INTRODUCTIONS TO RADIO STUDTIES
My Personal Journalistic Philosophy
A] We place into context here that there is more than just one journalism but this is plural and therefore have a variety of journalisms. One such aspect we wish to place into focus today is that of Radio studies and that of radio production.
So what is the responsibility of journalism and of journalist within this profession? Many have for so long seen its primary responsibility is to promote citizen participation in for example: democratic processes, but these advocates who define this have failed however to make clear which types of democracy journalism should help promote such processes and citizen behaviour. As journalist it is thus required of one to understand the basis of which they operate as well as be able to set boundaries for them to be able to work within. This allows them to be ethical not only towards the institute that they work behalf of but also a responsibility that holds them to be honest to tell the truth and respect their sources. This is known as ones personal philosophy and helps keep journalists objective. As Glasser (in Objectivity and News Bias) has so righty brought up the questions on how does one situate themselves in terms of how they would report as objective individuals this has become a serious question/issue for many journalists. Even though we understand that objectivity is compromised by our own identities and social positioning, one must strive to maintain principals of factual based informative reporting, but will temper the distanced objective approach with an understanding of our subjective positions/positioning. Hence one needs to define their personal journalistic styles/ethics by which they can follow and also ties in with the institution which they serve. Journalists should be committed to ethical reporting that is characterised by the universal code of ethics: accuracy, truthfulness, fairness, impartiality, confidentiality, social responsibility, professionalism, thorough research and sensitivity.
We must understand that our role is to be facilitators, educators, entertainers and commentators rather than mere reporters. The reporter as social commentator: here the reporter’s role is to identify problems and their source/s while also finding answers from within the community (Glasser, 2000). Through this we hope to engage audiences, rather than merely broadcast/publish to a passive audience, giving them the space to shape the news, rather than simply being dictated to (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as facilitator – keep decision-makers accountable; playing an explanatory role - informing ordinary people; giving a voice to those who are not represented; equalising the playing fields – giving more weight to the voices of the disempowered (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as an entertainer – reporters should engage and interest their audience, building a sense of community pride or hope through colourful use of sound, visuals or print, creativity and, occasionally (even) humour (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as an educator – this role incorporates aspects of the former two, in which a journalist identifies important information and/or problems within the community that will help inform citizens about how to act or where to find help(Glasser, 2000).
Thus in essence although we are seen as a student journalist, we strive to uphold the standards that we wish to see in the practise of journalism today within our very society. I feel however that although objectivity is one of the main aspects of journalism it is difficult to remain impartial to a story. As journalist we present a story forward, even though we give both sides of the story the manner in which we frame it, as well as present it (tone of voice, additional sounds added etc.) sources we use, all have an impact on the way in which the public interprets the story. It is in this way that our objectivity is questioned and the question thus arises whether or not a journalist can be objective and if such a concept within journalism actually exists.
When working in this course trying to employ developmental journalism as a style within our Grahamstown community I found it most difficult to not go into the situation with my own ideas of what could be the problems that these residences face daily. I found it most difficult to tell both sides of the story and hold those in power accountable for the post that they have undertaken, for the simple reason that these persons were out of reach and could not be contacted. In this situation, finding the truth was difficult as well as trying to hold up the aspect of being fair, and trying to generate some sort of social responsibility. Yes theoretically it is easy to maintain ideas, but to uphold them in the real world is most difficult, ones sense of how much to get involved without becoming involved in the situation is always pushed its boundaries. I would not change the aspects which I have chosen to define what “is” a journalists as well as the codes of principle that journalism as a profession chooses to operate on but for me personally, I would like to strive harder in trying to achieve these ideals.
B] Radio in South Africa like many other countries around the world has become more commercialised. However we have to realise that the faction of radio and radio production was to be a cheap and affective way of communicating to the masses, finding out truths, identifying problems of communities and helping them find solutions.
With the commercialisation of radio I personally feel that the very essence of what radio use to stand for has evaded us. Good quality reporting is something of the past. And this is partially due to the fact of technology. People have the accesses to information at the touch of a button this takes places via vlogs, blogs, cellular phone television and audio streaming. But what does it mean to “produce” content? Being able to create different varieties of audio that can effectively engage an audience, to make them feel for example the experience, to allow them to feel control of having information.
