FROM last week’s Dennis Liwewe, many tributes that played on radio stations, one highlighted Luke Mwamba as one who worked with the fallen commentator, making sure his voice was heard loud and clearer on air.
Mr Mwamba, who travelled with late Liwewe to many countries as technician on the Outside Broadcasting (OB) van represents many unheard voices, which yet play an important role in the broadcasting industry.
Among them, are producers and technicians who work behind the scenes for listeners to receive audible programmes aired on air.
Mr Mwamba, who is now District Commissioner in Mkushi, was so identical to late Liwewe’s career that he (Liwewe) owed his distinguished service honour to him.
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Zambian Identity, otherwise referred to as Zambian ID, is a programme which explores some values and rich culture found among Zambia’s 73 tribes.
Maybe it is the timing which deprives a huge number of young people who are supposed to receive such educations, in order for them to reconnect to their origins.
At 10:00 hours on Fridays when the programme is being aired, a good number of school-going children are not at home.
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Proverbs in Luvale, would be ‘Ndangwishi  ja  Luvale’ in that language. This programme comes on Radio 1 every  Saturday s at 18:00 hours.
For a long time after the previous presenter Ngonga Sakayi retired, others tried but could not meet the level at which Mr Sakayi left it, now we have the right replacement in Mike Uvuya.
One ardent follower of that programme who also returns to this column is Martin Mapunga, a teacher Chimwemwe Secondary School  in Kitwe who agrees that Uvuya has fit well in the big shoes of Mr Sakayi.
PHOENIX
It was interesting to hear Chatewa Dominic play some English soccer premier teams’ anthems last Sunday evening.
Apparently, on the local scene, only Nkana Football club has an anthem, or maybe other local teams have not yet popularized theirs.
Nkana’s anthem was done way back by Serenje Kalindula Band highlighting the then team’s dreaded names on the line up that swept silver ware and dominated the league for over a decade.
A remix of that Nkana anthem could do better without mentioning players’ names if it has to stand the test of time.
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Radio Phoenix has a huge following if we are to judge by a listener who called from New Zealand  to Paddy Mukando’s Sunday Gospel Show.
RCV
Last Monday’s Money Matters segment on Radio Phoenix was breaking because Chella Silwamba transmitted the programme via phone.
Because Money Matters, the programme matters a lot, it is an important economical guide presentation with elite following.
It appears like live streaming on radio could be the in thing, but Money Matters presentation was punctuated by constant breaking transmission.
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We take this opportunity to congratulate Lorenzo Lihusha for sweeping clean MISA Zambia awards in the Business, Anti-Corruption and Energy categories for radio last week.
RADIO MANO
Radio Mano’s news editor Tobias Mangani made a long trip from Kasama to receive the MISA Zambia Most Investigative Community Radio Station award in Lusaka last week on Friday. We salute him.
TIPS
This week, we wish to throw a test for the broadcasters, correct answers will attract giveaways from DStv MultiChoice.
I. The story of the development of the radio producer earlier outlined  has been a synthesis of his job as it developed in many parts of the world.
To what extent does it differ from the development of the work of a producer on your station?
(a) Seek interviews with several senior programme officers and find out how they began in broadcasting-as announcers, technical operators, engineers?
(b) Who among the senior producers on your station do you most admire? What is it you like most about their productions? Listen carefully to their work and attempt to analyse it.
A short statement was made about the qualities required of a producer. Using the following questionnaire, measure yourself against it?
How would you describe your grasp of the language in which you produce:
Good? Better than average? Average? Poor?
Is your pronunciation always accurate? Are you aware when others mispronounce words? Do you feel you want to correct them?
If you do correct them, how do they react-do they get angry, do they accept your correction?
Are you able to make other people feel at ease?
Do you consider that you have a sense of humour?
Are you a keen reader? How many newspapers and magazines do you read in a week? How many books do you read in a month?
Have you a good general knowledge of politics, science, sports and hobbies, literature, peoples’ customs in other lands?
What kind of organiser are you? Good or poor?
Have you ever had artistes fail to attend rehearsals? Why?
Are you able to discipline artistes and staff without losing their co-operation?
When you go to the studio do you ever forget any dung and have to return to your office-script, pencil, stop-watch, tapes, discs?
If you had to operate technical equipment which of the following could you operate with ease: turntables, tape recorders, the control console?
What are the Merent patterns of a cardioid and an omni-directional microphone?
Do you have an interest in any special field of radio productionpolitical broadcasts, music, sports, religious broadcasts, educational broadcasts, drama, news?
Did you have this interest before entering broadcasting?
Do you consider yourself as having a good imagination?
When you hear a programme can you imagine other ways of handling it and perhaps of making it more attractive or compelling?
MULTICHOICE NEWS FLASH
Rate Or Hate
Sunday May 4, 2014 09:00 | MTV (130)
Take a turn playing VJ and let us know what music videos you want to see on MTV – help choose what’s on the channel via our weekend Twitter callout show #RateOrHate – every Saturday and Sunday.
Catch Rate Or Hate on Sunday May 4, at 09:00 on MTV.
A Walk to Remember
Sunday May 4, 2014 20:00 | M-Net Movies Romance (107)
Two very different teenagers’ paths cross and they become close, but their relationship is tested by the challenges that high school brings.
Starring:
Shane West as Landon Rollins Carter
Mandy Moore as Jamie Elizabeth Sullivan-Carter
Peter Coyote as Reverend Hegbert Sullivan
Beyond Candid with Giuliana: Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Sunday May 4, 2014 21:00 | E! Entertainment Television (124)
An outspoken talk show host and former reality star… it’s impossible not to have an opinion about Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
E!’s Giuliana Rancic sits down with the fearless TV personality this month for a discussion about her career, staying true to her moral convictions, and how she balances her job with being both a wife and a mother to three kids.
With exclusive anecdotes about interviewing President Obama, her time on “Survivor”, her mother’s cancer struggle and fears about her own health, this candid interview brings a new dimension to the perception that audiences have of her.
For comments, observations and contributions; jackmwewa@gmail.com – 0955115777