The Future of External Broadcasting

QUARTERLY RADIO MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2016 / 5
THE FUTURE OF EXTERNAL BROADCASTING
THE NEW BROADCAST PERIOD OF TRT RADIOS
DIGITAL RADIO BROADCASTING
RISE OF RADIO IN ASIA
PUBLIC VOICES BEYOND NATIONAL BORDERS
RADIO IN 2020
TRT BIG BAND ORCHESTRA
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FILE:
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HAVE YOU EVER READ RADIO?
Dr. Süleyman ERDAL
Amber TÜRKMEN
Recep YURDUSEVEN
Rob GRAHAM
David Fernández QUIJADA
Vijay SADHU
Ç. Gülruy KÖŞKER
Our colleagues
are ready for
2016 with
an unfailing
excitement.
Şenol GÖKA TRT Director General
The voice and
breath of radio
broadcasters
E
ast is a place of patience. The place of perseverance and submission...
This is not just waiting; there is also effort, quite a lot of effort...
These lands offer the fruits of perseverance and submission only to
those who put in effort from the heart.
Perhaps it is because effort comes from the heart that offered
rewards are more than initially desired.
We find it rude to boast about exerted efforts.
Radyovizyon is the fruit of such perseverance.
Celebrating the first anniversary of its coming back to readers once
again and even stronger, Radyovizyon has become the voice and
breath of radio broadcasters in our country and around the world.
I would like you to take this success as a pledge or commitment for
future achievements.
The dossier of this issue is “The Future of External Broadcasting.”
International broadcasting organizations that we are a member
of, national and international academicians and our colleagues
have contributed to the dossier. I believe readers will enjoy articles
that take up all dimensions of external broadcasting. The month
of January is important to radio broadcasters. We prepare for the
upcoming broadcasting season and New Year months ahead in
time.
New programs pursue new voices and we seek new ways to satisfy
our listeners. Our colleagues are ready for 2016 with an unfailing
excitement.
I wish a successful year to my colleagues and all radio broadcasters.
1
Music is a part of life; the voice of chirping birds in the morning, a sweet breeze as we walk down the Street, a peaceful
melody at the dinner table, a lullaby you sing for your baby…
Music is everywhere,
Everything about music is right here…
On the first day of every month, comes with a CD
TRT Bir Dünya Müzik
2
birdunyamuzik
[email protected]
One point to bear
in mind, while
thinking about the
future of external
broadcasting, is
public diplomacy as
an inter-disciplinary
concept.
Dr. Süleyman ERDAL Head of TRT External Services Department
The Future of External Broadcasting
A
s a controversial field in the shadow of today’s
sophisticated technologies, do external services
promise a bright future or can we talk about a
transformation? Radyovizyon magazine will be
investigating this matter in the next two editions.
Danish philosopher Kierkegaard says “Life can
only be understood backwards; but it must be
lived forwards.” Likewise, on the issue of external
broadcasting before a future-bound perspective,
we should absorb the past. In this edition of our
magazine by looking into the past we will ask
where we are today and we will try to lay out
speculations about what the future holds.
External broadcasting started out as an instrument
of the Cold War period. All major organizations
in this field were launched after the 1930s. Later
on, with the emergence of Cold War era it turned
into a total propaganda tool. This feature of
external broadcasting is somehow still evident
in today’s world. It can be said that depending
on technological advancements it will change its
form in the future and continue to exist with its
instruments.
There is a famous saying everybody knows: “If
there is road, there is chance to walk.” As TRT
External Services Department we will continue to
walk on this road with ever-improving possibilities.
However, it is crucial to determine the compounds
of the possibilities on the road to be walked
because attention to the qualities and possibilities
of the target audience will make you more effective
as a broadcaster.
Today, we are living in a time when technology
removes boundaries and communication
happens extremely fast, however, do you think
the use of technology is at the same level in every
corner of the world? Therefore, we should not
forget backward compatibility in our broadcasts.
Depending on criteria like the level of prosperity
and use of technology different instruments can
be used to reach different parts of the world.
One point to bear in mind, while thinking about
the future of external broadcasting, is public
diplomacy as an inter-disciplinary concept. Maybe,
this is what should be located front and center in
external broadcasting. Establishing strong relations
in a time when mutual relationship networks are so
advanced thanks to globalization; knowing right
what you and others own; understanding other
cultures and people; finding and creating shared
values are the real functions of public diplomacy.
If we accept this, external broadcasting becomes
more important than ever.
If we have a responsibility to introduce to the
world what we own, our cultural elements and
other values; and if there is a way to do it, then we
must do it.
Quarterly RadIo MagazIne
Publisher on Behalf of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
Dr. Süleyman Erdal, Head of TRT External Services Department
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Süleyman Erdal
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From the Editor
Transnational Identity of Radio
The role of radio which is the best mass medium of the 20th century in the
international arena started when many governments assumed diplomatic
activities with their shortwave broadcasts in foreign languages in the 1920s
and 1930s. States had the opportunity to make their cause public thanks to
radio broadcasts in foreign languages. Thus, public diplomacy gained great
importance as a communication strategy in World War II. Public diplomacy is
the communication process that a country carries out to enable international
public opinion to understand its culture, national goals and policies as well as its
nation’s opinions and ideals. The traditional concept of diplomacy changed as a
result of the foundations of the international order being laid after World War II
with the establishment of international organizations like the United Nations and
advancing communication technologies. Opportunities seized thanks to quicker
access to information began to be implemented in the field of diplomacy too.
Transnational radio broadcasts would not be one-sided propaganda any longer
but two-way communication by getting to know all aspects of the international
public opinion. Thus, not only states, but also nations would be taken up at
diplomatic activities. A conflict of opinions during the Cold War, elimination
of borders and the fall of the Berlin Wall would introduce the concept of “soft
power” to public diplomacy. This concept which means a country obtaining the
outcomes it wants in world politics because other countries admiring its culture,
political values and foreign policy want to follow it and attracting others in world
politics, and not only forcing them to change by threatening military force or
economic sanctions, appeared as a requirement of political conjuncture. Radios
engaged in transnational broadcasts turned into the most important medium of
public diplomacy as the conveyer of values and cultures of states.
Today’s information age has facilitated active public diplomacy with its
advancing communication technology. Satellite, internet, mobile phones and
real time news have been added to public diplomacy tools such as shortwave
radio broadcasts, newspapers and phones. Thanks to developing information
network, everyone has access to information. There is no sharp distinction
between national and international news in media any longer. Every political and
economic event that goes down in history has brought a new understanding
to the concept of public diplomacy. Technology has become part of political,
cultural and economic power in the 21st century. The significance of global
communication technologies and real time communication has increased in the
new public diplomacy.
We have asked the question “How will worldwide radios engaged in transnational
broadcasting adapt to the information age and what public diplomacy tools will
they use?” to our colleagues and academicians over a wide geographical area.
We will look for the answers in the 21st and 22nd issues of our magazine under
the title “The Future of External Broadcasting.” While examining the relationship
between values of international broadcasting, traditional external services,
radio and social media and new communication technologies as well as the
importance of local broadcasting partnerships, we also display the past, present
and future of external broadcasting.
Transnational identity of radio that eliminates a country’s borders enriches
with the history and culture of the country it represents. Discovering radio’s
universality by protecting these values is the key to external broadcasting…
Wishing you a happy New Year with the excitement and happiness of embracing
the world on the radio.
Eda Kotanoğlu Cardona
4
Editor in Charge
Eda Kotanoğlu Cardona
3 AYLIK RADYO DERGİSİ / OCAK 2016 / SAYI 21
HİÇ RADYO OKUDUNUZ MU?
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Editorial Coordinator
Şirin Sümer
“Yeniden ve daha güçlü bir şekilde okuyucu ile buluşmasının
birinci yılını kutlayan Radyovizyon, ülkemizde ve dünyada
radyocular için bir nefes, bir ses oldu. Bu başarıyı, yeni başarılar
için bir söz, bir taahhüt olarak kabul etmenizi isterim.”
Şenol GÖKA
TRT Genel Müdürü
Editors
Olgu Tokdemir
Sultan Yanmaz
Aksel Koçak
Didem Güneri Öztaşbaşı
Nurettin Turan
Özlem Yalçın
Abdul Hamid Chohan
21
DIŞ YAYINCILIĞIN GELECEĞİ
TRT RADYOLARI YENİ YAYIN DÖNEMİ
ULUSAL SINIRLAR ÖTESİNDE HALKTAN SESLER
2020’DE RADYO
DİJİTAL RADYO YAYINCILIĞI PROJESİ
TRT BIG BAND ORKESTRASI
Dr. Süleyman ERDAL
Amber TÜRKMEN
David Fernandez QUIJADA
Vijay SADHU
Recep YURDUSEVEN
Ç. Gülruy KÖŞKER
Advisory Committee
Prof. Dr. Edibe Sözen
Doç. Dr. Enderhan Karakoç
Prof. Dr. Ertan Özensel
Doç. Dr. Halûk Bengü
Regional Representatives
Ankara • Filiz Özdemir Arıcıoğlu • [email protected]
Antalya • Mustafa Cansız • [email protected]
Çukurova • Lütfi Kılınç • [email protected]
Diyarbakır • Fatih Yılmaz • [email protected]
Erzurum • İsmail Bingöl • [email protected]
İstanbul • Osman Nuri Boyacı • [email protected]
İzmir • Hakan Özalpuk • [email protected]
Trabzon • Yiğit Yavuz • [email protected]
Translated by
Özden Demiray
Ömer Ayvaz
Efsun Namal
Web Design
Hilal Baysal
İbrahim Çam
Legal Advisor
Recep Durgun
Administrative Affairs
Murat Baran
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ISSN 2148-9718 • PUBLISHING TYPE General/ Periodical
Date of Publishing 15 January 2016
Publishing Preparation and Design
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The views expressed in letters and articles published in the magazine are the
responsibility of the author and have no binding on the magazine.
All TRT Radio staff members are natural editors of the magazine.
Contents...
Interview / Amber Türkmen
New Broadcasting Period on TRT Radios
6
New Broadcasting Period on
TRT External Services Department Radios
12
15
6
10
12
Interview / Dr. Süleyman Erdal
“Distances Get Shorter with Us”
Library / A Radio Play Penned by
Behçet Necatigil: Ertuğrul Disaster
16
FILE
THE FUTURE OF
EXTERNAL BROADCASTING
File
The Future of External Broadcasting
44
16
44 After the 52 ABU General Assembly
nd
47 Digital Radio Broadcasting
48
64
TRT İstanbul Light Music and Jazz Orchestra /
Turkey’s First and Only Big Band Orchestra
Çukurova Radio:
The Only Station Bearing the Name of a Region
48
51
Radio Academy / Globalization
The Great Story of 21st Century in Broadcasting Too
54
56
56
German on Radio
58
Through the Producer’s Eyes /
Sounds from Inside Out
Radio Films of the Silver Screen / Long Wave
Revolution Adventure of Swiss Radio Broadcasters
News
62
Tunes and Melodies
64
60
New Broadcasting Period
on
TRT Radios
Interview
Interview
R A DYOviz yon
“Turkey’s Common Voice”
TRT Radios said
'Hello!' to the new broadcast
period on January 1, 2016.
We talked with
TRT Radio Department Head
Amber Türkmen
about 2016 broadcast
period of TRT Radios.
Olgu Tokdemir
T
he new broadcast period of TRT Radios
kicked off as of January 1. How was your
preparation period for the new term?
Preparation for the new broadcasting period
begins 6 months ahead at TRT Radios. We make
our mental preparation by going over existing
programs; shortcomings detected by production
teams and needs in the upcoming period. We
extend our expectations to radio stations about
major topics to be worked upon in the new period
such as the importance of the new year for our
country, world history and cultural heritage; or
special productions that we find necessary to be
in broadcast schedules. Program proposals asked
from radios go through a preliminary review by
the department management. Later on, with
the participation of related station staff “Radio
Programs Evaluation and Coordination Meeting” is
held to create a new production-broadcast order
6
and after the approval of Director General’s office
we put it into practice. We made our planning
meeting for 2016 in the first week of November in
the presence of Director General Şenol Göka and
Deputy Director General Erkan Durdu in Trabzon.
Besides managers of related units of stations, we
also had participants from different departments.
Indeed, it is essential to work in coordination with
other branches of the organization in broadcasting
activities. This is necessary for a productive and
coherent broadcasting experience.
“TRT General Broadcasting Plan” which defines the
roadmap of TRT Radios and TV broadcasts and
which brings together our principles and basics,
is like an important source for us. We have to
take necessary measures to make sure that radio
programs are prepared in line with TRT General
Broadcasting Plan and broadcasting principles
in an uninterrupted, high quality and sound way.
We must always have under our hands alternative
strategies and back-up plans to challenge special
situations and emerging needs.
Broadcasting is a constantly self-replenishing
and dynamic sector. What points other
than legal regulations do you consider
while creating the annual productionbroadcasting order as public broadcasting
organization stations?
A successful program planning begins with a good
knowledge of the world, listener perception and
transformations in the social structure. When you
correctly determine the needs and trends and
reflect them upon the broadcasts, your listener
base grows bigger. The listener feels awarded.
Creating a broadcast schedule that does not inspire
interest and curiosity in the listener fails to satisfy
expectations and means throwing all that effort in
the garbage bin. On the other hand, we are in a
broadcasting environment, in which technological
advancements allow the trial of new contents
and formats. Technology of our time does not
only offer new media options in the transmission
of broadcast but also encourages more creative
content. From this angle, you understand that
you have to take measures to strengthen the
connection between radio and listeners as early as
the planning phase. Efficient and functional use of
program elements, the internet and social media
advantages strengthen loyalty of the listener. Our
planning approach is inspired by traditions, but we
avoid habitual corner-cutting.
What can the listeners find at TRT radios in
the new broadcasting period?
As is known, TRT has 5 national, 5 regional and 3
local radio stations with different identities. Radyo
1 is our education, culture and news channel
focusing more on conversation. Thanks to a
variety of programs, listeners at all ages and from
all occupations can find something related to
them on Radyo 1. Here, the key point is to know
which age group and which occupation group
listen to the radio in which time slot. Public survey
companies provide us with reliable data on this
question. Creating a habit in listeners depends
on continuity of the broadcast stream. Broadcast
7
R A DYOviz yon
Our objective as TRT is to be
the common Voice of Turkey
with broadcasts in different
contents and formats as well as
investments made in technical
infrastructure and maintain
our pioneering position in
worldwide radio broadcasting.
stream begins with the “Good Morning” belt in the
morning. It is followed by Morning News Analysis,
Drama, Woman, Family and Disadvantageous
Groups, Human in Every Way, Mid-day News Analysis,
On Life, Language-Literature, Strategy, Politics,
Once Upon A Time, Religion-Morality, CitizenshipOrganizations and Institutions, Economy, Evening
News Analysis, City and Culture, Sports, Music
Culture and evening slots. Well prepared various
programs offering rich content are awaiting
listeners every day of the week on these slots.
Most popular radio station of Turkey: TRT FM
TRT FM is our popular music channel, which
is highly coveted by our listeners. According
to surveys it is the most popular radio station
in Turkey. This information should not lead us
to relaxation. Repeating yourself and closing
your ears to the proposals and expectations
of listeners is the biggest danger. Programs
that achieved their planning goals and led to
an addiction on listeners are included in 2016
broadcast streams. Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir
Radios will address listeners with the principle
of few-effective words and lots of music. Popular
and appreciated voices of radio broadcasting
will be on our microphones. From dawn to
dusk broadcasts will continue with content
and presentation in coherence with the rhythm
of the day. Most current pop music songs, list
songs, listener requests, fun contests, sincere
conversations, modern performances of Turkish
Classical and Folk Music pieces, and of course,
the interactive participation of listeners…
8
Tune into Radyo 3 to experience a concert
atmosphere on the radio
Radyo 3 has a special listener base with programs
on classical, rock, jazz and world music genres. In
this station, we offer programs that present the
universal language of music with radio tongue
along with cherry-picked songs from world music
culture. We try to bring the concert hall atmosphere
to the radio with concerts of Turkish or foreign
musicians in the studio or in a real concert hall in
classical, jazz, rock or ethnic genres. Interviews with
artists and listeners bring color to our programs.
We believe the positive feedback we receive from
our listeners and the success graph of Radyo 3 will
continue in 2016. Also in the EBU Notturno slot,
which we have been broadcasting since April 2009
everyday between 01:00-07:00 will continue to
bring the records of famous composers and major
orchestras to classical music lovers.
TRT Nağme and TRT Türkü offer the musical
heritage of our geography
Our thematic stations, TRT Nağme and TRT Türkü
successfully carry on the task of protecting the
musical heritage of this geography and passing it
on to future generations. Our goal is to make this
success permanent in 2016 and further improve
the content and presentation quality.
High ratings of TRT Nağme and TRT Türkü
prove that it was a spot on decision to launch
these stations. How do you explain the
success of these stations?
It’s actually not that surprising for these stations
to have high ratings as they were planned and
RADYO v i z y o n
Amber Türkmen
with Radyovizyon team
realized by incumbent Director General Şenol
Göka back in 2009, when he was the head of Radio
Department. When you bring together master
vocal and instrumental artists of TRT radios with a
rich song repertoire and experienced productionbroadcast team, the end product surely finds a
place in the heart of listeners. There’s also another
point; Anatolia has such a deep history and
culture and preserving these values and keeping
our collective memory alive is an important
responsibility. Tradition is a precious treasure. As a
society, we are very sensitive about our roots and
elements that make us who we are. I think these
are some of the factors that could explain the
remarkable number of loyal TRT Nağme and TRT
Türkü listeners.
So, what do you have to say about TRT Kent
Radios launched in January 2015 and the
planning of regional broadcasts in 2016?
Antalya, Çukurova, Erzurum, GAP Diyarbakır and
Trabzon Regional Radios have regional broadcasts
in line with the cultural and socio-economic
features and needs of the areas they target. In
2016, our regional broadcasts will become even
stronger. TRT Türkü Anatolia slot will continue
to bring folkloric motifs of regional radios to
audiences. TRT Ankara Kent Radio, TRT İstanbul
Kent Radio and TRT İzmir Kent Radio, launched
in January 2015, will continue to bring tailored
content for target metropolitans. What’s important
in both regional and city radios is to keep the
pulse of the area, to serve as a source of news and
information and to make the broadcast interesting
for the target audience. When you define your goal
and criteria clearly, whether at national, regional
or local stations, the voice coming through the
microphone will always find listeners.
As it seems your radio broadcasts giving a
chance to listeners to choose from a variety
of themes will continue to be “the common
voice of Turkey” in 2016 as well.
That’s what we believe in. As TRT, our goal is to
be Turkey’s Common Voice with our content,
format, technical infrastructure investments and
improvements. We also want to keep our leading
position in radio broadcasting at global scale.
Taking this chance, in 2016 I wish tranquility and
peace for the whole of humanity and a successful
year for radio stations and radio broadcasters.
Photographs by
Tunç Özceber - MG Agency | Püren Türker
Kids! Gather around the radio! TRT Radio classic “Children’s Hour”begins
on Radyo-1. Dynamic, current and educational radio dramas produced
by child actors under the supervision of creative drama instructors can
be listened to on TRT Radyo-1 every Sunday after 10:00 news bulletin.
Wise men that constitute, feed, develop and enrich Anatolian
wisdom... Literature, knowledge, science; lives, works and thoughts of
exclusive personalities... “Dwellers of Anatolia”, which tells the stories
of soul sultans that fermented Anatolia with their wisdom, is on TRT
Radyo-1 every Thursday at 14:30.
9
R A DYOviz yon
New Broadcasting
Period at
TRT
External Services
Radio Stations
The Voice of Turkey Radio, with the responsibility
of special meanings attached to itself, has been
broadcasting since 1937. This special meaning
is especially definitive for Turkish broadcasts
because of its authentic listener base.
Şirin Sümer
T
urks, who jumped on the bandwagon of labor
migrations in the second half of the last century,
created a listener base with their families in foreign
lands. For the big masses, who suppressed the
longing in their hearts and promised to return to
Turkey one day, the Voice of Turkey Radio carried
importance beyond the strategic targets of
external broadcasting. Our listeners living abroad
know very well these special meanings that define
the identity of our radio and the tone of our
voice. The Voice of Turkey Radio meant the smell
of homeland, a love song, melancholy of being
abroad and hope for reunion… It meant holding
hands in Halay dance, singing a folk song together,
feeding seagulls with simit (Turkish bagel),
greetings with the neighbor, mother’s bosom and
father’s home. It meant a father patting the sweaty
backs for hard labor, a mother cooking soup and
the smile of a son left behind to take care of the
homeland.
For a significant portion of our listeners, we still
mean all of these and more. Also social and
economic problems of Turks living abroad have
not been completely resolved. Therefore, a greater
10
portion of our broadcasts are leaning upon these
matters. Notwithstanding, not all of our listeners
are people who left the country with pain and
dreams. There are also Turks, whose families came
from Turkey but they were born in foreign lands,
mainly in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
Indeed, they are not entirely alien to the concept
of “homeland”, but they are now world citizens.
Among them, there are those who want to return
to Turkey but they can’t, but for most of them,
going back is out of the picture.
This is the meaning of this long intro: the Voice of
Turkey Radio knows very well that we cannot just
make do as an immigrant theme station. Therefore,
the station renews itself with new voices. Keeping
in mind that we are more than a radio station, we
are trying to enlarge our listener base. We planned
our 2016 broadcasts with this thought in mind.
