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 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.
· Support independent journalism so that media workers can report without fear or favour. Newsrooms should be free to make independent editorial decisions that favour public interest and preserve accountability.
· A free and independent press is essential at all times, but is particularly important during a health crisis such as the one we are currently experiencing. At a time when many seek information primarily online, the role of professional journalists, whom are trained to help sort through the flow and provide necessary guidance, is vital.
· No crisis can be resolved without accurate and reliable information. At all levels, from governments to individuals, the decisions we make can be a matter of life and death and must be based on facts and science.
· It is only through joint multilateral coordination that these crucial issues can successfully be addressed, and we are deeply committed to this global effort.
· It is also important to help the media and journalists report on the crisis effectively and safely, and to promote critical thinking to limit the spread of rumors and misinformation.
· On World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May, UNESCO calls on governments, media and civil society to join us in a global online movement to draw the world’s attention to these issues which are essential to the survival of our democracies. Together, we will ensure that our response to the crisis is effective. This unprecedented health crisis has the potential to rebuild citizens’ trust in the media.
The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), of which Bush Radio is a founding member, today issued a press statement highlighting the plans of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to shut down certain stations for various reasons.
Today we commemorate Black Wednesday 42 years ago – October 19, 1977 – when the apartheid government banned several newspapers, organisations and journalists.
Today, ICASA, an institution for which Bush Radio fought
hard to be established, wants to shut down more than 40 community radio
stations. The effect will be the same as then – limiting media freedom and
alternative voices in the broadcast sector.
Bush Radio strongly urges our democratically elected government to intervene in this matter. We ask ICASA to look at a positive resolution to help secure the future of the community radio sector.
13 February is World Radio Day. A day we celebrate the power of radio in our lives. This year UNESCO’s theme for the day is “Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace”.
We thought it appropriate that we ask our listeners, supporters, trainees and everyone who has used the medium to send us whatsapp video clips (because community radio moves with the times).
We received clips from listeners, Alternative Radio, BBC, activists, media professionals, editors and artists. The range of the responses we received clearly shows that Bush Radio lives up to this year’s theme of “Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace”. More than just being one of the most sort after training radio stations, it truly is building bridges between the various communities we serve.
While planning to undertake a major transition to digital in 2012, Bush Radio, AKA “The Mother of Community Radio”, recently found themselves in a position where an interim studio upgrade was urgently required in order to maintain quality broadcasts.
The stations on air studio has been in service for many years and critical items such as the mixing console and CD players have surpassed their useful working life and are close to failure. To avoid the risk of disappointing their listeners with poor quality or interrupted broadcasts, an appropriate solution that targeted technically weak areas was urgently required. To implement this, Bush Radio contracted Buck Broadcast to supply and install key new equipment while undertaking a major service and calibration of their existing systems.
The Soundcraft MBI Series 5 which Bush Radio used for more than 110 000 hours of use (1994-2011)
The upgraded* studio features a new Soundcraft console and Tascam CD players
In addition to the the installation of a new Soundcraft modular broadcast mixing console and two Tascam CD players, all existing studio equipment was removed, cleaned, serviced and reinstalled within a four-day period. Furthermore, customized wiring looms and system interconnects were fabricated and installed. After a smooth switchover from their back up studio, the new system has been met with enthusiasm from the many presenters who have struggled along with the old equipment for so long.
Rewired, serviced and running
Buck Broadcast looks forward to the opportunity of implementing a more comprehensive digital solution in the year to come but in the meantime are satisfied that Bush Radio now has a more reliable interim system in place to see them though to the digital phase.
We are also known for some of the best programme names – like The Unhappy Hour (which runs for two hours) and Gister se Dinge.
With the success of the “Maak Victor Mal” slot on a Wednesday morning we have decided that we need to bring back more rock to the station.
We are pleased to announce that on Monday the 12th April 2010 – the mother is going to rock.
Tune into 89.5 FM or listen online to the Wrong Rock Show with Greg “The Hammer” Donnelly at 10pm, as he takes you on a journey beyond the limitations of the mainstream, to a place where vintage rock ‘n roll can rub shoulders with anarchic post-rock.
