Radio Shalkar at 60: The Continuity of National Heritage and Journalism

On November 3, 2026, a master class titled «Radio Shalkar at 60» was held for first- and second-year students of the Department of Press and Electronic Media at the Faculty of Journalism of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The event was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Radio Shalkar.

The speaker was Bakhyt Zhagiparuly, a journalist, poet and senior editor at Radio Shalkar. The main objective of the master class was to introduce students to the history of Kazakh radio journalism, the role of national radio in society, broadcasting culture and current trends in modern journalism through the speaker’s professional experience.

During the master class, Bakhyt Zhagiparuly spoke about the sixty-year history of Radio Shalkar, emphasizing its contribution to the development of Kazakh cultural and spiritual heritage, the promotion of national values and the strengthening of the status of the Kazakh language. He also highlighted prominent figures who contributed to the formation and development of Kazakh radio journalism. In particular, he spoke about veteran and legendary radio announcers: Mina Seitova, the first professional announcer of Kazakh Radio and founder of the national school of broadcasting; Anuarbek Baizhanbayev, renowned for his distinctive voice and known as the «Kazakh Levitan»; Toksyn Kulybekov, who worked as an announcer at Kazakh Radio from 1966 to 2002 and is a professor; and Sauyk Zhakanova, a veteran of radio broadcasting. He also mentioned the outstanding Kazakh poet Mukagali Makatayev, renowned journalist and scholar Namazaly Omashev, and Nurlan Unerbayev. The speaker emphasized the significant contribution of these personalities to the history of national radio journalism. Furthermore, Bakhyt Zhagiparuly shared his professional experience, discussing creative approaches to radio broadcasting, journalists’ professional responsibilities, building connections with audiences, producing high-quality content and maintaining proper speech standards on air. He stressed that future journalists need to develop strong speaking skills, deliver information accurately and truthfully, nurture their creativity and continuously improve their professional competencies to succeed in radio journalism.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights into the specific nature of radio broadcasting and the daily work of journalists. The meeting provided both educational and practical value, allowing students to connect their theoretical knowledge with professional experience and gain a deeper understanding of radio journalism.

At the end of the master class, the organizers expressed their gratitude to Bakhyt Zhagiparuly for his informative lecture and valuable professional insights.

Zh. Kutpanbayeva
Senior Lecturer, Department of 
Print and Electronic Media