UNZA Radio is a Teaching/ Community Radio station of the Department of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Zambia. The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) supplied the start-up capital and installation expertise for the station. The station was able to start test transmissions in 2001, but a full broadcast licence was only given in 2004. The station broadcasts from 04
. 00 to 00.00 hrs every day. Broadcasting on 91.7 Mega Hertz on the FM Band, UNZA RADIO seeks to promote excellence through the provision to the community of quality development-oriented programmes and hands-on training in radio production both to students and community volunteers. Students working at the station range from undergraduates studying for the Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) degree to candidates for postgraduate qualifications in the Master of Mass Communication (MCD) and Master of Communication for Development sequences. The work of volunteers from the community complements that of students. Coverage: The station has a 250-WATT transmitter covering the entire city of Lusaka and its surrounding suburbs. The potential audience is the entire Lusaka metropolitan which has a population of 3,000,000. The core audience that the station is licensed to serve is the campus community with a population of 13,000. This community is comprised of: Student body 9,000, Academic staff 400, administrative staff 200, support staff 500 and dependants living within campus premises and hostels 3,000. Demographics: The average age on campus is between 18-30 years. The education level ranges from grade school to professorial. The graduating students become potential clients, investors, and guardians when they move into society. The majority of our graduates become leaders and decision makers in the society. Investing into UNZA Radio will have long and lasting effects into society as most graduating students hold top managerial posts. OBJECTIVES
To provide to the community professional and quality broadcasting
To embark on net working among community radio stations especially in rural areas. To prepare students to embark on quality and professional journalistic practices
To provide to the student an on hands practice of broadcast journalism
To provide to the community a forum for sharing ideas, debates. To sale the services of the university to the community. To be a marketing tool for the UNZA Community, Business Organizations and Society. The teaching aspect means that the station will provide an on hand experience for all students seeking to get a Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) and that the nature of programmes will educate, entertain and inform the audience. The community aspect means community news, community problems, community issues, community projects community research, community solutions and answers will be a priority. MISSION STATEMENT
A community teaching radio station that will teach and provide quality broadcasting to its students and audience. VISION
To be a model for a sustainable teaching, community radio station and promote networking.
