Progress has been steady since infantile days when the Victoria University Radio Club used to broadcast from one small room into the Cafe. In 1976 it received its first licence to broadcast, and joined the commercial "heavies" such as 2ZM and Radio Windy on the radio dial. This year has seen developments such as greater financial stability through advertising revenue and a student levy, and the setting up of a VUWSA committee specifically to deal with Radio Active - The Radio Board. (This is a twin organisation to the Publications Board which manages Salient, and The Handbook.) Plans for the future include going FM and eventually provide a full-year service. The 'baby' is definitely growing up.

Martin Fowler, Radio Active's Station Manager describes Radio Active's role as primarily an ''information and entertainment service for students." He justifies its existence "In the past printed media (Salient) has been sufficient for the flow of information. With increasing technological advances it has been an obvious progression to a radio medium." Another dimension has been added to student expression. Fowler stresses this point, "Radio Active is an access for student opinion and expression."

There are however limitations to what Radio Active can broadcast. Freedom of speech and expression is not a phrase to be taken literally! IN the interests of impartial and non-partisan, Radio Active cannot broadcast any religious, political trade union or controversial matter. Fowle points out the paradox that although Radio Active is the offical VUWSA radio station it is not able to promote many of VUWSA's views. Any disregard of the restrictions would result in a severe rap on the knuckles from the Tribunal.

The Tribunal is the Government authority which monitors Radio Active and grants it the licence to broadcast. Originally all applications for licences went BCNZ but with the mushrooming of private radio, a separate body was created - the Tribunal's Division of the Justice Department. Every time Radio Active go on air, a 20-30 page application is made for a temporary licence. This year it applied for 2 weeks in August, 2 weeks for Capping and 4 weeks for Orientation.

A Unique Style

Radio Active doesn't model itself on the standards of other radio stations, especially the slick style of commercial radio eg 2ZM. Fowler says, "Radio has become very robot-like. Stations are becoming very systematic." Radio: Active aims to restore the human element to broadcasting. Says Fowler, ''We aim to sound friendly, easy to communicate." He also points out that students are easier to cater for because their musical tastes are fairly homogenous.

Students' musical and radio preferences were ascertained by a survey held during Orientation 1980. The survey results seemed to validate most preconceptions. Large numbers of students like rock, blues, jazz and dislike disco and Top 40 music. One surprise finding, however, was that a large group of students like classical music. Radio Active's programming attempts to cater for the musical preferences drawn from the survey. Says Fowler, "Other stations play mindless background music. We aim to find something a little bit deeper in the music.''!

Radio Active staff are all students working on a volunteer basis. The Radio Board appoints the Station Manager and the Business Manager. In the very important area of programming there is a Programme Director, Assistent PD and Music Director. There is also a schedules clerk who coordinates all advertising. The news staff of about 7 people are controlled by the news editor. (Radio Active pays about $700 for international news from the NZPA). On the technical side there is a Technical Director, 2 or 3 technicians and a Chief Engineer. In the field of business there is a Promotions Manager and 2 or 3 Sales Representatives who sell advertising for a 10% commission. And then of course there are the announcers - about 10 or 15 of them. A large staff.

Step Into The Parlour

Despite this, lack of staff is always a problem. Being a student organisation staff turnover is high, with people getting their degrees and leaving university. Therefore every year a new intake of staff is needed. Fowler points out that people are scared or reluctant to volunteer because they see some mystique surrounding radio broadcasting. He stresses that no experience is needed to join Radio Active as training is given. This is not to say that Radio Active are unselective about who they let on air. Apparently training makes a big difference to a person's voice and style. If however your voice to come up to required standards there are also 'off the air' positions available on the technical, news and administrative side.

This year finances have not been a major problem. Advertising revenue has supplemented a student levy (80c per student towards the funding of Radio Active. In fact revenue from advertising is double the amount gained from the levy.) The levy however would have to increase substantially if Radio Active goes full time. If Radio Active provided a full year service they would expect a corresponding levy to Salient's $4.20 per student. Says Fowler, "If students want a radio station they have to pay for it".

Space Limits Activity

One of the biggest problems, which also thwarts Radio Active's aim to run all year, is lack of space. The area Radio Active currently occupy in the student UNION Building is cramped to building of a production studio is essential if Radio Active is to increase its productivity to a full year service. Fowler points out however that the Union Building is not designed to expand at all. Lack of experienced technical staff also poses a problem. Says Fowler, "Victoria doesn't have an Engineering Department so there's no budding engineers around to help." Another problem related to finances, lack of space and experienced technical staff, is equipment. (With more money, space and technical staff, Active could build or buy better equipment. Active is comparatively limited in this sphere as it operates on only l/10th of the buying capacity of other stations.) As Fowler puts it, "things have to be done on the cheap."

Radio Active could overcome these problems and if students were willing to pay a bigger levy, running full time would be viable in the near future. Fowler says, "There's a lot of scope which we haven't yet explored, for example in the area of current affairs and talk back shows."

Latika Vasil