Grass root level media [that being community] based media has been my main concern and I would like to in the future be able to develop this aspect within my community. Taking for example Bush Radio which is a praise worthy example of how community radio stations can use the community to serve the community. Being able to go back and help and grow local stations to improve the quality of content and material. Another example I wish to note as I see this as an opportunity that one can attain in making a community station successful is Hindvani FM - Hindvani seeks to promote the development and propagation of the Hindi language and music, with an even split between Hindi and English programming, and music and talk. It targets Indian listeners of all ages. It operates on the frequency: 91.5 FM. Its broadcast area covers the South Coast area and extends as far as Umkomaas, from North Coast to Mandeni, from the West Coast to Cato Ridge and East Coast and central Durban, including Chatsworth and Phoenix. The stations audience (over the past seven days) is 66000. And finally uses both Hindi as well as English as a medium of communication. The reason why I have chosen this example is because this is my community radio station, Eastern languages are dying here in South Africa and besides Indian pop and Bollywood culture, the greater meaning of the Indian identity has fallen away. There are many ways in which radio journalism could help with educating this specific audience, radio serials, language tutorials at different times of the day and finally having news bulletins in both mediums of communication. The radio station has steadily grown in its audience as well as its popularity, many have switched from listening to the more commercial radio station such as Lotus Fm to the more traditional valued Hindvani.
Community radio, by its nature, struggles to access advertising and other forms of financing. Yet it remains a crucial part of the South African broadcasting landscape, providing diversity for listeners and much-needed skills for the commercial radio sector.
Having noted the above one need to note that there are limitations, as being a community radio station aire space/time will be given to paying advertisers. The audience want entertainment and hence producing quality content would be difficult. But communities like these need to see change, not just mere cultural aspects but also socio political change, debated with ward councillors, local governments. Talk shows addressing people’s needs can educating them about their rights, in effect the community radio station should thus become a service provider to/of the community. This is the movement to developing community radio stations.
My Personal Journalistic Philosophy
What do we know about Grahamstown? This is a town that has arts, culture and the facilities of education for over a hundred years. It has a very painful past, which like many communities has shaped the way it runs today. A large percentage of its people live in poverty, in townships just outside the CBD, and such economic drifts continue to increase. It has also been host to the National Arts festival for many years. But like every community it too has its problems that needs to be addressed for example like the slow service delivery from the Makana municipality, substance abuse, malnutrition illiteracy and gangsterism etc. It is a community that is multi-lingual and has been separated by money and power. Because of its economic standards the township citizens find themselves almost separated from the rest of the community. This is the nature of the community that I find / will find myself working in.
I think that in journalism there is no such thing as objectivity. It is a concept that each and every journalist would like to strive towards (ideally) however it is seldom achieved. I think the mere fact that we choose what is news worthy, the type of sources we use, the way we present the story all contributes to the way it is consumed and question. More often than not I find that out opinion sometimes has a way of leaking its way into the story by the stance that we take. In having said this we need to understand that our biasness becomes sour judgment and hence objectivity falls away.
I believe that as a radio journalist in Grahamstown, one should try to attain both sides of the story, yes expose the juicy details of the story but one needs to remember that ones opinion has no place in any story. It is important to listen and hear the stories of the common citizen and really question the side of authorise as more often than not they are the ones who tend to spin information to suit their needs of a positive outcome.
I think in this community, local news is always best. Human interest stories, the type that would give people hope of a better future or make them believe that anything is possible. Stories about service delivery and the municipality are always good stories to cover. It is in these stories that I believe that people have the opportunity to speak out and be heard and also it is by this kind of reporting that will cite people to take action and do something about their situation rather than just sit back and complain. It is in doing so that I believe the true objective of a journalist’s job is achieved.
REFLECTIVE BLOG PIECE
I believe that the content that was produced for the pod cast G cast news has fitted both the measures of my personal journalistic philosophy as well as the agency document (here on in both being referred to as documents and will otherwise be called by its name when referred to separately.
The tag line for this podcast is: This is G-Cast News bringing you up-to-date on news and events in and around Grahamstown.
As in having been stated in both documents, the aims and the objectives of the podcast have been identified by the tag line. Let us now look at the content that will prove to fulfil the aims that have been set out.
