[HCDX] Samoan Radio Survives Tsunami - Media Release from Radio Heritage Foundation

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Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.net

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Samoan Radio Survives Tsunami
Brave Broadcasters Defy Danger
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The recent earthquake and devastating tsunami affecting Samoa,
American Samoa and northern Tonga brought forward several shining
examples of radio broadcasting dedication in the face of extreme
danger says the Radio Heritage Foundation.

KKHJ-FM activates emergency warnings
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In Pago Pago, American Samoa, the morning DJ at KKHJ-FM felt the
earthquake and activated emergency warnings immediately. Lupe Lohmann
then broadcast calls for residents to head for higher ground and by
the time she realized that a tsunami was heading up Pago Pago harbor
towards the studios, it was too late for her to leave. 

She stayed on the air as surging waters smashed into the ground floor
of the Pago Pago Plaza, home of KKHJ-FM. You can hear her interview
with the BBC describing the events at
www.newsbbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8281616.stm and look at photos of
the devastation caused by the tsunami at the KKHJ-FM website
[www.khjradio.com ]where you can also listen to KKHJ-FM streaming live
and see more images of the temporary studios being used at the
transmitter site.

Pago Pago FM Towers
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For images of the KKHJ-FM tower high above Pago Pago visit
www.radioheritage.net and click on the article 'Pago Pago Tower
Tour'. Other features about American Samoan radio can be found at the
same website - 'WVUV Radio Romance' and 'This is WVUV'.

According to the World Radio TV Handbook [www.wrth.com] there are
five FM stations on the air in American Samoa [population 61,400] and
in addition to KKHJ-FM, live streaming is currently available from
KSBS [www.ksbsfm92.com] and KNWJ-FM [www.fm104.org].

2AP 540 AM stays on the air
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Across in independent Samoa, another DJ also stayed on duty as the
earthquake struck the islands. Radio 2AP broadcasts at 540AM from sea
level near the capital, Apia, and Epati Tamati felt the earthquake
and also realized a tsunami was likely. He also chose to stay on the
air, accepting hundreds of calls from worried and frightened
listeners and broadcasting emergency messages.

You can see a photo of Epati inside the 2AP studios and read his
story in the article 'Radio Man Risks Life for Listeners' in the
October 7 edition of The New Zealand Herald newspaper online at
www.nzherald.co.nz.

Radio Polynesia moves to the hills
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Olga Keil of Radio Polynesia in Apia is also reported on the BBC
Asia-Pacific website with her comments about the earthquake. You can
find this story at www.newsbbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8282115.stm
and find out more about the four stations of Radio Polynesia at
www.fmradio.ws.

Since the earthquake, the staff have been broadcasting from makeshift
studios in the hills behind Apia, close to their transmitter complex.

According to the World Radio TV Handbook [www.wrth.com] there are one
AM and eight FM stations on the air in Samoa [population 178,000] but
none of the local stations currently stream services online.

The Radio Heritage Foundation recommends reading the following
features about radio in Samoa at its website www.radioheritage.net:
'Radio in Samoa', 'Samoan Radio Sale', 'ZMAP Apia Samoa' and 'Samoan
Radio Journey' for more information about 2AP, Radio Polynesia and
other stations.

RNZI Pacific Coverage
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We also recommend staying tuned to Radio New Zealand International
[www.rnzi.com] for breaking Pacific news and live reports from
reporters in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga as tsunami
reconstruction continues.

_____________________________________________________
Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit organization
connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage across the
Pacific. Our global website is www.radioheritage.net. 
_____________________________________________________














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