A wrap of the National Community Radio Corporate Governance Indaba

About 400 delegates from various community radio stations in the country attended the National Community Radio Corporate Governance Indaba in Polokwane from the 20th to the 26th of September 2012.

The Department of Communication was in charge of the first two days.  Various speakers addressed the delegates, including Minister of Communications Dina Pule, Director General from the Department of Communication, Ms Rosey Sekese, Chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Dr Stephen Ngcube, Sipho Mathedimusa from the South African Revenue Services, Chief Executive Officer of Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Lumko Mtimde and Chief Director of Government Communications Information System (GCIS), Donald Liphoko.

Portfolio Committee Chairperson on Communication Eric Kholwane said one of the committee’s aim is that by 2014 each municipality has a community station. According to Kholwane it should be government’s responsibility to make sure that community stations are sustainable.

MDDA Chief Executive Lumko Mtimde said they are looking into having a central booking and monitoring system for advertising for all community radio.  MDDA is also planning a community radio museum where it will display old equipment from stations like Bush Radio and Radio Zibonele.

From the 22nd to the 25th September, the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) took over the programme with three concurrent training workshops to develop the sector.  Several issues were dealt with including Corporate Governance and Leadership, Sales and Financial Sustainability and High Performance Team Management and Motivation.

These three sessions dealt with the current challenges faced by community radio stations and also outlined the prospects towards growth and the advancement of the sector.

The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) took over the conference on the last day, convening member stations into a national general council.  Several issues were up for discussion including membership fees, provincial hubs, one rate card for all stations for GCIS and NCRF to have a training and capacity programme as a project on its own and to roll out the sector skills plan.

The DOC released a discussion document at the conference entitled Corporate governance as a foundation to sustainability.  The document was not received well by the delegates as it portrayed the sector in a biased negative light, it was proposed that the document be withdrawn. NCRF said it is concerned in the manner the discussion document showed the situation of Corporate Governance in the sector, which is very one-sided.

NCRF stated that Community Radio in the country continues to play a developmental role in communities, creating platforms for dialogue, debates and freedom of expression in local communities.

Training Opportunity: Western Cape Community Radio volunteers

 

Bush Radio, in partnership with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), is conducting a part-time course in radio journalism from January to April 2011.

We are inviting applicants from community radio sector in the Western Cape that have an interest in news and current affairs, to apply for this course.

The programme will achieve the following outcomes:

•     Recording sound in studio and from location

•     Collecting information for journalistic use

•     Interview for journalistic purposes

•     Presenting a journalistic story

•     Report for a variety of journalistic purposes

•     Operating studio equipment for production

DURATION OF COURSE:

The duration of the course will be 12 weeks (One and a half days a week), and sessions will be every Tuesday and Saturday.

VENUE: Bush Radio, 330 Victoria Road, Salt River, 7925

COST: No charge for tuition, training and materials as this training is sponsored by MAPPP-SETA. Successful candidates will pay a registration fee of R200.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

•     Candidates must have a Matric or Grade 12 Certificate

•     Must be unemployed volunteers for any Community radio station in the Western Cape

•     Must be computer literate

•     Must be available to attend an open day on the Thursday, 2 December 2010

•     If selected, must be available to attend compulsory induction programme from the 13 – 17 December 2010 (includes 16th December).

HOW TO APPLY?

In order for your application to be considered, all applications must include the following documents:

– completed application form (DOWNLOAD HERE)

– copy of your matric certificate

– a signed reference letter from the station indicating your involvement

E-mail your documents to: mother@bushradio.co.za or fax to: 021 – 448 5451

Please call 021 448 5450 to confirm that all your documents were received in good order.

DEADLINE:  Tuesday, 23rd November 2010

No late applications will be accepted. Limited place is available, so get in your application today!

For more information, contact Sharon Salies on 021 448 5450.