Four stories have been included these were:
• SAMWU strike at Makana municipality
• The Old Gaol Backpackers faces closure due to unresolved negotiations.
• Water outages
• Gang rape.
These stories have been listed as the way it has been presented in the podcast.
All three stories are Grahamstown community related. All four are current stories that impact the majority of people in the community.
However one has to take note of the structure that this bulletin has taken. The gang rape case was the most recent at the time as well as the information that was given was current and had not been reported by other publications and therefore should have features as a lead story. And the strike story should have been placed second as although current I do believe that the local media has been pressed with news of the strike over its duration.
I do believe that the quality of the pieces could have been increased such as the water outage story as one could have spoken to an expert in getting accurate data on the heavy metals that are in the water. Ambience could have been added to this package to create more of a feature story.
The Old Gaol Backpackers story was likely pieced and the use of vox pops worked nicely with this story.
In terms of representation I do believe that the strike story may not have been represented as fairly as it most possibly could have been unlike the back packers story which I believe took not only a new angle but was well represented.
The jingles were well used as a whole, which were used as creating an identity of the show.
Sound quality of the pod cast could have been improved both in the first package, one needs to take note of techniques which can be used to optimise sound quality, secondly the levels of the podcast to make sure it flows almost naturally.
My story was the last story on this podcast that of the gang rape case. The information received from the source was not enough to have a full package rather the anchor could have just read out the development of the story as presented.
I would have liked the podcast to have a line-up before it goes straight into its stories as it gives listeners an understanding of what they can look forward to in this broadcast.
And we must pay attention to structure.
Also the addition of technology, sports or economic stories would add more flavour to the broadcast.
I do believe that this podcast has maintained the standards that these documents have laid out. However there is scope for improvement.
Media Landscape Essay
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is the regulator for the South African communications, broadcasting and postal services sector. This regulatory body was only formed in 2000 replacing the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The aim of ICASA is to regulate broadcasting environment to ensure “the airwaves are used in ways that meet the needs of all of South Africa’s people”. To promote TV and radio services on a national, regional and local level so they serve all language and cultural groups, and provide entertainment, education and information. They therefore are entrusted with issuing broadcast licences; which ensures universal service and access; monitors the industry and enforces compliance with rules, regulations and policies; hears disputes brought by industry or members of the public against licensees; plans, controls and manages the frequency spectrum; and protects consumers from unfair business practices..
There are three tiers which radio broadcasting landscape has been split up into in order to cater for specific audiences, these are:
Commercial radio: sells audiences to advertisers and is usually privately owned by shareholders, which results in them being profit driven. One example is: East Coast. To date, licences have been awarded through a competitive process and the regulator has made decisions based on which applicant/s best meet the objectives of broadcasting legislation in deciding between applicants. Thus, although ICASA’s position papers and regulations dealing with commercial broadcasting set certain minimum public service obligations which must be met, those awarded licences generally exceed these minimum requirements. In terms of the requirements, commercial radio stations have to broadcast at least 30 minutes of news each day. The broadcasters also have to follow a Code of Conduct developed through a public process. This stipulates that broadcasters must “report news truthfully, accurately and fairly”.
Public radio: serves the public interest (more national level than community radio), maintains democracy and it run by a statuary body (South African Broadcasting Corporation) example: SAfm. The SABC has over the years made an undertaking that its programmes will reflect the interest of the public. This is confirmed by the statement: "To meet audience expectations is our priority. In this we also create an environment that respects the freedom of expression provisions of our constitution, and encourages our programme makers to explore, innovate and to take risks in accommodating programmes that fulfill the SABC's public mandate" (p.9).