Throughout 2015, despite its challenges, we tried
to achieve a broadcast approach focusing on
“being there and being here” simultaneously, while
including all the voices of Turkey and life. In 2016,
we will enrich our broadcasts with new targets and
small but important details.
RADYO v i z y o n
The Voice of Turkey Radio broadcasts around the
clock on shortwave, satellite and the internet.
It means we are everywhere in the world at any
given time. In the broadcasts that we planned with
this awareness, we portray Turkey in the world as
a world-class actor in our special slots and feature
programs.
happy to see that our listeners have strong ties
with Turkey and the Turkish language.
TRT Memleketim FM, which joined our other
stations, as a joint project with Foreign Ministry,
is only different from the Voice of Turkey Radio
for it is mostly based on music and conversation.
Our goal remains the same: offering broadcasts
in connection with the past, embrace today and
share the joy and dynamism of the future.
When you say the Voice of Turkey Radio, people
only think about the Turkish broadcast, but TRT
External Services offer radio broadcasts in 37
languages and dialects including Turkish. Also we
bring you news on the internet. Currently, we offer
news on the web in 41 languages and dialects.
We have news, report files and videos from Turkey
and the country/countries we address in a specific
language. Foreign language stations can be
accessed via these websites as well.
Memleketim FM broadcasts 24 hours with the
support of TRT FM and for now it is only available
on the internet. We know from the feedback we
receive via letters, phone calls and social media
that it is already a sweetheart station although
it has been around less than a year. It makes us
We invite our listeners and those curious about us
to visit our webpages and social media accounts
on Facebook and Twitter. You can find a lot
more about our programs and listen to sample
podcasts.
Final say: We are on air for you around the clock
on shortwave, satellite and the internet. Just tune
in!
Foreign Language Broadcasts
www.turkiyeninsesiradyosu.com | www.trtvotworld.com | www.trtmemleketimfm.com | www.turkiyeninsesiradyosu.com | www.trtvotworld.com | www.trtmemleketimfm.com
Foreign Language Broadcasts
11
Photograph by: Püren Türker
Interview
Intervie
R A DYOviz yon
TRT External Services Department has been the heart of Turkey’s
International Broadcasting since 1937. Today, the External Services
carries out radio transmissions in 37 languages including Turkish,
and online broadcasts with webpages in 41 languages and dialects;
making the Voice of Turkey heard in the world both in Turkish and in
other languages. In this sense, we had an interview with TRT External
Services Department Head Dr. Süleyman Erdal on our understanding of
international broadcasting.
Sultan Yanmaz
Mr.
Erdal can you summarize the history of TRT
External Services Department?
Actually the External Services Department reflects a
tradition, which is deeply rooted in our cultural history.
Radio broadcasts began in Turkey in 1927. And in 1937,
the External Services entered the stage of Turkey’s
broadcasting life. Its broadcasts started with a program
on “Hatay Question”… a speech of the then Prime
Minister of Turkey İsmet İnönü that he delivered on
this matter was translated into Arabic and then was
broadcast in that region.
Then, in 1938 broadcasts in major languages like
English, and French began. All these transmissions were
launched under the body of The Directorate General of
Press and Information, and the number of broadcasting
languages has, since then, gradually been rising. With
the establishment of TRT in 1964, it transformed into a
department called “Overseas Broadcasts.” In 1972, the
unit was renamed as “External Services Department”,
12
and has been operating under that name since then.
At the point we have reached, we are able to broadcast
online in 41 different languages and dialects. And, we
have radio transmissions in 37 languages including
Turkish. The extent of our broadcasts are indeed
quite large and these transmissions reach even the
most remote corners of the world. The priorities of
the External Services Department are woven around
a mission to inform other geographies about the
general polices of the state. However, in the cold-war
era, it was also used as a tool of propaganda. Actually,
such quality is visible in the process and has continued
up until today.
There are important changes in technology and
what are your predictions for the future of external
broadcasting in general?
Speaking of a homogenous structure, at the phase the
world has reached today, seems not possible, both
in terms of economy and level of welfare. Wherever
RADYO v i z y o n
you go in the world level of welfare differs. When you
travel to the African Continent –despite some minor
technological reforms- you see that they are still using
the technology of the past. And when you travel to
Asia, you have to confront the same situation. So, since
this is the case, a need for a change in method emerges.
We try to reach well-off regions or regions where that
homogeneity no longer exists, with new technology
productions. However, short-wave radio transmissions
are still a necessity for the economically less developed
world. And the reason for it is that: in international
radio broadcasting, there are regulars, a kind of “radio
station-regular listener” relation exists... In this sense, it
is not possible to ignore the routine of your listeners
who have been following you for a really long time.
You inform them about the new ways of broadcasting
especially about online broadcasting. Particularly in Asia
and Africa, short-wave radio is still needed and we are
constantly receiving demands related to it. I think the
most proper approach would be this: reaching people
living in the well-off, developed regions with state-ofthe-art technology, with digital technology which is
on the top of the communication technologies; and
keeping short-wave radio transmissions on air for the
economically disadvantaged countries... This question
indeed will be brought to the agenda again with our
radio magazine quarterly “Radyovizyon”, and I hope
that we will be able to find answers to it. Because we
have obtained important information, meritorious
writings from broadcasters in various countries in the
world, from academicians, from our colleagues who
are in the business of broadcasting. And, we will be
sharing with our readers all of them in the next two
issues of our magazine. Therefore I think we will find
satisfying answers to the question “What will the future
of international broadcasting be like?”
Another important problem in external
broadcasting is Radio Audience Measurement…
You are able to reach even the most remote
corners of the world, but how can you be sure that
you are listened to?
Today, there are several different approaches related
to this matter. One of them is the DX short-wave
radio clubs. Actually, DX clubs are important sources
of feedback. There are reception reports that DX club
members are sending us, and they are really important
for us. Short-wave may seem old-fashioned, but we
should also not forget that short-wave listeners are at
the same time very avid users of new technology. Our
listeners used to send us reception reports via regular
mail in the past, and they wrote details about what
they heard in the transmission, an evaluation of the
signal quality and if any interference they experienced
as well as comments and suggestions about our
station’s programming. Today, they directly upload the
reception reports, DX Club reports about us on any
social media site and we can later measure.In the past,
our External Services Department was receiving letters
in substantial numbers and we were sending them
QSL cards, and there are enthusiastic QSL collectors.
However, today we mostly have feedback via e-mail
and we receive on average 150 thousand e-mails in a
year. This is really a big and important amount... And
there is also another system of control carried out by
the Department of Transmitters. It is a system working
as a control mechanism to check if our radio stations are
being listened to in other geographies and whether our
broadcasts are reaching those geographies properly or
not. And this gives us some clue.
However, there are discussions and a tendency
in the world to quit short-wave broadcasting
completely.
But on the other hand, it is evident that short wave is
still needed and demanded in many parts of the world.
That’s why quitting short wave is not applicable right
now. Besides, short-wave is an opportunity to reach
wider audience and it would be wrong to reject such a
great opportunity totally. Yes, depending on the level of
technology, we may withdraw short-wave from some
areas, but I think there is still a great need for short-wave
radio broadcasting in many parts of the world.
You have published a book titled “A Billion Letters”
by compiling the letters that the External Services
Department has received. From the perspective
of short-wave broadcasting, how should we read
these letters?
The book you have mentioned is indeed a collection
of letters and e-mails which have been sent to us. We
have made a selection among the letters, postcards
and e-mails we have received so far. As I have told you
before, there is a strong tie between the radio station
and regular listeners and this relationship manifests
itself in letters the most. People share lots of things,
including their private matters, with us. For instance, a
visually impaired listener of us from Iran says, “You are
my eyes, my window opening to the world.” Rejecting
such a sincere approach is no way possible for us.
Hence, there are listeners who have been following us
for maybe 65-70 years without a break; he started to
listen to us when he was a child and became a loyal
listener of the Voice of Turkey or other foreign language
broadcasts throughout all these years. So, it is not that
easy to write off a relationship based on such sincerity...
Evaluations on the matter should certainly be made
by considering today’s technological developments
but what I think is that short wave broadcasting will
continue to protect these areas to a certain degree.
When it comes to reaching targets in external
broadcasting, what kind of a process is involved?
What shapes today’s international broadcasting?
And are there any new functions of international
broadcasting?
13
R A DYOviz yon
External broadcasting did emerge as a channel
for informing the general public about countries’
state policies and then it evolved into a source
of entertainment, like other means of mass
communication. It was used a tool of propaganda
during the cold war period. Given the current state
of technology and the level of development it has
reached, you say “why is there a need for external
broadcasting?” Well, of course it has new functions.
The concept, public diplomacy, steps in the scene of
diplomacy where the classic approach falls short of.
Actually, “Public Diplomacy” is an old concept in terms
of its roots, but when short wave is the subject, it
shoulders some other and serious functions, and I think
it will do so in future. Let me ask you a question, what
lies at the core of external broadcasting? General state
policies. What do we mean by that? Well, that can be
diplomacy, economic policies, culture policies or it can
be the impression that you want to have in the eyes of
the outer world, with regard to all your country’s values
from a to z and this is exactly the point where public
diplomacy comes to the forefront. When we talk about
public diplomacy, generally state policies come to the
mind, however in today’s world, public diplomacy is
indeed a new channel through which you can share
all sorts of information related to the values of your
country, your society and culture. And this is the point
where external services step in.
Yes, we have TV channels broadcasting for national
audience and web sites which can also be followed.
But what makes external services different lies in its
very nature of broadcasting in different languages.
That’s why I think public diplomacy should strongly
be underlined regarding the future of external
broadcasting. For sure, we, as the TRT External Services
Department, have some future plans. For instance we
have an ideal and effort to reach every geography
in their own language. When we took office, the
14
department was broadcasting in 32 languages; now
we are successfully carrying out transmissions in 41
languages and dialects. Hence, we are in an effort to
add new languages to this total. And, a concrete step
to this end will probably be broadcasting in Somali
language. Yes indeed the Turkish support for Africa is
very important. Within the framework of this support
may be Somalia bears a symbolic meaning, and that’s
why may be I’m speaking of Somali language. Besides,
there is a radio station launched by TIKA (The Turkish
Cooperation and Coordination Agency) in Somalia. We
also have plans to launch radio broadcasts from here
which will be followed by online version.
Apart from this, with respect to South Asia, we have
already started radio transmissions in Malay. And, there
is again an important region out there; Indonesia. We
have great intention to be on air in Indonesian. We will
share the details in the course of time.
Mr. Erdal, in your department there are two global
radio stations broadcasting in Turkish; The Voice of
Turkey and Memleketim FM. Can you tell us about
your radio broadcasts in Turkish?
The most significant element of external broadcasting
first and foremost is to bring your own language to
the forefront. Emphasizing the language is the key
element in the emergence of external broadcasting
or international broadcasting. When you look at
the reasons behind the launch of international
broadcasters, especially BBC and Deutsche Welle, you
will see their ideals of making their own languages
dominant in the world. Of course, our main axis is
Turkish. To make Turkish heard in the world, make it
more widespread and carry this further. And, while
achieving this goal, we also want to reach the world in
other languages... However, mother language is always
the main determinant of external broadcasting. That’s
why Turkish is extremely important for us...
Ertug�rul Disaster
Ertuğrul Disaster takes up one of the most
depressing incidents of our naval history: during
the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, after the visit of
the Japanese Emperor’s nephew to İstanbul with a
warship, Ertuğrul Frigate set off to return the visit
loaded with precious gifts. However, it was a one
way trip. Despite reports of experts suggesting that
the ship could not handle this trip, Ertuğrul was
given the task and it sank on its way home. Only
69 of the 610 crew members survived the accident.
Among those who could not return on board
Ertuğrul, was poet Ali Ruhi Bey, who was recruited
to keep the log book. In his Ertuğrul Disaster,
Behçet Necatigil used this unknown poet listed
in the Dictionary of our Literary Figures, as a
motive in his radio play: The text begins with Ali
Ruhi being notified that he would join this trip.
Necatigil’s inclusion of a poet in the text brings
color to the play and draws listeners closer. Also, in
one way, because of his spiritual partnership born
out of his poet side, it makes us feel like Necatigil
himself also joined this trip.
In picking up 23 names for the play, Necatigil says if
23 is considered too many figures marked with “+”
could be given a second role. In doing so, number
of characters could be brought down to 13 or
even fewer than that. This proves how trained he
was about radio play techniques.
The play is made up of 6 sections. In the 5th section,
the sinking of Ertuğrul Frigate is portrayed in a
horrifying beauty through the words of those who
lost their lives in the accident:
Library
O
ne of the immortal figures of Turkish literature,
Behçet Necatigil owes his fame mostly to his
poetry. Is it possible not to embrace eternity by
writing the verse “I bow and take it, it becomes
no one / It turns into a dead rose when touched”
? But Necatigil was also a literature teacher.
Famous culture figures of present day Turkey
were Necatigil’s students. One of them was Hilmi
Yavuz, who published a collection of all his works.
He was a translator. According to information on
the official website “necatigil.com”, he translated
36 books. He was an anthology writer. Figures
of our Literature and Works of our Literature
dictionaries are important sources. He wrote radio
plays after the 1960s. According to the website, he
wrote 20 radio plays after 1963. Oddly, his 1974
radio play “Ertuğrul Disaster”, which was included
in the Yapı Kredi Publishing House’s “Complete
Works of Necatigil” (1995), is not listed on the
website. We learn from the preface penned by
Selim İleri that Ertuğrul Disaster was broadcast on
radio in 1974, but was not published in a book for
21 years. According to İleri shy-natured Necatigil
never talked about this play with publishers. He
didn’t dwell upon it and said “It was broadcast on
radio, played on the microphone; people probably
listened to it…” So as expressed in the preface
Ertuğrul Disaster remained a “secret masterpiece.”
Yiğit Yavuz
Cavalier: Mountain high waves... Ertuğrul began
to wobble in the afternoon.
Assistant Cavalier: The sails
were wrapped. How could
the ship withstand such
devastating waves?
Osman Pasha: The mainmast
collapsed at the step point. We
tried to avoid the disaster by
connecting the shrouds.
Cavalier: Some of the beams
were broken. The tops of the
anchor woods at the bow got
freed from the butts.
(...)
Osman Pasha: It was dark,
very dark. About 21:00...
(A terrible rumble. Shouting. Praying
voices. Silence)
Poet Ali Ruhi was taken to hospital in Singapore
for he got sick. It’s not certain whether he later
returned to the ship or not. But Necatigil imagines
that he was among those who drowned to death
in the accident:
Ali Ruhi: (Sonorous sound fades away)
Look, I am also here, in the middle of roaring
waves...
Ertuğrul Disaster is an example of exceptional
literary and theatrical achievement. Radio play fans
and Necatigil readers must definitely read it.
*Ertuğrul Disaster Behçet Necatigil (Complete Works- Radio Play)
Yapı Kredi Publishing House
15
FILE
THE FUTURE OF
EXTERNAL BROADCASTING
VALUES OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT IN INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING AS A STRATEGIC FIELD
PUBLIC VOICES BEYOND NATIONAL BORDERS
RADIO IN 2020: DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA
RADIO IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE WORLD!
AIR WARS
IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT IN INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
MEDIUM WITH A MESSAGE
A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED
AUDIO: THE FUTURE OF RADIO
THE RISE & RISE OF RADIO IN ASIA
INTERNATIONAL RADIO BROADCASTING
WE ARE LIKE A SINGLE HEART BEATING FOR ALL OF US
THANKS TO LOCAL PARTNERS, EVERYONE IS A BIG BROADCASTER NOW
16
Assistant Professor Dr.
Onur Bekiroğlu
Asst. Prof. Dr.,Ondokuz
Mayıs Üniversitesi,
Faculty of
Communication
Assist. Prof. Enes Bal
Necmettin Erbakan
University
Faculty of Social and
Human Sciences
David Fernández
Quijada
Vijay Sadhu
Ruxandra Obreja
Senior Media Analyst
European Broadcasting
Union (EBU)
Head of Radio
Programming
Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union
Chairman of
DRM Consortium
Markos Kounalakis
Barry Keohane
Hugo Pinto
Graham Ellis
Çağda Yıldız
Visiting Fellow,
Hoover Institution
Stanford University
CEO, Top of Mind Media
Macau Radio
Correspondent
Chairman of the
European Broadcasting
Union Radio Committee
and Deputy Director of
BBC Radio
Deutsche Welle
Planning & Evaluation
Rob Graham
Pınar Şenel
Feray Uz
Dr. Bülent Namal
CEO-­EON Media Group,
Executive Producer
Asia Pop 40
TRT
Internal Production
Coordinatorship
Producer
TRT
The Voice of Turkey
Radio
Producer
Director of Radyo TV
Manas Kıyrgstan-Turkey
Manas University
17
R A DYOviz yon
VALUES OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
Assist. Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu
W
hen international broadcasting is the context, like
in other communication and mass communication
processes, transmitting a message on any subject
or problem, and having an impact on the targeted
audience are the main objectives. However, to be
able to evaluate this fact in an analytical framework
we need to have a closer look at international
broadcasting to see what it alludes to.
International broadcasting can be defined as
directing messages with contents of statesponsored news, information and entertainment
towards a population living within the borders
of a state other than the one that backs the
broadcasting. In a certain period of international
broadcasting in the past, the point I have just
mentioned above had also contained elements
of propaganda. Within this context, despite the
fact that the Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and
BBC World Service are the most known examples
of international broadcasting, there are numerous
others in the business. In the meantime, it should
also be noted that lines drawing the limits of statesponsorship for international broadcasting are
blurry.1
International broadcasting is a
practice in parallel with public
diplomacy rooted in a key
factor which gives international
broadcasting its own specific
structure and ethical base. And
this key factor is what journalism
is also made of: the news. Hence,
when looked at from a historical
perspective, the strongest
and most effective element
of international broadcasting,
especially when it is used in an
objective way, appears as the
news.
18
Functions peculiar to international broadcasting
are at the same time, important clues which
convey codes and values of such broadcasting.
Within this framework, it can be said that states
have attributed different functions to their
international broadcasting channels. Thus, in line
with the comparative analyses of the international
broadcasting experiences of the UK, the US, France,
the Netherlands and Germany, a potentiality of
six functions has emerged. Most of the Western
international broadcasting corporations have two
basic functions, and the first one is acting as a
network to provide accurate information in times
of crisis. And the other basic function compensates
the lack of media supply in underdeveloped
regions. On the other hand, to moot the idea
that France and Germany focus especially on two
distinct functions would not be wrong. These are
representing a certain culture and language and
creating an opportunity for overseas citizens to
relate themselves with the homeland.
Within this picture, the function which characterizes
the American perspective is “a missionary quality
with a target to disseminate certain social and
political beliefs, as well as certain understanding
and ideologies.” Finally, as is the case with the BBC,
we can talk about an effort for becoming a global
actor by trying to encompass all other functions
including being a missionary besides being a
global news channel. 2
Hence, without seeking any other particular goal
beyond these functions, the pre-condition for
a successful international broadcasting reveals
itself as credibility and such credibility is only
possible to attain as long as broadcasters are able
to work in a total editorial independence from
governments financing them. Again, to make
sure that international broadcasters are showing
consistency, to a large extent, with the country’s
foreign policy targets, (opposite to their editorial
tendencies), their strategic inclinations should
be carried out in cooperation with ministries of
foreign affairs. 3
On the other hand, the idea that international
broadcasting is a practice in parallel with public
RADYO v i z y o n
diplomacy is rooted in a key factor which gives
international broadcasting its own specific
structure and ethical base. And this key factor is
what journalism is also made of: the news. Hence,
when looked at from a historical perspective,
the strongest and most effective element of
international broadcasting, especially when it is
used in an objective way, appears as the news.4
Within this context, in the process of international
broadcasting, the subtle tact of choosing and
omitting stories, how picked stories are put in a
framework, the choice of words in news writing or
if presentations of one-way or two-way messages
will be used become the focus of significance and
importance. At this point, in today’s international
broadcasting scope, an editorial understanding,
which is identified with only propagandist,
aggressive and negative news presenting, is
doomed to become ineffective as well as being
irrelevant with the philosophy of what public
diplomacy stands for. There is no doubt that
such understanding is destined to fail, because
a framework of an international broadcasting
merged with the very concept of public diplomacy
that indicates more refined ways of winning
foreign societies and public opinions, will no way
be in harmony with this highly authoritative, strict,
outsider and indoctrinating voice.
New Communication Technologies and
International Broadcasting
Going through the process in which means
of mass communication and communication
technologies have been both developed and
diversified, today we can say that, especially the
internet and social media have transformed
practices and values of mass communication
at large, that of international broadcasting in
particular. This is because the internet and social
media have provided necessary grounds for
a media and communication environment in
which centrifugal powers, in both national and
international contexts, have reached the status of
an important actor (in their capacity as news and
program producers and distributers). Thus, for
international broadcasting, new communication
technologies, the internet and social media are
both new channels of communication and a
communication environment that multiplies
sources for getting, creating and sending news,
information, and content as well as competitors.
For instance, prominent international broadcasters
such as the Voice of America, BBC World Service,
Deutsche Welle, and TRT World have their own
web sites and strong presence on social media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
This situation is a clear sign that actors in the
international broadcasting arena who are highly
advertent of today’s internet and social media
realities, are expanding the scope of broadcasting
channels by involving in these new technologies.
