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About us |
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Fever overview
Radio Asian Fever is a community radio station working for South Asian communities in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The station serves all South Asian communities in the city, combating under-representation and exclusion from mainstream media. The station works across the cultures, faith groups and their many denominations. It aims to bring the whole community together and has notable achievements in fostering cooperation between groups across the city.
Fever has been broadcasting live (via 28 days Restricted Service Licences) since 1999. The station was recently awarded a permanent license by OFCOM in recognition of the quality of its programming and its proven ability to engage minority audiences.
We have been very successful in engaging South Asian communities in Leeds.Broadcasting programmes in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Mirpuri. Our talk shows, competitions and phone-ins attract large audiences. The live shows broadcast on-air and through the internet during the 7/7 attack in London in 2005 and the Harehills riots in 2001 attracted a particularly strong audience response. Talk-ins with MP's such as Shahid Malik and representatives from the police attracted so many calls and personal visits to the station that volunteer staff were hard-pressed to keep pace. Mails to the station were also received from live web listeners in Pakistan, India, America, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Canada, Norway, Austria and Germany.
As well as working for its audiences, the station recruits and trains volunteers in the use of broadcasting equipment, IT and vocals. It supports these volunteers (through training, mentoring and supervision) to research, produce and present their own radio shows. Programming ‘by the community – for the community' is a core value of the station.
The station targets a South Asian audience but involves and interacts with wider communities, faiths and cultures. As well as providing all-round light family entertainment, it sets out to develop and promote activities that facilitate community cohesion and positive interaction. It promotes equal access to amenities, services and service providers through its broadcasts and other activities. It gives voice to local communities to highlight and air local issues relevant not only to the South Asian Community, but also Employment and Training Opportunities, Education, Crime reduction / prevention, Housing, Health and Benefits etc. Organisations such as the police, Fire Service, PCT, Employment service and local FE Colleges testify to the stations ability to draw in new audiences and want to continue to work in partnership to broaden access to their services.
At present, mainstream services do not reach the majority of people from the South Asian Communities of Leeds. Service providers are often perceived as inaccessible to the communities, failing to meet their needs and interests. This has a knock-on effect: people are also excluded and unaware of many mainstream services that are available to them. This inability to access basic information has led to their exclusion in accessing and therefore benefiting from basic mainstream services. This places people at a considerable disadvantage in all areas of life including social, economic, educational and employment opportunities, leading to polarisation / marginalisation and disengagement of these communities.
The inability to access media services and positively take part in creative media activities is due to many barriers, e.g. language and lack of cultural and religious understanding / sensitivity.
From our previous 8 live broadcast (28 day Restricted Service License), and many local consultations (carried out live on air); it was clear that there is a very strong and real need for an Asian Community Radio. Audience response, shown through telephone calls, mails and personal visits to the studio, was overwhelming. The station has received strong support across the South Asian community and by local voluntary / community groups, statutory service providers and local businesses.
A recent survey into Creative Industries in Leeds (Feb 2006) confirms that music media is an effective means to engage communities especially disengaged / dissatisfied groups (e.g. young Asian people); who do not have access to creative media in particular radio broadcasting. We have in the past engaged young people in learning and personal development projects, through which they gain key life enhancing skills. Creative and innovative diversionary activities offer practical, creative and positive work experience in radio broadcasting, website design and artwork.
This need was formally recognized and therefore is evidenced by the fact that we were successful in gaining the five-year Community Radio License from OFCOM for the target community and the positive social gains that it will provide.
Created on 02/23/2009 02:11 PM by fever
Updated on 02/24/2009 02:40 PM by fever
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Text us! |
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 Direct 2 Studio 0755 1396 083 |
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Community News |
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 Friday 6th August 2010 Fever FM with Islamic Relief launch Pakistan Flood Appeal
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