The advent of private radios has done much to bring a diversity of programmes to the listening public and it has given them a better and wider choice. Most of all it has been an opportunity for the listeners to make their views heard.

Okay, so far it has been all praiseworthy. The success of private radios has become more evident because some the programmes on other radios are far from entertaining at times. During certain periods of the day, we hear French local news, French weather forecast and even news of heavy traffic in various regions of France as if having that information might affect our daily lives. Is that catering for the needs of the listeners? I will leave you to ponder this question. The private radios have had a bit of the Midas touch by introducing programmes which are extremely popular and attract a vast audience. These programmes generally deal with ?Consumer problems?. The broad objective of the said programmes is to help the consumer to resolve his-her problem.

Whilst the aim is very laudable, there is a potential danger which is becoming increasingly apparent day by day. Without realising it, the private radios are creating a dependency culture for certain listeners. As soon as they have any hint of a problem, they turn to the private radios to address the issue. I fully agree that the mere fact that when a problem is aired on the radio, a solution is invariably found fairly quickly and at times instantly. However what is worrying is the increasing dependency of the public in expecting their problems to be solved each and every time by the mere fact that they have phoned the radio.

Whenever possible, listeners should be guided, that is they should be advised on how to proceed in their efforts to resolve their difficulties. Prior to phoning the radios, they must have attempted at least the basic steps to resolve their problems, this should be a precondition of their problem being aired on the radio. The exception to the rule should apply only to the elderly, the disabled and the housebound.

I am pleased to note that at least Marie Michelle Etienne does her best to encourage the listeners to attempt to resolve their own problems whenever possible. She provides them with the necessary information (phone numbers ? contact persons) and asks them to do the necessary. However at the same time, she reassures them that they should call back if all their efforts proved to be unsuccessful, the radio will then take on the baton on their behalf. I concur with this approach and hope that other hosts of similar programmes will take note. The authorities, be they public institutions or private companies do not help to alleviate the problem of dependency, on the contrary, they compound the situation because when they come on the radio, they immediately acquiesce to see the complainant without any delay. Invariably, they say ?Vinne guette moi zordi?. Why did they not see it fit to proffer this facility to the complainant when the problem first arose? Why does it need for someone to voice their problem on the radio before they react? Why do they not improve their customer relations service in order to ensure a good standard? Why not provide a hotline which is constantly manned? As a result, the public would not need to seek help elsewhere, currently the radio being the popular alternative.

Whilst I am all for the public to complain loud and clear when the service is substandard, it will also be helpful for the various government departments-private companies to make sure that the public have all the necessary information at hand, on how they should proceed so that their problem can be dealt with promptly and efficiently without the need to have recourse to a third party to help them. Hopefully the private radios will continue to help the listeners with their day to day problems but at the same time, they should encourage the public to be more independent and more assertive in order to ensure that their rights are not infringed.

By addressing all their problems in a blanket fashion, the radios are doing the public a disservice, they should discriminate on which problem should be aired. It is patently obvious at times that some listeners have done nothing at all prior to calling on the radio to deal with their problem, some of them even do the rounds of the various radios instead of making the effort themselves.

Finally, I would like to make plea to the radios. During the phone in programmes on consumer problems, they must endeavour to cut off immediately anybody who phones and name an individual or a firm when they come on air. I am actually astounded that there are not more cases of slander following certain broadcasts.

Claude Canabady