Therefore, it would not be wrong to claim that
traditional practices of communication/news
reporting, identified with the one-way transmission
of messages as it was carried out in the first
episode of international broadcasting or efforts
concentrated in this direction have weakened
and become inadequate, if not perished totally. In
today’s world, such one-way media practices and
efforts with a partial propagandist tone can easily
ruin credibility, trustworthiness, persuasiveness
and prestige that you want to build in the eyes of
different cultures and societies you want to reach.
Besides all the points I have mentioned so far,
performing an international broadcasting, which
is directed to “understanding” other cultures and
societies instead of “judging” and “defining” them
from outside, is probably one of the most critical
areas of the problem. In other words, instead of
perceiving different societies and cultures from an
ethno-centric perspective, the effort to understand
them within their own sphere of culture should be
brought into the forefront, which will no doubt
be the most important point of reference. Thus,
it will become more probable for international
broadcasting to put an important function like
inter-cultural dialogue into practice at an optimum
level.
ENDNOTES
1 Monroe Price (2003). Public Diplomacy and the
Transformation of International Broadcasting. Cardozo Arts
and Entertainment Law Journal. 21 (1). S. 53.
2 Carola Richter (2008). International Broadcasting and
Intercultural Dialogue: Deutsche Welle in theArab World.
Arab Media & Society. S. 1-2.
3A.g.e.
4 Nicholas J. Cull (2008). Public Diplomacy: Taxonomies and
Histories. Annals of the American Academy of Political and
Social Science, Vol. 616, Public Diplomacy in a Changing
World. S. 31-32.
19
R A DYOviz yon
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT IN INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING AS A STRATEGIC FIELD
Assist. Prof. Enes Bal
T
he invention and spread of mass communication
tools brought along various changes and
innovations. With the addition of modern
communication technologies to existing traditional
ones like newspapers, radios and televisions, mass
communication occupied most of our lives. Also,
the arrival of the globalization phenomenon in
the second half of the previous century, political,
economic and cultural interaction between
governments gained momentum. The interaction
of world societies helped the spread of information
and made information exchange inevitable.
With mind boggling changes in the field of
communication and the concept of globalization,
the spread of information and news became the
biggest power in the world.
Realizing the potential of this power, the states
moved their mass communication activities
beyond borders and engaged in a bigger
competition to be more effective in this field. In
historical retrospect, we can see that especially
during World War II, radio was used as a political
propaganda tool. Developed nations on each
side of the war attached great importance
to international broadcasts as much as they
did to domestic broadcasts. They considered
international broadcasts as a diplomatic weapon
to make themselves heard abroad. After the war,
in the Cold War period, just like radio, television
became a strong propaganda tool in international
broadcasting. In today’s globalized world, internet,
satellite and mobile technologies have joined the
traditional mass communication tools to make
it only more diversified and more complicated.
All developed and developing countries now
continuously increase their investments in
international communication for a new discourse,
identity or a strong image more than pure
propaganda.
External broadcasting has two arms, one is
broadcasting in the native language to remind
expats in foreign countries about their roots and
to hold their connection to motherland alive; the
second arm is broadcasting in various languages
to create a public opinion in other countries and
to promote the broadcasting country. External
broadcasts in the first group target expat citizens
20
living in foreign countries. Providing this target
audience with the right information and news
flow directly and keeping their connection
with the motherland is the basic goal of an
international broadcaster. Besides, with culture,
arts and entertainment programs the broadcaster
aims to protect the cultural identity of its own
people. However, broadcasts in the second group
address foreign countries so the target audience is
the people of those countries. Basic goal of these
broadcasters is to directly express the political
discourse of home country, create an effective
public opinion and contribute to touristic activities
by promoting the home country. In this regard,
as important actors of the global scene, most
international broadcasters are proud to serve as
the “voice of their countries.”
Also relaying the true information in times of crisis,
compensating for lack of media production in
underdeveloped countries, representation and
expression of a certain culture and language,
promoting a social or political belief or ideology
are other goals of international broadcasting.
International broadcasts are key elements for
public diplomacy which requires a strategic
communication tone. In the public diplomacy
process, which is ever-increasingly becoming
important, international broadcasting has a huge
share in reaching out to the people of foreign
countries and creating a positive image in their
minds.
In achieving these goals, broadcast content, that
is the message, must be effectively constructed.
This is essential to broadcasting. Generally, external
broadcasts are state-run so they have to have a
parallel discourse to the political and diplomatic
approach of home countries. Even a single
word bears huge importance in international
broadcasting. Different definitions may lead to
huge crises among nations. For instance, an
international branch of TRT cannot define the
Greek Cypriot Sector as a “state” in its broadcasts.
It should be underlined once again that each
international broadcaster must give priority to
the interests of its home country and adopt a
broadcast policy of this nature.
RADYO v i z y o n
As is the case in all communication activities,
the message to be conveyed in international
broadcasts must not confuse the target audience
so it must be clear and easy to understand.
So the basic success formula of international
broadcasting is to convey the right coded
message from the source to the receiver in an
efficient channel and at the right time. A message
that is late, difficult to understand, without a
certain target audience, not fitting the outline
of the channel cannot be effective in any way.
Most of the time the target audience is not only
the expats so a global approach is necessary
in creating content. Therefore, another issue to
be underlined is that international broadcast
contents, which serve the mission of protecting
the country’s political, diplomatic and economic
interests, must be prepared by professionals that
are well-trained in communication, have a vision
and know the world very well.
Especially in recent years, we have witnessed that
TRT assumed a special task in the international arena
with its initiatives and investments as the public
broadcaster of our country. TRT radio stations and
TV channels can reach all continents of the world
through satellite and internet. In reaching citizens
living abroad, cognates and relative communities
and peoples of foreign countries in various
languages and dialects TRT external services
with the contribution of universities and NGOs
will assume a more effective position in public
diplomacy activities on behalf of our country.
PUBLIC VOICES BEYOND NATIONAL BORDERS
David Fernández Quijada
T
he international broadcasting services that were
active during the Cold War faced a challenge after
the fall of the Berlin wall. In many cases, the postCold War world caused an identity crisis for these
services as suddenly one of their main raisons
d’être simply disappeared. It took many years for
some of them to redefine their value propositions
while others are still struggling with it.
The future of international radio services, at least
for public organizations, is reliant on their mission
being clearly defined and properly fulfilled. In July
2015, the public radios that are part of the EBU
were offering 51 international radio services in
85 different languages. These were broadcast by
28 organizations. However, their aims were not
always identical.
Some of these broadcasters, such as the BBC, are
well-known throughout the world. According to
its Global Audience Measurement 2015, the BBC’s
radio services in 28 languages reach 133 million
people every week globally. Its example of soft
power, i.e. the cultural influence a country wields,
is followed by other public organizations such
as Germany’s Deutsche Welle broadcasting in 30
languages, or Radio France Internationale (RFI) in
12 languages.
Other public broadcasters based in countries
that want to raise their international profile have
already developed similar growth strategies taking
account of geo-political considerations. This is
the case for Russia with Radio Sputnik, the former
Voice of Russia that was relaunched in the late
2014 and broadcasts in 29 languages, the Voice
of Turkey Radio that broadcasts in 37 languages
including Turkish, or China Radio International,
which is available in many European countries on
medium wave.
Besides this traditional soft power approach, other
broadcasters have opted to either totally revamp
their key distribution platforms or their mission, to
the extent that they can probably no longer even
be considered broadcasters.
A good example of the former is Swissinfo, the
internet-only international service and one of the
five business units of SRG SSR, the Swiss public
broadcaster. From 1999 when it launched its first
website to 2004 when it shut down its broadcast
transmissions, the company underwent a major
strategic transformation in terms of distribution
platform although keeping its same target
audience, Swiss expatriates. This was also reflected
in the company’s name change from the previous
Swiss Radio International.
The latter is exemplified by the Dutch RNW
Media. Although it honours its predecessor
Radio Netherlands Worldwide in its name, RNW
21
R A DYOviz yon
Media only distributes its content on new media
platforms. And its mission has changed from
serving Dutch expatriates and connecting them
to their homeland, to promoting free speech and
independent journalism, targeting young people
and empowering them with new media tools.
So, the traditional concept of soft power is useful
in defining the work of some of these broadcasters
but the concept itself goes beyond the traditional
political and news sphere. This means broadening
the scope to the cultural sphere, for example
through the promotion of national music such
as RFI Musique does, the widespread use of such
services to teach foreigners the language, or Radio
Vaticana’s services targeting Christian communities
throughout the globe.
However, not all of them are built around soft
power but are focused on compatriots living
abroad, broadcasting in the national language and
directly linking the service to their public service
remit. This is the case of MR Sat in the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Voice of
Greece, the Portuguese RDP Internacional or Radio
România International 2 (RRI 2) - România în Direct.
In other cases, the aim is a domestic international
audience, namely targeting recent migrants and
helping to assist them in their integration process.
For these broadcasters, this also implies creating
a language balance between the need to reach
these migrants, who in many cases do not speak
the local language, with the migrants’ need to
learn the local language as a way to fit in with their
new community. As a result, Reshet Qlitat Aliya in
Israel broadcasts in Hebrew and in 14 additional
languages while Radio Sweden P6 89.6 combines
Swedish with 10 different languages, including
some originally spoken a very long way from
Sweden, such as Persian or Somali.
As if it were not enough to redefine a mission in
times of change, technological developments and
pressure on these broadcasters’ funding also raise
questions for the future of public voices beyond
national boundaries.
RADIO IN 2020: DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA
Vijay Sadhu
T
here are several factors that media professionals
have to consider when looking at the future of
radio broadcasting. These include the future of
the traditional radio broadcasting and services; the
continuing engagement between the new media
services and radio services; the impact of new and
evolving technology on radio and consequent
changes that this will bring about, and the evolution
that the traditional broadcasters will bring about on
their own and enhance their services.
Digital Brings in a “New Wave”
To express the dynamic changes that technology
has enabled in the broadcasting media space,
a new expression has been coined, the “Digital
Wave”. The Digital Wave is a bookmark that
prompts broadcasters to think out of the box so as
to position to meet the challenges of the future in
a sustainable way.
The momentum of change in the broadcasting
industry is accelerating. New technologies, and
22
the services such technologies can provide,
are emerging in quick succession. While these
technologies often lure new players to enter the
media market space and pose new competition
to the existing players, these technologies also
provide forward looking broadcasters with new
pathways to enhance their services to their
audiences.
Grappling with the Social Media
Social media are virtually omnipresent. Everything
event that carries a message is reflected on the
social media networks. These networks provide
immediacy in conveying the messages the
huge number of networked participants. The
social media networks are thus a highly efficient
platform for conveying content, something which
was totally in the domain of the broadcasters for
almost a century. The issue is not whether radio
broadcasters should stay away from this media
revolution, the crucial issue is how best to make the
use of this tremendous opportunity to reach our
RADYO v i z y o n
audiences. And what are the potential challenges
and opportunities of radio programming for the
social networks and how to integrate it with other
media on these platforms?
Quality Enhancement needed to keep Radio
moving
Many exciting developments in content creation
are taking radio content to a higher level. The
very prospect of providing exciting content to
audiences is actually quite significant. Leading
broadcasters believe that evolution of digital
radio keeps the radio industry moving. It should
be an avid objective of broadcasters to offer aural
content of things that people cannot otherwise
hear. As a case in point is the high quality multichannel rendition of audio concerts and such
events, offering a deep sense of reality.
Digital Radio is Pervasive
Digital radio is a tool in radio’s strategy to remain
relevant in this converged multi-media world.
When will analogue radio be completely turned
off? This is again country and region specific and is
difficult to predict. Digital radio is more spectrum
efficient and cheaper and greener and it is then
the future. But streaming and converged content
on mobile devices will also grow rapidly into the
future.
Smart Apps- A Powerful Pull
A major development for the content delivery
industry is the appearance of the Smart Apps.
The Apps are a great way to receive and view
multimedia content on smart devices and hybrid
radio. It is certain that use of Smart Apps will
have a profound impact on the usage of content.
Actually, Smart Apps “capture” programming
content either as single piece of content or a
channel offering.
For radio stations to make the most of internet
applications, they need to be integrated into the
radio deliverable, which in turn would help attract
new listeners. On air promotion of the applications
is also the key to their success.
Power of Connected Radio
Connected radio represents the success in
harmonization of broadcasting and Internet. It
provides specific information that enriches sports
and other content. While setting up a business
case, value needs to be placed on new genres of
content experience and its monetisation.
Radio is Everywhere, Connects People
Radio is all over the place, in cars, stores, the
workplace, online - no matter where you are, you
hear content being broadcast on AM and FM
waves. Given the powerful competing platforms
of multimedia content, why does this century old
medium exist anymore? Simply because radio offers
so much more than just music, it is a theatre-of-themind, it involves people and radio connects people.
Even as compared to the online media, perceived
as providing access to vast audience, still radio
connects people with its wider network e.g. from
the local communities to national audiences and
internationally. Radio can be a direct link for men
and women to share information with others
in their own communities. Community radio is
an excellent case in point. It can also help them
build bridges to connect with those in other
communities.
Engaging the Youth
Young people have a lot to think about, but not
enough outlets to speak about their challenges,
to voice their concerns, or to share their triumphs.
They need the opportunity to tell their own stories
and to learn from the stories of others. Community
radio production and broadcasts provide such a
space. Radio professionals fear that the young are
moving away from traditional radio to new media
and screens.
Community Radio is part of the future
Looking ahead, community radio sector of
broadcasting represents an area of the dynamic
future, in which contributions will be made
both by community content producers and in
the messages they share with their community
and audiences next door. This could be a
perfect example of community journalism
by the people and for themselves. And this
requires no sophisticated technology. Local
community radio essentially has the attributes
of a community owned and community
participation venture.
Radio and the World’s Critical Issues
Raising awareness of climate change and
environmental issues has emerged as a new
23
R A DYOviz yon
challenge for radio broadcasters. Green Radio, as
radio programming on environmental awareness
and its protection is called, is the current focus
of radio broadcasts. Climate change is a global
issue and everybody on this planet shares the
responsibility. Radio, as a mass medium, has a
unique position to lead the people on global
warming issues.
Future of Radio Content: Telling a Story
As radio broadcasting continues to evolve and
develop, one of the approaches is the creation
of ever greater numbers of options for listeners.
Experience all around the world shows that
audience does not really mind which platform
it accesses content from. Consumers who have
ever greater choice need to be “grabbed” by the
content otherwise they will just hit the button and
jump to other platforms.
Radio is all about telling a story. The fundamental
concept for new media is the same, but now we
are creating content with our audiences, not just
pushing content out at them.
Conclusion
We are in the throes of a digital revolution - a brave
new world for content producers and consumers
alike and a daunting challenge for the traditional
gatekeepers of programming. In the new world
order, empowered viewers can now decide how,
when and where they will be informed and
entertained. Who wins and who loses? It is to be
seen how well broadcasters can successfully adopt
new media strategies.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s views and do not
represent the views of the organization which she works for.
RADIO IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE WORLD!
Ruxandra Obreja
D
espite all the occasional comments to the contrary,
figures from advanced media markets point to
the increasing popularity of radio, due to its wellknown attributes: universality, mobility, intimacy
and, lately, also due to the introduction of digital.
Terrestrial broadcast delivery is the only free-toair and cost-effective method for truly mobile
reception, particularly in cars. And terrestrial radio
is holding its own in a fragmented world. Radio
remains the best medium for live relaying of news
and information at home or abroad. International
broadcasting seemed to be consigned to another
age together with the Cold War and the image
of populations as stable within borders and
rather passive. The technological explosion and a
fractious world have changed the media landscape
totally but the task of international broadcasting
has remained the same: to reach target audiences
effectively.
This implies two aspects: one is to do with defining
the target and another one with the technologies.
Each international broadcaster will identify the
first task, will reassess its priorities. Recently, at IBC,
24
Fran Unsworth, Director of World Service Group,
saw the main challenges for the international
services linked to remaining prominent as new
media explodes in size and diversity around us,
“Making sure we are listened to by citizens – by
ordinary people – who live in places where their
governments block us or try and restrict our output.
We call ourselves a public service broadcaster, and
the key word there is “service”. We want to serve
our audiences, even when –particularly when–
their governments want to control information”
Fran Unsworth adds to this being nimble
technologically: “when our audiences find new
ways of listening or watching or reading, we want
to make sure we are on whatever platform they use”.
The internet and mobiles are on every international
broadcaster’s lips with one in every three people
on the planet having a smart-phone –two-anda-half billion people. “Many people use smartphones instead of a tablet or a laptop as their
primary way of connecting to the internet. Already,
over half of the direct visitors to our World Service
websites each week get there from their phones.”
RADYO v i z y o n
So how about the traditional platforms like radio
and TV. Ms Unsworth was assuring her audience
at IBC that: “What we are also mindful of is that
traditional ways of broadcasting are not dead.
It’s always tempting to think the new will push
out the fuddy-duddy old. But people also like
the way they’ve done things. A friend of mine
characteristics: 3-4 programmes on one frequency
(as used for analogue and no big blocs of spec
trum), excellent audio, larger coverage area than
in analogue, multimedia features bringing internet
content, images, disaster warning and traffic
information through the medium of radio.
But if radio has great attributes, it also needs
So if some of your listeners just remember your
grandmother’s old radio, digital radio is very far
from the old crackly, “uncool” and antiquated AM
radio. The new digital version offers excellent
sound quality (FM quality over large areas) with
2-3 stations or programmes with different content
and in different languages simultaneously, where
there is now only one programme, one language
in analogue, or nothing at all at the moment. So
better audio and coverage, less spectrum and
energy costs.
changing and reinventing.
For example it has been reliably calculated that to
Any change is hard and change from analogue
cover an area of about 235.000 square kilometers
has just discovered this amazing reading device.
You can carry it around, and it works even when
there is no battery power. If you drop it in the
bath, it can still be used, just about. It is called a
book. So beware those who want to throw out
all we’ve come to trust. It is a question of balance
and wise movement forward. Radio and TV are
still our biggest platforms, both in the UK and
internationally.”
to digital is painful; it also seems quite lengthy
and costly. While analogue is one of the technical
wonders of the 20th century, an excellent
achievement of the past 100 years, digital radio is
the future.
The multi-purpose digital content, practices and
experiences will by-pass analogue radio and
make it slowly die. Digital is driven by the need
to save energy costs and spectrum, while giving
more choice and, in the case of international
broadcasting, offering all listeners the same access
to information, education and entertainment,
or an area of about 600 kilometers in diameter you
would need 15 FM transmitters of 1 0kW pumping
in the air one single programme. A DRM medium
wave transmitter with the same installed power
(100 kW), a transmitter not dissimilar to the ones
that TRT has, is emanating into the atmosphere a
power of only 40 KW. This one efficient transmitter
would do the same job as the 15 FM transmitters
and offer the same coverage with the same audio
quality, if not better, with about one third of the
power. So we consume 50 kW and broadcast
three programmes covering about a quarter of a
whether they are in İstanbul, Kabul or southern
Italy.
Digital Radio Mondiale
In the late 90s international broadcasters, aware
that FM was offering a better audio experience
which was taking people away for shortwave
and medium wave, invented the digital variant
of the analogue radio standard. It was called
DRM (for bands below 30MHz it was DRM30). A
couple of years later the FM version (but really the
version for band I, II and III was invented and also
recommended by ITU in 2011 under the name
of DRM+). DRM30 and DRM+ are the “daughters”
So if some of your
listeners just remember
your grandmother’s
old radio, digital radio
is very far from the old
crackly, “uncool” and
antiquated AM radio.
of the only global, open, all frequency bands
standard: DRM. As such they share a lot of the main
25
R A DYOviz yon
million square kilometers instead of using 15 FM
transmitters, consuming 250kW and broadcasting
Digital radio is real
and available to reach
those target audiences,
no matter how near or far,
effectively.
one single programme or channel. Moreover,
many of the shortwave and medium wave DRM
transmitters delivering this excellent service have
been already acquired or are being acquired by
countries as diverse as India, Botswana, Saudi
Arabia, Morocco, Pakistan etc.
Digital Radio Mondiale Revives International
Broadcasting
In a troubled world international broadcasting
not reduce their services. India, China, South
is needed also because the distinction between
Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan and Japan
national and international is becoming so
replaced part of their infrastructure in the past 10
blurred. The people are on the move, due to
years and continue to do so. Indonesia, Vietnam,
the demands of the global economy, tourism
Pakistan, Bangladesh are starting to get their
or global crises. Where does national stop and
head around digital, with a particular interest
international start?
in DRM and what it can offer. They have legacy
So
in
this
changing
world,
international
broadcasting seems to be needed as much, if not
more, than ever. But the audiences’ profile has
changed, their media usage is different. What has
stayed the same, if not increased, is the listeners’
demand for instant both local and international
news. This places great demand on the trusted
one-to-all broadcasting via radio and TV in digital
formats.
Broadcasting in digital is complex and involves
more than just transmitters and energy. Digital
(and therefore DRM) is the great unifier of all
good content produced for different channels
domestically or internationally, for broadcast or
online with the sound quality that is the same
whether listened at home, on the go, on a tablet
or on the phone. DRM is the only digital standard
that can offer a uniformly clear sound in the
medium, short wave (and VHF or FM too). So let
and are looking at using it for domestic and
international audiences. Colleagues in Brazil
recently noticed and recorded loud and clear
international DRM transmissions from Radio New
Zealand International, from All India Radio and
even China. On a canal in Amsterdam I listened
to a commentary on a Chelsea match coming
form the World Service sports programme
broadcast from the UK to Europe (for the
duration of IBC). The reception was on a newly
available commercial DRM SW and MW receiver.
