Radio Today celebrates 20 years
PARKTOWN NORTH – Two decades for a big, little local radio station.
Radio Today is celebrating two decades of excellence, service and the development of young broadcasters.
The community radio station in Parktown North was launched on the 1 July 1996, a brainchild of former Springbok Radio and English Services broadcasters, the late Peter Lotis and Bob Courtney.
Roy Marsland, administration manager of the radio station, said it was a huge achievement for them to reach this milestone because community radio was no child’s play. “For us to have lasted 20 years is a miracle itself,” he said.
“We started right at the beginning when they opened up the airwaves and so it’s been a long haul.”
As with many community radio stations, Radio Today said it has seen its fair share of financial difficulties. In 2004, it was on the verge of closing down but was kept on the airwaves by committed staff and volunteers. In 2011, the station was dealt another blow which almost saw it going under when the then-chief executive officer, Dr Ivan May, passed on.
Eddy Masache, production manager of the radio station, said they had come a long way and have grown considerably over the years. Masache said the team anticipated further progress and recognition as one of the best community radios in the country. “We are unique,” he said.
“We pride ourselves in the work that we do, especially with our academy that produces first-class broadcasters.”
According to Masache, the Ivan May Academy is the station’s social initiative seeking to train, mentor and prepare previously disadvantaged individuals and graduates for a career in sound and radio. The production manager said many household names in the industry ‘drank from the station’s bosom’.
“William Lehong eNCA and Metro FM presenter; Lelo Mzaca of SABC Sports; Owen Matjie of PowerFM; Phakamile Hlubi, a reporter at eNCA; Lebogang Seboka, a producer at 947; and Dineo Mashego, the first black female technical producer at Talk Radio 702 are a select few who went through the academy,” said Masache.
“It makes us happy that we are contributing in a big way.”
On the passing of former station manager James Kinloch in June, the station said it was a huge loss, but Kinloch had been grooming and assisting others to take over the reins in future. “We are going to be looking at appointing someone within the station to take over as station manager,” said Marsland.
“We hope to go another 20 years. I think if everyone works hard together, we will get there.”
