The Power of Radio in Haiti

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which killed over 200,000 people and left a million homeless. At the time of the quake it became clear that radio was a vital resource for Haitian citizens, as it was often the communication tool used to find survivors and to disseminate information about emergency services. A new report, “Media, Information Systems, and Communities: Lessons from Haiti,” takes a look at the communication tools used during this crisis and offers specific recommendations for how both new and old technologies can be used in future emergencies.

I wasn’t surprised to see that in the list of recommendations provided in the full report (PDF), there’s a strong argument for the ongoing importance of radio. The report recommends that:

“The media development community should prioritize restoring local radio’s broadcast capacity and ensure that local media are given support to adequately respond in a crisis. As new platforms and technologies expand and are tested, it should not be forgotten that local radio still stands as a primary source of information for the overwhelming majority of the world’s population.”

When looking at the specific example of Haiti, the report is clear that radio was a crucial piece of the emergency response after the earthquake last year:

“Radio is Haiti’s dominant medium. Access to radio can be shared easily and relatively cheaply among many people, and serves both literate and illiterate populations. According to the CIA World Factbook, Haiti has over 250 commercial and community radio stations; a 2009 Voice of America survey describes radio receiver ownership as virtually universal. These factors made radio the undisputed lifeline for the Haitian public after the earthquake.”

It goes on to explain the impact of the quake on Haitian radio stations, with most stations’ broadcasts disrupted by the disaster. Signal FM stayed on the air “broadcasting to an audience of nearly three million throughout the crisis” and went beyond the typical expectations of a local radio station:

“Station owner Mario Viau was later honored by the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation, which lauded Signal FM as a vital source of information for the millions of Haitians who had no access to fuel, electricity or telephone service immediately following the earthquake. ‘Its round-the-clock coverage helped locate missing people, spread news to families searching for lost loved ones and delivered messages to Haitians across Port-au-Prince regarding available water resources and hospital information. It also helped save the lives of numerous Haitians by providing reports to rescue teams describing where immediate aid was needed.’”

The report also points out that when other Haitian radio stations did get back on the air “they joined Signal FM in opening their microphones to Haitian citizens.” Stations also incorporated newer technologies, such as texting and Twitter to spread messages to their wired listeners. Beyond the work of local stations, Internews distributed donated radios and produced the radio show “News You Can Use,” focused on sharing emergency response information. “The show began on 11 stations able to broadcast at the time and reported critical information about water distribution points, the status of displaced persons camps and public health advisories.” Eventually that show aired on 27 different radio stations.

Additionally, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) worked to help broadcasters in Haiti by helping with resources and by reaching out to “community broadcasters to support the international relief effort by organizing airtime appeals and other activities, and to provide direct assistance (including donated equipment and funding) to community broadcasters affected by the earthquake.” And, indeed, it was encouraging to see that in the United States the FCC opted to allow non-commercial broadcasters the opportunity to raise money for Haitian quake relief and that many of those stations, such as KPFA, brought in a substantial amount of cash for to aid victims of the natural disaster.

Amid the horrific circumstances in Haiti following the earthquake, it’s gratifying to see that the worldwide radio community pulled together to facilitate communication among Haitian citizens and between victims and relief organizations. And, it’s a great reminder of the continuing power of radio.

Can you hear me?

As we wrote last week, radio has played a vital communications role in Haiti in the weeks following its devastating earthquake last month. But what we didn’t cover in that story is the sad state of some Haitian community radio stations which have suffered major damage to buildings and equipment.

According to a series of articles on the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) blog, community radio plays an important educational role for Haitian citizens. By broadcasting native language programming it is serving a rural population in which 80% of homes are said to contain radios.

A post from last week reports that,

“In the western and southeastern parts of the country, at least 16 stations are facing serious problems that have suspended their broadcasts, Sony Esteus, executive director of SAKS, a local organization of community radio stations, told CPJ. The earthquake obliterated SAKS’ office in the Bourdon neighborhood, east of Port-au-Prince.”

In a post this week, CPJ shares some video of the destruction at the office of community radio organization SAKS, as well as footage from a destroyed community radio station in Fondwa.

Take a look at CPJ’s entire blog series on Haiti to find additional stories about the role that radio is playing during this crisis and to learn about the state of several other radio stations.