The sound was clear; the football results were
running on the screen. Imagine the screen as a
place to offer pictures, English lessons, health
information, pop-star images, email addresses.
Digital radio is real and available to reach those
target audiences, no matter how near or far,
effectively.
us just talk about digital radio or smart radio for
Sometimes
clever people!
dangerous or distressing conditions do not have
International Broadcasting Has Maintained Its
Role
international
audiences
in
internet or broadband or even electricity to turn
on the TV or put on the light in the evening.
International
broadcasters,
humanitarian
As radio has such a long history the reality is
organizations could reach these people through
that, while traditional analogue short wave
digital radio (battery or solar-powered), could
and medium wave transmissions have lost
link them to the world of internet, give them a
attractiveness in well developed areas of Europe
chance to survive and also connect to the 21st
century and be part of it.
and North America, many countries in Asia did
26
shortwave and medium wave infrastructure
RADYO v i z y o n
Technology, Content And Partnerships
In the words of Fran Unsworth of the BBC: “Our
are the Key
mission continues to be to provide straight
In technology we often and too liberally mention
information that can be trusted to people around
“crossroads”. But this might be the moment when
the world. It is a great liberal aim in the best sense,
international broadcasting has a chance, through
a public service. In our exciting, changing world, I
DRM, to do what it has always done best: being
think this mission is even more important. We face
innovative, exploring new devices, improvising,
challenges of course. But our aims will continue
using technology to overcome obstacles of
undiluted and with great determination and, I
distance, topography and sometimes the barriers
like to think, with some intelligence and wisdom-
imposed because of other, political considerations.
making use of technology to serve our audiences.
Technology
international
Technology has changed a lot since I started in
broadcasting uniting partners for the same goal:
local radio, but our commitment to serve our
serving audiences in a relevant way.
audiences remains unchanged.”
only
enables
AIR WARS
Markos Kounalakis
C
hina and Russia are fighting a heated war with
of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio
the United States. It is an intense battle of words
Marti, Radio Free Asia and others is now being
and ideas fought between state-sponsored
challenged by growing competition in the struggle
broadcasters, on the airwaves and online.
to dominate global news narratives.
In 2011, the then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
In Britain, the BBC and its World Service has been
Clinton said straightforwardly that the U.S. is
cutting back and is under growing budgetary
“engaged in an information war.” She concluded
pressure. In the U.S., lawmakers argue that the
her analysis to the Senate Committee on Foreign
organizations
Relations by saying that in the fight against
taxpayer dollars, and managed by a relatively
emerging international broadcasters, “we are
independent and sometimes feckless Broadcasting
losing that war.”
Board of Governors, have been unable to keep up
As Clinton knows, the rules of engagement have
with the times or meet post-Cold War challenges.
changed with new information technology and
This shift occurs at the same time that traditional
in the new information ecology. During the Cold
market-based media properties –newspapers and
War –pre-Internet, of course– American and
magazines, primarily– are experiencing a business
allied broadcasters used antenna-based systems
model collapse. Their foreign correspondents
that allowed Western news and entertainment
and bureaus are now mostly part of a quaint and
programming to cross the Iron Curtain and get
romantic recent past.
beyond authoritarian state borders.
Partly in reaction to the dynamic shift in global
The general consensus is that the steady drumbeat
newsgathering and distribution systems, the
of credible Western broadcast news critical of the
chairman of the House Committee on Foreign
communist regimes during the Cold War helped
Affairs, California Republican Ed Royce and ranking
bring about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the
committee Democrat Eliot Engel of New York, co-
dissolution of the Soviet Union. But the impact
sponsored a bill to harness American international
underwritten
with
American
27
R A DYOviz yon
American leaders fear that the growth of
Unlike in the past, a more
globally interconnected
public raises the question
of whether Al-Jazeera or
Voice of America is a better
source for news regarding
Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iraq
and Afghanistan.
international broadcasters mainly from Russia
and China – although there are a few others, like
Iran and Qatar – are battling for a portion of the
ideological high ground. They sense that these
new global news networks aim to instill their
values, interests and preferred policy narratives
to a more susceptible global audience. Western
policymakers see a troubling trend with global
public attitudes slowly shifting and people aligning
with competing systems and away from American
ideals and values.
New broadcast entities with counter narratives are
not the main reason for any ideological shift away
broadcasting operations, dissolve the Broadcasting
from America: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Board of Governors, and make government-
and the global economic recession make up a big
sponsored news and information services more
part. It is not just who tells a story, or even how you
nimble, responsive and forward-leaning in their
tell a story. First and foremost, it is making sure you
offerings. They would like these resources to be
have a good story to tell, and America’s recent wars
more focused on “public diplomacy” and serve
were bad stories and worse realities.
America’s national goals abroad.
Regardless, at the same time as this public
“Unlike decades past, today’s media landscape is
realignment of attitudes and beliefs, there is also a
highly competitive. Other countries are sprinting
global move away from dependence on formerly
forward,” Royce said in his April 30 committee
dominant and traditionally trusted, authoritative
opening statement on the bipartisan International
Western news sources.
Communications Reform Act (H.R. 4490). “We’re still
Who are people going to trust?
standing still.”
public raises the question of whether Al-Jazeera
last month. Its goal is to create a “Freedom News
or Voice of America is a better source for news
Network” to counter contemporary challengers,
regarding Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan.
and to make sure that America’s perspective
They ask whether Russia Today, with its high
and foreign policy goals are more systematically
profile Web presence and competitive television
promoted and propagated. To date, and with
offerings, is presenting a more balanced story than
varying degrees of success, these U.S. broadcasting
Radio Free Europe about Ukraine, Poland, Hungary,
entities have operated independently and with
Slovakia and Bulgaria.
journalistic integrity.
28
Unlike in the past, a more globally interconnected
The bill passed unanimously out of committee
In every one of the countries listed above, the
The bill’s intent, according to Engel, is to make sure
United States is invested in material terms or
that American broadcasters remain trustworthy.
somehow militarily engaged. In none of the
“It’s absolutely critical that the news be accurate
countries was there a credible alternative global
and seen as credible by the foreign audiences
news source in existence a generation ago. In
we’re trying to reach,” Engel said at the House
the new communications world where news
hearing in April, and that they function “not simply
and information is loudly and sometimes credibly
as a mouthpiece for U.S. foreign policy.”
contested, who does one trust?
RADYO v i z y o n
Important and reliable commercial international
networks and their programming to gain a more
broadcasters like CNN have been mostly motivated
favorable view of its own culture, history, society,
by nothing other than expanded reach in order to
economic system and government leadership
sell more –and more expensive– advertising. State-
while having a profound impact on international
sponsored broadcasters, however, are engaged in
agendas and policies. This is called “soft power.”
financially unprofitable activities that range from
informing a distant diaspora to organizing dissent
and fueling, if not outright inciting, revolution.
Soft power + Hard power = Smart power
My work in the 1980s and 1990s at international
broadcasters, including Radio Sweden International
and Germany’s Deutsche Welle, exposed me to
how national foreign policy goals are pursued and
what is considered a return on state broadcast
If “hard power” is the traditional understanding of
boots on the ground, aircraft carriers at sea and B-2
bombers flying overhead to make other countries
do what you want them to do; then soft power
is that intangible ability to get other countries to
want what you want through persuasion. One is
coercive; the other is attractive. Together they are
a carrot-and-stick approach that has come to be
known as “smart power.”
investment. I also learned what was considered
Political leaders around the world are looking to
a bad investment. In one instance, I produced a
find that perfect combination of hard and soft
shortwave radio program that was hypercritical of
power to get their smart outcomes.
Swedish political practice and, as a result, a station
On the power spectrum, broadcasting and state-
director told me the Foreign Ministry heard it and
strongly disapproved. I got the message.
sponsored social media fall firmly on the soft
power end. The theory that some public diplomacy
The battle for the eyes and ears –and perhaps
practitioners push is that nations can use smart
a path to the hearts and minds of a nation–
power to avoid tough military or diplomatic
advanced on New Year’s Day 2013 when Al-Jazeera
confrontation.
was announced as the buyer of the Current TV
They believe that international cultural and
network. Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based network that
is at times derisively referred to as the al-Qaida
network because it received and aired Osama bin
Laden video messages, had been trying to break
into the American television market for years. The
educational exchange, language learning and big
broadcast networks are effective soft power tools.
In their worldview, if information is power, then the
smart use of information can be very powerful.
reported $500 million purchase of Current TV not
only made the owners, former U.S. Vice President
Al Gore and his colleagues, a little richer, it gave the
broadcast award-winning Al-Jazeera the coveted
American national distribution it long sought.
While money may appear to be no object for
the Qatari emir, the question that hangs in the
air is this: Why would anyone buy a moneybleeding enterprise like Current TV? Why, for
that matter, does any state broadcaster expend
billions of dollars annually to achieve a marginal
global viewership for programming that is often
considered by viewers to be flat-out propaganda?
On the power spectrum,
broadcasting and statesponsored social media fall
firmly on the soft power end.
The theory that some public
diplomacy practitioners push
is that nations can use smart
power to avoid tough military or
diplomatic confrontation.
Influence is key. A nation can deploy these
29
R A DYOviz yon
Al-Jazeera’s pursuit of a broader global audience
has a Moscow parallel, Russia Today, which is also
making a push to expand its network, programming
and distribution. A direct descendant of an earlier,
clunky Soviet propaganda service, the slicker
Russian international broadcaster has made huge
inroads with overseas audiences, in particular online.
Tune in to Russia Today and you can watch
conventional programs like “Larry King Now” or
“Venture Capital.” On some recent programming,
however, Russia Today’s party line bias was so
heavy-handed that it prompted one anchor to
resign on-air in protest over the Kremlin’s Ukraine
policy.
Melting media empires
Congress is taking baby steps
to catch up and harness the
public diplomacy power
of America’s international
broadcasters, but a future
where Western values and
interests predominate will also
depend greatly on the survival
and success of American
private journalistic institutions.
D.C.-based Liz Wahl went off script on the RTAmerica program, saying, “I cannot be part of
a network funded by the Russian government
that whitewashes the actions of Putin. I’m proud
production. As Orville Schell, director of the Center
to be an American and believe in disseminating
on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society, once
the truth, and that is why, after this newscast, I’m
put it: “While our media empires are melting away
resigning.” Another RT host, Abby Martin, strayed
like the Himalayan glaciers, China’s are expanding.”
from the party line, going rogue on-air by saying,
“Russian intervention in the Crimea is wrong.” Even
some Russian diplomats privately complain that
the channel’s over-the-top Kremlin favoritism is
counterproductive.
behemoth of China’s Xinhua and CCTV stands
alone. In fact, according to the Columbia Journalism
Review, the Chinese government has already “built
the world’s largest news organization” with a well-
Western politicians know there is one country in
funded effort estimated to be “19 times the annual
particular that has learned the lessons of a strong
budget of BBC.”
international broadcast presence: China.
30
For sheer size, ambition and growth, the combined
Congress is taking baby steps to catch up and
Chinese state policies are focused on growing
harness the public diplomacy power of America’s
the print, broadcast, Web and mobile networks of
international broadcasters, but a future where
state-run Xinhua news agency and China Central
Western values and interests predominate will
Television, CCTV. Beijing is fueling a dramatic
also depend greatly on the survival and success
increase in foreign corresponding bureaus,
of American private journalistic institutions. That
reporters, editors and broadcast stations, as well
outcome is far from assured. In the meantime,
as information gathering and dissemination
China and Russia are investing heavily to win the
infrastructure around the world. The investment
information war and they are doing it right in front
is leading to exponential growth of presence and
of our eyes.
RADYO v i z y o n
IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT IN INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
Barry Keohane
T
he one thing that successful Content Directors
commissioning some great research. If you’re a
around the world agree on is that content is
music station, you also need to invest in regular
king. No matter whether you’re in Australia, the
music tests and ongoing music studies. Small
UK, Europe or Asia, great content is the key to
focus groups are also a great way to identify bigger
building a successful station. With all the music
issues that you can then test with a larger sample.
and content options available to consumers,
2. Plan, communicate, execute
having a station that delivers great content 24/7
is critical to good audience share and increased
revenue.
Three simple words that I use with every station
I work with – plan, communicate, execute.
Through your research, build a plan. Successful
But the problem with some international radio
businesses always start with a great plan, and
stations, mainly in South East Asian countries,
radio is no different. Once you have built your
is they are spending way too much time and
plan, communicate it to all staff and get them to
money on digital and social media engagement
buy into it. Everyone on your team must know
without first building a great core radio product.
your plan and vision if they are going to be able
Over the last several years I ‘ve worked extensively
with a number of Asian radio stations – China,
Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Taiwan – and
to execute your plan. Like anything in radio, it all
comes down to execution.
3. Hire, coach and grow your talent
watched as they madly try and focus on social
The key to producing great content is having
media and digital, whilst producing poor content
great talent. Great breakfast and drive talent will
on their stations. The lesson here is simple – learn
make your station relevant, build loyalty with
to walk before you run.
your listeners and most importantly get your
In May 2015 I was invited to speak at the
RadioAsia conference in Myanmar on radio and
social media, and how radio stations can have it
all. A very broad topic, with a lot I could say in
just 15 minutes. The one thing I stressed during
station talked about.
This means identifying
talent and hiring them, then working with them
daily to help produce great content. As Content
Directors, you should be meeting with your key
talent daily. Products like Apple Music, Pandora,
Spotify etc. may be able to deliver music, but they
my presentation is to have it all, you need to get
can’t deliver local, relevant, entertaining content.
your core product right. Here’s a few key points
This is how your station will stand out from the
to help get you started, or back on track.
competition.
1. Research
4. Develop strong promotions and marketing
For any radio station to be successful, you need to
Now you have great research, a strong plan and
have great research. Does your station format fill
excellent talent, you need a creative promotions
a “hole” in the market? What content and music is
and marketing plan. This includes designing on-
your potential audience crying out for? Will your
air tactics that fit your station brand and image,
target demographic be attractive to potential
and a marketing campaign that targets your key
advertisers? What research can I put in place to
demographic. One thing my Chinese stations
monitor audience trends and behaviours? Having
did poorly was marketing. They looked for the
great content is about doing your homework and
cheapest option, and promoted a station feature
31
R A DYOviz yon
or tactic instead of the key talent. This was
you must not try to run unless you’ve mastered
because they didn’t have a clear marketing plan.
walking.
If you’re going to invest in marketing, get it right.
If you don’t invest wisely, you’ll find it hard to get
money again for future campaigns.
No matter which country you’re in, the benefit
of producing great content is that it will make it
easier to extend this content to other platforms
Developing a great radio station is not rocket
and help you better engage your audience on
science, but the trap content makers are falling
digital and social media.
into is they’re spending too much time on digital
As audiences change and Generation Y, Z and
and social media and ignoring the core business
the Millennials get older, their consumption of
of making great radio content. Don’t get me
content will continue to change. Even though
wrong, stations should have clear policies on
they may be listening to your station through
digital and social media platforms and must be
their mobile or tablet, radio will still play an
working to improve their audience engagement
important role in their lives, provided the content
in this space. But remember content is king, and
is unique, entertaining and relevant.
MEDIUM WITH A MESSAGE
"I
Hugo Pinto
knew a guitar player who called the radio ‘friendly’.
is a topic for debate (and that’s the case very
He felt a kinship not with the music so much as with
often), technology usually reins in. But if those
the radio’s voice. Its synthetic quality. Its voice as
in the media are very prone to welcome all new
distinct from the voices coming through it. Its ability
advances in technology and encourage its use,
to transmit the illusion of people at a great distance.
they rather seem less inclined to think about its
He slept with the radio. He believed in a Faraway
more profound implications. And I’m not talking
Radio Land. He believed he would never find this
about synergies, interactions, analytic tools or
land so he reconciled himself to listening to it only.
audience segmentation.
He believed he’d been banned from Radio Land and
was doomed to prowl the airwaves forever, seeking
some magic channel that would reinstate him to
his long-lost heritage.”
32
It’s a lesson we learnt a long time ago from
Marshall McLuhan: “The medium is the message”.
Or have we? Are we aware – or have we forgotten
– that the prophetic Canadian philosopher was,
Sam Shepard, “Motel Chronicles”
in fact, warning us against the threat of the
It was in 1979 that Sam Shepard wrote the short
technologies”? Is technology so pervasive and
story about the guitar player that “believed in
are we so immersed in it that we even forgot
a Faraway Radio Land”, but there’s something
it exists? In “The Shallows: What the Internet Is
timeless about it. It could have been written
Doing to Our Brains”, Nicholas Carr reminds us
50 years earlier, or it could have been written
that “media aren’t just channels of information”,
yesterday. There is something timeless about
for “they supply the stuff of thought, but they
Radio. It’s this enduring quality, I think, that
also shape the process of thought”. While the
keeps this medium alive. Maybe it’s “its synthetic
repercussions may run so deep that we are not
quality”. Its simplicity. “Voices coming through
equipped to fully understand what they are
it”. Maybe. Whenever the future of the media
and what they have done to us, we have some
“transformative power of new communication
RADYO v i z y o n
clues of what might be in store. Because of the
Internet, every broadcaster now has the chance
Nowadays, because
the audience has the
unprecedented power to be
heard, to be noticed, those
in charge of content are also
willing to go beyond simply
identifying what people
are listening, reading or
watching.
of a global audience.
Despite all the advantages, this great opportunity
also brings challenges. One might stand out: the
ability to save and maintain a distinct voice in a
multi-layered environment. So, instead of blindly
following the appeal of globalization and instead
of adjusting characteristics in a standardising
process, we should be concerned in finding
out ways to preserve specificities. We must not
forget: universality is not the same thing as being
the size of the universe, but rather a quality that
allows us to be consistent anywhere. And that
means that we should be true to ourselves. I
believe that the media has the responsibility of
promoting differences and dialogue between all
groups through mutual knowledge. These are
the true values of peace and understanding. Yes,
technology is in constant development, and, yes,
professionals must know how to use it in their
favour. However, it’s crucial that we never forget
that technology is a tool, not a purpose in itself.
It should be a means to an end. We must be able
to understand that it can be our servant so much
as our master.
the truth is that not everything that gathers
many “likes” or is retweeted hundreds of times
is important. This is one of the consequences of
the ever-growing immediate interaction, that
almost always is perceived as the necessity of
instant gratification.
No longer masters, we become slaves
Carr, again: “What both enthusiasts and skeptics
miss is what McLuhan saw: that in the long run a
medium’s content matters less than the medium
itself in influencing how we think and act. As our
Nowadays, because the audience has the
window onto the world, and onto ourselves, a
unprecedented power to be heard, to be noticed,
popular medium molds what we see and how
those in charge of content are also willing to
we see it – and eventually, if we use it enough,
go beyond simply identifying what people are
it changes who we are, as individuals and as a
listening, reading or watching. In many cases, the
society”.
producers are actually letting the public take over
and be responsible for the standards that guide
the medium – the information, the content. The
message. That’s what’s happening when people
in the media are constantly (pre)occupied trying
to figure out what the public wants.
Maybe we can do something about it. Maybe we
have a say. Maybe Radio is the medium that is the
most open to the message, to the information
–the content– it carries. Radio is a voice and what
could be more human than the human voice?
In this, I believe, lies one remarkable quality of
New media provides an immediate and
Radio: it’s a medium that liberates. It frees the
interactive platform. More than ever before,
body (you can do anything while listening to
there are multiple analytic tools that can
the radio), and it frees the mind. Radio is like a
help
audience’s
friend (imaginary or real), that you listen to with
characteristics with great detail. But one of
your eyes closed. You don’t see this friend, but
the dangers of allowing data analysis drive our
you can feel him. You can listen. He better has a
content is that it make us rely on quantity. And
message..
broadcasters
identify
the
33
R A DYOviz yon
A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED
Graham Ellis
O
nce
upon
a
time
defining
international
broadcasting was easy. It was the Voice of America,
the BBC World Service, Radio Moscow and others
whose shortwave radio signals spanned the world
- informing, entertaining and subtly influencing
countless millions on near and distant shores.
The international triumph of the Turkish television
genre is now sometimes described as soft power.
And it is. It has strengthened cultural ties with
other countries, particularly in the Arab world, and
it has boosted tourism to Turkey itself. Like more
It was an exclusive club with high financial and
conventional forms of soft power, it has also been
technological barriers to entry in which the big
denounced or banned by those who dislike or fear
powers used radio, and later television, as an
the influence of what is portrayed.
extension of foreign policy in the media space some impartial voices, others less so, but ultimately
all supported out of self-interest.
As for the internet, that is like a Wednesday market,
a chaotic place where myriad organisations, big
and small, clamour for the attention of viewers
In times of war international broadcasting became
and listeners paying little attention to international
a weapon, cheaper than arms and arguably more
borders. Whereas once international broadcasting
effective. The Cold War was largely a war of words
was the preserve of the wealthy and powerful,
and brought to an end by words. Then we spoke
today literally anyone can be an international
of ‘propaganda’. Today we are more likely to call it
broadcaster.
‘soft power’.
