A radio station for ethnic and religious minorities in Asia, and have been for 50 years: Ute Stenert of the Catholic Church’s Radio Veritas Asia, in short, RVA, receives a lot of support from Germany.
Since 50 years on the air: Radio Veritas Asia, in short: RVA.
In the case of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), based in Quezon in the Philippines, a Golden anniversary to celebrate: The channel took on 11. April 1969, began broadcasting on. Numerous bishops, dignitaries, and communication experts are expected at the invitation of the Asian bishops ‘ conference to the celebrations. Among them Stephan Burger, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freiburg, which takes in the framework of an information tour with the Hilfswerk Misereor part in the festivities.
Was founded RVA of the Catholic Church in Asia for Evangelization, Social and development tasks. This also includes the supply of ethnic and religious minorities with religious and pastoral programs in their own languages. The programmes should also contribute to peace education and inter-religious dialogue. RVA under editorial teams stops in 14 local languages, geared to target groups in 20 Asian countries from Bengal about Mandarin and Urdu to Zomi-Chin. On the program, 58 percent of religious and 30 per cent socio-cultural issues as well as twelve percent, news and education.
An idea of Pope Pius XII.
RVA goes back to an idea of Pope Pius XII He saw in Radio a great potential for preaching, especially on a continent with large parishes. At a conference of Asian bishops in the year of 1958, the implementation of the papal suggestion, it was decided. Yet it was still a while until the project has been implemented. Were primarily looking for money donors, including international, which supported the idea. One of them is the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer. He meant that the Federal German development aid, a majority of the costs covered. Support there was in the early years of the German wave. They brought their Expertise in the planning of the technical infrastructure.
A medium wave transmitter of 50 kW was installed for a domestic program. Added to this were two short-wave transmitter 100 kW for international programs. With these stations, pioneering work was accomplished. Two years before the official inauguration there was the first transmission attempts. Smoothly the further development was not the same. Especially the fragile economic Situation was prepared by the operators again and again. So it was set in the years 1972 and 1973, the transmission on short wave because of financial problems temporarily. But all the initial difficulties, in Spite of afterwards began a steady Expansion. At the end of the ‘ 70s were already broadcast programs in eleven languages.
Funding assistance from Germany
It is mainly the Catholic Church in Germany, which played next to the Holy see in founding, financing and development of the transmitter a key role. RAV, to this day, in addition to the financial help from Rome, especially in the medium by the Association of the dioceses of Germany, but he is also supported by the Archdiocese of Cologne, to the Church in Need, as well as the children’s mission. CAMECO (Catholic Media Council in Aachen), as well as BEGECA (company for Procurement for Church-related, charitable and social institutions) are available to advise you. The above-mentioned organizations to send as well as the Secretariat of the German bishops ‘ conference, one representative to the Advisory Board of the RVA. This meets once a year in Germany, the further commitment and support for the Management of the station to vote. This also includes the future direction of the transmitter. In particular, the programme will be adapted to the modern usage.
In the case of the RTO-annual General meeting 2015, the principle decision was adopted, the short-wave mode, has lost in the last few years, to switch off up to a anniversary in the year 2019. The already existing Online services should be expanded in the following three years, until the station is completely to an Online Medium. This goal is already reached: On 30. June 2018, the broadcast ended up on short-wave.
The Expansion and further development of the original radio platform to a digital play area with audio-visual contributions, and moving image content are already remarkable. And the adjustments to the modern media usage habits continue. Even if in the coming years, numerous processes of change in Queuing – the Fundamental mission remains the same: it’s the media’s proclamation, at least in the next 50 years.
Dr. Ute Stenert is radio officer of the German bishops ‘ conference and Executive Director of the Catholic radio, – working in Bonn. For over 20 years as a freelance writer for different media.