AWR News

In recent years, the proliferation of local AM and FM radio stations, especially in Africa, has led to a need to assist FM radio producers and technicians who work in these local Adventist World Radio (AWR) affiliate stations. This fall, AWR global training director Ray Allen conducted probably the most comprehensive training event for local broadcasters ever organized by AWR, assisted by other able presenters. More than 50 attendees met at the FM training and resource studio that has been newly installed at the East-Central Africa Division (ECD) office near Nairobi, Kenya.

Background

“At the 2009 Africa Region Advisory, the urgent need for FM training was repeatedly emphasized,” Allen says. “The pressure for training is real because of the explosive growth in FM radio broadcasting opportunities throughout Africa. Because of the critical need to train such large numbers in a short space of time, it was felt that a good way to tackle the current need would be to have all trainees come to a central location. The ECD was given priority because most of the FM opportunities and stations reside within its territory.”

Facility Design

Beyond serving as a central training facility, the studio is designed as a “feeder studio” where part- time local workers can produce, process, and distribute program resources to the burgeoning FM stations throughout the division, as well as to other parts of Africa that have similar language characteristics. Currently, 21 individuals have committed to contributing their time as volunteers for this purpose. The studio location is also a convenient point for radio producers to collect interviews with church leaders, visitors, and lecturers at the nearby ECD and Adventist University Africa campuses.

AWR funded the purchase and installation of equipment and supplied the training expertise, while ECD provided the space, prepared the physical studio, and funded some of the training expense.

The facility – consisting of a main control room, interview/recording room, and production studio – was creatively laid out in the allocated space, which is semi-circular in nature. The Africa Region selected engineer Roy Parsons of RPL Ltd., based in the United Kingdom, to guide the setup. He was able to suggest very cost-effective ways of arranging the space for maximum benefit, and also made recommendations regarding the selection of cost-effective materials.

“The studio is set up as a typical FM station, with the possibility of adding a transmitter and antenna to enable on-air possibilities should a frequency become available in Nairobi,” Allen says. “One of the objectives is for the studio to serve as a showcase for how an FM station may be configured according to professional industry standards. The long-term plan is to roll out similar model studios in the West-Central Africa and Southern Africa-Indian Ocean divisions if the need arises.”

Train the Trainer

The first week of training was devoted to AWR’s new Train-the-Trainer course, and was coordinated as a joint venture between AWR and the ECD. Fifty-six participants attended, representing all of the FM stations and new FM projects in the division. The group included volunteer presenters, journalists, producers, technicians, and communication directors from countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Burundi.

Allen says, “The main aim of the seminar was to equip producers with the knowledge, skills, and attitude to deliver good quality preliminary foundation training to those in the vicinity of their home stations.” The week – which even included evening sessions – consisted of intensive instruction, hours of studio practice, and panel discussions focusing on current FM station concerns. When small groups gained practical experience in the main control room, the remaining trainee body watched the learning experience on a screen in the main auditorium.

Panel discussion topics included “Music for Your FM Station,” “Fundraising for Your FM Station,” and “FM Listener Follow-up Ideas,” and a 70-page personal workbook was produced for each participant by AWR’s global training department. One attendee said, “I now have the skills to train people in any area of interest, and the handouts will help me for life.”

To fully qualify for their certificate, trainees must submit portfolios within the next year showing evidence that they have conducted successful training sessions in their home territories.

Allen says, “ECD communication director Steven Bina is to be commended for his hard work behind the scenes to make the training both possible and a success.”

Radio Programming Training

In the second week of training, 57 participants studied diligently to obtain their “FM Radio Programming” certificates. Main presenter John Smith, a former BBC broadcaster, was joined by 8 other presenters in covering topics that ranged from “The Protection and Care of Antenna Towers” to “Communicating with Your Audience.” Allen says that the objective of the course was not only to equip new and existing personnel with the skills to produce quality programming, but to also be aware of the scope of FM programming content and operations that is possible with given resources. Both weeks of training sessions were simultaneously translated from English to French for the benefit of several trainees.

Former ECD president Geoffrey Mbwana attended a large portion of the training. He was thrilled with both the studio construction and the session attendance, and plans to continue producing programs and sending them from his new position at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Washington, D.C.

The response from other attendees was also highly positive. One participant said, “The course should be institutionalized. It has all it takes to start and operate a successful Adventist media school.” Another commented, “I now have the skills to run an FM station from manager level, to producer level, presenter level and technical. The practicals were perfectly done.”

Worships and devotionals were an important part of both weeks. The trainees joined the ECD staff for morning devotionals, which were led by a variety of church leaders and seminar participants. A very moving testimony program was held on Sabbath following the end of the first training session.

AWR president Dowell Chow says, “I wish to commend ECD communication director Pastor Steven Bina and the division administrators for their vision and for hosting this important event. Ray Allen has always distinguished himself in not only preparing excellent training material, but also in conducting these training sessions in a very professional manner. AWR is fortunate to have Ray as our global trainer.”