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K. Srinivasan addressing the participants |
Staff Training Institute of Prasar Bharathi, Bhubaneshwar organised a five-day workshop for the producers of All India Radio (AIR), drawn from various states. The workshop was held at the studios of All India Radio, Chennai. The focus of the workshop was to discuss the strategies of packaging programmes for youth, to attract more youth towards AIR. The course was designed and conducted by Ms Rashmi Pradhan, Deputy Director of the Institute.
While, all the private broadcasters focus mostly on entertainment and sensationalism, AIR has been silently producing and broadcasting many useful and innovative programmes for the benefit of all sections of the society. Presently, we talk about tele-conferencing in the broadcast media. I know personally well, way back in 1978 or 1979, All India Radio, Chennai organised an innovative live discussion programme simultaneously with the people on ship, plane and ground, using the then available technology. At that time, all the media appreciated the efforts of AIR and Dr Sridhar, then young producer of AIR for this innovative programme.
As public broadcaster, they have large infrastructure, skills, technology, etc. But very unfortunately, due to various reasons, they are not able to compete with the private broadcasters and have lost leadership over the decade. They need to re-package their excellent programmes, to reach the young audience.
With this background, the five-day workshop organised by Prasar Bharathi is significant to train their producers to re-orient themselves and to compete with the new generation broadcasters.
I was invited to talk on 3rd December 2010, on the theme, "internet radio and podcasting". In my talk, i was focussing on the current trend in the internet growth and how AIR can make use of the internet through streaming and also through archiving their programmes.
If All India Radio management changes their century old mindset and adopt the policy of using the modern technologies properly, they can give a run for the private broadcasters. With more than 80 years of broadcasting experience, AIR can do wonders.
Please watch the photo stream.