The biggest media players on the internet, Google
And today the old certainties have gone forever.
and Apple for example, now dwarf international
There has been an explosive growth in the
broadcasters like the BBC in their scale and income.
number of international broadcasters as more and
The Swedish music streaming service, Spotify, is
more countries have recognised that international
said by Wikipedia to be available in more than 50
broadcasting, and particularly radio, is a cost
languages.
effective way to project influence, be it ideological,
cultural, linguistic or religious.
At the same time, satellite technology and
international media markets have revolutionised
the way we consume news and entertainment
made by other nations.
These are just a few of the new competitors for
international attention who have sprung up over
the past two decades. Others include political,
religious and single interest groups who have
recognised the internet’s potential as a space in
which to influence others and seek converts to
This is far from an English language phenomenon.
one cause or another.
Look at the success of Scandinavian television
This then is the globalised media landscape in
crime thrillers across Europe. Or the way popular
Turkish television drama, led by Gümüş, has
delighted countless millions across the Balkans,
North Africa and the Middle East.
34
culture, values and heritage.
which we must consider the future of international
broadcasting.
It is complicated and crowded
and will become more so. Within it the public
service broadcasters have a crucial role to play
You might argue that this is entertainment or
in protecting freedom of speech, informing
commerce, not international broadcasting and in
democratic decision making and providing a
one sense you would be right - but for audiences
life-line of editorially independent information to
the effect is similar because when we watch or
those communities where citizens are denied free
listen to programmes made by and for people
media. But if they are to do so they will need three
in other parts of the world it tells us about their
key attributes.
RADYO v i z y o n
The first is prominence. Broadcasters need to be
where the audience is and that is likely to mean
a combination of radio, television and online
distribution coupled to syndication by partners. It
is a strategy which has been successful for the BBC
which this year reached a record global audience
of 308 million and for the first time television
overtook radio as the most popular platform for
BBC international news. But prominence is nothing
without attractive, relevant content. Viewers and
listeners have more choice than ever before.
Understanding their aspirations and interests is
the key to providing services of information and
entertainment which will command loyalty. That
Finally, and most importantly, there is trust. There
are now so many sources of information available
that consumers have a choice between following
services which reinforce their own views or
prejudices, or selecting services which provide
editorially independent and objective information.
The greater their need for reliable information, the
more audiences will seek out services they feel
they can trust.
We know in our own lives that there are fair
weather friends who will tell us what we want
to hear, particularly about ourselves. But it is the
true friend who tells us the truth even when it is
painful.
So it is with international broadcasting.
in turn requires sufficient and stable funding.
AUDIO – THE FUTURE OF RADIO
Çağda Yıldız
U
nlike newspapers and TV, radio has, up until now,
media for news consumption are television,
had the luxury of being mostly unaffected by
followed, not by radio, but by online and social
the advent of online media. But having grown
media.
complacent with age, it is now under siege from
Radio continues to be successful in some markets
newcomers who are changing what listeners
expect as well as how and what content is
- either highly developed ones, such as Germany
and the USA, or developing countries, in regions
distributed. Some of DW’s strategic considerations
like Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, the situation is
outlined in the following paragraphs suggest that
deceptive. While African radio broadcasts make
while there is no reason to panic, there is great
up a disproportionate chunk of DW’s overall reach,
reason to change: any modern radio strategy has
the numbers have started to drop in recent years.
to cease to be exclusively a strategy for radio.
As for developed markets, much of the popularity
of radio is due to one important bastion: the car,
While in the first two decades of DW’s history all
of its broadcast languages used to rely on radio
for radio’s primetime is the drivetime.
as a means of reaching audiences, the number
This is the luxury that radio has come to enjoy: it only
of languages that still produce radio content has
thrives where it has little competition from other
dwindled, and there are none which produce
media. Listeners in developing countries use radio
radio
broadcasting, which DW, like the BBC, did not take
in the absence of other means of information, just
as drivers cannot watch TV or read the newspaper.
up until the early 1990s, has now outstripped radio
But even the car is now being connected to the
distribution. For when a region reaches a certain
digital world as services like Apple’s CarPlay and
content
exclusively.
International
TV
level of affluence, radio audiences tend to become
Google’s Android Auto prepare to capture the last
TV audiences or, more recently, online audiences
radio-only zone.
- especially when it comes to news. While many
Of course, in the past, each of the aforementioned
countries in Asia and the Middle East once sported
media has burst into clamorous prophecies of
doom in the face of newcomers. But radio has
strong radio markets, today the most influential
35
R A DYOviz yon
for instance, an online service that until recently
focussed on streaming music, has struck deals with
The distinction between
radio and audio triggers two
questions - how to deliver
content, and what content to
deliver. With respect to the
first one: while it took digital
audio content longer to
become successful than online
videos or online articles, such
success is not unheard of.
news providers such as the BBC and Vice News.
In terms of forms of audio content, podcasts are
the most interesting for international broadcasters.
They are digital products that seek to inform,
educate and entertain by means of the spoken
word. Only last year, the podcast Serial made
headlines when it surpassed 40 million downloads
within a few weeks and spurred a great deal of
online and social media buzz.
This American Life, another podcast, has penetrated
American popular culture as much as radio talk
shows had in the past. In addition, such shows
can be broadcast or made available for download,
increasing the potential audience of audio. Shows
of this kind should be particularly appealing to
not signaled the end of newspapers; TV has
international broadcasters focusing on news
not signaled the end of radio. Even after the
and information because they are longform,
entry of new forms of communication, there is
investigative reports – and although such content
often a market for the established ones, though
is conspicuously missing from the repertoire of
admittedly a different one - an insight that
most broadcasters, their success is better news
Wolfgang Riepl hinted at as early as 1912. But
than the many claims that the "old" broadcast
more to the point, the online-challenge differs
radio is still alive and well: it basically means that
in one crucial respect from, say, the TV challenge
there continues to be a market for audio content
that radio faced in the middle of the 20th century:
with a focus on news and information.
while radio, TV and newspapers each stand for
But this is where the second question arises: what
a particular human activity –namely listening,
watching or reading– online combines all three.
This is not a breathtaking insight, but important
nonetheless. Radio may be besieged by online but audio is not. This is the core idea on which DW
develops its radio, or more accurately, its audio
strategies for most of its 30 languages.
problem of radio: in its complacency, it has become
stale. It relies too heavily on soothing voices and a
conviction that radio is "more respectable" than TV.
But rare is the radio station that has the variety of
content that many TV stations offer, let alone that
of the internet.
The distinction between radio and audio triggers
two questions - how to deliver content, and
what content to deliver. With respect to the first
one: while it took digital audio content longer to
become successful than online videos or online
articles, such success is not unheard of.
Podcasts clearly differ greatly from formatted radio,
treating a greater diversity of topics in a decidedly
more longform and monothematic way. It will be
a challenge to use the synergies between radio
and digital audios, such as podcasts. But it will be
an even greater one to bring radio up to scratch,
On the other hand, audio platforms not previously
for Serial and This American Life are not successful
associated
because they are podcasts, but because they bring
with
information
content
are
scrambling to diversify their portfolios. Spotify,
36
do you deliver? The question indicates the wider
great stories to their listeners.
RADYO v i z y o n
THE RISE & RISE OF RADIO IN ASIA
Rob Graham
O
ver the last 10 years, radio in Asia has undergone
along came the Apple iPod as well as various
an incredible transformation. It wasn’t very long
mp3 players. Then there were iPods built into
ago that in many countries across Asia, particularly
phones. All of a sudden we were experiencing
those with authoritarian governments, that
a music revolution. People were rediscovering
radio was used purely as a tool for political
music again and consuming it in ways not even
propaganda. In many countries, every morning at
imagined five years before.
6am, government radio would be “blasted” out of
roadside public address speakers, espousing the
day’s daily dose of dogma.
All of this music consumption made people
appreciate music more, and we were constantly
being sold new ways to enjoy this onslaught of
It’s fair to say that radio wasn’t seen as a very
music. Everyone become music aficionados!
glamorous medium in many Asian countries.
Then, one day, Steve Jobs and Apple launched an
From an advertiser’s perspective, it was also seen
iPod that had one interesting feature on it – the
as a medium for poor and rural-based consumers
Shuffle. With the slide of switch, you could throw
and therefore wasn’t an attractive nor effective
predictability out the window and have no idea
way to promote brands to potential consumers.
which song would next play out on your device.
It was unlikely that a rice farmer from Danang in
Of course, the original “shuffler” of music was the
Vietnam would be interested in applying for a Visa
radio station’s music scheduler and radio itself.
credit card. But then something happened. The
The randomness of radio schedulers combined
Internet happened, and media experts all over
with the curation and trusted filter of the music
the world predicted it would kill off radio once
director made radio what it is – irreplaceable. The
and for all. There was a sense of déjà vu to this line
very fact that we don’t have any idea which song
of thinking. Decades earlier, the advent of the VCR
will be played next is why we love radio.
to the family home was touted to bring with it the
death of cinema. Why would you bother going
Here’s why:
out to see a movie when you could watch one in
• We love a great song when we hear it
the comfort of your own home? In fact, cinema
unexpectedly. It’s so much better than when
attendances have grown worldwide every year
you know it is about to be played. That’s why
since the invention of the VCR. Perhaps people
exception motion picture soundtracks are, well,
realized that nothing could beat the experience
exceptional.
of the watching a movie on the big screen. As
with cinema and the VCR, many media expects
foresaw the death of radio due to the Internet,
particularly in Asia. And once again, the opposite
occurred.
• Nothing will ever replace the art of curating a
radio station.
• An algorithm will never be able to predict a
Number One hit song.
In fact, radio consumption in Asia (and globally)
Regardless of whichever part of the world you are
has never been higher. The Internet simply
in, radio’s strengths are the same worldwide. Radio
became another method of distribution, just
is immediate. Radio is relevant. Radio is personal.
like another FM band. To the surprise of many,
Radio is a companion. And many advertisers forget
technology actually embraced radio. Mobile
that radio is the last free-to-air medium in the
phones were launched that acted not only a
world. It is because of these unique traits that radio
phones and cameras, but also as FM receivers. All
continues to grow and evolve. It has embraced
over Asia, people embraced this technology and
the Internet; it has not been killed-off by it. It has
as a result, radio was virtually rediscovered. Then
embraced technology; it has not been replaced by
37
R A DYOviz yon
it. Most importantly, it is still as relevant as ever to
for the ad agencies of Asia. But even better news for
people’s lives. Getting back to Asia, radio’s resurgence
companies like mine who syndicate programming
has been amplified by the points I outlined at
across Asia.
the beginning of this piece. Radio was seen as
The company I founded, EON Media Group
of Singapore, is the first producer of locally
syndicated radio programming across Asia. Our
flagship programme, Asia Pop 40, would not
have been possible without the advent of the
Internet and the subsequent radio revolution that
it brought with it.
pretty ordinary: as a government propaganda
tool or as the medium of your grandparents.
But as governments relaxed rules pertaining to
broadcasting couple with then onslaught of
technology amongst younger listeners, radio once
again found its feet and a brand new audience. In
India today, amongst urban dwellers aged under
30, at least 50% of people listen to radio daily on
their mobile device. And this is not a streaming
service... I am referring to curated terrestrial radio.
Brand and advertising agencies are once again
embracing radio. It is regarded as a medium that
can reach huge audiences, in an extremely cost
effective and highly-targeted manner, and studies
Across Asia, the acceptance of music from other
markets and cultures has been accelerated by the
Internet –there is absolutely no doubt in my mind
about this– and as a result, our audiences across
Asia have embraced music and programming
from not just all over the world, but more
importantly, from all over Asia.
messages are significantly more likely to be retained
Radio is not becoming extinct.
Radio has evolved.
Radio rocks.
and recalled by respondents. All this is great news
…end//
show that when used with other media, advertising
INTERNATIONAL RADIO BROADCASTING
Pınar Şenel
T
urkey faced a new foreign policy problem
when the French mandate ended in Hatay on
September 9, 1936 and the administration was
handed over to Syria. In the face of the possibility
of losing Hatay, state radio functioned as a tool to
declare Turkey’s views to the world.
On January 8, 1937, in a 15 minute long interview
that started at exactly 19:50, Prime Minister İsmet
İnönü talked about Hatay issue in Arabic. The
broadcast could be listened to from Syria and
Hatay and it was seen as a turning point in Turkish
international broadcasting history.
Arabic broadcasts were also launched at İstanbul
Radio the following day. The first Arabic news
bulletin was presented one week later on January
17, 1937. It was followed by a 15 minute long news
program called “Havadis.” İstanbul and Ankara
radios could be clearly listened to from Hatay, Syria,
Iraq and Egypt. These broadcasts ceased on June
38
29, 1939, when Hatay became a part of Turkey. In
that period of time, these broadcasts served as a
ground for reaction against French colonialism
and they served a role in reconciliation between
Turkey and Syria. It was so useful that the French
administration tried to ban the radio for it created
a positive atmosphere on behalf of Turkey.
Construction of Ankara Radio transmitters began in
July 1937 and they became operational on October
28, 1938. Only 13 days later, the first external
broadcast to be made with the new transmitters
announced the news of Atatürk’s demise in English,
French, Arabic, Bulgarian and Italian.
“President Atatürk’s health condition increasingly
worsened after 24:00 last night, and our great leader
passed away today, on November 10, 1938 Thursday
at five past nine in the morning.”
Test broadcasts became regular after November
10, and by many this date is considered as a
RADYO v i z y o n
turning point in Turkish external broadcasting.
However, research of Prof. Sezer Akarcalı on the
matter points to broadcasts made on the Hatay
issue as the real launch date:
“(…) If international broadcasting is broadcasting in
more than one language using shortwave transmitter
antennas, November 10, 1938 is an important
and comprehensive beginning. However, the
international broadcasting that started on January
8, 1937 in a foreign language –that is Arabic, is truly
an international broadcasting action that complies
with all the features of international broadcasting for
it was planned in line with international broadcasting
goals; for it used propaganda elements; and for being
systematic and continuing until getting results.” 1
Propaganda wars
First shortwave broadcasts totally aimed at foreign
countries were made in 1939. On May 6, 1939
President İsmet İnönü spoke in English in Ankara
Radio’s shortwave broadcast targeting the USA.
The world was on the brink of a new war and
Turkey needed to reach her voice to the other side
of the Atlantic.
Throughout World War II, there was propaganda
on world radios. The reliable news source was the
station of the country that was not a side in the
war. Ahmet Emin Yalman wrote “There couldn’t be
any better place than Turkey to watch this tragedy
(war)2 It’s a fun fact that foreign correspondents
used Ankara Radio studios to break the news to
their countries.
In 1941, Turkey increased the number of foreign
language broadcasts; Urdu, Persian, Serbian and
Croatian were added to the list. One year later,
Greek was added. Broadcast times in foreign
languages were between 15-30 minutes. External
Services did not produce programs other than
news, so the shortwave broadcasts were the same
as domestic broadcasts.
Throughout World War II, other western countries’
international broadcasts in Turkish, especially that
of Germany, were aimed at Turkey. Turkish people
listened to both these broadcasts and domestic
broadcasts that tried to balance them. During war
years, Turkey was one of the few countries, where
listening to foreign radio stations was not banned.
Yet, listeners were told to be skeptical about the
news and comments they heard on the radio…
The arrival of multi-party political life in Turkey in
1946 brought along restructuring in radio besides
other institutions. 1949 Law on General Directorate
of Press and Tourism added the touristic promotion
aspect to international broadcasting.
Law No. 359 that went into effect on May 1, 1964
gave the authority on foreign radio broadcasts
to Turkish Radio Television Corporation. TRT was
organized as an autonomous state economic
enterprise and a legal entity. Principle of impartial
broadcasting was voiced more strongly compared
to previous periods.
Next phase of external broadcasting focused on
the labor migration in 1961. Voice of Turkey Radio
turned into a legend for Turkish expats in foreign
lands.
Voice of Turkey Radio
First radio program targeting Turkish workers
in Germany was broadcast in 1963. Voice of
the Homeland was the first experience that
signaled external broadcasting could turn into
an organization on itself in the coming years.
External broadcasts were made under the name
Internet: New platform of External Services outside radio
In 1965, number of foreign
languages was 14; as of 2015 the
number is 41. Content of the radio
includes news programs, feature
programs focusing on political
developments, Turkish culture
and tourism; and now the newest
platform is internet.
Foreign language contents are offered on trtvotworld.com in;
English, French, German, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Azerbaijan
Turkish (in Latin and Arabic alphabets), Armenian, Bosnian, Romanian,
Bulgarian, Albanian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Hungarian,
Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar (in Latin and Cyrillic alphabets),
Turkmen (in Latin and Arabic alphabets) Uighur (in Latin, Arabic and
Cyrillic alphabets) Uzbek, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Urdu, Pashtu, Swahili,
Hausa, Dari, Afghan Uzbek, Malay, Portuguese and Japanese.
39
R A DYOviz yon
“Shortwave Ankara Radio”, but as of January 1963
it began to be called Voice of Turkey Radio.
Lazarsfeld, Berelson and Gaudet collaborated on a
research titled “The Effect of Radio”, which claimed
this tool gave listeners to experience ceremonial
events from afar and gave listeners a feeling of
intimacy and even an experience close to face
to face interaction.3 In the case of TRT Voice of
Turkey Radio, this effect is self evident in the bags
of letters from listeners that have piled up since its
inception.
In September 2009, TRT External Services
introduced a new radio station that can be listened
on cable, satellite and on the internet: TRT Avrupa
FM. The station was renamed as TRT Memleketim
FM in 2015.
FOOTNOTES
1 Sezer Akarcalı, Turkish External Broadcasts on Radio and Television, İmaj Publishing House, 2003, pp.32-33
2. A.E. Yalman, What I have Seen and Experienced in Recent History, Volume 3, Yenilik Publishing House, İstanbul
3 Arsev Bektaş, Political Propaganda, Bağlam Publishing House,
2002, p. 108
WE ARE LIKE A SINGLE HEART BEATING FOR ALL OF US
Feray Uz
A
ll countries have official broadcasting organizations;
TV channels, radio stations, internet sites... They
make national and international broadcasts.
Organizational structures, goals, broadcasting
principles and targets are very similar to each
other. However, international broadcasts of certain
countries seem to carry a different spirit, a different
climate; like that of TRT Voice of Turkey, our radio
station...
We are a bit different because nomadism has
worked into our genetic codes along with our
ancestors, who migrated from Central Asia to
Anatolia... We keep on migrating; we cannot
anchor anywhere. Sometimes to make a living,
sometimes to seek new homelands, and
sometimes for educational purposes. Even in the
furthest locations of the word, you can run across
a Turk and hear Turkish out of nowhere. Let alone
just hearing; you can hug that person as if you
have known each other for a thousand years and
get lost in a deep conversation. Because that’s just
the way we are... Neither the roads, nor the years
can break us apart. If we are in foreign lands, we
embrace each other even stronger. For this exact
reason, as TRT Voice of Turkey, we are different. Just
like the society we have grown out of, we are like
the lands we grew up on; warm, sincere, hearty,
colorful and one within the other...
Ours is not an ordinary broadcaster-listener
relationship, like that of many other international
40
official broadcasters. We share our joy, sadness,
and stand tall as one body with all of the listeners
we can reach, when we need unity and solidarity
as a nation... When a disaster, like an earthquake
hits Turkey, our phones ring first and people ask
us “Where do we apply for help? What are bank
account numbers for donations?”
Cognates being oppressed in Bulgaria? We
immediately mobilize to help. We bring the voices
of loved ones to those who cannot communicate
in another way and we inspire strength to hold on
(1984).
We serve as the voice of homeland for cognates
–young and old- massacred in Cyprus; we inspire
hope, belief and trust (1974).
We reach beyond walls of captivity and inspire
the will to live when our pilots are captured in an
ambush in Lebanon (2014).
We serve as a source of information to feed the
language and culture hunger of citizens spread
across the world to make a living; we serve as a school
for second, third and fourth generations in foreign
lands to help them speak our beautiful language.
We serve as the only connection with homeland for
sailors in the middle of oceans; we not only serve as a
connection but we serve as the only news source for
their wall newspapers. And sometimes, we become
so intertwined and so close that we serve as their
best friends or relatives in Turkey, working hard to
RADYO v i z y o n
find a solution to their problems.
Example? We have two real life experiences from
Producer Gül Avcı Bıçakçı:
“For my daughter’s future”
A father working in Germany for years says “I only trust
my station.” His family is in Turkey. He was afraid to
bring them along. He regrets the decision, but it’s too
late. He thinks “After so much pain, my daughters must
have a bright future.” His eldest daughter is about to
graduate from high school... He can’t trust his wife to
choose the best prep school to make it into college.
He calls the radio station to ask for a trustworthy and
successful institution. He thinks “My station would give
me the best advice.” And that’s exactly what happens.
The daughter is enrolled in the advised institution, the
father in Germany feels relaxed, and the girl makes it
into a good college in the end.
“I became a teacher”
It’s back in the day, when we are not that entangled
with modern technologies. No other means of
communication than telephone and letters. We
receive a letter from a young girl, a senior college
student, studying in a village in Bulgaria. Desperately,
she asks for help from our station. She is supposed to
write a graduation thesis, but she has limited sources.
