The 14th Media Kidocracy kicks off #MKK2014

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.

Bush Radio would like to thank the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FESmediaAfrica), the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), the Children’s Movement, and Whale Coast FM.

* 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.

Check out previous MKK posts – CLICK HERE

Youth stand up and deliver – MKK 2010 slideshow

A big thank you to all the participants and facilitators of the Media Kidocracy Konference 2010 (17 – 18 December 2010) who helped make the conference a huge success.

A special word of thanks to the following individuals who gave their time and resources to participate and facilitate the discussions with the participants:

Moenier Hendricks – Homebrew Films

Thabiso Molefe – CTV

Danilo Acquisto – Hectic Nine-9

Craig and Rene – Reconstructed Living Lab (RLabs)

William Razant – Western Cape Musicians Association (WCMA)

Calvin Peters – Entertainment Entrepreneur / Music Producer

Laszlo van Leeuwen – Devign Me

Emile Jansen – Black Noise / Heal the Hood

Chad Saaiman – Stereotype Records

Martin Myers – PR and Marketing

Shiraaz Ismail – Recording Artist / Shaz & B

Chad Lawrence – Recording Artist / Blaque Haze

Patric van Blerk – Cape Town Sound

Colleen Brennon – False Bay College

Jo-Anne Meyer – Ocean View Civic Association

Vuyisa Qabaka – South African Black Entrepeneurs Forum (SABEF)

Rafique Gaibie – Good Hope Meat Hyper

Sive Msolo & Freedom Raphela – Deep Soul Fire

All the staff  and volunteers at Bush Radio especially intern Sabrina Neri.

Engaging on our own terms

Bush Radio, Africa’s oldest community radio station project will once again host the annual Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK) now in its 11th year ­ from the 17th to the 18th December 2010 at its premises in Salt River, Cape Town.

This year the Bush Radio’s children and youth project CREW (Children’s Radio Education Workshop), which takes on the role of host and planning committee for the conference, is presenting a programme called Youth Engagement.

The delegates, aged between 12 and 18 years of age, will explore issues that are pertinent to themselves and their peers under the theme, and have broken the conference into three parallel areas: Business, Music and Media.

Business
This session aims to inspire youth as well as teach them ways of capitalising on their talents and how to be responsible in business.

Music:
Exploring how the youth express themselves in a positive way through music and to help with discovering our rich musical heritage. These sessions will look at independent and signed artists, their experiences and challenges.

Media
Not just the glitz and glam. The sessions will reflect on how all media influences youth, how children and young people are represented in the media and how they wish to be represented. The impact of new media and ideas on how to use it will also be shared.

Former Bush Radio MD, Zane Ibrahim at an early MKK conference

“Whereas previous MKK sessions have concentrated on media and media production, we have noted with interest that this years’ MKK planning committee have included a section on business,” Bush Radio Managing Director Brenda Leonard.

“We feel it shows the impact of the economic crisis on the lives of the youth. They motivated strongly for this section to be included. It is our job of facilitators of young people’s development that we hear their call.”

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.