Press Release
05 May 2014
Ubuntu Radio receives Media Award from the Turquoise Harmony Institute
The Board of the Turquoise Harmony Institute, has on 30 April 2014, awarded this year’s prestigious Ubuntu Media Award to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) Ubuntu Radio, South Africa’s first government-run, 24-hour, online radio station.
The Turquoise Harmony Institute is an independent, non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), aimed at promoting inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue and tolerance among people at grassroots level in South Africa.
According to the Institute, Ubuntu Radio is a visionary concept and idea, which has become an important tool of DIRCO’s public diplomacy, which is to promote and communicate South Africa’s foreign policy and disseminate information about South Africa across the world.
Since its inception in October 2013, Ubuntu Radio has been steadily positioning itself as an authority when it comes to "telling the African story by Africans from an African perspective” and has managed to gain and continues to grow its listenership and reach.
Ubuntu Radio aims to provide informative, accurate and interesting news and views from the continent and beyond. As a government online radio station, it also aims to provide foreign policy news to a South African and global audience. The programming mix of news, talk, arts, culture and music are designed to promote the African story.
One of its winning formulas has been the ability to attract well-known, credible and "independent thinking" South Africans as On-Air Personalities/Anchors. These individuals, most of whom have a huge following in their own right have attracted big audiences for the radio station and have also helped to build Ubuntu Radio as a credible debate/conversation platform.
The successful launch of Ubuntu Radio is consistent with the active and prominent role that South Africa plays in global affairs.
South Africa’s foreign policy has been in the spotlight since the country became a member of various global and strategic formations such as the UN Security Council; the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) grouping; the India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) initiative; and the G20.
In addition, South Africa’s continuous role and engagement in the activities of the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have positioned the country firmly as a formidable contributor in the regional and global political scene.
The station has recently launched an "Ubuntu Radio Application for mobile devices (Blackberry & Android phones, etc.)" on its website www.ubunturadio.com and is currently receiving downloads from countries such as China, USA, UK, France, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Canada, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, amongst others. This is confirmation of the level of interest in South Africa’s foreign policy and global activities.
Enquiries: Mr. Clayson Monyela spokesperson for DIRCO, at 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084
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