The event is called “The People’s Airwaves” and is part of MAP’s series Beyond Borders; which brings global practitioners and experts in conversation with each other, reimagining the meaning and significance of borders by blurring the boundaries between different genres and media, and exploring people and spaces that cross imagined borders.
As we celebrate our 21st birthday, we are running a pledge drive during our birthday month – from the 1 – 31 August 2016 – where YOU can make a donation towards our work.
As a non-profit community radio station, we call on former interns, staff, volunteers, board members, NGOs/CBOs, artists, musicians, designers and companies who have benefitted from our broadcast and training services to contribute towards making a difference in the lives of others.
Through such donation, you will contribute to the continued existence of Bush Radio, and also make the opportunity available to others to benefit from Bush Radio’s services.
Our bank details are as follows:
Bank: Standard Bank
Name of account: Bush Radio Training Account
Account number: 07 119 4185
Branch name: Mowbray
Branch code: 051001
Address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town, 7700
Swift code (for foreign donations): SBZAZAJJ
If you would like a receipt for your donation, email the proof of payment to donate@bushradio.co.za
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 021 448 5450.
The campaign celebrates 20 years of democracy in South Africa, Shifty’s 30th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the Voëlvry tour.
A number of events are planned for September, culminating in the Shifty Heritage Music Festival on Heritage Day in Johannesburg, featuring many of the label’s legendary artists.
What can you win?
If you pledge your support by buying any Shifty September reward, and enter your name in the Wrong Rock Show give-away, you stand a chance of winning one “The Vinyl Solution” reward, which includes:
• Voëlvry LP [signed by surviving Voëlvryers]
• Repackaged: Bigger than Jesus LP [signed by Warrick Sony]
• Pot-luck of 3 rare original still-in-their-plastic Shifty Records [it’s a surprise]
• 2 tickets to the Shifty Heritage Music Festival
• A thank you with your name on the virtual wall of thanks exhibition + a surprise Shifty gift
• We will verify your pledge with Shifty Records and on 16 September 2014, once the Thundafund campaign is closed, we will draw one name from those entered as the winner of the vinyl goodies.
Tune in! On Monday 1 September 2014 the Wrong Rock Show will be joined by Warrick Sony for a special 2-hour preview of the Shifty compilations to be released as part of the campaign.
They are:
• Shifty & Quirky
• Shifty Blue
• Shifty Love
• Shifty Pop
• Shifty Protests
• Shifty Rocks
Please note:
• If you cannot attend the festival and cannot nominate anyone to receive your tickets, we will draw another name to give your tickets to.
• If you cannot attend the festival and collect your LP’s, you will be asked to pay postage for delivery.
Bush Radio is looking for vibrant and enthusiastic women who have a passion for radio to be co-hosts on Everyday People (weekdays, 4 to 7pm)
Requirements:
* free to volunteer 3pm – 7pm daily (Mon-Fri)
* generate interviews and new show ideas
* compiling daily features
* organise daily interviews
* setting up questions for each interview
* liaise with guest/s and host of the show
* taking photos of guest/interviews/events
* promote the show via Facebook/Twitter/etc
* blog
* work closely with the show host
* co-hosting & interviewing
* fluent in English and Xhosa/Afrikaans
Please include your CV (with 2 contactable references) and a motivational letter of no longer than 200 words explaining why you feel you are suitable as a co-host.
Only short-listed female applicants will be contacted.
Please note this is a volunteer position (NO stipend or pay provided)
Send your application to: ideas@bushradio.co.za (type Everyday People co-host in subject line)
As part of Bush Radio regular staff development sessions we thought we’d learn a little bit more about how our signal gets to our listeners and meet some of the people involved in the process.
On Wednesday we visited Sentech, which Bush Radio uses to distribute its FM signal (89.5) to listeners.
Frank Creese – Manager: Cape Town Operations
Frank Creese who is the Manager of Cape Town Operations for Sentech gave us a presentation about Sentech and its services and also conducted a tour of their facilities.
Some facts about Sentech: it has 220 transmitting stations, 742 radio transmitters, 627 television transmitters and 550 staff members at its 16 centres nationally.
Ernst Heydenrych, Senior Technician explaining the finer points of transmission and compression to Sinethemba, Isherene and Lusanda
Bush Radio is currently considering upgrading the old Telkom copper wire connection which send our signal from the studio in Salt River to Sentech and Creese shared some clarity on why fibre optic is the way to go to get improved audio quality to the transmitter.
Gary Urion, Supervisor Transmission Centre Western Region (centre) with Sinethemba, Freedom and Victor
Our staff were amazed when we were taken into the Sentech’s operations centre where the main broadcasting (TV and Radio) signals are monitored 24/7, 365 days a year.
