New Alex FM Radio head aims high
ALEXANDRA – Takalani hopes to get Alex FM Radio to dizzy heights.
The Alex FM Radio Station has a new man at its helm, Takalani Nemangowe, and he hopes to propel the station’s airwaves to the dizzy heights of success.
Nemangowe started as a rookie, following in the footsteps of his two predecessors, Trinity Mohlamme and the late Segale Mogotsi, and was the acting station manager for 14 months.
At 25 years of age, and now secure in the position since December last year, Nemangowe learnt the ropes from being a trainee in news reading to production and programming, content development, sales and marketing.
He hopes that positions around him will now be occupied by others who will coalesce around him as he stabilises the station’s programmes, resources and sponsorship, as well as improve staff morale and listenership figures, specifically the youth market.
More pertinently, the new station manager intends to deepen and institutionalise the community’s participation in the content development of ‘their asset and station’ through outreach programmes and listeners’ forums. This approach, he said, enabled a transparent and participatory approach to getting the community talking about and solving their social and developmental challenges while creating social cohesion.
“This has already borne fruit with the station netting the SA Awards for 2016’s Best Community Radio Station. It’s a sign the 22-year-old baby [station] has come of age since its inception in 1995. And should give unreservedly back to the community,” Nemangowe said.
His other aim is to widen the station’s provincial reach to beyond its 50km radius with work already in progress through Sentech to stabilise the wave signals.
Also, Nemangowe intends on improving the use of the station by stakeholders – public service, non-governmental organisations and others – to expose their services to the public. “Police, clinics, mentors and others should avail themselves more through the station to help cure the social ills through preventative advice and giving career guidance information.”
This will be complemented by the station exposing its platforms and services through DSTV audio bouquets and other options.
His 50-strong team, including volunteers, is already rolling out a one million shoes social investment campaign with more than 300 pairs of shoes collected for distribution to schools and the needy so far. Other community initiatives include training and experiential exchanges for local interns and staff in various media-linked professions.
Nemangowe has a diploma in media studies, and with age in his favour, his sights are set on becoming a notable personality in the industry, adding public relations qualifications in the process and setting foot in the private sector while retaining a commitment to community work.
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