{"id":2884,"date":"2012-03-01T05:22:38","date_gmt":"2012-03-01T09:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2012-02-29T08:45:25","modified_gmt":"2012-02-29T12:45:25","slug":"bbc-world-service-a-lifetime-of-shortwave-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/bbc-world-service-a-lifetime-of-shortwave-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC World Service: A Lifetime of Shortwave Radio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

(photo: BBC World Service)<\/p><\/div>\n

An Antarctic\u00a0glaciologist, Burmese monk, communications professor and a Somalian tell their shortwave radio stories in this article<\/a> posted by the BBC World Service in honor of 80 years of shortwave radio broadcasts. In my opinion, these stories are very much representative of the power of shortwave radio and why, for many parts of the world, \u00a0it is still vital<\/a>. Though this article focuses on a look into the past, there are still many parts of the world that have no access to the internet, nor reliable electricity and\/or their people live under repressive regimes. Shortwave radio offers a lifeline of information. Shortwave listening habits are not traceable or trackable (like they are over the internet) by those in power. The story below, by a Burmese monk, could stand as an example.<\/p>\n

(Source: BBC World Service)<\/p>\n

[…]The BBC has been an integral part of my life for over two decades now – I believe I haven’t missed a single transmission in all those years. I even kept a diary of all broadcasts from 1988 to 2003, recording all new staff who joined in those years and their first ever broadcast.
\n\"U
\nI started listening to the BBC Burmese Service in 1988 when the whole country rose up against one-party rule.<\/p>\n

I was living in western Burma’s Rakhine State, teaching Buddhist scripture to the student monks. I was fascinated by the BBC’s coverage of the news and was much impressed that the news I heard on BBC turned out to be exactly what was happening in the country.<\/p>\n

I was a well-informed and knowledgeable monk, partly because of the BBC. The BBC, because of its reporting on Burma, was much hated by the military authorities and people had to secretly listen to it within their own homes. But luckily for me, I had my own monastery then and could listen to the broadcasts relatively undisturbed.<\/p>\n

Then I left for India for further studies but continued to listen. On my return to Burma, I moved to Rangoon, the then capital and stayed at a monastery on the suburbs of the city. Rangoon was a hotbed of activism against military rule and the military government openly practised a “divide and rule” policy. People were suspicious of each other and that distrust spread to the monasteries as well.<\/p>\n

The other monks in the monastery disapproved of my listening to the BBC, because they feared government reprisals, and some even said I was an “informer” providing information to foreign broadcasters. They dubbed me a “reporter monk”.<\/p>\n

I took more precautions but never stopped listening. I would take my transistor radio and go outside to the farthest corner of the monastery compound, away from other monks, at the times of the broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Every day I learned something from the radio. My morning teaching lessons start only after the BBC morning programme and I do my nightly prayer after the evening programme.<\/p>\n

My radio is set at the frequencies on which the BBC Burmese broadcasts and I usually tune in a few minutes before the programme starts. I don’t want to miss anything. When the weather is bad, it takes more dedicated effort to tune into the shortwave signal, but I don’t mind that.<\/p>\n

Some people frown on monks listening to the BBC. But I believe my life is enriched by it. The BBC has become a very important part of my life and I will continue listening to it until the end of my life. As Buddha has taught, we living beings must face the truth and bring about the truth. I believe the BBC is earning this merit every day by sharing the truth with millions of listeners.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read the BBC World Service article in its\u00a0entirety here.<\/a>\u00a0I have filed this article under our ever-growing tag “Why Shortwave Radio<\/a>?”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Antarctic\u00a0glaciologist, Burmese monk, communications professor and a Somalian tell their shortwave radio stories in this article posted by the BBC World Service in honor of 80 years of shortwave radio broadcasts. In my opinion, these stories are very much representative of the power of shortwave radio and why, for many parts of the world, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,43,5],"tags":[327,420,4082,928,310,102,84],"class_list":["post-2884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-shortwave-radio","category-swlers","tag-bbc-world-service","tag-bbc-ws","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-shortwave-radio-listeners","tag-swls","tag-why-radio","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-Kw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41948,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/listener-reactions-to-loss-of-bbc-hindi-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":0},"title":"Loss of BBC Hindi shortwave service and listener reactions","author":"Thomas","date":"February 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following story from The Print: Emotional emails & offers to crowdfund \u2014 how fans tried to keep BBC Hindi radio on air The service fell silent last month with its last transmission on 31 January. The BBC management\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/India-Elle-via-Unsplash-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/India-Elle-via-Unsplash-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/India-Elle-via-Unsplash-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6074,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/bbc-world-service-program-discusses-chinese-jamming\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":1},"title":"BBC World Service program discusses Chinese jamming","author":"Thomas","date":"March 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In the latest episode of Over To You, host\u00a0Rajan Datar discusses how\u00a0the BBC World Service's shortwave transmissions are being affected by jamming in parts of Asia. It's a short but informative episode. Even Datar and his guest, Nigel Fry (Head of Distribution for BBC Global News), could appreciate the irony\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BBCSWOverToYou","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/BBCSWOverToYou-300x96.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":52067,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/ny-times-bbc-revives-shortwave-radio-dispatches-in-ukraine-and-draws-ire-of-russia\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":2},"title":"NY Times: “BBC revives shortwave radio dispatches in Ukraine, and draws ire of Russia.”","author":"Thomas","date":"March 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who share the following news item from the New York Times. I've included an excerpt below, but the full article article can be found on the NY Times website. You may need a NY Times account to read this article if\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Woofferton_transmitting_station_2011.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Woofferton_transmitting_station_2011.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Woofferton_transmitting_station_2011.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Woofferton_transmitting_station_2011.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52071,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/the-guardian-bbc-website-blocked-in-russia-as-shortwave-radio-brought-back-to-cover-ukraine-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":3},"title":"The Guardian: “BBC website \u2018blocked\u2019 in Russia as shortwave radio brought back to cover Ukraine war”","author":"Thomas","date":"March 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris, who shares the following report from The Guardian: BBC website \u2018blocked\u2019 in Russia as shortwave radio brought back to cover Ukraine war (The Guardian) Website reportedly available at only 17% of normal levels in Russia, hours after broadcaster revives radio technology to reach\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45306,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/bbc-world-service-over-to-you-on-the-future-of-shortwave-broadcasts\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service: “Over To You” on the future of shortwave broadcasts","author":"Thomas","date":"September 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Webster (G7KVE), who shares the following article and interview from the BBC WS program Over To You: Tuning in to the future for shortwave We answer your questions about the BBC World Service\u2019s plans for shortwave. With many tens of millions still relying\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17382,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/bbc-to-launch-korean-news-service-via-shortwave-in-fall-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":2884,"position":5},"title":"BBC to launch Korean news service via shortwave in fall 2016","author":"Thomas","date":"February 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: KBS World Radio via Andrea Borgnino) The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will launch a shortwave radio service to North Korea this fall. A BBC insider said the British government has given final approval to the public broadcaster's plan to broadcast news to North Korea and has even earmarked a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"(Image source: BBC)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}