9 August 1995 – South Africa’s first National Women’s Day – was chosen because we wanted to honour all the women who had been instrumental in giving rise to the community radio sector and establishing Bush Radio, in particular.
Listen to an audio documentary on Bush Radio and community radio
This year COVID19 has proven the importance of community media in helping the fight against the pandemic, by being a vital source of information and supporting the communities we serve through our programming.
Our events to celebrate 25 years of broadcasting were put on hold, but now we have an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve and look towards the next – dare we say it – quarter of a century!
This year the 14th Media Kidocracy (kid+democracy) Konfrence which runs from th 6th to the 10th October 2014, is taking place in a historic year for media in South Africa. Bush Radio is celebrating 21 years since its first illegal broadcast, and 19 years of legal broadcasting. The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) is also celebrating 21 years of existence, Bush Radio played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NCRF.
As South Africans, we are celebrating 20 years of democracy, as a country we are slowly emerging from a violent apartheid past to a nation celebrating its freedom.
The theme for MKK2014 is “Celebrating 20 years of democracy: learning from the past and celebrating the future.”
One of the foundations of this democracy we have built is freedom of expression.
This right allows everyone, including youth, to express themselves, whether this is verbally, artistically, scientifically or in any other way. However, this right does not come without responsibilities and we need to look at how we use our hard fought for freedom.
Freedom of expression is entrenched in the Media Kidocracy Konfrence as it allows participants to express the issues they raise through their media productions.
* Several of Bush Radio’s programmes will be broadcasting live from the event, these are: The Breakfast Rush (6-9am), The Morning Cruise (9am – 12pm), Sakhisizwe (12 – 2pm) and Everyday People (4 – 7pm).
** MKK2014 takes places at Wortelgat situated on the blanks of the Kleinriver estuary so besides the intensive media programme and discussion sessions participants will also enjoy the picturesque fynbos as well as archery, abseiling, and hiking.
The past September school holidays saw Bush Radio host a very successful Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK2013) – 22 to 27 September 2013. This was the 13th conference which drew young people from Bontheheuwel to as far away as Germany, participating in various discussions and productions around the theme “the role of media in democracy“.
The conference took place at the beautiful Mizpah Conference Centre in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Grabouw.
Team 1 of the photography group dealt with sexism and sexist stereotypes
Besides plenary sessions which dealt with media literacy, gender and elections, the conference also included visits to various media outlets around Cape Town (radio, television, print and online) and a special “give back to the community” outreach session at Agape 2 – home for disabled and abandoned children. The conference also included lifeskill sessions on active citizenship and substance abuse as well as daily outside broadcasts from Grabouw.
Team 2 of the photography group dealt with nature and pollution
The conference programme closed with what delegates always consider a highlight; the intensive production workshops which this year again included: television, radio, online, print, photography as well as two new productions; t-shirt and poster printing and a stage drama.
A special thanks goes to all the Bush Radio Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) facilitators and volunteers as well as the Bush Radio staff and trainees who provided the logistical support for the conference.
Bush Radio staff checking out “Media on the Move” – the newspaper produced by MKK2013 delegates
A Bush Radio 89.5FM project, the Media Kiodcracy (kid+democracy) conference is taking place from the 22nd – 27th September in Grabouw. MKK is a youth media conference for participants aged 12 – 18 years and provides them with skills and knowledge to produce various forms of media. This year, MKK will produce radio, television, photography, online, drama and art. Two newspapers will also be produced, one before, and one during the conference.
The theme for this year’s conference is “The Role of Media in Democracy”.
The Managing Director of Bush Radio, Brenda Leonard said that “MKK is taking place in a historic year for media in South Africa. Bush Radio is celebrating 20 years since its first illegal broadcast, and 18 years of legal broadcasting. The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) is also celebrating 20 years of its existence.“
Bush Radio initiated the then Radio Kidocracy Konference, which changed to the Media Kidocracy Konference in 2006. Initially it started as a conference where children could talk about issues and policies in broadcasting affecting them directly, to make their voices heard. With the changing landscape of media in South Africa, we decided to include other forms of media in 2006, and with this, the Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK) was born.
Delegates are expected from community radio stations across South Africa, youth groups and schools, and will include over 90 youth participants.
Today, MKK as an opportunity for youth to reflect their views on the issues on the table, discuss how the media portrays these issues, and then produce the type of media that talks directly to the youth. The skills and information they gain over the five days is part of, not only strengthening their knowledge and skill set, but also strengthening democracy in South Africa.
