Today marks the 20th anniversary of Bush Radio‘s illegal broadcast (25 April 1993) which forced the issue of community broadcasting onto the legislative agenda in South Africa and paved the way for the airwaves to be opened and the development of a vibrant community radio sector.
Within days of the broadcast, authorities (police, members of the security branch and post office officials) seized the station’s equipment and arrested two staff members. Following intense local and international lobbying efforts, however, the case was dismissed and Bush Radio was granted a broadcast license on 1 August 1995.
Some of the members of the 2013 CREW radio programmes
Tomorrow, Saturday the 6th April 2013 sees the relaunch of the on-air part of Bush Radio’s Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) project which has been running since 1996.
For the past week at the Bush Radio studios a group of young people drawn from various parts of Cape Town have been receiving introductory radio training and workshopping various topics for the programmes.
The CREW on-air programmes (Tots, Kids and Teens) are produced and hosted by the young people themselves – they are responsible for generating the content. It will be broadcast on 89.5FM as well as online.
Please show your support by calling into the studio on 021 448 6266 or sending an sms to 32158 or via Mxit (go to Tradepost > Entertainment > Radio > Bush Radio.)
The tots start at 9am, kids at 10am and the teens at 11am.
The CREW 2013 project is made possible with the support of FES Media.
Bush Radio is recruiting children and youth aged 6 – 18 years to be trained as volunteer presenters and producers in their children’s radio project; Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) which has been running since 1996.
The programme is divided into three age groups and is on air every Saturday from 10:00 – 13:00.
We are using the following as criteria to select the young people:
- Age (must be between 6 – 18 years old)
- Gender (balance between male and female)
- Language capabilities (English, Afrikaans and Xhosa speakers)
- Geographical area they live in (Greater Cape Town + Cape Flats)
- The willingness and ability to participate weekly
For more information call Sinethemba at Bush Radio’s reception on 021 448 5450.
Closing date: Monday 25 March 2013 at 16:00, and only 30 children will be selected.
Bush Radio’s mid morning programme The Morning Cruise (9am to 12pm) requires an intern to help produce and present the programme on a daily basis.
The internship is voluntary but a transport allowance of no more than R 1000 per month will be offered.
As an on-air producer intern you will be required to be available before, during and after the programme to assist with production duties (8am – 4pm, Mon – Fri).
Requirements and Personal attributes:
* Professional, attention to detail, good time management, willing to learn all aspects of broadcasting, be creative, a people’s person, be articulate and a team player.
** Fluent in Afrikaans (does not have to be formal Afrikaans, jy moet die taal kan gooi)and one other official language.
*** The ideal volunteer for this position would be someone who is on a “gap year” or someone looking at gaining experience in the radio broadcasting industry.
Position Description:
* generate interviews and new show ideas
* Compile daily features
* Set up interview questions for each interview
* Liaise with guest and host of show
* Take photos/video of guest/interviews/events
* Promote the show via facebook/twitter etc
* Blog
* Work in a team to produce the programme
* Present segments of the programme.
Your application MUST include the following:
1. A motivational letter in Afrikaans (500 words maximum)
2. A detailed CV with 2 contactable references.
E-mail application to: feedback@bushradio.co.za – Subject line: Morning Cruise 2013
Application deadline: Friday 22 February 2013 @ 2pm
Only short listed candidates will be contacted. No correspondence will be entered into.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has declared the 13th February 2013 as World Radio Day. As Africa’s oldest community radio station project we at Bush Radio fully support this intiative as we believe in the power of radio to help build communities and improve lives.
Whether it is through our Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) launched in 1996 where young people learn to use the medium to develop their skills and understanding of media or one of our programmes like Sakhisizwe – Bou die Nation, Build the Nation or even our specialised music programmes like Blues in the Bush where we connect the music to its roots in Africa – radio plays a vital part in almost everyone’s daily life.
Through technology like internet streamingBush Radio is able to connect to the entire planet with it’s audience not just from Cape Flats but with dedicated listeners in Asia, Europe and the Americas tuning into the station online through computers or mobile phones, Bush Radio truly is more than just FM radio.
French journalist Sophie Massieu, her guide dog; Pongo and director, Olivia Buffi and crew were at Bush Radio to film a segment for a new documentary series called “Through your eyes”. Sophie is undertaking a journey with people from all around the world and trying to capture their feelings and heritage.
Goucher College’s Eric Singer speaking with a Bush Radio intern
Yesterday (21 January 2013) Bush Radio hosted students from Goucher College in the United States of America.
The group was accompanied by their Political Science and International Relations lecturer, Eric Singer.
The visit was part of the students’ three-week journey researching about South Africa’s history, political and social dynamics.
“This is our third week here; so far we have met with the media, activists, farm workers and street vendors to get a better understanding of the complexity of changes facing South Africa” Singer said.
The group found out how ethnicity, culture, class and gender are involved in society’s ability to solve the country’s social challenges.
“The students are aged between 19 and 23, most have never been outside of their home country, and were shocked that some of the problems they faced back home were the same in South Africa” Singer added.
Singer said that what they have learnt in South Africa was that creating change is not about drafting legislation or forking out money, it is about communities creating space for social development.
They are in South Africa for two reasons; to strengthen the relationship with Bush Radio and to attend a research project discussion in Cape Town.
Paul Smyth said that when he visited Bush Radio 12 years ago it challenged and changed the way he views youth work and and was one of the seeds that led to the creation of WIMPS 4 years later.
Paul explained that the research project that they are involved in will look at different organisations around the world and how they work with young people in ways that encourage young people to change political systems.
Seven organisations are part of the research in SA and they are drawn from Northern Ireland, South Africa and the United States.
WIMPS is an organisation that tries to make politics more accessible to young people, it’s about trying to make young people use their voices and make politicians accountable for their actions.
Stephen added that the work done by Bush Radio is fantastic and that it is essential to stretch this kind of work to Northern Ireland.
After intense planning and a busy week the 12th Annual Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK2012) came to an end on Friday, the 14th of December 2012.
About 80 youth delegates (aged 12 – 21) drawn from all over the country, SADC and as far away as Northern Ireland attended MKK.
Below are the “products” which showcase how the young people interpreted the various themes outlined for this year. For a large percentage of the delegates this was the first time they had been directly involved in the production of media. A strong element of all the MKK conferences have been linking a practical implementation of ideas generated in the various intensive panel discussions and workshop groups.
This year’s theme was Youth Participation in Democracy, with sub-themes being:
Youth Rights and Civic Participation – Human Rights
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