World Press Freedom day (3 May) is a date which celebrates the principles of press freedom, to evaluate and defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
World Press Freedom day also acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect and commitment to press freedom.
It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.
Omar Badsha at the Bush Radio studio (Pic: Adrian Louw)
Omar Badsha, award winning artist, photographer, cultural and political activist and trade union leader was in studio today talking about his experiences and South Africa History Online.
The media in South Africa commemorates the 41st anniversary of the infamous “Black Wednesday” which happened on the 19 October 1977, The World and Weekend World newspapers and several organisations were banned.
We have come a long way to media freedom in this country. Being Africa’s oldest community radio station project, which at one stage faced the full wrath of the apartheid government, we feel it is our duty and responsibility to promote accurate and fair reporting.
Bush Radio does not have the resources to be a “breaking news” station, but it is our duty to be accurate and give our listeners an opportunity to make up their own minds. This however can only happen if we present all sides of any argument, through good research and having access to role-players like politicians on a local, provincial and national level – this is proving harder and harder as officials simply refuse to comment or respond to questions from our newsroom and producers.
We call on all role-players who have an interest in improving the lives of the people on the Cape Flats to be accessible, especially to community media who truly speak and represent the people of Cape Town. It is only by engaging on the hard questions that we can truly claim to be improving the lives of citizens – and being a platform where people and audience can engage with political and social leaders. Thereby learning, healing and growing this wonderful city.
As a place where many young journalists start in their careers, we call upon our audience to hold us accountable and engage with us around our reporting and broadcasts.
Background on Black Wednesday:
On this day in 1977 in South Africa, then Minister of Justice Jimmy Kruger, banned The World and Weekend World newspapers by stating that these publications were “publishing inflammatory material that threatened the nation’s security” and the paper’s editor Percy Qoboza and other journalists were arrested and jailed.
19 organisations were also banned and apartheid critics were detained.
The organisations banned were BPC, SASO, Black Community Programmes, Black Parents Association, Black Women’s Federation, Border Youth Organisation, Eastern Province Youth Organisation, Medupe Writers Association, Natal Youth Organisation, National Youth Organisation, SASM, Soweto Students Representative Council, Soweto Teachers Action Committee, Transvaal Youth Organisation, Union of Black Journalists, Western Cape Youth Organisation, Zimele Trust Fund, Association for the Educational and Cultural Advancement of African People of South Africa.
Banning orders were also served on Beyers Naude and journalist Donald Woods.
13 February 2018 is World Radio Day– a day to celebrate radio as a medium: to improve international cooperation between broadcasters; and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves.
Radio is the mass media reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognised as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium
Bush Radio has places available in its newsroom for volunteer recruits. Read the post below carefully and see if it is something for you – Deadline 22 January 2017
Are you:
Curious, adventurous, always looking for a story, willing to hunt down a source, energetic.
Able to speak, write and read in English & Afrikaans/Xhosa, willing to explore new frontiers in media? From the Cape Flats? Willing to learn and work hard?
Would you like to:
Record sound, conduct interviews, compile bulletins, read bulletins, take pictures, record video, cover events, test your skills LIVE to a listening and online audience of over 375 000 people, build your career and profile?
If your answer to the above is yes, then a volunteer news trainee position in the Bush Radio newsroom is for you.
You will be required full-time and to work shifts (06h00 – 14h00 and 10h00-18h00 -including weekend and public holiday shifts.)
You will not receive payment! This is a volunteer internship at Africa’s leading community radio station. Transport allowance of R 1000 only – non negotiable
This is a full-time contract position (1 year contract after 6 months’ probation) – NB: Students SHOULD NOT apply.
Cape Town-based position
Application deadline: 22 January 2017
Only email applications will be accepted.
Send your application with the subject line: Newsroom trainee 2017 to newsroom2@bushradio.co.za
Application must include:
Detailed CV
Motivation letter which answers the following two questions: (a) Why you should be considered for this internship? (b) How news affects your daily life.
Contactable references x 3
Shortlisted candidates will be put through a combination written test (for computer skills, language, general knowledge) and a voice test.
Bush Radio reserves the right not to make an appointment – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted – No correspondence will be entered into
*** This is not a call for DJs, music show presenters or newsreaders***
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has declared the 13th February 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.
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.
While the parliamentary precinct was buzzing with journalists, politicians and celebrities (see the slideshow) last night waiting for the 2012 State of the Nation address (SONA2012), Bush Radio was at the Portlands Indoor Sports Centre in Mitchells Plain with members of the community, local politicians and activists. (listen to the audio below)
Some of the people who shared their views were during the outside broadcast in Mitchells Plain:
Louis Botha – Deputy Manager of GCIS in the Western Cape
Councillor Solomon Philander – Ward Councillor for ward 79 & Deputy Chairperson for the DA constituency, Mitchells Plain
Councillor Xolani Sotashe – Chief Whip of ANC in City of CT
Shahied Keet – Mitchells Plain Backyarddwellers and Resident’s Association
Rudy Kronenberg – Eastridge (Smarty town) Resident
Nafeesah – Resident
Michael Jacobs – Community Police Forum Wayne McKay – local comedian and Bush Radio volunteer
Ismail Chotia – Universal Party
A visualisation produced by Bushradionews to highlight the most words used in the SONA 2012 - an interactive version is available on http://bushradionews.blogspot.com/
World Press Freedom day (3 May) is a date which celebrates the principles of press freedom, to evaluate and defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
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