By: Nyima Sillah
Radio Managers in The Gambia have expressed the difficulties confronting radio stations in the country as the impact of Covid-19 has hit them harder than expected since the country recorded its first case of the pandemic in March 2020.
As usual The Voice crew has went round some of the radio stations operating within the Greater Banjul Area to know how they are faring with the current situation. They all expressed their dismay over the government for not coming out to assist the media houses as the pandemic prolongs.
Below is comments from some of the radio stations’ managers.
Sulayman Saul Sowe, CEO Capital FM Radio said they are affected both in terms of revenue and staffing as they have to send 80% of their staff back home because they couldn’t afford to pay them full salaries which has subsequently affected their Programs.
Sowe explained that all major advertisements/contracts due for renewals have not been renewed while forecasted adverts to come never come. And the suspension of all entertainment shows also impacted on the availability of adverts.
“We broadcast regular updates on the pandemic through our news and currents affairs talk shows as well through sensitization songs produced by Joluv Arts and other artists. But we are expecting support from Ministry of Health but it never come.”
In addition to their program, he said they now broadcast educational program from MoBSE which they were only paid 30% of actual fee, a deal they agreed to enable them contribute to the ongoing situation.
“We are urging government to support us in this trying time as we are a major contributor in information dissemination, upholding culture, promoting sports and entertainment. Radio stations are also contributing to the employment of young people that are now breadwinners of their families. Therefore, government’s support to us (media print and electronic) is essential especially in term of continuity in Covid-19 pandemic”, he said.
Buba Gagigo Program Manager Sen FM Radio said the emerged of Covid-19 has makes thing difficult for them at the radio station. He observed that to invite guests to the radio station for program nowadays is very difficult as finance become the biggest challenges as the pandemic continued.
Concerning advertisement, his radio station maintains the old advertisements that were registered before the start of Covid-19 but they could not secure any new ones to add to the existing ones.
He lamented that each time his staff talk to customers about advertisements the response from people or business community, the response is always about the effect of Covid-19 on their business.
He noted that since the pandemic hit the country his station has not receive a single advertisement “and this really has impact on our financial revenue,”
According to Gagigo, Sen FM Radio covers all Covid-19 programs but it is becoming too hard on them due to inadequate revenue and no support from the government and Ministry of Health.
“The only thing received from government is the e-learning fee organized by MOBSE apart from that we got no support from the government.”
He dilated on daily challenges that are facing radio stations in the country in this era of coronavirus pandemic this include inability to pay staff at due time. “Before the pandemic we make early payments of salary but now it goes to mid-month before we could pay them. We even reduced salaries in other to pay half of our staff and we are afraid that some of the staff might resign”, he explained.
“Government should understand that media houses are also part of the frontline workers and they should support us if they want to fight the pandemic because if we don’t have funds, we cannot send our reporters, in that case we would not be able to broadcast. If that happen to disseminate messages to the public will become problem.”
Muhammed Sanyang, Manager of DHK FM radio also added on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their job. He said it has affected the socio- economic of DHK FM radio and the social activity of the program aspect of the radio has stopped due to the pandemic.
He said economically, they have no business transaction to run Finance of the radio and the radio advertisements are not functioning like before because of the pandemic. “We send series of our Journalists to cover all Covid-19 events but we never received any aid from the Government or any other institutions and some of the Staff’s basic amenities are substitute but the management is still trying by paying salaries to the its staff,” he said.
He urged government to also help radio stations in the country financially to enable them do more Civic awareness programs and provide more preventive measures for their staff.
Managing Director of choice FM, Basiru Jarju, affirmed that radio stations across the country has lost most of their revenues since the outbreak of Covid-19. He said since begin of the pandemic in the country his radio station got no new advertisement.
Like other radio stations, he said they always cover Covid-19 event and as well sensitize the populace on the pandemic, still there is no support or assistance from the government to appreciate their efforts as regarding to the payment of staff salaries and operational costs.
“We would be grateful if government can come up with a package for all media houses because it is a known fact that media houses entirely depend on advertisements, announcements, sponsorship and support, that’s our only Source of income”
“We have two hours daily Coronavirus shows in local languages but my radio station has not received any support directly from any institution and media houses. Media houses really need help especially radio stations because we are now facing more challenges in particular when it comes to staff salaries, and other financial issues,” Gibbi S Jallow of King FM Radio lamented.
The Editor-in-Chief of Taranga FM, Modou Lamin Joof said the impact of Covid-19 has negatively affected Taranga FM radio “especially that all radio stations depend on adverts because government does not support media houses like other countries does.”
Joof explained that, since the COVID-19 started many businesses are not active and many institutions, too, are no more advertising their products, events and activities with the radio station and “still we have to work every day because informing the public is our responsibility. And we never get any support from the government despite been part of the frontline workers producing and covering all activities of Covid-19 since the outbreak in the country.”
He called on government to help media houses “because when Covid-19 started in Senegal so much support were given to media houses and even before the pandemic, Senegalese government always support their media houses.”
According to Ebrima Jaiteh, Paradise FM Manager the impact of Covid-19 is huge on their daily radio activities because they have changed almost 65% of their content and create new program to sensitize the public on issues related to the deadly virus.
Among other impacts, the pandemic has made them reduced the number of staff on their daily News Production to observe the social distancing, this too has negative impact on the News production.
“All the stories we covered are about Covid-19 are 100% funded by the Radio as part of our social responsibility. We do face challenges to pay salaries and every aspect of running a radio station because Radio station daily activities is very expensive”, he explained.
“We are asking Government to support the Media Sector as we are part of the fight against the pandemic, so we really need financial support to continue the fight against Covid-19”, he concluded.