The power of the tower

In the aftermath of the devastating January 12th earthquake in Haiti, radio has played an important role in terms of keeping lines of communication open. A fascinating radio story on All Things Considered yesterday profiles one Haitian radio station, Signal FM 90.5, that has continued to broadcast after the quake hit.

As way of background, a Reuters story points out that:

“Radio, a main channel of communication in Haiti, is even more crucial since the January 12 earthquake that killed up to 200,000 people, collapsed many parts of Port-au-Prince and left half a million people homeless or living in refugee camps scattered across the coastal capital…

Five radio stations were destroyed and at least two now operate in the open air, taking messages from victims and broadcasting aid relief details alongside news bulletins, debate programs and music slots.”

The radio story on All Things Considered tells a compelling tale about just how important Signal FM has been in helping find quake victims. According to the accompanying story:

“With all the capital’s newspapers and TV stations down, Signal FM was all there was. Frantic listeners trekked to the station seeking news of lost loved ones….the station put one woman on the air who said her husband was alive under the ruins of a bank building and begged rescuers to search for him…

‘And eight days after, she came here with her husband,’ [station founder Mario] Viau says. ‘That guy gave me a hug that I will never forget. That guy almost choked me to death, he was holding me, so happy, telling me, “Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.” ‘

As the days went on, Signal FM told Haitians how to begin to handle the catastrophe. Doctors, engineers, seismologists and clergymen went on the air. They told people what to do with dead bodies, where it was safe to sleep, what to do about natural gas leaks, where they could locate medicine and food, and where to find God amid the agony.”

According to the Reuters article, “To keep people informed, U.S. troops have distributed thousands of wind-up and solar-powered transistor radios.”

As we hear these tales from the front, it’s an important reminder to all of us that in an emergency, radio has the ability to be truly heroic.

The Federal Communications Commission normally bars Noncommercial Educational Radio (NCE) stations from using the airwaves to raise money for any cause besides their own operation. But the FCC granted waivers from this rule following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, and now it’s doing the same for stations that want to raise relief cash following yesterday’s horrific earthquake in Haiti.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti during this terrible tragedy,” declared FCC Chair Julius Genachowski in a statement released minutes ago. “A number of noncommercial broadcasters have asked for permission to raise funds for relief efforts, which we are happy to give. The Media Bureau has posted procedures for any noncommercial TV or radio station to obtain expedited approval for such fundraising. These temporary waivers will help tap the American spirit of generosity in this time of great need to aid Haitian relief efforts.”

If you are a community, public, or college station, here the instructions (below) for contacting the FCC and getting that waiver. But as you search for agencies to send the money you raised, keep in mind an Federal Bureau of Investigation warning we also just received. There are a lot of Internet fraudsters out there looking to take advantage of good hearted people. So watch who you work with.

Please see the below released by the Media Bureau today.

PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING COMMISSION APPROVAL FOR NCE
STATION FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO AID HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS

The Commission generally prohibits noncommercial educational stations from engaging in on-air fundraising activities on behalf of any entity other than the station itself. See 47 C.F.R. § 73.503(d). See also Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcast Stations, 90 FCC 2d 895, 907 (1982). The Commission, however, has granted rule waivers for fundraising appeals to support relief efforts following disasters of particular uniqueness or magnitude, such as Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, and the January 2005 tsunami in Southeast Asia. These waivers have been issued for a specific fundraising program or programs, or for sustained station appeals for periods which generally do not exceed several days.

Should a licensee wish to solicit contributions from viewers or listeners for the Haiti relief efforts, it may file an informal request for a Section 73.503(d) waiver as follows:

1) The licensee may submit an electronic mail request to Barbara Kreisman(barbara.kresiman@fcc.gov), if the request involves a television station, or to Michael Wagner (michael.wagner@fcc.gov), if the request involves a radio station.
2) The request should provide basic details of the fundraising activity:
a. the nature of the fundraising effort;
b. the proposed duration of the fundraising effort;
c. the organization(s) to which funds will be donated; and
d. whether the fundraiser will be part of the licensee’s regularly scheduledpledge drive or fundraising effort.

For additional information, please contact the television or radio contact provided above.