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STRICTLY SPEAKING
BY FAE ELLINGTON
In anything it’s always good to start with the history. That’s where I’ll begin. Shortly after Kingsley ‘Ragashanti’ Stewart returned to Jamaica several years ago I heard him giving an interview on radio; I was intrigued. I immediately tracked him down and gave him a call. During that first interview, our first conversation and until today I believe Raga’s story to be not only inspiring but also one of triumph. I maintain that until today.
So impressed was I with this man and his mind, I often recommended him as guest speaker for functions. He was even kind enough to accept an invitation from me to address a group of girls at my alma mater, St. Hugh’s High School.
Back then I not only watched him host his TV programme and listened to his radio programme, whether on HOT 102 or the early days at NewsTalk 93 FM but I recommended his programmes to many. I called him from time to time and on a few occasions would stop by the station and talk with him briefly on air.
A few years ago Ragashanti was taken hostage by gunmen from the campus at the UWI — kidnapped. The morning he went on air and revealed what he had experienced, I was listening to his programme. I was alarmed and immediately wondered what I could do to help. I didn’t have to think for much longer because my phone rang. I was being asked if it were possible for me to come to the campus immediately to support Raga. I think the call was made by his producer. I never thought twice. I got there and commiserated with ‘my friend’. I hugged him and comforted him, listened to him on and off the air share his traumatic experience. I even co-hosted the programme with him.
I continued to share a cordial relationship with Raga.
Whenever and wherever we saw each other there was always a warm greeting. I was still one of his listeners.
A couple years ago though I became a bit uncomfortable with the path he was on with his programme.
I called Raga, left him a message which he returned. I shared my concerns, he listened and although we were clearly on different pages there was never any disrespect; soon after I disengaged from the programme. That did not stop me from recommending him as guest speaker if I was asked by anyone who needed someone to motivate young minds.
Late news
For close to a year and a half I had not listened to Ragashanti’s programme. However, when the ownership of Newstalk 93 FM reverted in full to the university, I and others were assigned responsibilities. Mine was to do an audit of all programmes. I started that on August 9, 2010. (This date has other significance.) Whether you are a listener or a media worker ANYONE would know the importance of time in media, especially when it comes to the news.
Well I was shocked to hear every newscast during Ragashanti’s show being taken late; not by half a minute or a minute.
That would still have been unprofessional; but by 3, 5, 8 and in one instance, as heard by me, all of 10 minutes late. Where in the world in any professionally run media outfit could this be the case? The principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona and chairman of NewsTalk 93 FM, Professor Gordon Shirley, announced on Wednesday August 11, that I was named Interim Manager for NewsTalk.
On Thursday August 12, in the company of my immediate superior, I walked across to the station. We got there at approximately two minutes to 10 a.m.
We sat in the lobby and listened as Ragashanti once more totally ignored the fact that the news reader was sitting there waiting to read the news. Again, the news was late by several minutes.
After the news was done, my director and I entered the studio, where I told the team — technical operator, producer and Ragashanti — that as of that time I was expecting that the news would be taken on time. We left the studio and repaired to the lobby.
Personal and professional
While there, I wrote a note to the producer, that’s the person in charge of a radio programme, advising her that she would be held responsible if the news is taken late. I returned to the studio handed the note to the producer, went across and touched Raga on his head in a show that my care for him as a person had not changed indicating that this was all about being professional. Well, that was the beginning of the end.
Ragashanti began to ‘trow wud’, about ‘hypocrite’, something he is so good at. That was Thursday, August 12. This continued through to Friday August 13 when I was now named.
Ragashanti gave me a proper ‘tracing’ that day. It was done in instalments. I pause here to say that I have now been traced on air by two male media practitioners. I have never been able to trace. That’s one art I have not developed and have no intention so to do.
Although I found his behaviour on August 12 and 13 ‘distasteful’ I was not deterred. But on Saturday August 14 a blog in support of Ragashanti with the most despicable, unkind and evil comments were made about me.