Partners for this year’s conference are: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Media Development and Diversity Agency and Whalecoast Monitor
Background on MKK
As part of a growing need for youth participation in the decision-making process and policy formulation around children’s broadcasting, in 2000 Bush Radio initiated a conference. The Kidocracy (Kid-democracy) name was created for the event – to denote a form of society characterised by social equality and acceptance of young people with representation for and by young people.
The Media Kidocracy Konference aims to establish critical awareness and understanding among young people by exposing youth to information and experiences that will enable them to identify issues they feel are relevant, as well as explore their role in media and social issues. MKK also assists participants in devising strategies for addressing social issues by using the media as a tool to help resolve and address these issues.
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
About 100 young delegates have gathered at Bush Radio’s 12th Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK) in Worcester.
This year’s theme is Youth Participation in Democracy, with sub-themes being Human Rights, Labour, Health, Arts and Culture, Gender, and Environment.
The opening address for the conference was presented by Bush Radio’s Managing Director, Brenda Leonard, where she gave an insight into the history of the conference and the outline of the days to follow.
MDDA CEO, Lumko Mtimde
Media Development and Diversity Agency CEO Lumko Mtimde said the gathering such as MKK is important especially today since its International Human Rights Day.He urged delegates to know their rights that are in our constitution.
Mtimde added that MDDA saw it fit to partner with Bush Radio for MKK in order for the delegates to understand the importance of media so that as young people they can participate actively in our democracy.
MDDA CEO Lumko Mtimde encouraged the young delegates to use the next few days at the conference to learn as much as possible so that they can actively participate in their community.
Communications expert, Trevor Davids
Advisor for Communications for the IEC Trevor Davids also gave some insight into how the election and registration process works.
Davids added that one person can make a difference because that one person can be the difference between a win or a lost for a party.
Busi Sikosana a former MKK and Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) participant also shared her experience of being part of the , South Africa’s leading children and youth radio and media project, CREW founded in 1996.
The group who have been hard at work at Bush Radio from the 26th April 2010
We’ve been a bit quiet on the blogging front but hope you have been to the Zoopy site for some of our videos. For the past two weeks we have been busy with a “Making Children’s Radio” training course at Bush Radio.
As you probably know, Bush Radio has been running a project called the Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) since 1996 and we have drawn on that experience to draw together several radio stations from the region to look at how they do children’s radio, what lessons they have learnt and how we can improve children’s access to media.
The stations involved in the training have been drawn from Namibia (Karas Community Radio), Zimbabwe (Radio Dialogue) and South Africa (Radio KC, Eden FM and Radio 786).
Besides dealing with some of the theory around children’s radio, like legal issues and how children learn, the course also focussed on some of the technical skills needed.
The course ends this Friday (7 May 2010). As part of their training the participants will be going on air on Bush Radio 89.5 FM on from 9am to 12pm. They will present programmes targeted at both adults and children. For some of them it will be the first time they have been on-air and the nerves are beginning to show.
They will showcase their technical skills as well as some of their ideas as to how stations can make children’s issues a priority.
The participants have been divided into three teams and we asked them to write up a short promo as to why you should listen to their hour.
Check it out below and remember to tune into the trainees on 89.5 FM or listen online this Friday the 7th May 2010 from 09h00.
The course was made possible through the support of FES-Media.
Forever young (09h00 – 10h00)
Forever Young: (top L to R), Emmanuel Nkomo (Radio Dialogue), Nomonde Makhubalo (Eden FM), Bottom L to R: Lydia Christians & Thomas Elago; (Karas CR)
Tune into Bush Radio 89.5 FM and enjoy a fun filled and informative hour on the show Forever Young at 09h00 this Friday. Children aged between 9 and 10 talk about how much they love their moms and wish them Happy Mother’s Day.
Winter is also upon us and get tips on how to stay warm and safe.
Hotspot (10h00 – 11h00)
Hotspot: Top: Mercia Thomas (Karas CR), Middle L to R: Gaenor Erasmus (Bush Radio), Zainab Bean (Radio 786), Bottom: Bafane Nicolay Isaak (Karas CR)
Tune in to Bush Radio 89.5 FM between 10 and 11 on Friday to catch the Hotspot as they dig deeper into the effects of alcohol abuse
Kick-off (11h00 – 12h00)
Kick-Off: L to R: Blanche McCarthy (Bush Radio), Cuen Nicolson (Radio KC), Rachel Flink (Radio Atlantis), Rosie Chauke (Radio Dialogue)
Tune into Kick-Off on Bush Radio 89.5 FM this Friday between 11 and 12. We’ll be focussing on our goals in life and our special guest Matthew Booth will share with us how he set and achieved his goals.
We’ll also take the opportunity to give you tips on how you can set and achieve yours.
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