In the first months of 2011 you, our listeners and users of the Radio Bulgaria website, have remained loyal sending both conventional mail and e-mails. Your appreciation is key in adding meaning to the efforts of all professionals involved in creating the international broadcasts of the Bulgarian National Radio.
“I will remember 2010 for a string of interesting programs from your country. In my view Radio Bulgaria is an established brand among radio stations broadcasting to international audiences, because for decades you have continued to create and air programs with high-quality content. This is seen in the permanent number of regular listeners”, writes Heinz-Guenther Hessenbruch from Germany. Our regular listener Prof. Gеzim Uruci, a famous Albanian speleologist, has sent his best regards to our colleagues from the Albanian Service: “With deep respect to the team of the Albanian Service that has provided a major contribution into the strengthening of Bulgaria-Albania relations. I wish you even better programs in 2011!” With the words “A big thank you for your work” Sergey Balbasov from Belarus addresses our colleagues from the Russian Service. “Every program is being prepared with utmost precision. And the hosts have great voices”, he writes”. Albert Bolshakov from Russia writes: “Radio Bulgaria always prepares its programs with creativity and love for its audience. They cover all aspects of life in Bulgaria – its past, present and future. A lot of music from various genres is presented. I particularly like the dialogue with listeners in DX Mix and Mailbox.” Another listener from Russia – Igor Milyukov – admits too, he is a fan of Radio Bulgaria. “I like everything – the music, the news and other programs. I often visit your website on the internet and I think it is quite user-friendly.”
The Radio Bulgaria website in Arabic is very popular as well. “I log on your website in Arabic every day and I really like the way you publish articles – in different sections, with a lot of pictures, and with a real audio option. I particularly enjoy your rubrics for culture and education’, writes Kadir Dalim from Algeria. Even now when northern Africa has been brewing with unrest, Mohammad Ibrahim from Egypt writes: “I recently read about the past and present of the Bulgarian town of Kyustendil and saw the photographs from the place. I should like to visit when possible.” The most popular rubrics include Tourism, History, Music and Lifestyle. “Your Lifestyle rubric has very good content, and is valuable in acquainting foreigners with your way of life and with the efforts of the young generation to be successful in the country despite the economic crisis. It is a global crisis and will be overcome – we only have to think more positively and work for its liquidation”, writes Hassan Rabih from Morocco.
Mailbox is a favorite rubric with Radio Bulgaria listeners. It gives detailed answers to listeners’ questions. For example Samiira al-Tali from Syria writes, “I would be happy to read and listen more often about the life of Bulgarian women – about their goals and how they achieve them. Youth topics interest me a lot as well!” Anselmo de Paula Camargo from Brazil is keen to find out who is the most renowned scholar of Bulgarian folklore. Jurgen Hanneman from Germany has asked several questions. Among them: “How is separate waste collection organized in Bulgaria? Do you have a regular army?” Salvador Lavin Caral of Spain should like to learn more about Bulgarian poet Hristo Smirnenski. Writes he: “As usual your programs are very interesting, especially the ones exploring Bulgaria’s key tourist attractions.” Jorge Reies from Peru writes, “For many years I have been following shortwave broadcasts learning a lot about your country and culture, and now through the internet, I can enrich my knowledge.”
Well, there is also a bit of criticism. Andreas Fessler from Germany writes, “In the recent days the quality of transmissions has deteriorated. So I went on your website and was surprised! In the recent past Radio Bulgaria had such a nice website – diverse and quite tidy. Its current layout takes me back to the first steps of the internet. Well, the worst thing is that I cannot open and play the audios!”
Radio Bulgaria is proud of its capable correspondents from across the world – we mean, you, our listeners, who keep us informed about developments in your countries. As usual, our listeners from Turkey have provided the most active feedback. In January alone there were 80 incoming letters and e-mails from both Bulgaria and Turkey, and there have been 120 phone calls. “In the program Roads Go Through Villages Too you bring stories about different villages. Is it possible to drop by in our village some day?”, Hassan Pehlivan from the village of Lavino, in the Southeastern Razgrad region writes.
Some of our most loyal listeners are radio amateurs who often mail reports about the audibility of transmissions on shortwave. Shahinur Alam from Bangladesh writes, “We have 27 members in our radio club and we all like Radio Bulgaria’s programs. We often log on your website too. Thank you!” Our listener from USA Brandon Pisani reports that he has been listening to our program in Merryville, Tennessee, and that the signal comes across clearly and strongly. He is a fan of History Club and Timeout for Music, long-running rubrics of the English Service. Guy Le Loue from France writes, “I suggest you organize monthly contests linked to your content. This will for sure motivate your listeners to tune in more often.”
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
