CRITIQUE BY PETER K. MWANGANGI (08-0766)

FOCUS ON AFRICA AND DIRA YA RADIO CITIZEN

I chose ‘Focus on Africa’-a news programme aired on the BBC Network Africa 93.9fm in Nairobi. I then compared it to ‘Dira ya Radio Citizen’ a comprehensive news programme aired at 7pm on 106.7 Radio Citizen. Focus on Africa runs for 30 minutes (from 1500 hours to 1532hours) from Monday to Friday. It is aired live in the English language. There is also a Swahili version of the programme. Dira ya Radio citizen is aired daily. It does not have a particular time line, but runs for 15 minutes on average and is in Swahili.
I started listening to BBC on 6th September 2010 and critically too to Dira ya Radio Citizen. The format for all the subsequent programs aired is almost the same, with just few adjustments here and there.
The following is a comprehensive analysis of the two programs.
PRESENTERS
The BBC has reporters from all over Africa. They include Uduak Amimo, Josphat Makori, Rachael Akidi, Damian Zane, Muloro Telewa, Wanyama Chebusiri, and Kevin Mwachiro among others. These reporters are stationed all over Africa. Peter Doro is the presenter of the programme ‘Focus on Africa’.
Dira ya Radio citizen has many reporters stationed in different parts of Kenya. They go outside the country only when there are major news of interest to the Kenyan audience. The presenters for this programme are Josphat Odipo assisted at times by Jilani wa Mbura. Other reporters include Vincent Afande, June Dezina Vel and Lincoln Njogu.

PLOT OF THE PROGRAMME
BBC Focus on Africa
This is a news program which focuses on the current happenings and occurrences on the African continent. It covers events occurring in each country in Africa comprehensively. These range from political, social, economical and many other issues. The news angle is neutral and balanced, hence doesn’t bring out any stereotypes. The programme runs for 30 minutes.
Dira ya radio Citizen
This news programme highlights only the major occurrences in Kenya and around the world. It has the major news segment, sports segment, weather forecast (Utabiri wa hali ya anga). The last segment is a sponsored proverb section called ‘Busara ya Wahenga’. The proverb is normally in any native of their choice but is translated by the reader.

IDEA ORIGINALITY
BBC Focus on Africa
The idea of covering and presenting news is not a new thing. However, the way of presentation of the BBC is an original idea. The comprehensive coverage of news includes live interviews; reporters presenting news live from their location sin such a clear way and the preciseness. Furthermore, there are very few radio stations doing a major cover up of almost all the occurrences in Africa. If they do, it’s not with much depth as with BBC. The idea of also presenting such in a period of 30 minutes is also commendable.

Dira ya radio Citizen
Many fm stations in Kenya do news coverage and presentations, but some do it superficially. However, Citizen Radio has reporters based almost in all places. There are some live feeds from reporters during some major occurrences, but this isn’t the case mostly. When compared to BBC however, Citizen Radio does a comprehensive coverage of news from different regions in Kenya, unlike the BBC which covers all Africa.
PRODUCTION QUALITY
Signals for both radio stations are very clear in Nairobi and its environs (which includes Athi-River).
BBC Focus on Africa
Audio and sound effects are well composed and are deliberately used. The reporters use this to take one (through imagination) to the scene of the occurrences of what is being reported. The presenters’ tonal variations are very excellent and one is able to hear correctly the first and last letters of a word. They bring out the mood also well. Music is used as a signature tune to introduce the programme. There is also a good continuity in the programme, with no dead air. Listeners are always informed on what’s coming next.
Dira ya radio Citizen
This is almost the same case as in BBC. However, music is used to develop the mood of the news segments. For example, music with a high tempo is used for the sports news.

WORLDVIEW AND POSSIBLE AGENDA
In both BBC’s Focus on Africa and Dira ya Radio Citizen, there is no worldview presented since the news are balanced and neutral. The agenda presented on are just the major news occurrences without opinions either from the reporters, presenters or even the listeners.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY
For the BBC, I would bring in a few music segments. Listening to news items simultaneously and for such a time length could be boring to many listeners, especially now when the listener has many choices. It’s very easy for the listener to switch to other radio stations offering entertainment.
For Citizen Radio, I would lengthen the time length for the news presentation to cover almost all occurrences both in Kenya and across Africa.

CONCLUSION
The BBC is doing a commendable job in the coverage of African news. However, they should not be oblivious of the other radio stations competing to have the audience. These include fm stations offering entertainment and also news items. All in all, they are a force to recon with in news coverage in Africa. Comparing it to radio citizen opened up my mind to the seriousness that deserves and that needs to be put in news production. There is more to it than just doing news, it must be well presented.

By Peter Mwangangi (08-0766)