post news network, Bhubaneswar, July 23: A brainstorming session to discuss the varied concerns of the radio stations of different categories in the state was organised here Thursday on the premises of the Red Cross Bhawan. A number of people working in the public as well as the private broadcasting sectors, community radio and internet radio participated in the event. The event was organised by ‘Outreach’, an Orissa based not-for-profit organisation.
Speaking at the seminar, the All India Radio (AIR), Cuttack station director Santanu Rath, said, “With the change in the social dynamics, the radio industry is also changing to cater to the needs of the changing society and according to the demands of the present generation. Earlier, the public broadcaster, AIR, was available on the medium waves, but it has now moved to the FM and is serving the society in the same way as it used to. It is being equally accepted by the present generation as it is easily available on mobiles and small FM sets.”
Many from the radio industry, however, said that a number of existing limitations in the industry must be done away with to make the radio more popular. Subrat Kumar Pati, president of Outreach and radio expert, said, “The spirit of the radio industry has been marred by a plethora of limitations. Limitations ranging from collection and dissemination of news to creating other content are affecting listenership. The government needs to go easy on some norms, so that the radio channels can flourish and can compete with other media.”
Many people who represented the community radio channels said that the radio channels should focus more on local contents to cater to the needs of the local population. “Radio channels need to give more local information so that it could turn out to be a good alternative to the alternative media. Contents relating to local weather and other localised topics can win the hearts of the local people. I think radio is full of potential,” said Pradeep Dutta, station head of Radio Kisan of Balipatna.
The event was also a tribute to the first radio broadcast in India that was done by the Bombay Radio Club July 23, 1927. A number of cultural programmes after the deliberations were over, added more fun to the show.