News

Local Radio sending Hope over the airwaves in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan 25 (IPS) - Throughout the earthquake's aftermath, the voices of many Port-Au-Prince radio stations have been loud and clear.

NCRF sends condolences to the Board and Staff of Voice of Tembisa

The Voice of Tembisa is sad and mourns the sudden death of its Board member, Manase Malinga

NCRF Press conference to launch new Board and expresses views on PSB Bill

The National Community Radio Forum is the biggest forum of Community Radio Broadcasters in South Africa and currently has 105 member stations and organizations. In December 2009, the National Community Radio Forum elected its new Board of Director at is Bi-Annual General meeting in December 2009. You are invited to a press conference to meet the newly elected Board members and to share the NCRF’s thoughts on the proposed Public Broadcasting Services Bill.

National Community Radio Forum prepares for the 14th Congress in Upington, Northern Cape

The conference will look at issues such as, Reaffirming the social impact of community media, Communicating inequality in South Africa, Skill and tactic sharing, practical training and Building media/civil society partnerships for participatory democracy

Radio Zibonele Celebrates successful AGM

Radio Zibonele hosted a successful AGM electing a new board of directors. NCRF CEO, Mr Franklin Huizies facilitated the AGM which was held in Somerset West. Mr Lumko Mtimde, the main Guest speaker at he event said "Radio Zibonele epitomises the principles of freedom of speech as this station was initiated by community members that employed radio frequencies to sharing vital health information"

NCRF Board concludes Provincial Workshops in all 9 provinces

The NCRF Board Chairperson, Mr Gideon Nyokana, impresses upon a full attendance of the final provincial workshop in the Eastern Cape, the importance for community radio to organise itself through establishing provincial structures. This workshop was the final and 9th NCRF provincial gathering as part of the NCRF Board objective to meet all stations and open dialogue on the current challenges and future prospects for the community broadcasters towards 2015. This meeting held in Port Elezabeth from 29 July to 1st August, was well supported by the Department of Communications, GCIS and Eastern Cape Office of the Premier.

65 Community Radios agreed to a contract with Jomo Cosmos Football Club

The club wishes to ensure maintained popularity, publicity and support by engaging with its beloved supporters and the entire soccer fraternity both physically (at games) and through the media. The Club hopes to achieve this through its most recent partnership with 65 Community Radio Stations and The Media Connection to promote community participation in the enhancement of soccer in the Club and promoting the country’s overall soccer development through radio programming. The signing up of 65 Community Radio Stations means access to some 6.2 million listeners countrywide.

NCRF Board meeting with Minister of Communications, General Siphiwe Nyanda on Thursday the 16th July 2009

The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) will be meeting with National Minister of Communications: General Siphiwe Nyanda on Thursday the 16th July 2009. The meeting will take place at Ministers Offices in Pretoria. The purpose of this meeting is discussing issues of mutual interest focusing on further developing a strategic partnership towards addressing challenges faced by communities utilising ICT’s for development with a specific focus on community radio stations.

John Hatcher, PhD, University of Minnesota Duluth concluded SA community media study

The NCRF CEO, mr Franklin Huizies, assisted the University of Minnesota Duluth by coordinating participation of community radio sector in South Africa. John had the following to say after concluding his SA visit, "I just wanted to send a quick note and tell you I am safely back in the states after an amazing trip. In all, I met with nearly 70 people from 20 news organizations, universities and other organizations".

NCRF Board and Staff held a strategic overview session looking at the sector beyond 2010

The Stategic session reviewed the NCRF Mission and vision and have agreed on priority areas for NCRF support to sector growth and development.

NCRF embarks on national Policy workshops visiting all 9 Provinces

The NCRF Board resolved to have this project in order to allow stations and provinces to start debating proposed resolutions towards the 2009 BGM in December. KZN and Limpopo provinces was visited and proceedings was successful.

2009 Vodacom Journalist of the Year

Vodacom invites entries for the 2009 Vodacom Journalist of the Year. The awards give recognition to excellence in South African journalism. The 2009 winner will walk away with R125 000 in cash as well as being given the opportunity to donate R125 000 to an official charity of his or her choosing.

Conference to highlight digital media for broadcasters

A two-day Digital Media for Broadcasters conference will be held at The Wanderers Club, Illovo, Johannesburg, 13 - 14 May, 2009. It will focus on the interactive future of radio and TV and on how further to develop digital property.

Wits and Kagiso Media in new radio training venture

The University of the Witwatersrand and Kagiso Media have concluded a partnership agreement that will see the company contribute R1.8 million to the establishment of a new radio training facility at the university.

Radio Pulpit receives the Kenneth Copeland Award

Radio Pulpit has won the Kenneth Copeland Award for Community Involvement at the 2009 Association for Christian Broadcaster (ACB)'s conference held in March 2009. The ACB is a network of organisations that have a vision of reaching people with the gospel and are willing to share their resources and expertise.

Inanda fm on-air with a four year license

Inanda FM went on air on Friday 27 March 2009

Vibe fm goes live!

Vibe FM, a community radio station based in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, recently went live with its first broadcast. The station has been granted a four-year broadcasting licence, from 5 April 2007 to May 2011, to broadcast to the community of KwaMashu and surrounding areas.

MDDA convenes first Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit at Alfred Nzo District Municipality

Issued by: MDDA The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is convening a Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit on the weekend of Saturday 28 - 29 March 2009 at the Council Chambers, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Mt Ayliff, in the Eastern Cape. The theme for the summit is “Basic media literacy education - ‘Constructing Views of Reality'”.

Community radio hailed as a triumph by the media regulator, Ofcom.

There are now more than 130 community radio stations across the UK, with another 50 preparing to launch.

NCRF in final stages of concluding MoU with DPLG on National Multilingualism Program

Multilingualism Programme attempts to locate community radio within the broader developmental initiatives championed by municipalities as the locus of development