Community Radio: these are stations which are accountable to the community, serving the public and building democracy. They ideally deal with grass root issues of their particular communities such as development and transformation, example: Bush Radio. ICASA has set minimum requirements for community radio stations. The exact formats are defined in licence conditions and vary from station to station. Applicants have to show that their proposed programming line-up is relevant to their defined communities. All stations are required to broadcast news including local news. The policy further states that community stations must: “Provide a distinct broadcasting service dealing specifically with community issues which are not normally dealt with by the broadcasting service covering the same area … (and) focus on … programmes that highlight grassroots community issues …”
Radio 702, currently known as Talk Radio 702, is a commercial AM and FM radio station based in Johannesburg, broadcasting to the greater Gauteng province. The station is also webcast via its website and claims to be Johannesburg’s number-one current affairs and information station, offering news, sport, business and actuality programming, with plenty of phone-in debates. Radio 702 was established in 1980 and began as a youth music station, moving to the more of an adult talk format in the late1980’s. During South Africa’s apartheid era it was the only independent source of broadcast news. The station is owned by Primedia. In 2006, Talk Radio 702 was broadcast only on the AM radio frequency and in March of that year won an application to move to the FM radio frequency.
Talk Radio 702 offers a five-minute news bulletin on an hourly basis. They have been time and time over been rated highly crediable, and listeners are able to grasp their news is easily comprehendible. Like many stations one has to weary as “not to bite the hand that feeds it”. In having said this Content is not driven by advertisers. As a commercial station, Talk Radio 702 depends on advertising. The programming team’s objectives are clearly defined. Therefore the stance that they have taken is that programming and content needs to be of high quality and standard as to attract advertisers. Hence promotions and advertising are clearly separated from editorial content.” Talk Radio 702 also incorporates Eyewitness News into their programming. Eyewitness News is impartial, and takes pride in being unbiased and reflecting all sides of the story. Eyewitness News also services all four Primedia Broadcasting stations (Talk Radio 702, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, 567 Cape Talk and 94.5 Kfm) and is editorially independent of them.
Cape Town home to Cape Flats community radio station Bush Radio. Pre 1994 Bush Radio operated illegally but after the first democratic elections in 1994, with the establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Bush Radio was issued with a one-year temporary license on the frequency 89.5FM. And since 2002 till date they have been renewing their four year broadcasting license. “To ensure that communities who have been denied access to resources take part in producing ethical, creative and responsible radio that encourages them to communicate with each other, to take part in decisions that affect their lives, and to celebrate their own cultures. Through such radio, communities will affirm their own dignity and identity, and promote social responsibility and critical thinking”.
Unlike commercial radio’s who can afford to keep a large staff copulate, Bush Radio operates with a small staff of 5 members, 10 trainees (varies), interns from local and international universities and over 100 volunteers. Bush Radio has a monthly Open Forum, which is open to anyone within the community that wants to hear what is happening at/on Bush Radio. Community members are allowed to give suggestions and recommendations on improvements and also critique performances. Bush Radio has diverse sources of income. Advertising forms about 50% of income, but Bush Radio does not accept advertising from alcohol, gambling companies, neither will Bush Radio accepts advertising that is racist, sexist or discriminatory in any way and buy doing this, they fulfil the requirements set out by ICASA.
Each radio station fashions a tailored audience and is restricted geographically, but with the development of technology, now both experience a larger audience through audio streaming, both feather on social network sites and have created web pages as marketing and informational tools.
In having looked at who bulletins that were of the 08/04/2010 at 16:00pm we find that they vary in content to a great extent with only one common national story which links any commonality between these two bulletins in terms of content.
We find that bush radio has six stories within its bulletin this would include sports which is of a 1:51 min duration and market news which is of a 0:10 min duration. The entire news bulletin is of a 6:12min duration which leads with a provincial story, followed by two national stories. With Talk Radio 702 we find that their bulletin consists of ten stories, including market news, traffic news, sport and weather updates. Leading stories are the latest national story at the time and the entire bulletin is of a 5:56min duration. We find that in terms for structure (duration) of each bulletin that they both have a similar range.
Content is target audience driven and stories which are believed by the station would interest the audiences have been selected. It can thus be concluded to be true that each of these radio stations which fall within their respective tier (i.e. Bush Radio being a community radio station and Talk Radio 702 being a commercial radio) have their content driven as per defined. We also can note that the stories and the manner in which they handle their stories and sources are well within the regulations setup by ICASA.
It has to be said that ICASA has indeed succeed in maintain “that the South African broadcasting system comprises public, commercial and community elements, and the system makes use of radio frequencies that are public property and provides, through its programming, a public service necessary for the maintenance of a South African identity, universal access, equality, unity and diversity;” (Broadcasting Act No.4 1999)
Reflective piece
There are various types and styles in which is known as journalistic styles or even fashioned as genre’s. in this essay we would take a look at how developmental journalism as a genre can be best used to create change within the community. We would also assess and critique the package produced and whether or not we have been successful in achieving the goals that we have set out.
