This Wednesday the last edition of Izwi Labahlali (the voice of the citizens), a Radio Grahamstown show co-presented by participants of the Grocott’s Mail Citizen Journalism project, was broadcast.
As a way of marking the good relationship, The Knight Foundation from the USA is donating a new CD player and a new pair of headphones to Radio Grahamstown.
This Wednesday the last edition of Izwi Labahlali (the voice of the citizens), a Radio Grahamstown show co-presented by participants of the Grocott’s Mail Citizen Journalism project, was broadcast.
As a way of marking the good relationship, The Knight Foundation from the USA is donating a new CD player and a new pair of headphones to Radio Grahamstown.
The show started three weeks ago as a pilot to see how people would respond and was produced by citizen journalists who also got a chance to co-present the show.
Prof Harry Dugmore, the MTN chair of Media and Mobile Communications at the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies said the Knight Foundation has been encouraged by the show and that they are starting to see a great response from listeners.
Dugmore also mentioned that they need to have a close working relationship with Radio Grahamstown so as to bring people "the immediacy of radio" which invites a more direct response from the public.
"I would really like to see this very show continuing and we have to obviously discuss this with management but I would like to see it continue and I would even like it to go on for an hour rather than half an hour," said Dugmore.
Khaya Thonjeni, the Schools Outreach Officer at the Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies was the presenter and producer of the show. He said: "In four episodes we were able to work with almost 15 citizen journalists in show production and presentation" which included 40 people being interviewed and around 30 people who sent in SMSes.
On behalf of the Knight Foundation, Dugmore said that they are very pleased to have assisted the station with equipment and he is hoping that they will be able to continue to upgrade the equipment next year.
The plan is to create more capacity in the station which will enable presenters to take calls during shows.
The listeners and fans of the show also got an opportunity to share their thoughts and suggestions about what should be changed or added in the show when it returns.
One SMS said, "Thanks guys 4 a lovely show, ndifundile mna [I have learnt] a lot 4rm u I wish u can come back again soon. But we need more tyme not i30 mins, God bless u."
