Activities

Project Activities

Community Radio/Audio program

In 2000 KSNG established a radio broadcasting station in three camps, transmitting the signal on FM frequency band (88-108) as a pilot project. Currently, there are broadcasting stations at five refugees camps; Umphiem Mai camp, Mae La camp, Mae La Oo camp, Nupo camp, and Mae Ra Moe camp. (See detailed description of each camp radio station below.)

The radio program broadcasts news updates on cultural news, environmental issues, health, education, human rights, and music. There is also a music request section called the ‘listener corner’, which takes place two times a week.

The KSNG office Mae Sot oversees the camp-based community radio stations. The radio program manager and three reporters work closely with the camp-based staff. The Mae Sot-based staff are responsible for purchasing and transporting supplies for daily broadcasts in the camps. They record weekly Karen news and send it to the camps for broadcast. Mae Sot-based staff also provide basic journalism training, conduct monitoring visits, and write project reports. KSNG radio project staff send the weekly radio broadcasts to Kwekalu, an online Karen newsletter.

The camp-based stations are administrated by young people and students trained by the KSNG journalism club in each camp. They are responsible for collecting news, editing, reporting, interviewing, and planning for daily broadcasts. The one-hour news program broadcasts seven days a week. This program also includes talk shows and mini-dramas about issues affecting Karen and Burmese communities.

Training

Over the last several years, KSNG staff has organized several trainings to build capacity for the Mae Sot-based staff to create an effective journalism program. KSNG staff has in-turn provided ongoing training for the journalism clubs in each camp. In 2009 KSNG staff has trained about 60 young people in four camps on the Introduction of the Role of the Radio Journalist, Qualities of Good Journalism, What Is News, Qualities of good news, How to Talk on the Radio, How to Write News, How to do feature, How to Use Audio Recording Equipment, and Interview Techniques.

Information gathering inside Karen State

In 2006 KSNG conducted information exchanges with Karen communities in Burma to let them talk about the situation in their village or community. This activity encourages Karen people to be aware of freedom of expression within the Karen community. KSNG maintains contact with sources inside Karen State for news updates.

To get an inside Karen state news we have district leader satellite phone number and we contact with them once a week. We also get inside information from KNU head quarter office through the email. In June 2009 KSNG published a special feature on the clashes between the Burmese army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a breakaway group, began with troops of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Burma. This feature was broadcast by Radio Free Asia and Kwekalu website, this feature highlighted the ongoing struggle of internally displaced people in Karen State. KSNG journalists in different camp cover their community news and also translated some Burmese news from other media in their own language and broadcast it. Mostly, we cover Karen news in every issue that happen in everywhere and some other ethnic news too.

Listener survey

Since the beginning of KSNG radio project in 2001, there are more and more number of the audience who listen to the camp radio programs. Radio staffs are actively paying attention to evaluate their listeners. Started from early year 2007, we did the survey in Mae La Oo camp, we print out 100 sheets of survey and give it to some listeners then our radio staff collects it later. Also KSNG put letter boxes in the camp to get comments and feedbacks from radio audiences and they also use KSNG radio letter box to request music and sometimes they send advice letter to radio staffs to improve the radio production and program. In this year 2009 we have done the survey in Mae La Oo, Mae Ra Moe and Mae La camp. In early 2010 KSNG will conduct a new listener survey to evaluate its radio programs again.

Camp radio stations

Mae La camp station: The first KSNG radio station was established in Mae La camp in 2001. Initially, KSNG only broadcast to 50 houses because the power of the transmitter was very weak. In 2003 KSNG received a bigger transmitter (10 Watts), allowing the broadcast to reach the whole camp. Daily one-hour have continued since this time. Currently there are 30 radio program staff in Mae La camp, including high school students and teachers.

Mae La radio team:

Programmer                                  Saw Hu Wah

Assistant Programmer               Naw Heh Nar

Radio engineer                             Saw Kaw Khu

Staff                                                 15 staff (reporters, presenters and news readers)

Volunteers                                    10 volunteers

Mae La Oo camp station: Mae Lah Oo radio station was founded in October 2001 at the KSNG mid-term meeting before the old camp Mae Kong Kah moved to its new site. At that time the weak transmitter and the mountainous terrain limited the scope of KSNG’s radio audience. Among the five camps where KSNG broadcasts, Mae Lah Oo is the furthest from Mae Sot; this posed logistical challenges for improving the radio station. In 2004 KSNG obtained a stronger transmitter (10 Watts) for the Mae Lah Oo station and since then daily broadcasts have reached the entire camp. Mae Lo Oo radio staff collaborate with Mae Rah Moe radio staff, as these two camps are relatively close geographically.

Mae La Oo team:

Programmer                                  Naw Triesar

Assistant Programmer               Naw Lu Lu Thaw

Radio engineer                              Saw Aung Min Soe

Staff                                                 10 staff (reporters, presenters and news readers)

Volunteers                                     15 volunteers

Umphiem Mai camp station: Umphiem Mai’s community radio program began in May 2002.  Initially, the 5.2-Watt transmitter only reached Zone B. In 2008 KSNG installed a 10-Watt transmitter, which allows the broadcast to reach the entire camp. Daily broadcasts air Monday through Sunday.

Umphium Mai team:

Programmer                             Naw Hsit Hsar Paw

Assistant Programmer          Saw Myint

Radio engineer                         Naw April Paw

Staff                                            10 staff (reporters, presenters and news readers)

Volunteers                                15 volunteers

Mae Ra Moe Camp station: In December 2006, KSNG opened Mae Rao Moe’s radio station. The transmitter currently reaches six out of seven sections, and broadcasts air seven days a week. In this camp KSNG receives support from camp committees, parents, health workers, and environmental workers. Some community workers participate in broadcasting messages for the community.

Mae Ra Moe team:

Programmer                                   Saw Eh Ni Doh Soe

Assistant Programmer               Naw Hser Eh Lay

Radio engineer                              Saw Htoo Lwe

Staff                                                10 staff (day reporters, presenters, and news readers)

Volunteers                                    10 volunteers

Noh Poe camp station: In June 2008 Noh Poe camp launched its community radio program. KSNG installed a 10-Watt transmitter which allows radio broadcasts to reach the whole camp. As the newest radio program for KSNG, this station is still finding its feet. Daily broadcasts air seven days a week.

Noh Poe team:

Programmer                                   Saw Klo Wah

Assistant Programmer               Naw Hsit

Radio engineer                              Saw Hsar K’saw

Staff                                                 10 staff  (day reporters, presenters, and news readers)