VOA Broadcasting in Somali
VOA reaches Somalia and neighboring countries on AM, FM, shortwave, the Internet, and digital platforms. A team of Somali broadcasters based in Washington, D.C., along with freelance reporters in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa and the world, provides news to a country with a federal government fighting the terrorist group al-Shahab.
Quick Facts
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Established: February 2007
Target Areas: Somalia and rest of the Horn of Africa region
Weekly Audience: 51% in Mogadishu, and a significant percentage of the one to two million Somali diaspora globally
Radio Programming: 3.5 hours of original programming and half hour repeats daily, seven days per week. TV Programming: 2.5 hours per week Digital Programming: 2.5 hours per week
Broadcast programs and additional features are available at:
Facebook:
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Podcasts: 3 podcasts available on My Yahoo, iTunes, and voanews.com |
Programs and Features
VOA Somali broadcasts 3.5 hours live and half an hour of repeats on radio daily. These programs are: A 30-minute breakfast show from 0330-0400 UTC (6:30-7:00 am in Somalia); a 30-minute youth show from 1030-1100 UTC (1:30pm-2:pm in Somalia); a one-hour afternoon program from 1300-1400 UTC (4:00-5:00 pm in Somalia); and a one- hour evening program from 1600-1700 UTC (7:00-8:00 pm in Somalia) that is repeated at 1700-1800 UTC (8:00-9:00 pm in Somalia) for affiliates on a daily basis. The last half an hour of the repeat show is fresh programming on topics related to combating violent extremism, Monday to Friday.
Programs air on AM, FM, shortwave radio, and the Internet. News is also accessible on mobile devices. FM Somali stations that carry the programs include Radio Mogadishu, Kulmiye Radio, also in Mogadishu, STAR FM in Kenya and parts of Somalia, and SBC Radio in Puntland, Somalia. Radio Garowe in Somalia hosts a link to the program on its website. VOA Somali also broadcasts via three VOA 24-hour FM transmitters - in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Somalia and Djibouti.
The radio programs focus in depth on a wide range of Somali affairs, including political and social issues, health topics, development, music and sports. Panel discussions, debates, interviews with newsmakers, and call-ins encourage Somalis– both, Somali leaders and the general audience – to express their opinions on topics of interest. People who drive the news, from the Somali President to insurgents (when they are available), are interviewed.
The service also produces a 30-minute TV show, Qubanaha (“Magazine”) which airs five days a week. Qubanaha is also streamed on Facebook and YouTube.