Aspiring radio DJs set up own training ground
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
"Treat her right. Never underestimate her. And this is the song you requested. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman by Bryan Adams. I hope this song will inspire you and that you can work out your problems with your girlfriend," said Ria Nera, a popular announcer on RTC UI FM.
In a nine-square-meter studio on the second floor of the School of Engineering building at the University of Indonesia (UI), Ria that particular morning was advising a listener to her talk show on how to make a success of his relationship with his girlfriend.
On other mornings, Ria, a student of the School of Social and Political Sciences, also discusses weightier topics, such as domestic violence and a quota for women legislators in the House of Representatives, in her own inimitable style.
"We developed our own style. We think it is suited to the young generation, especially students," the 19-year-old told The Jakarta Post recently.
Interactive talk shows, which often feature experts from the university, are favorites of the listeners to this radio station, which has its studios on UI's campus in Depok, south of Jakarta. Everyday, at least 20 students called the studio to participate in programs or just request songs.
"Our music collection consists of original cassettes or CDs given to us by the major labels. In return, we supply the record companies with our play list," said another RTC announcer, Fauzan Magenta, who is a UI student majoring in communications studies.
Formerly known as 8 EH 20 Radio, RTC was founded in 1966 at UI's campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta. It moved to the Depok campus in 1990 and changed its name to Radio Telekomunikasi Cipta (RTC).
A noted student activist, the late Soe Hok Gie, says in his book Catatan Seorang Demonstran (Notes of a Demonstrator) that he and his friends helped establish the radio.
Since the beginning, the radio, which airs from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. everyday, has been fully managed by UI students.
"It's like a training ground for students. We are not paid," said the radio's technical manager, Lutfie Salman, who is a student of UI's Electrical Engineering Department.
The radio's operating costs -- which are relatively small, according to the students -- are covered by the station's advertisers, such as Bakmi Depok. The radio also charges student organizations Rp 25,000 if they want their activities to be aired.
Many former announcers and technicians of RTC are now working for big radio stations and companies around the city.
By contrast, Media Suara Trisakti FM, which is located on the well-appointed campus of the private Trisakti University in West Jakarta, is professionally run by a company.
The radio's employees and announcers -- some of whom are university students-- are paid.
"We are a private radio station. Although, some of our announcers are students, we run it professionally," the station's accounting officer Dede Mariana said.
On that morning, some students were seen sitting on the grass and on benches in front of the studios, listening to music while reading their textbooks.
Trisakti, UI and many other universities in the country run their own stations. Campus radio is enjoyable for student listeners and announcers alike.
It's like a follow-up to a popular song by Indonesian ballad singer, the late Gombloh, which tells of the unique position of radio in human relationships:
/Di radio, Aku dengar lagu kesayanganmu..
Kuharap engkau mendengar, dan kukatakan rindu.../
(At the radio, I listen to your favorite song.../
I hope you are listening to it, and I say I miss you.../)