ASIA

Radio documentary kicks off 100 Years of Broadcasting in the Philippines celebrations

The University of the Philippines (UP) officially launched the celebration of 100 Years of Broadcasting in the Philippines (100 YBP) with a documentary presentation and webinar hosted by the Department of Broadcast Communication (DBC) of the College of Mass Communication (CMC) in UP Diliman, on June 29.The documentary “Wika, Awit, Radyo, at Pananakop” tackles the origins and development of radio broadcasting in the Philippines, from the American Colonial period to the post-World War 2 era, as radios became more accessible and part of everyday life. This documentary, produced and written by Professor Elizabeth Enriquez and directed by Maps Arciga, utilized animation, archival videos, and printed sources. It asserts how broadcasting was first used as a colonial apparatus, but later adopted for local purposes. Tagalog and other Filipino languages took centerstage in the story, being formative to the medium’s acculturation process.UP President Danilo Concepcion, UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano, and UPD CMC Dean Fernando Paragas delivered their messages of support for the webinar and centenary celebrations. Concepcion acknowledged the role of UP educators and alumni in shaping mass communication in the country, especially in spreading accurate and valuable information through radio and television and keeping the broadcasting industry alive.In the documentary, Enriquez explained that the Americans used broadcasting as an effective tool for colonization until it became helpful to local businesses and integrated into Filipino culture. “It was part of the American strategy to reshape the consciousness of Filipinos in the American cultural mold. The English language and popular music from the West were first heard on the radio and used as the standard by Filipino broadcasters. While Filipino listeners enthusiastically adopted the foreign sound, it did not take long for Tagalog and kundiman to enter the soundwaves.”The Japanese were the new colonizers during World War II. According to the documentary, they “attempted to purge America from Filipino consciousness. Tagalog and other local languages and local musical compositions and folk songs enjoyed airtime. Still, English and American music were not wiped out while Filipinos hardly learned Nihongo and did not become accustomed to Japanese music.”“After the war, broadcasting spread throughout the country. The English language and popular music from the United States were back on the air. But so were Tagalog and other Filipino languages as new radio stations began operating in the provinces. Filipino singers and musicians performing on the air attained fame, especially when the local music recording industry took off,” Enriquez added. […]

ASIA

Ben Cooper to join Radiodays Asia as headline speaker

Radiodays Asia 2022 has announced as a headline speaker Bauer Media Audio UK’s Chief Content and Music Officer Ben Cooper.Cooper joined Bauer Media Audio UK in 2020 and holds the role of Chief Content and Music Officer in which he oversees much-loved audio brands including Absolute Radio, KISS, Magic Radio and Hits Radio Networks. Ben has a wealth of experience having worked for over 20 years within the radio, music and live music industry and having previously worked at both the BBC and within commercial radio. He has a strong track record of leading and developing successful teams to deliver creative content alongside strategic, bold decision-making driving digital innovation and change in order to meet the new ways audiences consume and interact. Prior to joining Bauer, Ben was Controller of BBC Radio 1, Radio 1Xtra & Asian Network.The conference also announced more new speakers.Heyang Zhou is the multi-award-winning host of Round Table, the premier radio talk show that discusses issues affecting China and the world. The live broadcast is then rolled into podcasts which makes it the most popular English language podcast that emanates from China. The show has been honoured with the accolade Top Podcast and Classic Podcast on Apple Podcast in the region in 2019 and 2020, respectively.Natalie Pozdeev is a media education specialist, with expertise in practice-based radio, journalism and digital content training. She is currently Program Convenor at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), where she leads the radio and podcasting team.Nessa McGann founded McGann Media, a radio consultancy business focusing on audio training, funding, and talent development in October 2020. Part of the start-up of the Irish Regional Youth Music station SPIN South West in 2007, she was programme director and then station manager, delivering the station a number 1 market position. Previously station manager at Wired FM, Nessa also worked as a freelance reporter and news journalist for RTÉ Cork and Lyric FM.Radiodays Asia 2022 will be held in-person and online on September 6 and 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.This will be the third edition of the new conference from the team who produces Radiodays Europe, the world’s largest and leading conference for radio and audio development, in collaboration with broadcaster organisations in the Asia-Pacific.

Radiodays Asia includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, leading experts and professionals from around Asia, Australia and across the world. Topics ranging from radio and podcast strategy, new digital developments, successful formats and content development, fact checking and investigative journalism, podcast storytelling and business, social media, audio advertising, sales and the latest research about consumer behaviour. The most important trends and new ideas worldwide in one place.The main conference runs over two days with two parallel tracks of sessions. It will have meet-ups and interactive sessions as part of the programme to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas. There will also be an exhibition area where you can learn the latest about services from our commercial partners. In addition, four educational training workshops will be included in the offer, as well as an evening networking event.Click here to register with the Early Bird Price before July 15. […]

ASIA

Philippines: 62-yr old radio broadcaster shot dead

Federico “Ding” Gempesaw, a radio political commentator in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines was shot and killed by masked gunmen on June 29.Gempesaw, 62, hosted a block-time program Bitayan sa kahanginan (Gallows on-air) on Radyo Natin, a local broadcaster.He was a staunch supporter of the late Cagayan de Oro mayor Vicente Emano who made him head of the city hall office that manages the local government-owned markets.According to witnesses, Gempesaw had just stepped down from his taxi outside his home when masked gunmen on a motorcycle shot him twice and fled.The attack, which is the first media killing in the city, took place on the eve of the assumption of presidency by the country’s new president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.Journalists in Cagayan de Oro expressed worry that the killing could signal the start of attacks on media workers in the city and called on the President to look into the killings of media workers and start bringing their killers to justice.He was the 24th and last media worker killed since 2016 when former president Rodrigo Duterte rose to power, and the 196th since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986, based on data from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). […]