African Media Lab 2.0
Requested amount from Knight News Challenge:
$250,000Total cost of project including all sources of funding:
$750,000Expected amount of time to complete project:
3 yearsIn many of Africa’s 53 countries, community radio stations are playing an essential role in keeping people together.
As foreign subsidies dry up, many stations are migrating to become community media centres, so as to become less dependent on subsidies from government or foreign donors. They anticipated the credit crunch some time back. The authors of this project seek funding to build the second stage of an existing Media Lab in Porto Novo, Benin, which is already training and researching into new ways forward.
Started by the Association of Media Professionals in Benin, the lab is developing new programme formats, designing revenue generating services and looking at alliances between mobile phone companies and local broadcasters (such as providing SMS services in local languages).
We need funding to extend research - as well as the development of new programme formats. Core funding is already in place - we need a "magnifying glass effect" to enhance our effectiveness. In areas where connectivity in improving we are looking to Moodle, Wiki and Blogs as solutions for the community to share experiences with others in the region. Isolated communities will radicalise, those kept in touch have a chance of thriving.
The lab is committed to an OpenSource approach to solutions, where practical. We have been testing Linux based production software alongside programs found in many radio stations across Africa, including iTunes or playout software designed for DJ's in Europe. We can see the adoption of open-source is not a problem - it is the technical support that presents a serious challenge.
We can supply more background - and details of the finances already researched - upon request.
0 commentsHow will your project improve the way news and information are delivered to geographic communities?
Sharing not Shouting
Traditional broadcasters shout. With 1.6 million phones being sold in the world a day, the future is not shouting, but sharing messages within communities. The programme formats we are developing and producing are designed to involve audiences, drawing them in to discussions. We also train and advise journalists and presenters on how to drive conversations and suggest that many topics are best dealt with through short dramas or music. It's not all straight talking. The secret is in the mix - and involving the audience before, during and after production. Interactivity is not a "sauce", but required investment and serious involvement by the broadcaster/producer. If not, there is a huge power to disappoint.
With over 2000 languages, we don't believe in simply copying one format from one African country to another. The local balance of radio, TV, web and mobile may be in a very different stage of development. But the basics can be shaped to fit local situations - mixed and matched to be effective elsewhere.
0 commentsHow is your idea innovative? (New or different from what already exists.)
Innovative Mix
A lot of ideas (and equipment) are imported from one part of the world into Africa. They are developed under very different conditions. Equipment often fails because it is not rugged enough to withstand harsh sunlight, torrential rain, or infestations from creatures. The African media lab is innovative because it cherry-picks great ideas from the open-source communities (mobile, broadcast, climate-change, energy-saving) and adapts them to local circumstances.
0 commentsWhat experience do you or your organization have to successfully develop this project?
Experience Portfolio
I helped set up the African Media Production office for Radio Netherlands, when I worked as Programme Director for this public service broadcaster. I was fortunate enough to work with an experienced radio editor, Soule Issiaka, who has had a lifetime experience in producing programmes for the African continent. For over 10 years we have worked to develop various radio formats, especially to empower women and share ideas between countries. This involved inventing formats that were designed to be "stolen", and then adapted into various local languages.
The programme network of over 150 stations works. But the stations themselves need to adapt to changing times - to identify new sources of revenue and reduce their dependency on others. Soule and I have also worked on journalistic codes of ethics, designed to ensure that conversations are for the good of society and there are sanctions for those who abuse the power.
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