Kyle Hannan – Broadcaster

South Africa’s top student Radio/Club DJ in 1991, Kyle Hannan headed up the first legal radio station to break the South African government’s 50 year broadcast monopoly. Later he helped create the first community radio station in Nelson Mandela’s home region. In the Far East he set up an online radio station. Since moving to Bristol in 2002, Kyle set up EcoMedia Collective – an affordable video and podcast service, to help ethical organisations, such as charities and social enterprises, broadcast their message online. EMC’s work varies from live-streaming events such as the World Fair Trade Towns Conference, recently held in Bristol, to producing and presenting the UK’s only regular, weekly, “green scene” podcast.

How did you land up in Bristol?

We moved to Bristol for all its great qualities in a walkable city. Besides, it felt ‘right’ to be near my grandmother’s home in Somerset.

What drives you to do community broadcasting work?

Driving volunteers back to their villages, we’d talk about their ambitions for their new skills. And it was about more than just skills: they had actual studios and airwaves too, which meant using the training immediately, so it took root. Today, I am still friends with many who became successful, high-flying media personalities. This inspired our slogan at EcoMedia which puts this all together: “Sound/Share/Change”.

How have you built broadcasting bridges between communities? 

That’s easy. Just help amplify what’s already there. Find the stories that people have, then create the right technical environment to amplify and share their inspiration for positive change. I’ve helped steer many innovative community media projects in the UK including Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Services, Bristol Community FM, and the world’s first joint Jewish-Muslim online service, “Salaam Shalom”.

What does a typical day look like?

Sometimes an early beach run and some podcast-listening. Then it’s 60 minutes of email and social media after which I’m either at my home office workstation or at our Bristol desk writing copy, updating websites we administer, editing audio and video, and rendering finished client projects overnight. We employ part-time technical assistants and occasional freelancers who work remotely so there’s no standard ‘office day’ for us. Equipment is stored in various locations so we’ve always got recording gear handy. Podcast group recordings happen after 5 at British Podcast Studios in St Pauls.

What gets you into trouble?

That would be telling. But I’d like more of it anyway.

What attributes do you need to do this kind of work?

Ahead of the curve and behind the scenes. You have to be observant, perceptive, multi-skilled, unobtrusive, flexible, patient, persistent, technically-minded, ambidextrous (I wish), professionally schizophrenic and physically fit, with great time-keeping.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

Working ON rather than IN the business. We often have more community project work than our part-time team can handle but not enough commercial client revenue to justify making them full time. It means I have to step in more often than I’d like.

What would you like to see more of?

A wider understanding that internet media doesn’t just mean video, which can be unnecessary and difficult to access. I’d especially like to see more use of audio and live webcasting as a way of recording and sharing events, seminars and conferences. This turns a one-off event into an always-on resource.

What’s been your biggest achievement?

Being selected for a Rothschild Summer scholarship in social enterprise and cross-cultural networking at the Columbia Business School in New York.

To find out more about EMC go to: easymediacreation.com