. We believe that the main strength of such training courses lies in exposing trainees to professional radio standards, and opening them up to new networks and broadening their horizons in terms of further training, job skilling and future paid employment; In other words to be, as many community stations’ mission statements declare, the voice of the voiceless. These are ideals laid down in ICASA’s regulations and are the main objectives of ABC Ulwazi, the NGO and CBO sector and community radio: namely the upliftment and empowerment of historically disadvantaged communities."

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