From large transmitters that occupy half the room to small devices half the size of your palm, technology has developed to suite the daily needs of many.There is one piece of media technology that many rely on to get by yet it is often overlooked. No, it is not your cell phone, no one overlooks that! It is your radio. By now you may be thinking, "Well I don't rely on that old thing!" But just stop for a second and think about it. For many, it is still the radio alarm that wakes us up in the morning, calling us to explore another beautiful day. It is still the device, that without your direct prompting, that randomly plays your favourite song from the 80's and put a smile on your face. We still listen out while its playing, before going to school or work to hear the weather forecast in case we need to grab the umbrella. And who can forget that it is our faithful companion when stuck in rush hour traffic, keeping us from yelling at the fool three cars back honking at the stop light. Our old archaic friend the radio has become so ingrained in our lives that we often forget that it is even there.
The radio has travelled a long way to achieve its place in our hearts. Radio had its first debut in 1915 with its first experimental broadcast which included links with ships at sea relaying calls of distress. When radio was first introduced to the British colonies there was a report drawn up that set the aims of broadcasting. According to the 1937 Interim Report of the Plymouth Committee Covering Broadcasting Services radio was to be used "not even primarily for entertainment but rather for the enlightenment and education of the more backward sections of the population and for their instruction in public health, agriculture etc". ZQI, Jamaica's first radio station at first had transmissions one hour a day except on weekends.
Today, the radio keeps us company from midday to midnight without losing a beat. So much so that many Jamaicans feel they can relate to the radio personnels. One element that fosters this relationship is that of morning radio shows that have become the personal alarm clocks of many. Just this morning I was listening live to one of these radio programs on my radio. Nationwide radio is a Jamaican radio station that can be found at frequency 90.3, 90.5 and 90.7 on the FM band. The radio station is one of my favourites to listen to in the morning. The specific program was titled This Morning with hosts George Davis and Emily Crooks. What I like about this program, is that after the early morning news cast, there is a section called Paper Route at 6:15am in which the hosts actually read the local, regional then international newspapers to you. While doing this they of course give their own comments and make quips at the stories featured. They even go to the lengths of describing the caricatures featured. The personalities of the hosts are so vibrant that feel as if they are sitting at your table talking to you while you make breakfast and you cannot help but laughing along with them. This is one thing that our cellphones and television sets simply cannot replace... the personal level on which we relate to the radio.
So next time its late and the electricity goes, and the television and internet will no longer work, take a walk over to that forgotten corner of the room that houses your radio, pop in the batteries and tune in. Who knows, you just might hear that song from the 80's that you thought you forgot about thanks to your long lost friend the radio.
For those who wish to tune in to the radio station mentioned above here are some contact details:
Nation Wide Radio 27 Mannings Hill Road Kingston 8
Telephone: (876) 755 6397
Fax: (876) 924-5375