Raga, I would have thought that you would have come to my rescue the way I was there for you.
The manly and humane thing for you to have done was to make an entry on that blog, identifying yourself and being unequivocal about your position on the nastiness posted about me. On your return to your programme, you should also have done that. Raga you went on air and told the world that I intended to take your programme off the air. I said no such thing to you. I spoke with your producer Ruth Levy and told her of my concerns about a new feature that you had started on August 9. If you all didn’t think it through I saw that you could endanger your life, that of your team members as well as the lives of others.
But guess what Raga? ‘One Love’.
Here is some advice, approach some investors with the view to acquiring a radio licence. Call the station ‘Raga…FM’. You will make a lot of money. And remember that although your focus is purely on entertainment and ‘trash’, as you put it, try to empower others to triumph the way you did.
You have it within you to help turn this nation around; to truly make that seismic paradigm shift we so badly need; you can help to ‘sort out’ young men in particular, but not alone, and help them to a path of productivity. You can help them be human and behave human.
Can you imagine the difference you’d make if you took a half an hour out of your programme and with the help of former colleagues and friends instituted and invested in a half an hour a day where you taught basic subjects: Monday — English; Tuesday — Math; Wednesday — History; Thursday — Geography and Friday — Civics or whatever.
The Ragashanti Academy; learning by radio. See the bigger picture. The centres you could establish to take them through to CSEC and ultimately on to universities. Ragashanti help our young people achieve what you have. They and the rest of us Jamaicans will thank you for it. Rest assured that you would have truly ‘sorted them out’…in the right way and in the right direction.
One Love and a Happy Birthday…September 6. Nuff Respec…ALWAYS!
My column is published every other week, so back with you on September 12, DV. Walk good! Fae Ellington is a broadcast journalist, lecturer in radio and a communication consultant. Your views and comments are welcome. Send them to fae@mail.infochan.com
BY FAE ELLINGTON
In anything it’s always good to start with the history. That’s where I’ll begin. Shortly after Kingsley ‘Ragashanti’ Stewart returned to Jamaica several years ago I heard him giving an interview on radio; I was intrigued. I immediately tracked him down and gave him a call. During that first interview, our first conversation and until today I believe Raga’s story to be not only inspiring but also one of triumph. I maintain that until today.
So impressed was I with this man and his mind, I often recommended him as guest speaker for functions. He was even kind enough to accept an invitation from me to address a group of girls at my alma mater, St. Hugh’s High School.
Back then I not only watched him host his TV programme and listened to his radio programme, whether on HOT 102 or the early days at NewsTalk 93 FM but I recommended his programmes to many. I called him from time to time and on a few occasions would stop by the station and talk with him briefly on air.
A few years ago Ragashanti was taken hostage by gunmen from the campus at the UWI — kidnapped. The morning he went on air and revealed what he had experienced, I was listening to his programme. I was alarmed and immediately wondered what I could do to help. I didn’t have to think for much longer because my phone rang. I was being asked if it were possible for me to come to the campus immediately to support Raga. I think the call was made by his producer. I never thought twice. I got there and commiserated with ‘my friend’. I hugged him and comforted him, listened to him on and off the air share his traumatic experience. I even co-hosted the programme with him.
I continued to share a cordial relationship with Raga.
Whenever and wherever we saw each other there was always a warm greeting. I was still one of his listeners.
A couple years ago though I became a bit uncomfortable with the path he was on with his programme.
I called Raga, left him a message which he returned. I shared my concerns, he listened and although we were clearly on different pages there was never any disrespect; soon after I disengaged from the programme. That did not stop me from recommending him as guest speaker if I was asked by anyone who needed someone to motivate young minds.
