08. 05. 2012
INTRODUCTION - MAY
Our Radio Days are over. Like you, I’m still overwhelmed with impressions and full of joy - everything was even better than expected. I’ll start this article with the words I have finished Radio Days: „Great strength of RAB Serbia can be felt, one can feel that we all think the same, wish the same and are ready to fight for our goals with all our strength. After year and a half RAB Serbia’s unity is very visible. And my heart is full.“
This year Radio Days were held in Hotel Mona Zlatibor from April 22nd till April 24th. We had 82 representatives of radio stations, and this time our Radio Days were international. We had distinguished guests from the region, representatives of the biggest radio stations, networks and associations. I can proudly say that our guests were: Juraj Hrvacic, owner and director of Narodni radio, Totalni FM and Antena Zagreb, Ivan Butkovic, president of the association HURIN (Croatian association of radio and press), Josip Majher, owner of the Soundset network from Croatia, Adnan Osmanagic, owner and director of Radio Stari Grad, Sarajevo, Adis Kadric, executive director of Radio Stari Grad, Reuf Heric, president of association of commercial radio stations PEN from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gjorgi Savev, owner of Radio City from Skopje. As always we had great help from IREX Serbia, and their representatives were also with us on Zlatibor.
We have worked in two groups. The first one was for owners and directors of radio stations members of RAB Serbia. Our guests from the region were also in this group. The moderator was Dusan Masic from BBC. We talked about challenges and perspectives for radio in 2012, strategic positioning of a station towards competitors, working at the time of crisis, marketing and program networks... In a very friendly atmosphere our guests shared their experiences. We have noticed that problems are the same everywhere, but that they are dealt differently. We got a lot of good advice about networks, but also about dealing with intellectual property and institutions dealing with that. Common conclusion was that we should organize as many of these gatherings as possible, and that it is necessary to connect the whole region.
In the other group Antena Zagreb’s team – Juraj Hrvacic Junior, program director, Dario Antunovic, content director and Ivana Miseric, radio host have prepared lectures for radio hosts and editors. Jura Hrvacic shared his knowledge and experiences of the leading radio station in the region with exceptional presentations. Juraj and Dario talked about all the aspects of good program – of the right way to choose topics to the way they should be presented. In an interesting and easy way they talked about the way to reach listeners, how to keep them listening, how to prepare the best possible morning show, and Ivana was very honest about her beginnings and the way she became radio star. She presented her radio show and the way she hosts one of the most interesting programs on Radio Antena.
Dragan Ilic, star of the morning show „Budjenje“, also had a lecture. In his specific way he presented his secrets of a good radio host, but he has also made everyone laugh with funny stories heard on air. Unique grade about the lecturers was pure 10.
Time spent on Zlatibor went by so fast – just like you are with best friends and when you have the same wishes, topics and concerns. At the end we said goodbye wishing to meet again soon, and prepare new topics about branding, production for our Autumn Radio Days. We plan to invite Rade Santrac and Ivan Zeljkovic, and to dedicate other session to radio and internet mix. We are planning our next Radio Days in October and I’m already looking forward to that.
In the near future we plan to visit Zagreb, Sarajevo and Skopje in order to improve cooperation in the region. I also expect more radio stations to join RAB Serbia. There is still time till summer vacations, there is a lot to be done...
And our RAB is standing strong.