Contemporary Radio in Fiji, Nauru
& Solomon Islands
RNZI Mailbox Documentary May 12
_________________________________
It's 20 years since the first military coup in Fiji. What does contemporary radio in this Pacific nation sound like in 2008?
There are two main players [state owned Radio Fiji and private Communications Fiji Ltd] both operating a series of national networks from Suva studios, and a small handful of independent stations, nearly all located in Suva as well.
Community radio stations in this country of 850,000 people don't exist, and is this a consequence of military rule and fear of grassroots media?
In the Solomon Islands, itself suffering civil tension, eight small villages on Isabel Province have been broadcasting their own local community programs five hours daily from 'radio in a suitcase' systems.
Well supported by local villagers, these new community radio stations offer a glimpse of a successful future for low tech, low cost and low environmental impact FM radio across the Pacific.
A similar system operates on crisis torn Nauru, successfully introduced by the University of the South Pacific and broadcasting as Triple Nine FM.
Listen to Mailbox on RNZI on Monday May 12 as David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation explores some of the issues, and plays audio clips from four Fijian FM stations recently recorded in Suva.
Visit www.rnzi.com for shortwave frequencies and times, and to download an audio on demand version of the program that will remain available on line for four weeks from May 12.
For more information about broadcasting in Fiji, Nauru and the Solomon Islands, visit www.radioheritage.net. An online version of the program script along with images will be available later from www.radioheritage.net.
Full searchable lists of operating AM and shortwave radio stations in the Pacific are available free on line in the Pacific Asian Log Radio Guides. An FM guide will be available shortly. Visit www.radioheritage.net to access the current radio guides today.
The Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization connecting the heritage of radio broadcasting and popular culture across the Pacific. Our website is www.radioheritage.net.
Radio New Zealand International is the award winning shortwave broadcaster serving the Pacific from Wellington, New Zealand since 1948, www.rnzi.com.
& Solomon Islands
RNZI Mailbox Documentary May 12
_________________________________
It's 20 years since the first military coup in Fiji. What does contemporary radio in this Pacific nation sound like in 2008?
There are two main players [state owned Radio Fiji and private Communications Fiji Ltd] both operating a series of national networks from Suva studios, and a small handful of independent stations, nearly all located in Suva as well.
Community radio stations in this country of 850,000 people don't exist, and is this a consequence of military rule and fear of grassroots media?
In the Solomon Islands, itself suffering civil tension, eight small villages on Isabel Province have been broadcasting their own local community programs five hours daily from 'radio in a suitcase' systems.
Well supported by local villagers, these new community radio stations offer a glimpse of a successful future for low tech, low cost and low environmental impact FM radio across the Pacific.
A similar system operates on crisis torn Nauru, successfully introduced by the University of the South Pacific and broadcasting as Triple Nine FM.
Listen to Mailbox on RNZI on Monday May 12 as David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation explores some of the issues, and plays audio clips from four Fijian FM stations recently recorded in Suva.
Visit www.rnzi.com for shortwave frequencies and times, and to download an audio on demand version of the program that will remain available on line for four weeks from May 12.
For more information about broadcasting in Fiji, Nauru and the Solomon Islands, visit www.radioheritage.net. An online version of the program script along with images will be available later from www.radioheritage.net.
Full searchable lists of operating AM and shortwave radio stations in the Pacific are available free on line in the Pacific Asian Log Radio Guides. An FM guide will be available shortly. Visit www.radioheritage.net to access the current radio guides today.
The Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization connecting the heritage of radio broadcasting and popular culture across the Pacific. Our website is www.radioheritage.net.
Radio New Zealand International is the award winning shortwave broadcaster serving the Pacific from Wellington, New Zealand since 1948, www.rnzi.com.