She is studying Turcology and she doesn’t have any
source related to her thesis in Bulgaria. Radio station
gets mobilized. Books, articles and even video cassettes
are mailed to her address in Bulgaria. Young girl
finishes her thesis and graduates. A few years later she
appears at the door of the station. She is now living in
Turkey and she says: “I graduated with your help. Now,
I became a teacher and got a job in İstanbul. I came
from İstanbul to Ankara, just to say Thank You...”
This is the way we work at the station. Indeed, we
have similar broadcasting principles and goals with
other cross-border broadcasters. But, we are a little
different. Influenced by our geography, we are a
little Westerner, and a little Easterner; add a little
Mediterranean flavor to the mix, along with lots of
friendliness and sincerity. Therefore, it is not only a
broadcaster-listener relationship that we have with
our listeners around the world... We are like a very
big family; we are like a single heart beating for all
of us. And we are very happy to be like this.
THANKS TO LOCAL PARTNERS, EVERYONE IS A BIG BROADCASTER NOW
Dr. Bülent Namal
W
orld’s giant brands of broadcasting like TRT, CNN,
BBC, and DW can perform in any part of the
world they want thanks to their big budgets and
experiences. Such a condition is a hardly attainable
target for broadcasters with moderate budgets.
However, finding local broadcast partners and
engaging in co-broadcasting can turn companies
with local broadcaster status into nationwide
broadcasters in an instant while providing giant
brands with many easiness and preeminence.
There is a proverb in our lovely and rich Turkish
meaning “one hand washes the other and
together they wash the face”. No matter how big
we are, there is a limit for our power. And, when we
cooperate with others, this limit expands allowing
us to make more effective, productive, proper, and
enduring jobs. In this respect, we can become
aware once again of the strategic significance of
forming local broadcast partners in the area of
external broadcasting.
Finding a common language
Local broadcast partners are, first and foremost,
bridges which carry our broadcasts to the
geography they live. It is evident that we live in
an age of ever-developing internet and satellite
technologies that even a child can now start
his own radio-television station on the internet
while giant brands circulate across the world.
However, only co-broadcasting makes it possible
for a person, while driving his car in any city of
Kyrgyzstan, to listen to TRT news, any of TRT’s
programs, broadcasts of TRT Voice of Turkey or
one of TRT radio plays when he tunes in his radio
receiver to Manas FM via terrestrial broadcast.
Local partners lower your broadcasting costs: a
world brand in broadcasting, TRT is no wonder
able to broadcast in Kyrgyzstan without Manas
FM. But, such a move will also require TRT to set
up transmitters in every city of Kyrgyzstan, and
41
R A DYOviz yon
complete all legal processes necessary to operate
for a foreign broadcaster in the country. And, this
situation seems not an effective and productive
way for TRT, no matter how big its budget is or
for any other corporation willing to broadcast in a
country so remote to its own.
Your partners in external broadcasting also help
you to code your messages properly in broadcasts
you make in their geography. Even in similar
societies like Turks of Turkey and Kyrgyz Turks there
are cultural, and social differences. Thus, your local
partners are in a sense your guides helping you to
code your messages in the right direction, making
them understandable enough for the region’s
audience. That’s because your broadcasting
partners in that particular country most probably
have a better understanding than you in
identifying the perspective of the people of that
country. In this way, you can protect yourself from
avoidable communication breakdowns. There is
no doubt that finding a common broadcasting
language and reaching the target audience with
the right messages have great significance in
terms of public diplomacy.
Local partners diversify the content of the other
partner. With the co-broadcasts you will be able
to be informed immediately about developments
in your partner country, hence conveying novel
and euphonic sounds and colors of that country
which will appeal to your own audience making
your broadcasts richer, more interesting, and more
popular. Thanks to TRT Director General Şenol Göka
(Our brother Mr. Şenol) who started Türkçevizyon
Music Festival and TRT Radio Days years ago with his
sharp and deep vision, seeing the common interest
in holding both events, which gather broadcasters
from various countries to Turkey and provide a
common platform for them to share and make
good memories, thus making, us, broadcasters
friends, leading to further cooperation with mutual
gains. As a radio-television manager when I asked
my colleagues, at our editorial meetings, to develop
and enrich our broadcasts with broadcasters of
different countries, we have come across contact
information of many broadcasting corporations
and broadcasting friends within our reach. We have
made all these friends thanks to TRT and we have
made our broadcasts richer through cooperation
and co-broadcasts we have carried out with our
colleagues from Central Asia and the Balkans.
42
Actually, these local partners of us have also
become our volunteer reporters. Forming such
a broadcasting network for Radyo-TV Manas, the
media organ of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University,
could have only become possible through
volunteer cooperation. To tell the truth, without the
presence and support of local broadcast partners,
a non-profit media could not have dared show
such an initiative and start such work when costs
are considered. The condition I’m talking about
here is just a simple example for local broadcast
partnerships. It is also possible to turn these cobroadcasts, which are carried out in a format of
corners in programs, into bigger broadcasting
partnerships with strategic planning.
Using interactive technologies enabling listeners
to participate in co-broadcasts makes radio
programs more colorful, richer, and enjoyable
both for the broadcaster and followers. Hence,
such technology also gives you the chance to
obtain information about listeners, at least their
e-mail addresses which you can add to your
database so as to enrich it with people at the
other end of the world, giving you the opportunity
to develop policies to make them your loyal
listeners. For instance, I take great pleasure when
I am listening to Manas FM while driving my car
and hearing that The Voice of Turkey Kyrgyz Desk
producers are asking the question of the month to
listeners and sending gifts from Ankara to winners
who e-mail them the right answer. So that Ms.
Gulsün, happy with the gift sent from Ankara, will
now tell her son Caynak, her daughter Aida, her
husband Mr. Coldaş and her next door neighbor
Ms. Nurzat about both the gift and the broadcasts
of the VOT, encouraging them to listen and
thanks to word of mouth advertising the Voice
of Turkey will make new loyal followers. I think
no broadcasting corporation will hesitate to take
such an opportunity that will widen its audience.
Thus, those who listen to the program in, let’s say
it in Bishkek and call her Ms. Aygül, in Talas Mr.
Aybek, in Narın Mrs. Gülbara, and in Issık Lake Mr.
Âdil will be interested in the broadcasts of VOT
more and become loyal listeners.
Your local broadcasting partners are your branches
in that countries, and this relation does not have to
be ratified with a protocol. If the audience wants to
reach you after listening to your transmissions via
your local partners, they will go to the owner of the
RADYO v i z y o n
frequency that aired your broadcast. So that’s how
you make representatives in different geographies
without shouldering operating expenses and
other costs. Such representatives act as a liaison
between you and individual corporations and
agencies when you need it. Like the whole staff
of Radyo TV Manas, for years they have been
working voluntarily and with content like a TRT
representative in Kyrgyzstan. When requested,
they gather performers, artists, media members
form Kyrgyzstan for events to be organized by
TRT in Turkey and they take responsibility for
coordination of TRT activities in Kyrgyzstan.
Image, corporate culture, credibility are values
that are important for every corporation and
broadcasting body and all these values also
find their reflections in the end-product of the
broadcasting corporation, that is its broadcasts.
Your transmissions in other countries are indeed
a reflection of your image, culture and credibility
and transferring values that have made you who
you are. Via your local partners you make this
transfer and you can position yourself as a brand in
the mind of the audience.
Competitive Advantage
Local broadcast partners also provide competitive
advantage to broadcasting corporations.
Competitive advantage means cooperating and
loyal audience who contribute to the development
of your broadcast with active participation like
citizen journalism and satisfied feedbacks and it
also means more resources, more effective and
productive activities with better quality.
The future of the broadcasting and of course the
external broadcasting is brighter, stronger with
local broadcast partners. Technology now makes
it easier to set up such partnerships.
Thanks to communication technologies, while
we are planning our broadcast streaming, we
can also think about having co-broadcasts with
other broadcasters without any worry. New
media, internet and mobile technologies inform
us immediately about regions that we even
haven’t heard of before and you can find yourself
in the middle of events happening in those
remote regions via live transmission carried out
by someone’s mobile phone. And, that someone
at the other end of the World suddenly becomes
our volunteer reporter, local broadcast partner.
Amateurs, who are interested in broadcasting,
can use technology to shoot their own short
video, films, news show, and music and broadcast
them on their own channels on the net to reach
others. Hence, such amateurish works can even
become broadcast materials that we can use.
Via podcasts, we can present our productions to
the audience and offer them the opportunity
to do their own streaming. In our capacity as
broadcasters, we enable removal of borders along
with globalization. We are connecting people
living at one end of the world with the other
group of people living at the other end. We host
our broadcast partners in our own geography, and
carry out our own broadcasts by their means. For
a long time, TRT has been persistently present in
Kyrgyzstan with its terrestrial broadcasts and with
its satellite and internet technologies it already
reaches everywhere in the world. The presenters
of radio -TV Manas in Bishkek can reach the
audience in Turkey in an instant via frequencies of
TRT. Statistical data by mediamanas.kg showed us
that followers from different countries including
Turkey, TRNC, Macedonia, China, the US, Canada,
the Netherlands and many others are following
our radio-TV transmissions that are streaming on
the net and their messages are motivating us.
After listening to a Turkish song played on our
radio station, a singer in Kyrgyzstan can translate
the song to Kyrgyz Turkish and then can get in
touch with us to broadcast it on the station. Hence,
a singer in Kyrgyzstan take to the stage in Turkey
and another one can do the same in Kyrgyzstan.
To a large extend, such acts of synergy and
cooperation have been made possible by media
corporations which carry out co-transmissions
with local broadcast partners and introduce
cultures of different societies to each other,
enabling one to come closer to the other. Thus,
we can expand our sphere of influence to wider
areas in the world with the help of local broadcast
partners and broadcasting unions; by doing so we
are expanding the number of mutual possibilities.
When we are alone, we are like a nuclear family,
but the moment we cooperate with our local
broadcast partners and broadcasting unions, we
can find a place inside a greater family photo.
I wish all of us many many nice co-broadcasts.
43
R A DYOviz yon
In the Wake of the
nd ABU General
Assembly
52
The 52nd General Assembly of ABU, the AsiaPacific Broadcasting Union, which is one of the
world’s biggest broadcasting unions, was hosted
spectacularly by TRT in İstanbul on October 24-31.
In this issue, we are bringing again the topic, which
was on our cover page in the 20th issue, to our pages
to make visible the decisions and impressions to
shape the Union’s future activities.
Javad Mottaghi*
T
urkish Radio Television Corporation hosted, in the
Hong Kong have been newly elected as members
last week of October, over 600 delegates from more
of the Admin Council for three years with effect
than 60 countries in İstanbul, which is the cradle
from 1st January 2016.
of civilizations. The guests were mesmerized by
the hospitality and warmth of the hosts and the
splendor of one of the world’s most historic cities.
The ABU has a potential to serve 3.5 billion people
through its growing network, and serves to 60
percent of the world’s population with it’s over
275 members from 65 countries and autonomous
regions.
Şenol Göka is the new Vice President of ABU
Mr. Şenol Göka, Director General of Turkish Radio
44
ABU Administrative Council Meeting turned
100 in Istanbul
The historic 100th Administrative Council of the
ABU was held in İstanbul in conjunction with the
52nd ABU General Assembly. It started with a small
‘happy birthday ceremony’, and was held in a real
working studio, the oldest in Turkey, located in the
İstanbul building of the national radio.
ABU Music Exchange Launch
Television Corporation – TRT was unanimously
The ABU Music Exchange (AMX), which was
elected as a new ABU Vice - President at the 2015
launched in İstanbul by the President, Mr. Cho Dae-
ABU GA in İstanbul. TRT, Turkey and TDM, Macau
Hyun, is a digital platform to enable participating
have been re- elected for another term of three
organization to exchange music files – from opera
years for the Admin Council. DD, India, IRIB, Iran,
to folk music. AMX will be fully operational in
RTA, Afghanistan, NTRC, Uzbekistan, and RTHK
February 2016.
* ABU Secretary General
Photographs by: Ali Ahıskalı | İsmail Yaşar
The 4th ABU TV song Festival
The Festival was held on 28 October at İstanbul
Congress Center hosted by TRT, Turkey. More than
3500 audience including ABU delegates for GA
gathered at the concert hall there. 12 performers/
artists from 12 participating countries/region
staged their show and enchanted the audience.
Participating organizations are: ATN-Afghanistan,
DD-India, KBS-Korea, KMO-Kazakhstan, NHK-Japan,
PSM-Maldives, and RTM-Malaysia, TDM-Macau,
TRT-Turkey, TVB-Hong Kong, TVRI-Indonesia and
VTV-Vietnam.
ABU Prizes Award Ceremony was held in Conrad
İstanbul Bosphorous Hotel, on 30 October with
more than 300 hundred participants. Winners of 13
categories, both in radio and TV, were presented
with trophies and certificates one by one. This year
a total of 252 entries were received for the prize.
Please visit our website at:
http://www.abu.org.my/ABU_Prizes-@-ABU_
Prizes.aspx
More updates from ABU
Women with the Wave emphasized on equality,
inclusiveness and the lack of discrimination in
İstanbul. It also emphasized that efforts need
to be doubled to popularize good practices, to
encourage positive measures and to act decisively.
The ABU has a major role to play in that respect.
Super Panel Session addressed public trust and
spectrum for future broadcasting. The panelists
and all members strongly supported and
discussed the preservation of frequencies and
strategies of building and maintaining the trust of
their audience.
The Professional Discussion session addressed the
crucial issue of frequency spectrum for the future
of broadcasting. The panel of experts, representing
both Asia and Europe, all agreed and advocated
the importance of spectrum for the future of
broadcasting. The Technical committee meeting initiated actions
on developing an ABU Digital Strategy. It addresses
digital transition, human capacity building,
disaster communication and communication to
disadvantaged-people. The winners of the 2015
ABU Engineering Awards were announced during
the Technical Committee meeting.
ABU Radio Working Party (RWP) meeting which
took place on 26 October addressed many issues
surrounding radio industry in this region; engaging
young audience, multiplatform production and
needs of audience research. New initiative ideas
like launching radio drama workshop were also
discussed.
ABU Programme Committee (PC) was held from
26-27 October with more than 150 delegates.
Many new initiative ideas were presented and
discussed.
ABU New Initiatives for Sports Development The ABU Sports is introducing soon two new
projects: 1.Production and Transmission Service 2.
Digital Sport Content Sharing Platform.
45
What does radio mean to you?
We have asked our colleagues who came to İstanbul to attend
the ABU General Assembly
Interviewer: Abdul Hamid Chohan
Cho Dae-hyun / ABU President
As for the importance of radio in today’s world there
are several reasons radio remains a relevant media
outlet. First of all, the digital world is not invulnerable
and still not accessible in parts of our region, so having
multiple channels for early warning natural disaster
preparedness is essential to maintaining the safety
of the audiences we exist to serve. Secondly, Radio
has a long tradition of being trusted as a news source,
and entertainment, especially by persons who do not
have easy access to multi-platform digital outlets and
those who tend to be more equipped for auditory
learning and information recall. Finally, I want to say
that it is true that multi-platform content devices are
very powerful and are often seen as a threat to radio,
but I remain optimistic that these also provide the
tools we can use as complementary media to make
radio and multi-platform digital media work together
to reach and connect with our audiences in even
more powerful and influential ways.
Javad Mottaghi / ABU Secretary General
Radio has been and is, and will be the most important
medium in many parts of Asia and the Pacific. In the
Asia Pacific Region we see countries with millions
of population, look at China, look at India, look at
Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, even in small countries
like in the Pacific Islands, radio has a very important
role. Radio will be in place in the future and will get
stronger because this is an instrument that everybody
can get everywhere, anytime, anywhere. For the
region, we are focusing on radio activities, we have
increased our activities in radio over the last few years,
and the day after actually tomorrow a number of big
projects related to radio will be launched at the general
assembly in İstanbul. Hence, I can say another project,
the ABU radio music exchange, which will be launched
here tomorrow, and we have also initiated many other
radio events. Radio is a platform for the public, and we
will not hesitate to invest more than that.
Khurshid Malik / Pakistan Broadcasting
Corporation, Controller External Services
It is very big job to do if we feel because, radio is the
only medium in the world and particularly in our
developing countries which can reach to every part
of the globe especially you know in Asia, Africa and
in some other continents, more than 80 percent of
46
the population resides in rural areas and that’s really
the challenge where education is not up to the mark,
where information is not being accessed, proper
education, and the people face many challenges,
many unavoidable situations of the information, of
the misinformation, and like that, those people are
real challenge for the broadcaster to access and to
give them real information, actual information and
awareness, media has a big power to change to give
people awareness, to motivate people in the media.
Radio itself is a big medium, we in the Asian countries
have now many many radio stations working. We have
74 broadcasting channels especially in rural areas, we
are broadcasting in 35 local languages along with
English and our national language Urdu. We have very
good results, and now we put our transmission on
streaming, and we have listeners everywhere in the
world, so I as a broadcaster feel that we have a very
big responsibility, to serve the humanity to give them
the right information which is their right, to help them
to motivate them, to give them the services, to give
them the proper information, and especially in those
areas which are poverty stricken, and unprivileged
and especially during the disasters radio is the only
medium which can help a lot to people.
Mary Hockaday, BBC Controller of World Service
English
Radio is a wonderful wonderful medium, I often say
that when radio came along people say that it would
kill off newspapers and when television came along
people say that it would kill off radio and when digital
came along they say that it would kill off everything,
and of course that did not happen.
Because each particular medium has its real strength,
and radio’s real strength is its simplicity, its directness,
and its technological simplicity, but also the ease
with which a broadcaster, a newscaster, or a journalist
can speak very directly to the audience.
And for audiences radio is a really accessible
medium, whether it’s only a radio or increasingly
now in a phone, there are lots of different ways to
access and consume radio and it’s I think the most
powerful medium for direct, person to person
communication.
Recep Yurduseven*
R
adio broadcasting first started in America in early 1920s,
spread across Europe and started in our country on
May 6, 1927 with the announcement “Hello, Hello,
dear listeners… This is İstanbul wireless telephone…”
from İstanbul Sirkeci Post Office and then with 5 KW
transmitters from Ankara.
In radio broadcasting, although it is possible to have a
large coverage area with single transmitter mid-wave,
long-wave and shortwave modulation (AM-Amplitude
Modulation) radio bands, quality of the broadcasts is
low. Along with the advance of technology, introduction
of FM (Frequency Modulation) broadcasts the quality
bar increased in the 1980s.
In one way or another, radio has always adapted itself to
new technologies and kept up with changes within its
borders. At present, radio is in the transition period from
analogue broadcasting –AM/FM to digital broadcasting.
In mid-1980s, the use of digital technology in
professional radio production became widespread and
the popularity of digital consumer formats like mp3 and
compact disc (CD) led to digital audio.
Digital broadcasting is as much important as production
in transmitting. The possibility of relaying more than
one program and data services at the same frequency
band; the possibility of using the frequency band more
efficiently; and low running cost of new technology
products increased the importance of digital radio
broadcasting.
Digital radio broadcasting can be defined as a replacement
for current analogue FM and AM technology. It’s called
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), DRM (Digital Radio
Mondiale) and HD (High Definition) Radio.
Innovations on digital audio broadcasting and its
transmission were developed in the framework of
“Eureka Project 147” to bring a standard to digital radio
broadcasting in Europe and around the world. DAB is
regularly used in many countries and is at testing phase
in many others, including Turkey.
Demographic coverage area of digital radio in certain European countries
%95
Italy
Netherlands
%98
The
%91
Denmark
%99,5
Germany
%96
Switzerland
England
Norway
%99,5
What does DAB technology offer to users?
DAB is a technology that provides the transmission of
radio signals digitally through satellite and terrestrial
means. The use of new applications in DAB technology
brought along various advantages to radio broadcasting.
The best benefit is the chance to use the frequency
more efficiently compared to analogue broadcasts; and
the prevention of frequency disturbance in analogue
broadcasts. Other than these we can make up a list of
benefits:
1-CD quality reception in both stable and mobile
receivers like automobiles.
2-Ability to transmit 6 programs on a single frequency
with DAB and 18 programs with DAB+ technologies, as
well as data services, video and graphics.
3-More detailed text conveyance compared to RDS
(Radio Data System) like overall program data, upcoming
program info, and complementary advertisement
information.
4- Receivers can access to visual data about weather
forecast, traffic and security information, or current
economic figures via a small display.
DAB Test broadcasts of our corporation
DAB test broadcasts started from the tower in TRT Oran
in January 2002, at VHF III band 12b channel (225.648
MHz) with a 250W power transmitter. Two radio
channels (Radyo 3 and TRT FM) and a data channel were
broadcast simultaneously. After that 1 KW power second
transmitter started broadcasting from Ankara-Şentepe
station for SFN (Single Frequency Network) application
trials. After the SFN test broadcasts, this transmitter
started broadcasting from İstanbul Çamlıca hill at the
same frequency.
In the process, DAB test broadcasts had been halted,
but in line with the permission received from RTUK
(Radio and Television Supreme Council) 5 programs
(Radyo-1, TRT-FM, Radyo-3, TRT-Türkü, and TRT Nağme)
were launched on 03.11.2015 with a 250 W transmitter
on VHF band 12B (225.648 Mhz) channel from AnkaraDikmen-Çaldağ station and with a 1 kW transmitter from
İstanbul-Çamlıca station on 11.12.2015. DAB+ tests are
being planned to be realized in the future.
