THANK you for allowing me space in your paper for me to make some remarks on our radio phone-in programmes.
The original ideas of the phone-in programmes were to share ideas on relevant and constructive issues but it is common knowledge that the good idea meant for the programmes is heading own the drain or in other words it seems to be losing its value.
The issue of time is one. Instead of people being allowed to make their points, they are only allowed to talk. This means that a person is not given ample time to make his point because before one can make his point he or she is reminded to wind up. This also eats on the value of the programmes.
So, I really appeal to the management of the NBC to consider allowing more time, say half an hour (extra) for the phone-in programmes.
My main point is on the losing of the direction of the programmes. It is common knowledge that these programmes have been turned into campaign platforms of organizations or individuals with what I would term hidden political agendas.
Why am I saying is that the programmes have been hijacked. How on earth would you find a certain group of people who have vowed to target certain people and a certain political party for a smear campaign?
The tactic used is to hide behind the freedom of expression and the right to criticize public figures or leaders.
The former are victims, even individuals who come to the defence of their leaders, their party under attack or trying to make points of corrections are spared, they too suffer consequences.
What is irritating is the fact that even the programme facilitators seem not to be neutral because counter-attacks are according to them not allowed.
The media is a powerful tool – as a result information or misinformation travels very fast to other corners.
As a regular listener, I have noticed that some former contributors to the programmes with more interesting points seem to have given up or lost interest as a result of what I can term the losing of the value of the shows. Some others seem to have been neutralized in the process.
So, according to me, the phone-in shows are hardly serving their original purpose. As a result, something needs to be done to bring the shows back to their former glory.
Ndinomwaami
Ondangwa