Guest commentary

Maja Braun, Coordinating Editor, Programs for Africa

Along with providing global audiences with quality news and information, we think international broadcasters should also be responsible for education, especially on social issues and topics that are a part of what Deutsche Welle stands for, such as democracy, civil rights and intercultural dialogue. And that is why we are always looking for new, innovative ways to make education work in different regions around the world – like, for example, in Africa.

Unlike other regions around the globe that have seen FM, shortwave and AM lose tremendous amounts of users in the last 15 years, radio has remained very important to people in Africa looking for information. It’s a big part of the media landscape and continues to draw listeners week in and week out. We have also seen a huge boom in mobile usage – the number of subscribers has increased by at least 20 percent in each of the last five years.

When we first developed Learning by Ear in 2008, we wanted to give young Africans – even those who cannot read or access the Internet – the opportunity to get information on important issues that would improve their lives immediately and in the future. It was important for listeners to learn, but we also wanted to keep them entertained. That is why we mainly use radio dramas to deliver the message of topics that are not taught in school.  Learning by Ear now plays a big role in the lives of many young people in Africa, offering radio dramas and feature stories on a variety of topics, ranging from political and societal issues to economic, health and environmental issues.

By working with mobile partners in Africa in the last few years, we have also been able to reach out to a new demographic and, hopefully, increase the level of social education among their customers. The unique, audio-based content is split up into individual series and segments – which makes it great for mobile consumption.

After five years and 42 different series with ten episodes each covering everything from health and hygiene to globalization, entrepreneurs and African success stories, we felt it was time for a change. We wanted to improve on the already successful format by providing a narrative that would help these young listeners in their daily lives; a story which accompanies them throughout the year instead of changing the scene every ten weeks.

With Crossroads Generation, we have created a Learning by Ear series which follows four characters as they confront challenges and learn from their mistakes. Listeners can get to know the characters better and will be more invested in what happens to them on the show. The episodes will deal with many issues simultaneously and the storyline will build on itself throughout the season.

The new format will also inspire young listeners to reflect on what they’ve heard and form their own opinions. One episode for example confronts teenage pregnancy and the actress decides to have an abortion. This decision is presented in a non-judgmental manner that allows for listeners to decide where they stand for themselves. There will also be a discussion platform available on Facebook where the audience can voice their ideas and opinions.

Other improvements include an online video-blog that will accompany every second episode and also adds a visual flavor to the series for the first time. The audience gets a look  behind the scenes and insight into how the characters feel. The video-blog will be included on the website and Facebook page. Their will also be a Learning by Ear theme song featured in each of the program’s six languages.

We are hoping that with this new series, we will be able to win over even more listeners and give them insights into how to help shape their own lives to be successful.

 

DW’s distribution executives are in in Johannesburg, South Africa this week looking to find new ideas for Africa-oriented television programming. DW has been a trusted voice on the radio for decades in Africa and is now seeking to go deeper into the television market with programming tailored for African audiences. For the past year, DW’s flagship English channel has been available via DTH satellite in Africa.

DISCOP Africa was launched in 2008 and this year’s convention in Johannesburg, South Africa is expected to attract 2000 delegates from 70 countries. International content producers will gain insight and access into African markets and African based producers at the convention will have a platform to promote their content for international distribution.
DW has consistently been a valuable part of the African media landscape– bringing reliable news, entertainment and education to every corner of the continent. For 50 years DW has been broadcasting radio in Kiswahili and also provides news services in Hausa and Amharic. Educational radio programs like Learning by Ear shed light on social issues and help improve people’s lives. If you’re at the convention be sure to stop by and see everything DW has to offer in Africa.

Our team from Global Ideas has never shied from adventures. They have been to the forests in New Guinea and Guyana, in the Favela in Rio de Janeiro, the coral reefs of Vanuatu and the streets of Mumbai. But the latest webdoc takes on even more unchartered territory – with a virtual safari in the Serengeti. Reporters from Global Ideas spent two weeks in May on the East-African savannah and recorded a majestic world. They witnessed the wildebeest migration and got close-up lions, zebras, rhinos and many other colourful creatures. The Serengeti is also in danger and the documentary brings experts together to explain how vulnerable this precious natural reserve really is. The project was produced in close cooperation with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).

Serengeti – Toward an Uncertain Future combines breathtaking photography with high definition video and audio to give you a fascinating multimedia experience, deep inside the animal kingdom.

 

For half a century, DW has been broadcasting reliable news and information in Kiswahili to listeners in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region. DW celebrated this anniversary today with an event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by bringing opinion leaders together for a discussion on “Knowledge and Awareness through Media”. Keynotes were held by the German Ambassador, Klaus-Peter Brandes and Andrea Schmidt, head of DW’s Kiswahili Service.

“The majority of our listeners live here in Tanzania so it was an obvious choice for our celebration,” said Andrea Schmidt. “For the last 50 years, DW has been committed to providing balanced news and reliable information, offering people in East Africa insights and detailed analysis on the issues that matter most.”

The panel discussion at the event was organized with the help of GIZ in Dar es Salaam and moderated by DW’s Mohammed Khelef. Participants included distinguished Tanzanian media professionals likeAssah Andrew Mwambene (Director of Tanzania Information Services / Maelezo), Mohamed Abdulrahman (DW), Jenerali Ulimwengu (journalist), Valerie Msoka (Director of TAMWA) and Maggid Mjengwa (social media expert).

DW’s Kiswahili Service broadcasts daily three hours to East Africa and the Great Lakes region. By working with partner stations throughout the region, DW is able to provide listeners via FM balanced coverage of what is going on in the world in general and in Africa in particular. To provide this international perspective, a team of journalists from five African countries works together with a network of correspondents. Kiswahili programming is one of the most popular that DW offers. DW has integrated award-winning educational content with Learning by Ear and a huge variety of features covering health, human rights, environment, women and development, youth and lifestyle and culture.

This week, DW is showcasing its wide range of programming options at DISCOP Africa in Johannesburg. The conference is billed as the “No. 1 event dedicated to the commerce, the production and the distribution of multiscreen, television content across Africa.”

DW will showcase its 24-hour English-to-Africa channel as well as DW’s switch to a SES-5 satellite transmission, which makes DW programming available for free, direct-to-home. The lineup of documentaries available through Transtel will also be presented. Discop Africa takes place from October 31 to November 1.