%68
* The Head of TRT Transmitter Operations Department
47
R A DYOviz yon
İSTANBUL
TRT JAZZ
ORCHESTRA
Turkey’s First And Only Big Band
The orchestra, which
was started in 1982 by a
group of successful and
distinguished Turkish
musicians, is still “one of its
kind” in its league.
48
Ç. Gülruy Köşker
TRT Radio İstanbul Director
T
he orchestra, which was started in 1982 by a group
of successful and distinguished Turkish musicians,
is still “one of its kind” in its league. Successfully
presenting examples of national and universal
music to music enthusiasts and protecting its “Big
Band” structure at the same time, TRT İstanbul Jazz
Orchestra has an authentic and unique repertoire.
The orchestra, which also has an arranger quality,
performs compositions and arrangements of its
own members’ and tries to reach wider audience
to make jazz music more widespread across Turkey.
Apart from its radio-television shows, TRT İstanbul
Jazz Orchestra effectively represents both TRT and
Turkey at national and international culture and arts
events it participates. Beginning from its foundation
to the year 1998, veteran musician Mr. Süheyl
Denizci was the first conductor of TRT İstanbul Jazz
Orchestra, and then another prominent Turkish
musician Mr. Neşet Ruacan took over the baton
from Denizci and acted as the conductor of the
orchestra until 2011. The current conductor of TRT
İstanbul Jazz Orchestra is Kâmil Özler.
Following the unforgettable performance of the
orchestra, which took place within the scope of
2015 World Jazz Day on April 30 at İstanbul’s vivid
central district and beating heart, Beyoğlu Tunnel
Square; its members reached again jazz lovers on
World Music Day. At the concert aired live on TRT
Music Channel, experienced composer, singer and
piano player Bozkurt İlham Gencer, Erkut Taçkın and
Banu Kunt Işık performed jazz variations of popular
songs, which were met with great jubilation of the
audience in a manifestation of their interest in jazz
music. Another one, the Beşiktaş Square Concert,
held as part of “Radio Days” activities in İstanbul, also
had its place among unforgettable moments of
jazz. The last concert of the summer this season was
staged within the scope of the 22nd International
İstanbul Jazz Festival and the orchestra shared the
night with famous bass guitarist Marcus Miller.
When the clocks hit 21.00 hours at İstanbul’s wellknown concert venue, the Cemil Topuzlu OpenAir Theatre, our legendary band, TRT İstanbul
Jazz Orchestra took the stage and performed an
unprecedented show with its unique repertoire,
new arrangements and of course with its star
members, each of which is a rare talent. On that
night, when they left the stage after moments-long
standing ovation of the audience, Marcus Miller was
ready to perform his own show, on the same stage.
Let’s announce it once again: Turkey’s first and only
“Big Band” Orchestra meets every year with jazz
lovers at concerts they give each month during the
September-June broadcast season, taking place at
the TRT Radio İstanbul, Mesud Cemil Studios. And, here is the 2016 program of the orchestra, for
the first half of the year:
•
On Feb. 12, 2016, Kadıköy Municipality Yeldeğirmeni
Culture Center; Soloists Emrah Karaca, Evrim Özsuca
•
On Jan. 26, 2016 Cadde Bostan Culture Center (CKM);
Soloists Emir Ersoy and Project Kubana
•
On May 10, 2016 Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRR)
Another important reminder: Concerts and recordings of the
orchestra are broadcast by radio stations of different countries,
thanks to program exchanges among corporations related to
the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Hakan Çimenot
TRT Radio Istanbul Trombonist
I
was born in İstanbul in 1976. At the age of 10, I
was admitted into Mimar Sinan University State
Conservatory. Same year, I heard about TRT Jazz
Orchestra, and at every opportunity I went to TRT
Radio İstanbul Studio Mesud Cemil to listen to
rehearsals and concerts. It was Turkey’s first and
only “Big Band” jazz orchestra and was a great
opportunity and kind of a school for those who
were not fortunate enough to have jazz classes
at the school. The Orchestra still preserves that
peculiar nature of it... One day, when I was just 12
years-old, I had the opportunity to play with the
orchestra upon the invitation of the founder and
conductor of the orchestra Süheyl Denizci.
It was an unforgettable start for me: an open-air
concert at İstanbul’s Kalamış Marina. Mr. Süheyl
introduced me as the oldest member of the
orchestra and during the concert I played third
trombone partitions just next to Fatih Erkoç. And,
since 1992, when I was hired by TRT as a trombonist,
I have been a member of the TRT Jazz Orchestra
family. Within the 23 long years that have passed
by, I had many opportunities to meet and work
together with very distinguished musicians of rare
talents. Indeed, I grew up, learnt and developed in
this orchestra. And, now I’m growing older in this
orchestra and I’m really happy and thankful for
that.
49
R A DYOviz yon
Sevilay Yüksel Tunalı
TRT Radio İstanbul Producer
S
Free and open to public concerts, which we started
ince the year it was founded in 1982, it has
been Turkey’s first and only Big Band Orchestra,
presenting legendary jazz pieces to music
enthusiasts performed by Turkey’s best jazz
musicians; TRT İstanbul Jazz Orchestra is a real
“Group of Stars” ... Our work with the legendary
names of jazz and with a team which is constantly
getting younger, continues in the most harmonious
way possible.We are meeting with jazz lovers with
great excitement every month thanks to concerts
we give at TRT Radio İstanbul.
last year to make the mentality and concept of
“Music for everyone, everywhere” widespread, are
being met with great interest. And, I would like to
invite those who haven’t had the opportunity to
meet our orchestra, which is enriching our culture
and whispering the most beautiful notes of the
universality of music to our ears, to our concerts
and I also recommend them to follow our shows
on TRT Radio 3.
Y. Kürşad SEKBAN
TRT Radio İstanbul Trombonist
T
50
RT İstanbul Jazz Orchestra is the first and only jazz
band of Turkey. Being part of this orchestra was my
childhood dream. I have realized my dream; since
2000, I have been performing as a trombonist in
this elegant orchestra which comprises the most
talented musicians of Turkey. I want to express
my endless gratitude and thankfulness to TRT
Corporation for giving us, musicians, and our
respectful audience such a great opportunity by
supporting the Orchestra.
Ozan Musluoğlu
TRT Radio İstanbul Double bassist
T
RT Big Band is a wonderful school that every
musician dreams of playing in one day, hence
it has harbored for years the most meritorious
musicians of Turkey under its wings. I really feel
lucky of being a member of this orchestra and for
being able to perform Big Band music in such a
zestful environment.
Çukurova Radio
The Only Station Bearing the Name of a Region
Lütfi Kılınç
Since the day it mixed the magic of sound
with the power of words and started hosting
them in the hearts of people, radio comfortably
placed itself in the middle of our lives. Because
we have always needed radio as a functional
tool, a dear guest and a loyal friend.
S
ince the day it mixed the magic of sound with the
power of words and started hosting them in the
hearts of people, radio comfortably placed itself in
the middle of our lives. Because we have always
needed radio as a functional tool, a dear guest and
a loyal friend.
In the early 20th century, radio opened a large field
to dreams limited to two ends of a telephone cable.
Therefore, rightfully radio was given the nickname
“Invisible Emperor of the Skies”. Radio has earned
itself a one of a kind and beautiful place in the
hearts of our people in the 90 year-old history of
radio broadcasting in our country. While keeping
its ground as the most powerful means of filling
our pool of memories, radio is also a bright beam
of light illuminating our future. Radio talks about
yesterday; lives the day; and plans tomorrow. In
doing so, it makes use of the feature of being a
magical box and the warmth of a loyal friend.
We should elaborate on the feature of radio that
we mentioned in the title as: “only”. A series of
battles were fought and won, major decisions
were taken before and after Çukurova Radio. As
is known, TRT Regional Radios have always been
51
R A DYOviz yon
could reach. One day, a delegation consisting
of prominent figures from all circles, pays a visit
to the Prime Minister of the time –Süleyman
Demirel, to explain the situation and find a
solution.
named after the province they broadcast in. Like
Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakır, Erzurum
and Trabzon Radios. The only station not keeping
up with this trend is the Çukurova Radio, operating
out of Mersin province. Let’s answer the question
“Why?” by telling a real incident.
The history of Çukurova Radio dates as far back
as April 1962. In that year, Adana Province Radio
launched its broadcasts with a 2 KW power AM
transmitter with the name “Voice of the South
Adana Radio”. When TRT was established to
carry on radio and television broadcasts in an
organizational structure and legal status, it was
decided to move on from provincial stations to
regional radio stations. In line with this decision,
Adana provincial radio was reorganized to
broadcast in the East Mediterranean region.
Because radio broadcasts were only terrestrial at
the time, authorities looked for a suitable place
to erect the transmitters of the regional station.
They decided that the existing transmitter in
Mersin’s Kazanlı neighborhood was the perfect
site. Considering the fact that communication
with the transmitter in Kazanlı neighborhood
of Mersin would be troubled if the station were
to remain in Adana, authorities decided to
move Adana provincial radio station to Mersin.
The decision was taken but there was a serious
problem in the implementation and that was
persuasion of Adana residents. From politicians
to bureaucrats, farmers to industrialists, artists
to cotton landlords, all Adana residents wanted
the station to remain in Adana. They lobbied
heavily and pressured every decision maker they
52
Ahead of the arrival of the delegation, Mr. Demirel
is briefed about the situation and believes in the
technical necessity of moving the station to Mersin.
He also knows that the decision must be explained
to the visiting delegation without breaking their
hearts. He welcomes the delegation with great
hospitality and listens to each one of them with
respect. A cotton landlord he previously met
says “Mr. Prime Minister, we do not want Adana
Radio moved into Mersin and its name changed.”
In response, Demirel says “We are not shutting it
down. We are turning it into a bigger station. The
name of your station will be more comprehensive
and historical. It will be remembered by the name
of your region. The name of your station will be
“Çukurova Radio.” The delegation feels like nothing
can be said over these words” and they respect the
decision.
The Voice of the South
In line with the decision taken in light of all
these developments and evaluations 300 KW
transmitter installation began at the site in Kazanlı,
Mersin. On February 6, 1968, first test broadcasts
were made through the transmitter. Local press
delivered the news: “Mersin Radio, which will be
the voice of the south, launched test broadcasts.”
Upon positive results from the tests, TRT Çukurova
Radio began its official broadcasting life in Mersin
on the morning of March 3, 1968. To mark the
launch of our station, TRT Director General of the
time Adnan Öztrak issued this message: “Çukurova
Radio belongs to the whole Turkish nation, along
with Çukurova and Adana locals. From now on,
Çukurova Radio can be listened clearly from all
corners of Çukurova region, in the dead of the
night and in broad daylight.”
So when it was about spring time, along with
tulips, hyacinths, and violets on the slopes of
Taurus Mountains, Çukurova Radio waved over the
Taurus skies like a voice flag. Having left behind 47
years of clean history and a holy voyage, our radio
feels proud to enter the 48th year. We continue our
programs, cultural and artistic efforts. “The Sounds
RADYO v i z y o n
and refined broadcasts. As a regional station of
“We are not shutting it down.
We are turning it into a bigger
station. The name of your station
will be more comprehensive and
historical. It will be remembered
by the name of your region. The
name of your station will be
Çukurova Radio.”
TRT, Çukurova Radio reaches out to audiences
with quality programs in this age of information
and technology that we live in.
TRT Çukurova Radio service building and
broadcast center is in Mersin, but the station serves
Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş,
Gaziantep and Kilis towns. However, thanks to
rapidly increasing number of transmitters it is
now possible to tune into the station from TRNC,
parts of Syria, Kayseri, Konya, Nevşehir, Niğde and
Karaman. Besides the old-school way, the station
can be listened to via TRT Satellite Pack and on the
of Çukurova –Turkish Folk Music Society”, which
was established in 1962, when the station was still
called Adana Provincial Radio, added Karacoğlan
Dadaloğlu regional folk songs to our repertoire and
introduced important artists, whom we still listen
to with joy at present day. Late Müslüm Gürses,
Nuri Sesigüzel and İzzet Altınmeşe are only a few
of the values introduced by this station… Also
Halit Arapoğlu, who made a huge contribution to
the rise of “Barak Ağzı” style folk songs in the heart
of our nation; Abdurrahman Yağdıran, who added
“On the roads of Adana, cotton on the branches”
song to our repertoire, were local artists introduced
to our nation by Çukurova Radio.
47 year-old voice flag
“In the war of a maple tree against the wind, if
maple is not bending in, it’s because of its love
for the soil” says a thinker. 47 year-old voice flag of
our region –Çukurova Radio holds onto the love
of sharing life with listeners. TRT always marks firsts
and good works with true, unbiased, principled,
Wherever there is a Turk in the world, Memleketim FM is there! With live
broadcasts throughout the day, we are bringing the fresh air and breath of
our country to expats living abroad with our chats and music. “Address of
the Night”, “Come, Let’s Go to Past”, “This Song is for You”, “The Sounds of
Life” are only some of the programs we offer...
For more visit www.trtmemleketimfm.com
internet. Currently, broadcasting uninterruptedly
round-the-clock via more than 10 FM transmitters,
1 mid-wave transmitter, TRT Satellite Pack, and the
internet TRT Çukurova Radio station is available in
the whole region and across Turkey with original
and joint productions.
“From the Mediterranean to Taurus” is a live
program targeting average listeners aired every
day of the week between 10:00-12:00. Also we
reach more listeners with our contributions to TRT
Türkü and Radyo-1 national broadcasts.
In line with the directions and coordination of our
managers Çukurova Radio successfully commits to
its responsibilities on matters and events related to
culture, arts, history, actuality, education, tourism,
economy, industry, trade and agriculture. We
extend our gratitude to everyone who has put
up an effort in bringing our radio to where it is
today and our devoted listeners, who have always
considered us as a member of their families and
supported us.
From Yunus Emre to Fuzuli, from Dadaloğlu to Neşet
Ertaş… the tradition of bards. Bards in the process of
history, their contribution to folk music and common values
of this culture... “Bards Tradition of Anatolia” is on TRT Türkü
every Thursday at 22:00.
53
R A DYOviz yon
One of the biggest poets of Turkish
literature Orhan Veli Kanık says:
“Window, window is the best
At least you see flying birds
Instead of staring at four walls...”
GLOBALIZATION
The Great Story of 21st Century in Broadcasting Too
Murat Örem
W
indows are the displays of homes and lives. It’s
possible to judge the level of effort, attention and
coherence put into the order of a house just by
looking at the windows. Likewise, media is the
display of the society it serves. One of the biggest
fairy tales of the 21st century has been the concept
of globalization and for long years, media placed
this concept at the center of its display. Those who
exaggeratively put forward this concept likened
the world to a happy village, where everyone was
informed about others. Both claimers and listeners of
this metaphor liked it very much –in the beginning.
But the reality was much different
We call dwellings that are a little bigger than
a village as town or township. In towns and
townships, you don’t see the busyness brought
along by agricultural production or the rush of city
life. In towns, most of the time is allocated to gossip
about who did what and buying and selling goods.
The difference and magic of cities are right here.
In cities, your time flies by at the speed of life, but
you can never reach your destination on time. In
city life, you must be an individual and be able to
stand up on your feet. This reality makes you feel
freedom, loneliness and desperation all at the
same time. Because when you get sick, run out
of money, or when you are looking for a job, the
54
number of people, who know you and ready to
offer unconditional help is a lot fewer in cities…
World history may tell us thousands of stories
surrounded by prejudices. These are prejudices
of masses also fed by the media… The way to
overcome these prejudices is learning more,
having more information and asking questions.
Asking a question and looking for answers in a
calm and unprejudiced way. This is exactly the
supposed function of media, radio and broadcasts
with educational purposes. As a broadcaster, you
are supposed to filter your products with the
objectivity of years before you make them public.
Opinions taking their time
A mind looking for the truth, making comparisons
to make a decision would not rush things. Just
like tea needs time to boil, ideas need time to be
formed. This is just like the way Turks prepare their
tea –giving it time to boil… It’s a lot different than
the searing technique. This is why it’s important
to form opinions over time. In his famous book
1984 George Orwell says; a time will come, when
even people’s breathing air will be followed under
the supervision and pressure of the “big brother.”
When it was written decades ago, although 1984
looks like a dystopia, it foretold today’s world. Isn’t
it possible to find out about people’s expenditures
RADYO v i z y o n
and their internet history within a few seconds?
As you can see the world has become a village for
real… :))))
But what kind of village…
Living in the same period as Orwell, Aldous Huxley
says although the world could be extremely
despotic and horrific in the future, the methods
of those responsible would be different than
what Orwell predicts. He also claims that instead
of hammering information and authority onto
our brains, they will offer thousands of so-called
information, art, aesthetics, and cultural concepts,
thus pushing ordinary human beings like us into
this chaos, where we would get lost before reaching
virtue and beauty; and as people whose brains are
anesthetized with information bombardment, it
would be more difficult for us to stand up for we
would be unaware of the situation.
This should be the basic concern of the broadcaster
and the listener:
How can I stay away from the crowds and their
prejudices? Where can I start as a human being and
a broadcaster? How can I share only the reality with
the audience?
Any new listener earned without these questions
would be no more than a temporary statistical
and numerical figure. What’s permanent in radio
broadcasting as well is the listener that knows you
over time, prefers and does not forget you for your
well-prepared programs and broadcasts.
Just like in real life… Yes, we are living in a difficult
world. Life may not give us the chance to correct
everything, but the only way to correct things
more or less is through realizing that things are not
on track. Next up is making others realize and this is
where the great joy of broadcasting begins.
Bernard Weber says
“Between what I think,
what I want to say,
what I believe I say,
what I say,
what you want to hear,
what you believe to hear,
what you hear,
what you want to understand,
what you think you understand,
what you understand…
They are ten possibilities that we might have some
problem communicating. But let’s try anyway…”
For an open minded, experienced and selfinvested broadcaster, it is a slim chance to swirl into
this series of mistakes. If a broadcaster is stepping
wrong despite awareness on this and making bad
broadcasts, there should be bad intentions laying
around somewhere.
For all my broadcaster colleagues that will open new
windows for a fair world in their future productions,
the formula is to seek the truth. Qualified listeners
will always find and follow the broadcaster, who is
in search of the truth.
55
Photograph by: Ceren Öney Kalan
German on Radio
German on Radi
R A DYOviz yon
Ufuk Geçim
TRT External Services,
German service has been
reaching out to audiences on
shortwave since 1938 and
on the internet since 2008.
Everyday
We broadcast on a daily basis
between 14:30-15:30 and
20:30-21:30 on shortwave; and
between 02:00-03:00
on the internet.
56
T
he German service broadcasts to a broad scope of
society from students to doctors, workers to the
retired, teachers to housewives and from young
to old people. Our main goal is to promote Turkey
and Turks in our broadcasts. We want to increase
interest taken in Turkey, voice the problems
of expats living abroad and share unbiased
information about developments taking place in
neighboring countries. We are serving as a “bridge
of sympathy” between Turkey and Germanspeaking countries.
Since 1938, the German Desk has achieved its goals
via shortwave radio broadcasts and since 2008,
the Desk has increased the number of listeners by
reaching German speaking masses in Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland,
Luxemburg and Russia with internet broadcasts.
The proof of our success on this bid is hundreds
of messages we receive on a monthly basis from
radio listeners and internet users. Through these
messages, we receive feedback from listeners
on the quality of our broadcast content. If their
reception reports are true, we send them QSL cards,
RADYO v i z y o n
which are approval certificates with international
validity. There are pictures of sites from Turkey on
the back of these cards.
The German Desk has an extremely friendly
relationship with listeners. We are so close that we
often get phone calls for get well wishes for sick
members of staff, celebrations for birthdays, new
born babies, or weddings. Listeners express their
heartfelt feelings to share our happiness.
Thanks to our broadcasts promoting Turkey,
listeners interested in Turkey pay a visit to Turkey
and stop by in Ankara just to say “hello”. There were
even listeners who got their daughters married
in Turkish traditional style. This is a reflection of
the importance the German Desk attaches to
radio listeners and internet followers. German
Desk meticulously keeps a record of listeners’ and
internet followers’ sicknesses and their happy days.
We express get well wishes when they are sick
and we celebrate their happy days. Because of
this emotional connection, our listeners, especially
keen followers of our “Letterbox” program say they
always feel like a family with us.
Turkey’s Ambassador
One of our loyal listeners married a Turk but could
not get a Germany visa for the spouse. The listener
wrote a letter to the German Desk to ask for help.
We contacted the German Embassy on behalf of
the listener. The result: our listener celebrated 15th
wedding anniversary this year. This listener always
mentions our contribution to the happiness of
their family. The German Desk is like Turkey ‘s
ambassador.
Voice of Turkey Radio brings Turkey’s memory, from past to present voice,
and music from folk to classical to the world. One of such programs
broadcast live is “Old Tunes”... The program is prepared by artist and
academician Okan Murat Öztürk and aired every Thursday at 22:00 on TRT
Voice of Turkey, TRT Türkü and Memleketim FM simultaneously.
TRT VOT
www.trtvotworld.com
www.
trtvotworld.com
Reaching out to the whole world
with radio broadcasts in 37 languages
and web broadcasts in 41 languages
The German Desk has a 6 people strong team. We
broadcast two times a day –one hour each. News
from Turkey and around the world is followed by
stories from Turkish newspapers of the day. After
that we have previously recorded feature programs
on various topics and lots of good music. From the
political agenda to Turkish courses, near history
to deeper into the past, from music to tourism,
to health, culture and arts, we offer a variety of
entertaining and informative content.