View from transmitter site in Tygerberg
We then went to the Sentech’s transmitter site in Tygerberg where many of the community and commercial radio stations transmitters are located. A highlight was also seeing the new digital television transmitter.
Bush Radio 89.5 FM will be providing coverage of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to various radio stations and other media organisations in South Africa and around the world for the duration of the conference (28 November – 9 December 2011) in Durban.
You will be able to access updates, audio, video and pictures via the Bushradionews platform or by following us on Twitter and searching here #COP17.
For the past three months, we have been running our climate change – COP17 campaign, which consists of community dialogues, training for broadcasters and running a news desk during COP17.
In the past two weeks (7 – 18 November) our offices have reverberated with the words COP17 and climate change – training and equipping broadcasters to demystify the issues of climate change and COP17, and enabling them to engage in debates at their stations.
Participants getting to grips with the issues
Bush Radio, in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, developed a training course which brought together radio journalists from throughout South Africa. With the training, the broadcasters will be able to highlight the issues of climate change and translate these issues to their various communities in a clear and efficient way. In order to acheive this, briefings were held with various stakeholders in the area of climate change – these included the public, scientists, activists, civil society, politicians, international broadcasters and the United Nations. The course also upgraded their production and journalism skills.
The BBC's Steve Martin engaging the group on the importance of community media
What some of the participants felt about the training:
“The workshop has opened my mind by giving me a better understanding of climate change and COP17. I feel like a new encyclopaedia filled with more knowledge than Google”. – Tashneem Abrahams – VOC
Team building through dance
“The two weeks of being in Cape Town has really flown by quickly. The staff at Bush Radio has been very friendly, but most of all, the entire workshop has been great and the facilitator was great too. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this possible.” –Xolelwa Mvumvu – Motheo FM
“Having been part of this 2 weeks climate change workshop has been a great experience. Meeting up with journalists from other provinces and having fun while learning was definitely the cherry on top.” – Bongani Gina – uMgungundlovu Community Radio KZN
A big thank you to the media houses, individuals and organisations who have been working furiously to get word out about Bush Radio’s current financial situation. Everyone at the station appreciates the moral support we are receiving.
Our appeal continues however, any donation or investment through advertising or sponsorship is welcome. We are especially appealling to large corporates to show their support of a Free Independent Media to assist us in growing the station.
If you would like to make a donation here are the details (or see our Request letter):
Name of Account : Bush Radio
Name of bank : Standard Bank
Branch name : Mowbray
Branch code : 02-4909
Account number : 07 122 0194
Swift code (for foreign transfers): SBZA ZA JJ
Address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, South Africa, 7705
Below is a snippet of the media coverage we have been receiving in the past week:
The signage that greets you on arrival at the Bush Radio offices
Dear Friend,
For more than two decades Bush Radio has been at the forefront of broadcasting in South Africa, playing an integral part in the development and advancement of both the industry and individuals in the local broadcasting landscape.
Over the past three years, however, this pioneering radio station and training centre has been hit hard by the current economic climate, recently resulting in Bush Radio having to re-evaluate its operations in order to remain sustainable and influential in this fast-changing and exciting environment.
Tragically, this institution and symbol of media freedom is teetering on the brink of closure unless it can find a substantial amount of cash to cover rent, transmission and other running costs.
Watch a video clip of some of the training done at Bush Radio (click here):
Our landlord has given us until the 31 August to come with a tangible proposal, and we have decided to use this time to try and raise this money. The total cost we are trying to raise is R300,000 = Euro 30,000 = US $ 43,000.
Bush Radio provides a valuable, relevant and much-needed service in the communities of the Western Cape. Our legacy of assisting and being supported by communities all around the Cape is extensively documented, and due to our role as the pioneer of community radio in South Africa, we feel that our work is not yet done.
Bush Radio provides broadcast training to individuals, radio stations and media institutions in Africa, with a special focus in all the countries of Southern Africa. Bush Radio also has partnerships with organisations such as Public Achievement in Northern Island, which focuses on youth development and civic participation.
We hereby request you to assist us in this fundraising venture by making a donation, requesting your friends and colleagues to make a donation, or asking your company to make a donation.
All donations, irrespective of size, are welcome.
Donations can be paid directly into Bush Radio’s bank accounts and the details are:
Name of Account : Bush Radio
Name of bank : Standard Bank
Branch name : Mowbray
Branch code : 02-4909
Account number : 07 122 0194
Swift code (for foreign transfers): SBZA ZA JJ
Address: 37 – 39 Main Road, Mowbray, South Africa, 7705
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Bushradio 89.5 FM 