Minivan Radio, which bills itself as the only independent radio station in the Maldives, has launched a new, interactive website aimed at giving listeners more choice over the way they access news and information. The new site,
, offers listeners not only the usual one hour Dhivehi language program but also the option of listening to, or downloading, particular segments of the hourly show.
To coincide with the launch of their website, the Minivan Radio team have also added content to their daily program, including new sections such as ‘listener’s comments’ and ‘breaking news’ as well as news in English. The radio station also plans to increase the variety of its content with new programs focusing on women, young people and the arts. "We hope the changes will prove popular with our listeners," said Minivan Radio editor Fathimath Shaheeda.
Minivan Radio was set up in exile in late 2003 by Ahmed Naseer, who was a political refugee based in Britain at that time. The station shifted operations to Sri Lanka in 2004. Following the raid on its Colombo offices on December 28, 2005 – after Maldivian Police Chief Adam Zahir told Interpol Minivan Radio employees were gun-running, a claim Sri Lankan detectives subsequently found to be baseless – Minivan Radio moved to the Maldives. Fathimath Shaheeda took over as editor.
Although based in the Male’ for over a year, the government still refuses to grant the station a broadcast licence, so programs continue to be aired from short wave radio transmitters in Europe and over the Internet. Minivan Radio shares a brand name with the website Minivan News and the Minivan Daily newspaper. In practice, however, the three news outlets are separate companies with separate editorial policies.
"For us, our independence from any political party, and any other news service, is paramount," Shaheeda said. "Minivan Radio must remain true to its name ‘Independent Radio’ and serve the needs of all Maldivians."
Shaheeda was recently awarded a place on the US State Department’s international visitor fellowship program. As part of the prestigious program, Shaheeda will attend a six week investigative journalism training course based in Washington, DC.
(Source: Minivan News/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)