In terms of journalistic practice the problem that has occurred is twofold. Firstly while the communitarians view of the public would require journalists to concede editorial and reportorial autonomy to dominate community values in pursuit of community consensus. The liberal view however is that the public defines journalists responsibility in terms of neutral information brokerage whose sole aim is at (the most) to protect individual citizens from government interference.
In having said the above this all looks good on paper but how does this work in the practical world and more over how does this materialise within the frame work in which South Africa fines itself in. Everything has changed, and yes many will agree that one has to embrace change and that is the only way in which we might survive, but media and its institutions have become a business making scheme. So who do we service? Do we service the community in which we find our followers (consumers) in, do we satisfy the needs of the advertisers who we receive out financial support from or do we work on a set of guidelines that services both? And how do we ensure that these guidelines are not blurred? Where do we draw the line?
A developmental approach to journalism in contrast begins by engaging in conversation with all citizens, without presuming some natural, local, or transcendent consensus. Certainly the idea of a community is useful to developmental journalism as it operates on the ideals of working in harmony with each other in order to allow both areas to be serviced (Haas, 2007).
By denying the press the authority to set its own agenda, developmental journalism substitutes the community’s judgment for that of what is set by the journalists and hence confusing what is good for what it is that is actually needed. But hence one needs to understand that as a result developmental journalism deprives the press of an opportunity which lessens the value or the importance of its duty which are the implied values of the community as a whole.
Without a clear guideline one need’s to now understand that journalist would find it fairly difficult to maintain a critical editorial and reportorial stance this can be said to be the same as those of the communities. Having to avoid painting over a different picture of community conflicts for fear of having to upset the natural order a community finds itself in and not to surrender to prevailing community values.
What is the main goal of public deliberation? Journalists should make every effort to make and keep public deliberation as open and inclusive of all in order to maintain some sense of bonding, and common ground and not that one party or the other is trying to push their own agendas forward.
In order to promote participatory parity in public arena’s and in order to help the public recover dormant conflicts of interests and perspectives between the different social groups, journalists thus should cultivate a public sphere which is made up of differing domains in which multiple social groups can articulate and deliberate or discuss their concerns and hence challenge and encourage action to take place.
As Glasser (in Objectivity and News Bias) has so righty brought up the questions on how does one situate themselves in terms of how they would report as objective individuals this has become a serious question/issue for many journalists. Even though we understand that objectivity is compromised by our own identities and social positioning, one must strive to maintain principals of factual based informative reporting, but will temper the distanced objective approach with an understanding of our subjective positions/positioning.
Hence one needs to define their personal journalistic styles/ethics by which they can follow and also ties in with the institution which they serve. Journalists should be committed to ethical reporting that is characterised by:
• Responsibility
• Professionalism
• Accuracy
• Fairness
• Thorough research
• Sensitivity
We must understand that our role is to be facilitators, educators, entertainers and commentators rather than mere reporters. The reporter as social commentator: here the reporter’s role is to identify problems and their source/s while also finding answers from within the community (Glasser, 2000). Through this we hope to engage audiences, rather than merely broadcast/publish to a passive audience, giving them the space to shape the news, rather than simply being dictated to (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as facilitator – keep decision-makers accountable; playing an explanatory role - informing ordinary people; giving a voice to those who are not represented; equalising the playing fields – giving more weight to the voices of the disempowered (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as an entertainer – reporters should engage and interest their audience, building a sense of community pride or hope through colourful use of sound, visuals or print, creativity and, occasionally (even) humour (Glasser, 2000). The reporter as an educator – this role incorporates aspects of the former two, in which a journalist identifies important information and/or problems within the community that will help inform citizens about how to act or where to find help(Glasser, 2000).
We (I) intend to use the media as a platform to promote the understanding between residents through examining similarities rather than reinforcing differences. However, as journalist we should also feel that it is important to embrace diversity and celebrate our differences and the unique perspectives and cultures within our current community Grahamstown. Our news reports for example should strive/intend to stimulate dialogue amongst all parts of Grahamstown instead of merely providing opposing ‘truths’. We are and should be committed to social change, accountability and challenging the status quo.
