FLMMA Radio Communications Training Report

FLMMA
Radio Communications
Training Report
Funded by SeaWeb
September 23-25 2004
Tubakula Beach Bungalows
Coral Coast, Fiji
Background
The Spot Writing Workshop concept
was broached by Patty in a telephone
with Kesa Tabunakwai.
The objective of the workshop was to
invite interested FLMMA members to
meet and write 60 second radio spots to
be aired on selected radio stations.
The second phase of the exercise was to
find suitable radio stations and prices for
the spots to run over a period of three
months.
The participants were: Kesaia
Tabunakawai, Yaminiasi Gaunavou,
Penina Namata, Sunia Waqainabete, Lili
Gavidi, Diane Walker and Amelia
Makutu.
Participants wee provided with a
workshop program drawn up by Patty
and “fine tuned” by Patty and Amelia; a
list of potential topics and also a series
of excerpts from Ocean Report to
provide pointers for the exercise.
Yaminiasi also provided a recorder,
microphones and tapes for an impromptu
recording session.
It was decided that Amelia Makutu
coordinate the workshop which was to
be held at a venue outside Suva to ensure
that participants paid full attention to the
task at hand.
Tubakula Beach Bungalows on the Coral
Coast near Sigatoka town was selected
as the venue and invites were sent out to
members of the Fiji Locally Managed
Marine Area Network.
Invited participants included staff from
the Fijian Affairs Board, University of
the South Pacific, Government Fisheries
Department, Mamanuca Education
Society, FLMMA site community
members and WWF the Conservation
Organization staff.
The final list has ten participants and a
budget for the said amount was drawn
up by Amelia.
This participant list was reduced to
seven by members who managed to
confirm attendance on the planned week.
Thursday September 23
Diane who is based in Nadi drove to
Tubakula, while the other six
participants were transported to the
venue by a shuttle service. The first
night saw participants have dinner and
settle down early with their reading
material.
Friday September 24
The day started much earlier than
anticipated (due partly to the fact that
Amelia was making so much noise
making breakfast) so everybody rolled
up their sleeves and prepared themselves
for a long day ahead.
Kesa began the formal part of the
exercise with words of welcome. Amelia
followed with an introduction on what
was expected of the team (10 spots each
to cover for the required 66 spots).
Yaminiasi then gave a rundown on the
processes of production, points for the
participants to bear in mind when
writing their spots (brevity, accuracy)
and the importance of informing and
entertaining the audience on the
pertinent issues at hand.
Participants split up in to write their
spots which were presented and
critiqued by peers before lunch was
served. Some of the participants pooled
their resources and came up with their
10 spots each while two managed to
produce 10 spots which accounts for the
60 spots and not 7- as envisaged.
Between two team members another six
were produced to meet the desired target
of 66.
on their “masterpieces” spurred on by
feeling that they were on the right track.
Majority of the spots were written in
Fijian (24 percent in English then
translated into Fijian) which enabled the
writer to capture and relate the essence
of the messages in clear, even poetic
Fijian language styles. Some of the spots
were humorous (to entertain) whilst
capturing the message at the same time.
The translation of the Ocean Report
spots seemed to make the spots “come
alive” and very interesting to hear and
relate to.
Saturday September 25
The second and final day of the
workshop started early with a revision of
the previous afternoon’s activities and
quick recordings of some of the spots by
Yaminiasi.
After the initial presentation, participants
were so fired up that majority (90%) of
the spots were completed by the end of
day one! Although there was time given
on Saturday morning to complete and
review spots.
Some of the spots were sourced from the
Ocean Report excerpts and the others
were created by participants along the
suggested themes and their own ideas.
Spot writing continued well into the
night on Friday, while dinner was
cooked, other participants worked away
By mid-morning participants had
completed their spots and were ready to
check out and head home for the
weekend. The general consensus among
the group that taking everyone away
from the hustle and bustle of work
created a conducive atmosphere where
all were able to produce top notch spots.
(If we may say so ourselves).
Concluding Remarks
The Spot Writing Workshop was a success, the objective was accomplished, 66 spots
were produced by the team (albeit a few spots, several days later).
Taking participants away to a secluded venue and looking after them there set the scene
for the production of spots (in fact most of the participants wanted to continue writing
spots as they waited for transport back home!).
With the radio spots now complete, they will be given to Amelia who will work with
radio production units in finalizing production and schedules for air time. (Details of
which are with Patty and a final report to be drawn up after the radio spots are run on air.
Acknowledgements
Participants wish to thank Patty Debenham and SeaWeb for their support and confidence
in us to be able to put this exercise together.