THE CHANGING FACE OF FIJI Indian Newslink | August 15 2013 24 Broadcaster underscores cultural and linguistic plurality Venkat Raman and FBC. As Mr Khaiyum on weekdays, Genevieve motivation and good marketing strategy, mentioned, under this Sukhdeo does events and the Company turned around in about a Government-owned radio and Contract, the Government weather and Clarence year. “The work culture has improved and television stations often face the ‘buys’ airtime on the two Dass is producer and our team of professional programmers, challenge of balance between integrity stations contributing towards presenter of programmes. announcers, presenters, marketing and and government policy compliance. On its operations. “The other The newsroom accounts for administration personnel (about 150), this score, the exemplary performance four stations come under our 16 reporters, many of them are all geared to achieving more in the of the state-owned Fiji Broadcasting commercial operations,” he proficient in English, iTaukei years to come,” Mr Khaiyum said. Corporation (FBC) is a matter of said. and Hindi; newsfeeds from gratification and endearment. reporters in Nadi and other Social responsibility Six years ago, the Company’s Chief Pride on screen sources enables FBC TV to According to him, broadcasting has Executive Riyaz Sayed Khaiyum was not Mr Khaiyum is justifiably proud of FBC provide updated news all the time. undergone substantial changes and it a man at peace. He had the unenviable TV, which is a nation-wide, free-to-view was imperative that companies like FCB task of re-building an organisation that channel, offering news, features, soaps Turnaround management kept pace with the market trends. was financially unhealthy, with a handful and other programmes round the clock. Advertisers, suppliers and others “While profits are important to achieve of staff whose morale was anything but A host of languages can be heard on would agree that when he was appointed sustainability, as a national broadcaster, high. But as this reporter entered the this channel, including English, Hindi, Chief Executive in December 2007, we realise our responsibility to the precincts of the FBC complex in Suva on Fijian, French, Korean and Iranian, to Mr Khaiyum was not aware of the people of Fiji and their multicultural August 2, 2013, there was a perceptible mention a few. “We live in a multicultural challenges that were ahead of him.The outlook. As well as broadcasting and change in the air (pun intended). Buzzing and multilingual society.It is therefore Company, established in 1935 (only telecasting entertainment and educative with activity, everyone appeared at ease, essential that we try to understand as a radio station), was in dire straits, programmes, we also strive to produce although busy gathering news and at least some expressions in these withfalling listenership, low staff morale programmes that make every of us presenting it through well-appointed languages. Viewers are not handicapped and aggressive competition from other proud to be a Fijian. Blockbusters attract and state-of-the-art studios. because all programmes are telecast privately established radio stations. viewers, but we are also conscious of “I am pleased with what we have been with sub-titles,” he said. FBC TVviewers In short, it was suffering from our responsibilities to the growing able to achieve. I finally feel that we are also have the benefit of programmes of gross mismanagement. With sound generations,” Mr Khaiyum said. running a company that has objectives, Al Jazeera Television, with a direct feed management, countenanced by staff targets, finances and most important, of news and other programmes. people who are happy to work. Every moment is precious and exciting,” he Multitasking staff said. One of the most significant aspects that distinguishFBC TV from other Multilingual stations broadcasters is the combined operations FBC today runs a television channel, of reporters, storywriters and presenters. simply called ‘FBC TV’ and six radio “Each of them does everything. They stations broadcasting in three main follow incidents and developments, spoken and written languages of the write them and present them on air. Our country – Fijian (i-Taukei)English and radio stations belong as much to our staff Hindi. as they do to their owners and of course The six stations are Radio Fiji One the people of Fiji. We have found the (Fijian), Radio Fiji Two (Hindi), Mirchi system working well as it encourages FM (Hindi), Gold FM (Fijian & English), team work, simultaneously promoting Bula FM (Fijian) and 2Day FM (Fijian & the competitive spirit. Everyone likes English). Radio Fiji One and Radio Fiji to improve their own performance all Two are classified as public service the time,” he said. 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