Abstract

Radio is the leading electronic medium for the mass diffusion of information in Africa, with the largest geographical reach and biggest audience. Campus radio is described as a radio that is managed by students of a college, university or other educational institutions. Campus radios first appeared on the global scene in the United States in the 1960s, and quickly extended to Canada, Europe, and Africa.

Although radio stations began to be established in Cameroon in the 1940s, campus radio stations began to appear in Cameroonian universities in the 1990s and early 2000s. Within the Cameroonian context, the importance of community radio in development, education, and community representation has received considerable attention, but little attention has been paid to campus radio’s functioning within the existing broadcast system.

Although research has been done in Cameroon on radio communication, relatively little has been done on college or campus radio stations and the issues they face. It was therefore important to assess the operationalization and management of university campus radio stations, with Chariot FM 93.5, located at the University of Buea, as a case study.

In line with this, the objectives of this study were therefore to identify the challenges faced by Chariot Radio 93.5 FM, determine the extent to which these challenges hinder the effective running of Chariot Radio 93.5 FM and to identify methods or techniques to mitigate or minimize these challenges.

In order to attain these objectives, a total of 11 staff at the Chariot Radio 93.5 FM was interviewed. The results of the survey reveal that Chariot Radio 93.5 FM is currently facing challenges, and the major challenge is poor maintenance and management. Respondents indicated that electrical and electronic devices, such as the mikes and the dashboard were old and always faulty. Other notable challenges were a lack of professionalism and poor presentation skills from radio staff, poor management of personnel and no clear hierarchy, and the notion that the radio does not function in harmony with the department.

The second major finding is that these challenges have had significant adverse impacts on the running and functioning of the Chariot Radio 93.5 FM. Poor maintenance and management of tools and equipment have made it difficult for programs to be aired successfully, sometimes radio silence for up to a week or more.

This resulted in a loss of credibility and audience. Lack of professionalism and poor presenter skills have also reduced the credibility of the radio station, and have discouraged incoming volunteers, who may view the entire training program as not worthwhile. Poor management of personnel also resulted in misbehaviour around the radio station premises.

As per the third objective, the survey revealed that there have been a few replacements of the technical material at the radio station, as well as a computer brought in to facilitate audio editing. Training programs have been organized for incoming volunteers so as to improve their professional skills, and the radio has been made out of bounds to non-authorized personnel.

Although these measures have proven effective, the study further recommends that the radio station and the journalism department should work closely together, and lecturers should supervise and monitor the progress of young JMC students who begin their training at the Chariot FM 93.5 radio.

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