Our file is apparently finally complete. That mystery form which has confounded brighter minds, is finally filled and filed. How did we do it? Er, with a little help from some people from WPC. I had tried and tried but the minute I came to the technical bits I just could not figure out what to fill in. Finally I called WPC. A helpful gentleman there suggested I come over and he would help me fill the form.
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1 minute read | 209 words
I find it hard to breathe when I think of the scale of the catastrophe in Bihar. More than 25 lakh people affected by the raging waters of the Kosi. As I browse through news reports out of Bihar, it is depressing and infuriating to see the depths of human behaviour in the looting, raping and pillaging of fleeing villagers. The very boatmen who are supposed to rescue people, are turning tormentors, in the worst way possible.
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1 minute read | 111 words
We’ve been seriously considering Teaching of English as a significant element in the CR station’s content offering. Centre for Learning Resources’ Dr Kurrien has mentioned that he would be happy to share the content that they have developed for the teaching of English over radio.
I just read a wonderful story about how it is being done in Bihar, through the radio (AIR), for primary school children throughout the state. Read the full story here.
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1 minute read | 75 words
We’ve finally done it. Today I spent the entire morning weaving my way through the corridors of Sanchar Bhavan, and sitting with a very helpful person who screen by screen helped me fill out the Network License Application form. This is the last remaining form before our application file is considered complete. Now, all we have to do is to print the form out, and drop send it off to WPC.
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2 minute read | 242 words
An interesting story out of Philippines. According to the Inter Press News Service Agency (IPS), “amidst the raging conflict between government forces and Muslim rebels on the island of Mindanao, the religiously mixed population in the North Cotabato region looks to a community radio station as a beacon of peace.”
Read the full story here.
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1 minute read | 55 words
A question of questions: what do we include in the survey that we have to conduct in our target villages of Garhi Harsaru and Dhankot? In a bid to get as many inputs as possible (and at the risk of too many cooks…), I’m putting up what we’ve worked out so far. Please feel free to suggest additions, deletions, changes, and especially re-wording.
Draft Survey Questionnaire for Community Radio
Section – Media access and ownership
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5 minute read | 1001 words
Just a passing thought as I chew the back of my pencil (or the keyboard). In my online search for Haryanvi folk music (yes, I have unending faith in the power of Google to turn up anything and everything), I came across a video clip from Shubham Haryana TV. First off, I wasn’t even aware that there was such a channel. A quick browse showed me that I certainly did not get it among the plethora of regional channels that Tata Sky dished out.
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1 minute read | 181 words
Here’s a video link sent by Frederick Noronha through the CR-India mailing list. Sajan is the founder of the Community Radio Forum. Currently with Doordarshan, Sajan has 15 years of experience with radio. He has also been moderator and resource person for Solution Exchange, a UN ICT for Development initiative.
The video of Sajan outlining where community radio in India stands today: Can also be seen here.
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1 minute read | 67 words
The Telegraph has just run a story on the Birsa Agricultural College’s radio station that was launched in March 2008. Seems that the college is so enthusiastic about the response, they now want to set up 21 community radio stations across the 21 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state of Jharkhand.
The report quotes BAU director R.P. Singh Ratan who said, “The objective is to ensure that farmers in all these districts are constantly updated on agricultural procedures, the latest farming technologicies and even made aware of climate changes and pest attacks.
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1 minute read | 99 words
Great news just filtered in. According to a report at www.indiantelevision.com Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) to broadcast DW-Radio over campus radio throughout India. DW will also assist IGNOU in training operators for community radio.
As part of the partnership, the Government of India-owned Gyan Vani FM will broadcast DW-Radio programming in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and English over campus radio at 29 associated universities.
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1 minute read | 115 words
We’re in a whirl of thinking, doing, worrying, talking, emailing. So far, it looks like that beyond our basic content components of Health (Talk to the Doc), Education (short “explainers” that elaborate on various concepts), language (English language learning), and Career Counselling (Focus on one career per program), we are also looking at modules in Legal Literacy (interesting and very relevant to our target audience), women and child rights (again we’re looking at Haryana with the worst child sex ratio in the country), and a through the day stream of entertainment.
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2 minute read | 349 words
Is there such a thing as book or magazine publishing 2.0? Perhaps there is a need for it. A lot of smart people are trying – some smart ideas and some not so smart. Which is which? I guess only time will tell.
To begin with, things that have displayed some degree of success on the web are being applied to the traditional format: aggregation, verticals, user-generated content, social networks, popularity rankings…
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2 minute read | 256 words
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