Late news
For close to a year and a half I had not listened to Ragashanti’s programme. However, when the ownership of Newstalk 93 FM reverted in full to the university, I and others were assigned responsibilities. Mine was to do an audit of all programmes. I started that on August 9, 2010. (This date has other significance.) Whether you are a listener or a media worker ANYONE would know the importance of time in media, especially when it comes to the news.
Well I was shocked to hear every newscast during Ragashanti’s show being taken late; not by half a minute or a minute.
That would still have been unprofessional; but by 3, 5, 8 and in one instance, as heard by me, all of 10 minutes late. Where in the world in any professionally run media outfit could this be the case? The principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona and chairman of NewsTalk 93 FM, Professor Gordon Shirley, announced on Wednesday August 11, that I was named Interim Manager for NewsTalk.
On Thursday August 12, in the company of my immediate superior, I walked across to the station. We got there at approximately two minutes to 10 a.m.
We sat in the lobby and listened as Ragashanti once more totally ignored the fact that the news reader was sitting there waiting to read the news. Again, the news was late by several minutes.
After the news was done, my director and I entered the studio, where I told the team — technical operator, producer and Ragashanti — that as of that time I was expecting that the news would be taken on time. We left the studio and repaired to the lobby.
Personal and professional
While there, I wrote a note to the producer, that’s the person in charge of a radio programme, advising her that she would be held responsible if the news is taken late. I returned to the studio handed the note to the producer, went across and touched Raga on his head in a show that my care for him as a person had not changed indicating that this was all about being professional. Well, that was the beginning of the end.
Ragashanti began to ‘trow wud’, about ‘hypocrite’, something he is so good at. That was Thursday, August 12. This continued through to Friday August 13 when I was now named.
Ragashanti gave me a proper ‘tracing’ that day. It was done in instalments. I pause here to say that I have now been traced on air by two male media practitioners. I have never been able to trace. That’s one art I have not developed and have no intention so to do.
Although I found his behaviour on August 12 and 13 ‘distasteful’ I was not deterred. But on Saturday August 14 a blog in support of Ragashanti with the most despicable, unkind and evil comments were made about me.
Raga, I would have thought that you would have come to my rescue the way I was there for you.
The manly and humane thing for you to have done was to make an entry on that blog, identifying yourself and being unequivocal about your position on the nastiness posted about me. On your return to your programme, you should also have done that. Raga you went on air and told the world that I intended to take your programme off the air. I said no such thing to you. I spoke with your producer Ruth Levy and told her of my concerns about a new feature that you had started on August 9. If you all didn’t think it through I saw that you could endanger your life, that of your team members as well as the lives of others.
But guess what Raga? ‘One Love’.
Here is some advice, approach some investors with the view to acquiring a radio licence. Call the station ‘Raga…FM’. You will make a lot of money. And remember that although your focus is purely on entertainment and ‘trash’, as you put it, try to empower others to triumph the way you did.
You have it within you to help turn this nation around; to truly make that seismic paradigm shift we so badly need; you can help to ‘sort out’ young men in particular, but not alone, and help them to a path of productivity. You can help them be human and behave human.
Can you imagine the difference you’d make if you took a half an hour out of your programme and with the help of former colleagues and friends instituted and invested in a half an hour a day where you taught basic subjects: Monday — English; Tuesday — Math; Wednesday — History; Thursday — Geography and Friday — Civics or whatever.
The Ragashanti Academy; learning by radio. See the bigger picture. The centres you could establish to take them through to CSEC and ultimately on to universities. Ragashanti help our young people achieve what you have. They and the rest of us Jamaicans will thank you for it. Rest assured that you would have truly ‘sorted them out’…in the right way and in the right direction.
One Love and a Happy Birthday…September 6. Nuff Respec…ALWAYS!
My column is published every other week, so back with you on September 12, DV. Walk good! Fae Ellington is a broadcast journalist, lecturer in radio and a communication consultant. Your views and comments are welcome. Send them to fae@mail.infochan.com
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