The Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB), in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and IMBA, organized a training course on radio and social media in Kathmandu this week
The five day course was designed to incorporate various apps and social media tools that can optimize radio broadcasting services and increase audiences. International media trainer Steve Ahern conducted the training for 21 participants.
The training focused on practical aspects of the subject matters where the participants were engaged with group work and individual tasks in addition to relevant theoretical aspects within the whole training session. Steve Ahern said the course is designed specially to motivate Nepal’s community radio to be engaged with audiences by using social media, which will ultimately benefit both audiences and radio stations.
Steve Ahern is presented with a momento and a Topi cap from Communications Minister Rai
All the participants were happy to be a part of this training:
“It was very useful training that gave us both theoretical practical knowledge and skill to be connected to our audiences through radio with new way i.e. social media,” said community broadcaster Indira Aryal.
“We were using Facebook to give enough information to audience and collect some money but we will increase its use in future,” said Gyanendra Niraula, station manager of Radio Sargam Jhapa.
According to Khagendra Khatri editor of Radio Nepal, the training was very meaningful for his organization because they were not using social media very well. “We will use as much as I get more information from the training.”
To this end, the training targeted towards community radio broadcasters first covered the essential facts on social media, including its causes and consequences, and the current level of public knowledge of these facts. Secondly, the training focused on the smart phone apps particular role in broadcasting, and provides case studies and discussion to demonstrate how the media can accomplish this role successfully.
This training has brought together journalists from different spheres of media, including TV, radio and print. The trainer encouraged all the participants to contextualize the international learning of social media in Nepal. It is believed the training will add value to community radio broadcasters and audiences, connecting both parties to boost two way communication by maximizing the use of Social media.
“The training has given me the insightful knowledge and skill to blend all kind of new media which ultimately benefits both audiences and broadcast managers,” said Om Prakash Ghimire.
“The training has given me a diverse knowledge about social media and it was more useful to make a new program in my radio,” said Manuka Kunwar.
During a presentation at the end of the course, Communications Minister Rai endorsed a social media friendly policy for Nepal into the future.
During the course participants learnt how to use twitter, to choose successful hashtags and to embed posts, such as the ones below.