Localizing Content- Translations

 During the launch Seminar on May 15, 2021, all attending community channels were provided with CDs of the Amharic production, containing all three PSAs, as well as the scripts in Amharic. They were given clear direction to translate it to their local languages, re-record the PSA with new voice-overs and to send back to Omni coordinators. With the exception of 9 channels for whom Amharic is the only medium of language for broadcast, all other channels were tasked with translating and re-producing the contents to their languages, putting regional/ dialectic differences in to consideration. Of the 30 channels that attended the Adama event, five of them were not responsive- ignoring phone calls, text messages and Telegram group activities. Three of them were out of broadcast because of transmitter problems. Five Amharic-only channels were exempted from the translation activities. The remaining 18 channels provided translated and re-produced pieces. Table 1 below lists the channels that translate the PSAs in to local languages.

Table 1- Localizing the PSA Messages in Regional Languages

Amharic Only channels

• Woldia University
• Debre Markos University
• Bahir Dar University
• Finote Selam Community
• Hawassa Industrial Park

Unresponsive Channels

• Hawassa University
• Addis Ababa University
• Ethiopian Civil Service University
• Dillo Community

Non-Working channels because of Transmitter problems

• Gambella City Community
• Guba Community
• Kombolcha Community

 Broadcast Report

 Majority of the channels that are part of this project responded very well providing broadcast reports. A total of 23 channels, out 30 took part in airing the message to their audience. Some of them experienced delay in election and hence stopped airing the contents- such as Dibate Community in Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Region. Others experiencing technical problems of un working transmitters are exempted, as well as those non-responsive channels from the start of the project. Table 2 details the list of channels that broadcast the PSAs, with their local languages and total number ad spots dedicated to the messages

Table 2- Peaceful Election PSAs Broadcast Report

 Remark

Dibate Community Radio in Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Region stopped airing the PSAs because election is delayed in the region. The three channels- Gambella, Guba and Kombolcha could not broadcast as a result of transmitter failures. Data for channels not responding, namely, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Civil Service University, Hawassa University and Dillo Community could not be found.

Impact

Although not conclusive survey had been conducted, witnessing the peaceful nature of the election across all the country, we can confidently say, we might have contributed a bit. Considering the geographic areas that we cover through all the community channels in the project, we have probably one of the widest reach of all other actors. The speed at which this activity is implemented is also amazing. With a very tight dateline, a lot haven been achieved. If all the spots used, 2,780 to be exact would cost a lot of money, had this project been tried to be implemented commercially. There was a huge saving of money and resources.

Going forward, there is a remaining post-election PSA, calling for candidates and their supporters to accept for the verdict of the public. The channels will be allowed to make their own decision how to run it, including translation, frequency and time-period without the need to report back.

 Conclusion

 Community Radios for Peace was a successful project in that it was implemented very quickly to have immediate role in the election process.  For further peace development media interventions, these channels are ideally positioned to reach to difficult areas to be reached via other means and as they are founded in the community, they can play a very constructive role. Omni will be more than happy to come up with creative ideas and collaborate in the future with similar endeavours.

Sample

Radio Programmes & Podcasts

National-Dialogue-PSA  Part 1

National-Dialogue-PSA part 2

National Dialogue PSA  part 3 Latest.