Virtual Radio Listener’s Group and the Production of Ramogi Fm's Wang’ Onyango Programme

Abstract

A paradigm shift in the value of publics (i.e., publics as participantsin the production process); speaker–to–listener relation (i.e., the evidence of a new form of intimacy); the listener–to– listenerrelationship; and new role the radio producer (i.e., more curatorial, yet less productive), have drastically changed the radio production process. This research project probedhow Virtual Radio Listeners Groups operate and the rolesthey play on media production, a case study of ―Team Wang’ Onyango‖ which is a virtual radio listening group of Ramogi FM – Royal Media Services Kenya. Through non-probability - convenience sampling, Qualitative data wascollected by observation in virtual ethnography then Key Informant Interview done for presenter, producer, group founders and usual interviews conducted to members of the virtual listeners‘ group. Data wasthematicallyanalysed with anexploratory research design. This study found out thatTeam Wang’Onyango, a virtual radio listening group, to a great extent directly contribute content and ideas for production of Wang’Onyango (Mid-Morning) Programme of Ramogi FM with a margin that one can comfortably demonstrate that they are the producers of that programme. As a result, they show is among the highest rating in its category. The study also demystified how the group operates to achieve such a marvellous work and its unexploited potentials which may need further studies and investment to increase its gains and also make radio broadcasting adaptive to this quickly changing and volatile media operation environment.