Young Nepalese Attracted to Radio Broadcasting

Desire for fame and to serve the country

A young man Learning the radio anchoring (photo: agency)

With the expanding growth of electronic media in Nepal, the attraction of youth towards the radio anchoring profession has been increasing. In addition, the heightening number of F.M. (frequency modulation) radio stations and their ever-increasing popularity has fueled the fire. Most F.M. Stations, which were established after 1990 when the government began issuing permits for their operation, have primarily young anchors.

The number of F.M. stations allowed by government to operate has reached 136 throughout the country to date, with 33 frequencies in Kathmandu Valley alone. Among them over one and a half dozen stations are being operated, while some more are in test broadcast and some are preparing to broadcast.

Rajendra Baniya from Gurkha District has been anchoring for five years. Mr. Baniya, working for Times F.M. (the most famous F.M. station in Nepal), has been running an interview-based program from the start. He says, "youths are attracted towards radio anchoring because it is also a glamorous field."

Many people have different theories about the appeal of radio anchoring to young people. The station manager of Radio Upatyaka, Mr. Yubraj Bhattarai, says, "youths are attracted towards radio anchoring because its one aspect is quick popularity and contact with a huge number of listeners at once. And another aspect is it includes things to guide the society."

Similarly, another radio program presenter of Times F.M., Am Bantawa, says, "youth attraction towards radio anchoring is also because youth can guide the society by demonstrating their knowledge, skill, and art. It is also a medium for quick popularity and to get established in the media sector.”

For some, radio anchoring has turned out to be a profession, while other take it as a hobby or matter of interest only. Deepak Giri, a trainee from a training center in the capital, says that though he does not have any plan to become a professional anchor, since he began radio anchoring training, he became interested in it. "The art of radio anchoring, develops personality and expands the communication skill," he said.

For those who take the art of radio anchoring as a profession, it is not just a hobby or matter of interest; rather it is also challenging opportunity and a responsible job. For a radio anchor, the art of anchoring is a great opportunity to serve the nation.

Anchoring is also a major part of journalism. An anchor should perform various responsibilities and face various challenges in order to give correct direction to the nation via radio journalism. Nirmal Aryal, who is working as a newsreader at Nepal F.M., says, "An anchor's small mistake might cause a huge accident. But he should always be responsible for his mistake."

This shows how much power anchors have for misuse of their authority. Another F.M. Program presenter, Bishnu Devkota, also takes the anchoring as opportunity, challenge and responsibility. "We can heartily serve the nation. The responsibility of speeding up the nation's development is incorporated to us, the radio anchors and media men too," he says.

Radio anchoring is well-recognized as a profession to gain fame, prosperity, and a job. "I have gained a name, a little bit of money, and a busy work schedule too, by anchoring at an F.M. station," says Bishnu Prabhat, the station sub-manager and program presenter of Bijaya F.M. in Gaidakot, Nawalparasi District. He adds, "95 percent of radio anchors are youths between 20 to 30 years of age."

Rajendra Baniya also wants to join the lineup among ones gaining name and job. He says, "Radio anchoring has given me an identity and helped for my presence in the intellectual arena." But he says that though anchoring is on way to professionalism, it is not strong enough on the economic side.

Not just anybody can become popular by just being an anchor. A station's popularity depends upon the anchor's popularity, and anchors become popular according to radio's popularity. Dhiraj Khanal, who is working as a program presenter in Nepal's only National and A.M. Band radio (Radio Nepal) says, "a station's reliability and popularity depends on the quality and type of program presented by the anchor. So, for one's own and the station's popularity, the anchor should present quality programs according to the listener's interest.” Rajendra Baniya also has similar view. He says, "A capable radio anchor should be a good citizen; he/she should be capable of providing the the listeners a combination of information and communication."

Radio Anchoring is an important aspect of mass communication. It is not just a profession, but a responsible field for sustainable development of the nation. Youths are attracted to radio anchoring and radio journalism as the guardians of the nation. In addition to serving the nation as part of the fourth estate, the wish for gaining fame, prosperity, and respect is another attractive side of radio anchoring. With the growth of F.M. radio, the participation of young anchors can easily be taken as the pulse of the nation's majority of conscious and active youths.

Published 2007-03-19 15:42 (KST) on ohmynews.com click here to visit origine site.