Mogadishu (Sunatimes) This month Radio Bar-Kulan (RBK) celebrated its second anniversary of when the Station was launched in Nairobi. I was one of the dignitaries who have attended the ceremony held at their headquarters in Nairobi. We are also quoting the research we have done in many parts of Somalia through our organization, Somali Research Center.

Having listened to sugar-coasted statements and figures, we would like to set the record straight and draw the attention of RBK management and their funders of their current situation and how they are perceived in the country. We are not sure if RBK’s management is ignorant of the facts on the ground or if they have done that misinformation intentionally to mislead the public opinion of their sponsors.

In fact, one can appreciate what RBK has contributed to the Somali media landscape from mainly the employment perspective. Firstly, RBK has employed tens of Somali journalists who would have been jobless in exile in Kenya. Secondly, RBK started paying their staff a handsome salary higher than what their peers in Somali-run radio stations get. This could be a good example for other stations to pay their staff well.

But, I found the Station failed to deliver the mission that it has been established, which was to inform and educate the Somali people. The failure is truly stated in a research conducted by BBC World Service Trust, which states “Radio Bar-Kulan does not seem to be a preferred station as it is barely mentioned among audience focus groups. One of the reasons for this may be the fact that it is a UN backed station, ….: (An Analysis of the Somali Media Environment, pg 111).

“‘It is tarnished by those people who run it. The UN does not have a good reputation in Somali. People who listen to Bar-Kulan say it is good radio with balanced journalism, but as I said Somalis are very sophisticated radio listeners, and for now I would not say that there is much fan base for Bar-Kulan.’ Expert interview (ICG).

In the last six months, Somali Research Center conducted surveys in Mogadishu, Galkayo, Bosaso, Abudwaq, and Hargeysa. We tried to isolate the factors that contributed to the failures despite the huge investment from the UN. We have also conducted interviews with RBK staff, and conducted focus groups in Eastleigh.

In a survey that was conducted by the Somali Research Center in Mogadishu, we came to know that audience preference in Mogadishu is as follows:

1 = VOA Somali

2 = BBC Somali

3 = Radio Shabelle

4 = Radio Mogadishu

5 = Radio Kulmiye

6 = Radio Risala

7 = Radio Al-furqan

The fact that RBK is not one of the first seven stations in the capital and that newly established station, Kulmiye, is ahead of RBK should be a good lesson for Albany and its UN funder that RBK is a failure. As I know Albany is very professional in doctoring survey that was never conducted, we will always expect them to lie about their position in the capital, saying we are the first, second and third in Mogadishu.

During our surveys, interviews and focus groups, we found the following results:

* The purpose of the station was to make money, not to establish a station that is influential. The staff agreed that Albany directors do not care about developing the station.

* RBK is not critical of AMISOM, UN and TFG and does not seriously take their allegations. Journalists who criticized TFG and AMISOM were sacked.

* Somalis in the country think this is a station that advocates for AMISOM, which is a controversial issue in the country. Former British military personnel run the station through Albany Associates.

* The Station is micromanaged by foreigners, which is different from BBC Somali and VOA Somali that are managed by professional Somali journalists. A classical example is when its current director, Steve Turner, accepted that an ongoing off-the-record meeting between Somali journalists be aired live and risked the lives of journalists who were already under threat from parties to the Somalia conflict. A Somali director would not have done that.

* Despite their salaries, RBK has one of the most dissatisfied staff in the Somali media because they complain about lack of respect and the management’s disregard of their recommendations. The staff that spoke to our survey complained about the station administrator who behaves Somali journalists as if they are slaves. They have forced its veteran editor to resign over an error committed by the director, but he was used as a scapegoat.

* The Station is out of the country and does not have good correspondents on the ground. It failed to compete with local stations.

* RBK is only confined to Mogadishu and Bosaso and has no access to other parts of the country. Many see it as a radio station for AMISOM forces though it speaks in Somali.

* Majority of the staff were looking for jobs elsewhere as they all know that the station will stop its transmission from October 2012 when their funding finishes.

From the factors we have made, we can conclude that RBK is a total failure and missed its opportunity to capture the attention of the people for two years and it makes no sense to keep running a failed project.

So we would recommend that Albany Associates close this station because it is not only an insult to Albany Associates but also to UN, which funds it and the money should be directed to other humanitarian projects.

Somali Research Center