Successful Radio and Social Media Training held in Nepal

Successful Radio and Social Media Training held in Nepal

The Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB), in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), organised a training course on Radio and Social Media in Kathmandu, Nepal from 23 – 27 November 2015.

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. The course was designed to motivate Nepal's community radio to be engaged with audiences by using social media, which will ultimately benefit both audiences and radio stations.

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 organisation because they were not using social media very well. "We will use as much as I get more information from the training.”

The training first covered the essential facts about 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 particularly their role in broadcasting, and provided case studies and discussion to demonstrate how broadcasters can accomplish their role successfully using social media.

This training brought together journalists from different spheres of media, including TV, radio and print. The trainer encouraged all the participants to contextualize the international learning about social media in the Nepal media environment.

The training is expected to 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.

Steve Ahern is presented with a momento and a Nepali topi (cap) from Minister, Mr Sherdhan Rai from Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

During a presentation at the end of the course, Information and Communication Technology Minister Rai endorsed a social media friendly policy for Nepal into the future.