The battle of FM radio stations

Sir: The battle of the F.M. radio stations, especially in the South West region of the country and specifically in Ibadan is becoming not only more and more interesting but also comical. Incidentally, a new station is soon to begin operation. They spew out all sorts of slogan to boost their ego and increase their listenership.

These claims include being the first in Nigeria, the first in the Western part of the country, being the most listened to in the world, being at the top of the ladder and setting new standards in broadcasting.

Unfortunately, there is nothing much to write home about many of them. Their programmes are very similar, with many being copy cast. Their programming often coincides and their wavebands are so close that they sometimes overlap.There is a bright side to more F.M. Stations, however, than the creation of jobs in the broadcasting sector.

Unfortunately, pronunciation and sentence construction by many of the presenters are atrocious and very discouraging even among the so-called popular ones. Many do not know the difference between “O” the alphabet and zero “O” the numeral when giving out telephone numbers.

Nor do they know the difference between “t” and “th.” “Ask” is pronounced “axe”, “world” is pronounced “word”, “salt” is pronounced “sort”, “mother” is pronounced “moda” or “murder” and you hear “talkless of” instead of “not to talk of,” etc.

Yes, it is true that English is not our mother tongue but do we have to murder it? Furthermore English is still a compulsory subject in WASCE and NECO and other examinations. Students writing these examinations listen to these presenters and they can be adversely influenced and confused.

The situation among the Yoruba and Pidgin English broadcasters/presenters is in no way better, and could be regarded as even worse. Many make no attempt to learn how to pronounce foreign (non-yoruba) names and word.

To worsen matters, their review of the dailies and presentation of special news or unusual happenings is no longer comical or funny. It has become obscene, obnoxious and insensitive. Or how else will you describe someone who jokes about people being raped (including minors), about kidnapping, about robberies, about disasters and mutilations. They describe these occurrences in graphic details with lots of embellishment and laughter. They forget that these things could happen to anybody. That is the trash we are fed every day. Are there no standard anymore? Who monitors broadcasting? Is there not supposed to be a Board of Control that can sanction?

The days of Anike Agbaje-Williams, Kunle Olasope, Nelson Ipeya and other great and decent broadcasters appear to be long gone. wish to appeal to the owners of these F.M. Stations and other radio stations to organise seminars for their staff on enunciation, elocution and how to conduct themselves on the air. Each station can lay down, monitor and enforce its own code of conduct. The standard of broadcasting should not be allowed to fall.
Bode Falomo, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.