We rightfully feel proud to be one of the most
popular radio stations on shortwave as German
Desk of the Voice of Turkey.
Voice of Turkey Radio embraces the world
with radio broadcasts in 37 languages
and websites in 41 languages. People
around the world can listen and read
about Turkey, life, news and music in their
own languages. Wherever you are, Turkey
is there! Visit www.trtvotworld.com
57
Producer's Eyes
Producer's
R A DYOviz yon
FROM
FROM
INSIDE OUT
Ever
yW
e
SOUNDS
SOUNDS
Through the
INSIDE OUT
Signal
Voice 1: The pleasures of life are hidden in details.
It’s the same in radio broadcasting…
R
adio broadcasting is one of those jobs that
require passion. Every passion brings happiness
to its executor. It brings so much happiness that
the troubles in the process are easily forgotten.
In fact, as time goes by, these troubles turn into
fancy memories to share with loved ones for the
broadcaster. Also there are many surprises in radio
broadcasting. These surprises grasp and embrace
the broadcaster in a happy swirl of moments
beyond time, acknowledgements, and memories.
The feelings of the broadcaster in those moments
are similar to the joy experienced by an explorer,
who realizes that he/she is an explorer, or when
an inventor realizes he/she is an inventor. What
creates this joy is just a voice. That voice remains
on the record or the cassette as fresh as the first
day, regardless of the weight of passing time or
without any care to whether its owner is aware of
its existence… until a producer comes along to
take it out of the box.
“This is how I met with inside-out records” says
producer of the program Aişegül Bozkurt.
Voice 2: “It was in 1992. In the archive section
of Ankara Radio, in a room we call “diskotek/
58
d
ay at 16.05
d
s
ne
on
R a d yo-1
Aişegül Bozkurt
discotheque”, I discovered “Inside-out Records”
while helping a friend carry the pile of records I
demanded from the archive. They were bigger
than the 33 records in our houses. They were being
kept in custom yellow envelopes. Right away, I
took one out of its cover. The information on the
record was far from explaining the content of the
record. There was nothing else in the envelope. I
guess people around me observed my excitement
for this discovery. That was when the person in
charge of the archive brought me a list about the
contents of these inside-out records. I sat down
and flicked through the list. There were headlines
classifying the records with numbers on them.
Under the headlines, there was information about
the themes of the records. Curiously, I picked three
records I found interesting and left the archive.
The records were “Witty Man”, “Radio Cinema”, and
“Musical Puzzle”. I was quite happy. I could start
enjoying the insatiable taste of a world of voices
that had been left in the dark since the day they
were recorded and aired.
Transition Music
I found out about the story of these records taking
their place in our archives much later. It was when
I reached vinyl collector Cemal Ünlü, whom I
had also met in 2015 whilst preparing for a radio
program. His book “Git Zaman, Gel Zaman”(Time
RADYO v i z y o n
compared to 78 rpm records, but they were not
suitable for events like conference and speeches,
for the duration of these events could not be
predicted. The diameter of these records was 40 cm
and it was possible to record 30 minutes of content
-15 minutes on each side. Aluminum bottoms of
the records were enveloped with a thin layer of film.
The recording process was similar to the method
of gramophone recordings. Empty records were
placed on a turntable run by electricity, which was
similar to today’s record players. Sound lines were
carved on the record in a radial fashion from the
center to the corners.
Goes By) won the “World Music –Best Research”
award. This book of Cemal Ünlü includes more
than 15 thousand pieces released between
1905 and 1965 and listed in phonograph record
catalogues. I also found information about the
first sound records of our country in Cemal Ünlü’s
book. The “Inside-out Records” on which I laid my
hands for the first time 24 years ago were classified
in this book as “steel based special radio records.”
When I asked Mr. Ünlü for permission to share this
information, he kindly said: “Of course” and added
“Books are written to share information.”
Voice 2: That’s actually the reason we called these
records “Inside-out Records” at Ankara Radio.
Signal
Transition Music
Voice 2: The story of “steel based special radio
records” meeting with audiences is follows:
Voice 1: Regular recording and protection of music
broadcast on radio could be achieved with the use
of custom made aluminum records. This technique
was introduced in 1945. Compared to others, it was
a collection of complex machines. These machines
were designed to be installed and used only in a
studio environment. It was a precondition not
to rush things and have many rehearsals before
the real recording. They had a longer record time
Reflections of romanticism on music, Romantic period composers and pieces... “People of the Dream World” is on
Classics Slot every Friday at 09:00 on Radyo-3
Classical Jazz, Modern Jazz, Soul, Latin Jazz... Vocal and instrumental jazz pieces and lyrical examples are on
“Equinox” prepared and presented by Hülya Tunçağ. “Equinox” is on Jazz Slot every Saturday at 19:00
59
Radio Films
of the
SILVER SCREEN
Revolution Adventure of Swiss Radio Broadcasters
LONG WAVE
Kurtuluş Özyazıcı
T
he film begins with a still image from a camera. This
is a photo of Swiss radio broadcasters, who arrived
in Portugal shortly before the revolution, with a
Portuguese young man. The story is told by the
Portuguese young man. This is the story of Swiss
radio broadcasters who witnessed the revolution in
Portugal.
Switzerland’s National Public Radio broadcast
educational talk shows on long wave frequency.
These talk shows that expressed people’s problems
did not catch listeners’ attention. A minister called
a radio administrator and made him listen to
entertaining broadcasts in neighboring countries
and said: “That’s what we need. You are depressing
people who are fed up with listening to people’s
problems. You should prepare programs that tell
about good things done by Switzerland.”
60
As the radio administrator was thinking about
positive aspects of Switzerland where women were
granted the right to vote a year earlier, he found a
book about aid extended by his country to other
countries. Switzerland had extended significant
aid to Portugal which was a poor country, in recent
years. Acting in accordance with the responsibility
of public broadcasting and to some extent trying
to please the government, he sent his most
experienced programmer to Portugal along with
a young woman who wanted to advance in radio
broadcasting. These two, accompanied by a
technician, set off for Portugal. Their objective was
to document and inform listeners about favorable
things that Switzerland had done in Portugal but
their visit coincided with the revolution in Portugal.
“You have the looks of a radio broadcaster”
Swiss director Lionel Baier’s comedy “Long Wave”
(Les grandes ondes, 2013) on the one hand
tells the story of radio broadcasters and on the
other hand displays the difficult but at the same
time entertaining aspect of radio broadcasting.
Seasoned radio announcer perhaps sets out on his
last journey because he starts forgetting everything.
His old and faithful voice recording machine is his
only companion. This machine that is part of the job
enables the producer to cling to life and the veteran
producer uses it as a notebook. He records in this
machine whatever he experiences and even people
he meets all day long. The young woman working
with him is inexperienced. She is an idealist and
feminist. She wants to move forward in her career
and produce her own programs. She is a novice and
does not even know radio broadcasting terminology.
When the man tells him that “she has the looks of
a radio broadcaster” this makes her happy. In fact
this expression is used for “those who don’t have a
rather spectacular physical appearance.” The radio
RADYO v i z y o n
announcer and the young girl who are poles apart
are accompanied by an experienced technician and
a young Portuguese interpreter who speaks French.
What radio broadcasters expect to see and what they
actually see in Portugal are totally different. They go
to a school where aid is extended by Switzerland.
They ask the principal about the aid. They have great
expectations but the principal points at the clock on
the wall and says: “This is what Switzerland has sent.”
Switzerland has also pledged to build a housing
estate but when they go there they see that not even
a nail has been hammered. Radio broadcasters are
after aid extended by Switzerland but cannot find
anything to report. Just then, there is some activity
on the streets of Portugal. No one knows what is
going on. They see a team from Belgium radio and
ask them what is going on. The answer they get is
funny: “Haven’t you heard? There is a revolution in
Portugal. Don’t you ever listen to the radio?”
All of a sudden Swiss radio broadcasters find
themselves in the middle of the Portuguese
revolution and fall under its spell. They almost
become part of the revolution with the joy of
liberties attained by Switzerland a year ago. Although
what the veteran radio broadcaster says cannot be
completely understood because he does not have a
good command of Portuguese, he speaks excitedly
Turkish expats living abroad follow Turkey’s agenda through
“The New Day”. Aired live between 09:00-11:00 Turkish
local time, The New Day looks into news from Turkey with
journalist and academician guests. The analyses of the
program shed light upon the new day.
We are on www.turkiyeninsesiradyosu.com
From the oldest known date until present day: Classical Turkish
Music. Lyric writers, composers, live performances and archive
records... “Turkish Classical Music in Historical Flow”is on TRT Nağme
every Thursday at 13:00
Popular songs, poems, guest composers, lyric writers, vocalinstrumental performers and lots of music talk at “A Pinch of
Longing” every Thursday at 22:00 on TRT Nağme.
as if he leads the revolution. Swiss radio broadcasters
join the other revolutionaries and clash with police.
They contribute to Portugal’s freedom adventure as
if they have been living in these lands for years.
There are many movies about radio and radio
broadcaster in the history of the motion picture.
“Long Wave” is the newest and most entertaining
among them... When FM radios were not that
widespread, there were long wave and short wave
intercontinental transmissions. Therefore, radio was
influential over a wide area. “Long Wave” brings us
a slice of life from those years. Although the movie
is about Portugal’s carnation revolution in 1974, in
fact we witness stories of radio broadcasters. The
experienced producer losing his memory gradually
and using his voice recording machine to maintain
his life, the young woman working with him using
her feminine charm to advance in her job and the
technician’s easygoingness that “everything will be
solved”... “Long Wave” also displays the world of radio
broadcasters. Quarrels between a veteran and an
inexperienced radio broadcaster, a macho man and
a feminist before him... The director reflects the two
radio broadcasters from the silver screen by using
clichés of the motion picture. What we have in the
end is an entertaining radio comedy.
Turkey’s most popular radio TRT FM offers a dynamic slot with magazine, music,
contest, and fun with “Authorized Dealer”... Captivating the audience with
humorous, sincere presentation and interactive features, the “Authorized Dealer”
is on TRT FM every week day between 11:00-13:00.
When the clocks hit 21:00 the people you love so much are on TRT FM
microphones: Enbe Orchestra, Behzat Gerçeker and Samsun Demir are on “Radio
Club” of İstanbul Radio; Erhan Konuk with “Studio Tempo”, “A Radio Program of
Superlatives” with popular DJs in Turkey; successful musician Eflatun and Banu
Karakuş with “A Saturday Memory”, and Soner Arıca with “However You Feel Like”
The winds of homeland blow from the Mediterranean. “From the
Mediterranean” program prepared by Antalya Radio for Memleketim FM is
with you live every Wednesday between 21:00-23:00...
Visit www.trtmemleketimfm.com
61
R A DYOviz yon
Media Representatives of 47
Countrıes Meet at UMAP
T
RT held the third “International Media Training Program”
(UMEP) between December 7 and 14 in Antalya. 115
media representatives from 47 countries, particularly
from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Balkans came
together in the city, where TRT shared its broadcasting
knowledge and experience with participating guests.
In the welcoming address, TRT Director General Şenol
Göka said the training program, in which representatives
of public and private media organizations from AsiaPacific Broadcasting Union and European Broadcasting
Union took part, was in fact a program of sharing
knowledge and experience. Göka said “We want to turn
TRT into an international training center” and underlined
that they want to improve cooperation among
organizations in the circumference of TRT.
Şenol Göka said they highly value being a training center
and added: “4K technology is a major leap in television
broadcasting. The same goes for DAB on radio… TRT will
once again play the leading role on this… Later on, we
will introduce DAB+. In time, we will offer the benefits of
Radio Awards
T
he powerful voice of Turkey and TRT in the world “The
Voice of Turkey Radio” added just another award to
its collection. “Our Soul Friends” (Gönül Dostlarımız)
produced by Özkan Akın aired every Thursday at
17:05 was selected as the best radio program of
the year. “Bests of the Year Awards” organized for
the second time by Moon Life magazine was held
in İstanbul. Presenter of the program, Hakan Sarıca
said in his acceptance speech: “We are very happy to
receive this award as TRT the Voice of Turkey Radio
on behalf of ‘Our Soul Friends’.” Lots of guests from
business, art and TV world were present at the award
ceremony.
7th “Worthy of Applause” (Alkışı Hak Edenler)
award ceremony organized by International Radio
Broadcasters Union was held at Pursaklar Selçuklu
Culture Center. TRT Radio Department Head Mrs.
Amber Türkmen was awarded as “Worthy of Applause
Executive of the Year” and TRT Radyo-3 was selected
as “Worthy of Applause Radio of the Year.”
62
Ekrem Özdemir
technology to our audiences. I believe training programs
like this are important for improving partnerships. TRT is
your TRT. TRT belongs to all of you. If a need arises, TRT
will do its best to answer to your needs. We are opening
TRT to you like a brother’s dining table. Please consider
TRT as the media organization of your country.”
Speaking at the meeting, TRT Deputy Director General
Erkan Durdu said the developments in communication
and media sector created a new generation and that
there is a need to produce new contents to keep up with
this new generation who communicate and express
their feelings and thoughts through their mobile devices.
As part of the UMEP seasoned experts from inside and
outside the organization in the fields of TV Broadcasting,
News Training, Radio Broadcasting, New Media,
Archive and IT Programs shared the half a century old
organizational experience and knowledge with foreign
guests. In the program backed up by informative
presentations on newest innovations and developments
in media, participants evaluated current developments.
At the end of one-week long program, participants were
given certificates.
Sultan Yanmaz | Aksel Koçak
Successful journalists were awarded at the Traditional
Press Awards and Hasan Özkay Photography Contest
organized by Antalya Journalists Community (AGC).
Süleyman Değer, one of the TRT Antalya Radio
producers was awarded as “Radio Broadcaster
of the Year” with his “Antalya New Year Special
through the Night” program. “Successful Journalists
of the Year” Award Ceremony organized annually
by Southeast Journalists Community (GGC) was
held. TRT GAP-Diyarbakır Radio program “From our
Region” (Yöremizden) was given the “2015 Radio
Program of the Year” award. Antalya Industrialists and
Businessmen Association (ANSIAD) traditional media
awards were delivered. “Those Who Left a Mark /
Tunes of the Strait” (İz Bırakanlar /Boğaz Havaları) radio
program of Mustafa Cansız was given the winning
prize in “Audio Media, Radio News Program” category.
Organized by TMMOB Urban Planners Chamber every
year as part of November 8 World Town Planning Day,
Town Planning Press Award was given to “City and
Life” (Kent ve Yaşam) program of Hasan Uğurlu in
Radio Broadcasting and News category. The program
is aired on TRT Radyo-1.
RADYO v i z y o n
to become intern artists by succeeding in a 7-stage
examination in which masters like Alaeddin Yavaşça,
Bekir Sıtkı Sezgin, Ferit Sıdal, Ahmet Hatipoğlu,
Saim Konakçı, and Ekrem Vural served as judges. I
experienced those feelings once again and saw the
same excitement in my young friends. I believe our
new voices will raise the bar higher and leave nice
echoes in the sky. They will correctly and beautifully
perform our music and pass it on to future generations.
We are ready to share our experiences with our new
artists. On behalf of myself and my friends, I wish them
all success in their artistic career.”
New voices echo
on the radio
Y
oung artists, who won TRT Vocal and Instrumental
Artists Examination have begun their work as internartists at Ankara Radio in November. TRT Director
General Şenol Göka brought the issue to the agenda and
with the contribution of TRT Executive Board Members,
Deputy Director Generals, Radio Department, Music
Department and Human Resources Department
candidates who successfully completed the 3-month
long examination process became the new voices of
TRT. First days of interns at the Radio House turned Ziya
Taşkent Studio into a festival ground.
Producing programs with daily live and recorded
performances of its own artists is what sets TRT apart
from the crowd. As a responsible organization for
passing on to future generations the rich cultural
and artistic tradition and diversity of our country, TRT
creates the most productive works in this field with
artists and art communities. As the flagbearers of this
tradition, these young artists, who joined TRT staff will
take their places in history.
TRT Ankara Radio Turkish Classical Music Manager
and vocal artist Cemile Uncu expressed her thoughts
as follows: “My eyes were full of tears on the first day
of my young colleagues. In 1983, after a challenging
training marathon, my friends and I earned our right
ion
TRT Radios Coordinat
Meeting
Ottoman period in
Harem Ballet
Olgu Tokdemir
"I
nter-radios Program Planning and Assessment
Meeting", in which broadcast streams of TRT radio
stations for 2016 were determined, was held in
Trabzon in the first week of November.
TRT Director General Şenol Göka, Deputy Director
General Erkan Durdu, Radio Department Head Amber
Türkmen, Foreign Relations Department Head Çağlan
Tankur Yörümez, External Services Department Head
Dr. Süleyman Erdal, Transmitter Operations Department
Head Recep Yurduseven, Advertising Department
Head Ahmet Akçakaya and representatives from other
departments of the organization and managers of
related radio stations were present at the meeting.
At the 3-day long meeting, 2016 production and
broadcasting schedules of Radyo 1, TRT FM, Radyo
3, TRT Nağme, TRT Türkü stations; Antalya, Çukurova,
Erzurum, GAP Diyarbakır, Trabzon Regional Radios,
and TRT Kent Radios were determined. The meeting,
which focused on expectations and goals of TRT Radio
stations’ broadcasting strategy, ended with the closing
address of TRT Director General Şenol Göka.
Sultan Yanmaz
H
aving been performed for 17 years, the Harem Ballet is
with art lovers in Ankara once again. TRT instrumental
artists are also contributing to Harem. Popular TRT
vocal artist Cemile Uncu has also been performing
on the stage for 2 years.
TRT Ankara Radio Turkish Classical Music Manager
and vocal performer Cemile Uncu says: “Never
before sung pieces are now being performed by
Ankara Radio artists. As a vocal artist I also joined my
friends. I hope the audience enjoys our performance.”
Choreographer of Harem Merih Çimenciler says they
played Turkish Classical Music in reference to the
Ottoman era for the play is a synthesis of the east
and west. Çimenciler also said that Harem has been
meeting audiences for 17 years full-house.
Harem Ballet opened its doors for the first time in
1998 on the 700th anniversary of the foundation
of Ottoman Empire. It tells the story of fights in the
palace for the throne, days in the harem, the life
of Kösem Sultan and the battle of odalisques for
power.
63
R A DYOviz yon
R
A
D
Y
O
V
Rİ
A
Z
D
Y
Y
O
O
N
V
İ
Z
Y
O
N
first came sound
O
nce upon a time there was a little girl who would
always dream she was hugging a big tiger. Her
biggest dream was to place her head in that thick
and warm fur beneath which heartbeats were heard.
She would cry due to many reasons and dream the
tiger on those nights when her pillow was wet with
her tears...
As time went by the little girl grew up and became
a young girl. One day, she was looking at a tiger
in a zoo where she went every now and again in
pursuit of her childhood dream. All of a sudden, the
tiger jumped towards the cage roaring. The girl was
afraid at first but actually the tiger was asking her
to play with him. He was making sounds like a cat
who wanted to be stroked and jumping backwards
and forwards. The girl responded to this call, started
jumping in harmony with the tiger and saying terms
of endearment. All visitors were watching them
astonishingly. On that day, the young girl learned to
love and to hug without touching.
Şirin Sümer
were not talked to or touched, died less than one
year of age whereas babies who were cuddled while
being fed and touched did not die.
Our sorrows stem from this, don’t they dear reader?
Aren’t you ill at ease most of the time because your
head is not caressed? Isn’t life easier when there is a
bosom where you take refuge by running away from
all evil in life?
You know best that sound is as warm as a human
hand dear reader. If neither of the two exists, then you
lose the joy of life. Don’t you like us, radio broadcasters,
for this reason? Because we always hug you with our
voice. So, you never feel lonely. This is the most known
side of the story. The less known side of the story is
ours.anniversary
When hugging youof
withits
ourstronger
voice and breath,
“Radyovizyon is celebrating the first
we do not tell much of what is going on in the world
than ever reunion with readers. The
magazine has become a
inside us. We need you too...Talking to you makes us
breath, a voice for radio broadcasters
in our
the with
feel better...The
bondcountry
that we haveand
established
youthis
is curative.
We are on
world. I want everyone to consider
success
astheamicrophone
pledge every
for day
As you know dear reader, sometimes we fondle and
to hear your heartbeat and hug you with our voice...
achievements.
” eyes.
kiss future
without touching;
we hug with our
To bury our heart in your warm life...
Naturally, touching is as magical as sounds. May
be you have heard of this story. Once upon a time
pharaohs and kings wondered what language
primitive men spoke.” What would be the first word
that a baby would say if no one spoke near him/
her?” they asked. They conducted an experiment on
babies. They took the babies from their families and
only fed them when they were hungry. Babies who
64
Şenol Göka
are going toTRT
listen toDirector
a radio stationGeneral
now. You will find
This article ends here, dear reader. I know that you
your voice among frequencies. We will hug and be
one another’s cure.
If you wonder about the young girl... She grew up over
the years and one day a wonderful thing happened
to her. She became a radio broadcaster...
[email protected]
5
“Radyovizyon is celebrating the first anniversary of its stronger
than ever reunion with readers. The magazine has become a
breath, a voice for radio broadcasters in our country and the
world. I want everyone to consider this success as a pledge for
future achievements.”
Şenol Göka
TRT Director General