But this is what journalism and more specifically developmental journalism strives to achieve. But let us look more clearly at how this works hand in hand with radio. We find that far too often that radio stations have now become commercialised entities, with this being said one needs to understand that the emphasis is now placed on pleasing advertisers as they are the ones who ones who contribute to the finances of the institution and secondly pleasing the audience, this would include creating programming designed to suite the needs of the listener more music and less talk. We now have to take note of the fact that radio production of critical media does not occur as a very prominent aspect o South African radio simply due to the fact that jocks make the programming on radio stations rather than journalists, no one is willing to take the hard stance on creating packages, and lastly station managers only give a small percentage of aire time to current affairs shows and news again which restricts the amount of content that can be produced.
So lets take a look at the way in which packages or content is produced and the ways in which this method works hand in hand with developmental journalism.
The ways in which one gains access to topics or story ideas is either looking at ways to change in effect what is currently taking place in society of grievances of ones community. This can be noted from call ion shows, currently debated issues from articles, letters to editors etc.
One the story idea is obtained as a journalist you are then required to research your topic, ensure that there is a substantial problem and not merely an assumed one. You then need to take various aspects into consideration that being: what is the micro problem, who are the concerned parties, what are the consequences f this persist to occur and finally who are the correct people to not only get comment from but also who are the correct people who need to be made aware and held responsible for their actions.
The key aspect in developmental journalism especially when you are producing content for a regional or local audience is the so what factor. Yes there may be a problem, but why should the people out there be concerned or even pay attention to it if it does not affect them directly. The packages that you create must not just be creative from the various techniques one can employ to make it attractive to the ear such as wild track ambience sounds, but it needs to also have a variety of voices, and not just that of authorities. People need to identify with the people whom you choose to use in your packages and more often than not it is these very authorities who we trust to give us the facts and figures that have misled the people or have already lost trust in them.
Journalist are requires from their background research required to become specialists on their topic, in order to ask the right kind of questions to get the right kind of answers. For example the package that we were requires to put together on sustainable development within the Grahamstown community requires one to know a little history about the area, the socio-economic diversity that exists as well as the problems that exists. Now that you have been equipped with this information and you have chosen your desired topic or story idea you then need to make time to interview sources.
Piecing a package together is often the more difficult aspect than the actual interview process itself. One needs to remember that these pieces need to be short and captivating as well as hold as many voices who can tell the story from their view point rather than your own. Your audience doesn’t want to hear you, they would rather have your sources tell the story. Having said this, this does not mean however that a package now becomes a collage of voices. It needs to be tailored to create a story which addresses the problem, speaks of the consequences and offers solutions of gives other guiding information. One can also use narration to help guide a story along as to sometimes “fill in the gaps” so that the audiences are not left to make their own conclusions and that information given should not just be assumed to be known (pending your audience).
In the developmental piece I used statistics provided by the Child Welfare Society South Africa as well as the that provided by Child Welfare Grahamstown which help me to assess the fact that child abuse and child neglect has been on a rise and is prominent especially within the township of Joza a settlement located just outside the main CBD. It is here that the communities are plagued with unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse and violence both from externals sources such as gangs as well as internal sources such from, spouses, parents and other family members. It was not difficult to understand the situation that the social worker put forward. But it became more apparent when walking the streets of Joza with one of the mothers of a safe house. She explained the condition that she receives the children in as well as how although child welfare services do try and help as much as they can but due do their lack of funds and small staff support and the fact that they have to give support to the entire Grahamstown region makes it difficult. The package created was for the purpose of creating awareness as well as eliciting help for both the safe house as well as for the child welfare society. I have to admit however that the package although tried to focus on one safe house that being The Home of Joy, it limited the voices by which we could have used in the package, perhaps having spoken to other sources as well the package could have been more dynamic. It did achieve the goal of having generated awareness and that was the main objective of this piece/package.
By understanding and employing the essences of developmental journalism as well as the techniques we have acquired over the course of this year. A creative piece to promote development, positive change and awareness within a community as per the usage of journalism is most rewarding to both community, institute and journalist.
