Ridderradio
According to Willem de Ridder the biggest fear in Western society is speaking in public. Willem: “When I offered listeners to Talkradio an uncontrolled and free minute in the air, everybody started to curse.” On the internet ‘flaming’ and running down are common in chats too. Willem started weekly pilot broadcasts in which listeners made the programme all by themselves. Every week more listeners dared to call in and just talked as if they were in a studio. With the help of Digitale Pioniers Willem set up an internet station which enables people to make their own radio broadcasts.
Final products
Ridderradio is no longer online. Under the name of Ridderradio (“to get Rid of your fear”) one could listen to 25 weekly broadcasts. At one time there was a rather big waiting list of candidates (from abroad as well) who wanted to make a programme. Ridderradio was totally unique. For the first time there was no central studio anymore; a growing number of people made a weekly broadcast from their computer at home. One could not only hear and see them, but could also get in touch with them via the Radio Chat. Listeners could ask questions, express their opinion, and communicate with other listeners. During his radio show Willem broadcasted radio plays. Via an online training listeners could learn how to make a radio play by themselves.
Impact
Quite a few people are interested in producing a broadcast. Of all ages, specialized in for instance relationships, Japanese cartoons, food, music, history, astrology, art, punk, gothics, globalization, science, wicca, UFO’s, the Maya calendar, or ‘mirror-ology’. Listeners who were interested could get in direct contact with specialists of all ages. Because of the absence of a central studio an intimate, homey, and relaxed atmosphere can emerge more easily, enabling a more open communication.
This project was executed between May 2004 and June 2005.
Contact
Ridderradio, Bussum
Clary Kriek
