Aspiring radio DJs set up own training ground

Sun, 31 Jul 2005, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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: