DILI, 23 august 2021 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Communications (SECOMS) organizes a one-day national workshop on digital radio broadcasting for managers and journalists of 16 community radio stations in Timor-Leste.
The 16 community radio stations include Community Radio of Maliana, Community Radio of Sahe Bucoli Baucau, Community Radio of Iliwali Manatuto, Community Radio of Cavataroman Covalima, Community Radio of Tokodede Liquica, Community Radio of Fox Populi Lautem, Community Radio of Comoro Village, Community Radio of 1912 Manufahi, Community Radio of Viqueque, Community Radio of Manucoco Atauro Island, Community Radio of Café Ermera, Community Radio of Raihusar Aileu, Community Radio of Tatamailau Ainaro, Community Radio of Atoni Lifau OeCusse, and the Community Radio of Mauloko Maubisse.
Nine journalists and 13 managers of the 16 community radio stations attended the one-day workshop, while the managers and journalists of the three community radio stations, including Community Radio of Café Ermera, Community Radio of Tatamailau Ainaro, and the Community Radio of the Atoni Lifau Oecusse were absent due to Covid-19.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the State Secretary for Communications, Merício Juvinal dos Reis ‘Akara’ said the aim of realizing the workshop was to increase the capacity of the managers and journalists of the community radio on digital radio broadcasting.
“Such a workshop was an important opportunity for the managers and journalists of the community radio to learn new knowledge and skills to build up their current experiences. Nowadays we are in the digital era, therefore, you have to embrace the digital more and more in your daily service, and adapt yourselves to the new digital technology,” Akara made the comments during the workshop at JL-Villa, in Dili, today.
He said the radio listening habits among rural audiences may have changed due to the new technology, saying nowadays people can listen to radio everywhere via smartphones.
“I know some of the community radios have utilized the digital broadcasting such as the website of the community radion and live streaming program. As far as I know, some of the journalists of the community radio still lack the skill needed on the digital radio broadcasting, thus, this workshop is important for these journalists to increase and adapt themselves to the new skills,” said Akara.
In addition, the National Director of Local Media Promotion and Development (DNPDML), Jose da Costa called on the 16 community radio stations to use digital broadcasting properly to combat Hoaxes in the communities.
He said the 16 community radio stations in Timor-Leste had been utilizing the live streaming since 2019, saying the live streaming program focusing on the socio-economic and health activities of the communities in the municipalities.
“Through the website and live streaming program, Timorese people overseas, particularly in Indonesia, South Korea, UK, Ireland, Portugal, and Australia can access to information of community life in the rural areas across the country,” said Costa.
At the same place, the Manager of the Tokodede Community Radio, in Liquica Municipality, Eduardo Exposto said the workshop was important to boost their skills in radio digital broadcasting.
“Apart from traditional analog, we also had disseminated information via the website and live streaming. But we still have difficulties on how to optimize the utilization of digital radio broadcasting. I suggested to SECOMS to organize more training on writing online news, particularly for website and live streaming news,” said Exposto.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