That’s the Wrong Rock Show, launching this coming Monday night the 12th April at 10pm.
Brenda Leonard: Bush Radio's new Managing Director
We at Bush Radio are pleased to announce that Brenda Leonard has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Africa’s oldest community radio station project.
Leonard takes over the reins from Zane Ibrahim who headed the station from 1996 and retired at the end of February 2010.
During South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, Brenda occupied various roles within the liberation movement and was deeply involved in student politics in the Western Cape – as well as leading transformation within various communities on the Cape Flats.
Leonard who headed the Bush Radio’s financial and administration departments was critical to ensuring success during our first license hearing post-1994 and all subsequent license hearings. She was instrumental in drafting policies and procedures and ensuring that these policies, whether training, employment or programming is gender sensitive – as well as ensuring that we had one of the first HIV and AIDS workplace policies in the country – a model which has been exported to numerous radio stations and organisations.
Watch Brenda talking on the role, challenges and priorities of Bush Radio
She has also been in the forefront of ensuring that radio can be used as a tool for gender, political and health education.
Leonard has been active in the establishment of, and training at, several radio stations in the region, as well as giving input to Parliament and other bodies on issues related to media and freedom of expression.
She is married to Jerimia Thuynsma and has two children, Ashley-K, 13 years old, and 9 year-old Amilcar Cabral.
Leonard holds a Communication Science degree from the University of South Africa.
***Brenda will be interviewed by Backchat’s, Bassie Montewa at 15h30 today (30 March 2010) on 89.5 FM – listen online ***
You can get a copy of any of the programmes broadcast on Bush Radio*. So if you have been a guest or just like the discussion and would like to hear it again, you can order it from the station and help us with sustainability.
How to request copies of programmes:
You can download a copy of the programme copy order form (CLICK HERE).
Or
Call 021 448 5450 and get a copy of the form faxed or e-mailed to you.
Total cost if collected from Bush Radio studio is R30.00 per cd (we burn the entire hour, so if it is a two hour programme the cost will be R 60.00).
An extra R15.00 will be charged for local postage.
Payment is required up front and must be deposited into Bush Radio’s account with Standard Bank, Mowbray branch code: 024909 and account number: 07 122 0194.
Copies will only be made after payment has been received. Allow 7 days for production.
Any items not collected, will be discarded after 30 days and payment will then be kept as a donation.
*our current active archive is 90 days from the day the programme was broadcast. We will soon be releasing our historical archives which dates back to the late 80’s – watch this space.
Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) - photo sourced: Wikipedia
Join us tonight (28 January 2010) at 9pm on Bush Radio 89.5 fm to pay tribute to Howard Zinn who passed away yesterday. Zinn was a historian, activist and professor emeritus in the Political Science Department at Boston University. He was the author of more than 20 books, including A People’s History of the United States.
Zinn died of a heart attack at the age of 87. He is survived by his daughter Myla Kabat-Zinn.
Zinn was active in the civil rights, civil liberties and anti-war movements in the United States, and wrote extensively on all three subjects.
Several of his talks have been featured on Bush Radio (featured prominently in the BUSH AGAINST WAR campaign) and tonight we bring you “Three Holy Wars” – which was recorded on the 11 November 2009 in Boston on Veteran’s Day.
From the introduction to tonight’s talk:
“The conventional view of U.S. wars follows a formulaic line: We are innocent victims of unprovoked attacks. The sleeping giant wakes and reluctantly goes to fight. All military action is imbued with benevolent intentions: human rights, democracy, and liberty. There are parades and flag-waving. Solemn ceremonies and gun salutes at funerals honor the fallen. But who asks for what and for whom were they killed? Who benefits? Weapons manufacturers and mercenary contractors make out like bandits. That’s a taboo subject. Resources? Empire expansion? Don’t go there. Stick to patriotism. You can mouth the typical prattle of they died for freedom. The Afghan war is Operation Enduring Freedom. And war crimes? That’s what they do, not us. Tribunals? Same deal: for them. Wars are packaged and sold just like any other commodity. Propaganda is skillfully used to win over the population. “
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