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

Targeting community radio

Yesterday saw voting by members of the National Community Radio Forum attending their Bi-Annual General Meeting (BGM) disrupted by a group of 20 people allegedly representing community-based and non-governmental organisations.

The NCRF BGM happened at the same time as the Alternative Information Development Centre’s (AIDC) MindBlast 2009 which started on Monday, December 06, 2009.

Tension - footage courtesy of John Mathew - Whale Coast FM

The NCRF, representing over 120 community radio stations, started smoothly but was disrupted on the last day by a group of 20 people, allegedly from community and non-governmental organisations who forced their way into the NCRF voting session demanding to be part of the process. According to the programme the NCRF sessions were scheduled for members of the organisation.

Mark Weinberg from the AIDC says “the latter was not premeditated and the AIDC was not part of the protest but civil society was very angry because the NCRF had agreed to spend a week with them discussing the role of the radio in deepening democracy and fighting poverty and the NCRF had completely turned their backs on the conference”.

According to Weinberg, community media needs to engage civil society because it is NGOs and social movements that give the information and content to community radio.

AIDC Volunteer, Monde Nqulwana says there was a belief that there was going to be engagement between the NCRF and the CBOs. “We felt strongly that we should be part of the BGM even if we were not going to have voting powers”, said Nqulwana.

He added that this was not a platform to do it but they still wanted to engage the sector.

The meeting was reconvened after an intensive meeting between NCRF and the group, and the elections went ahead for the new NCRF Board. The newly elected Chairman of the Board, Sonnyboy Masingi says he does not believe that the Mindblast was communicated properly as the NGO and CBO representatives wanted to influence the resolution of the BGM, not understanding that it is a constitutional structure, and open for members only.

According to Masingi, the community-based organisations may have a wrong perception regarding the structure of the community radio body.

Thabang Pushoyabone, Radio Riverside Station manager and a newly elected board member feels that the CBOs wanted to be more involved in the programme of the NCRF BGM than the programme of the Mindblast.

Pushoyabone defended Radio Riverside which was hosting the conference by saying “there is a consultation, the station looks at programming by considering CBOs”.

Meanwhile Basil Jacobs, Radio Franschhoek’s Station Manager does agree that community involvement is poor in his area. ”In my year of being station manager I have experienced that it’s very difficult to get the community actively involved in radio. We have created a platform where NGOs and CBOs can partner with us however it has been challenging to maintain partnerships. WHY? WHO? WHEN?” asked the irate Jacobs.

Radio Zibonele’s Phetho Ntaba, says they have a very good working relationship with the NGOs and CBOs. She said they generate their content around these organisations. She also added that their mandate as a community radio station is to make sure that they target issues of community interest.

According to the NCRF Chairperson, the matter is not resolved and they are planning a special meeting in February 2010.

Nqulwana says the CBOs are skeptical that they will reach a solution. According to Nqulwana the CBOs are scared that the community media will be swallowed by mainstream media.