By Ligia Vidal
UM School of Communication

The largest Haitian community in the United States resides in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Radio Mega founder and CEO Alex Surin wants to reach each and every member.

His seven-year-old station, which broadcasts in Creole on 1020 AM, reaches at least from Palm Beach County to The Keys. The signal surely strays beyond Florida, however, as Surin and station Manager Jacques Cassagnol say they often hear from listeners in northern Haiti.

“Miami is a vibrant community,” Surin said. “I feel like I’m still in Haiti.”

Surin believes the best way to reach Haitians in South Florida is through radio, since this is the prefer medium of about 70 percent of local Haitians, according to a Bendixon and Associations market study in 2004.

A 30-year broadcasting veteran in Haiti, Surin remembers as a little boy pretending to be a radio sports broadcaster during his brother’s soccer games.
It was during that time, in his hometown of Jeremie, where he first experienced broadcasting in one of the local radio stations. 

“Growing up I was passionate about broadcasting. I was passionate especially about radio,” Surin said.

Surin’s love of radio took him to Port-au-Prince and eventually to France, where he studied journalism.

His first experience with the Haitian American community in Miami was more than 20 years ago, when he discovered there was a vibrant market for a Creole radio station in South Florida. On his way to work, Surin was able to communicate with other members of the Haitian community in Creole.

His dream now a reality, Radio Mega’s North Miami station has three production studios. Its programming includes talk shows, music, local news, and news from Haiti.

“News is the most important thing,” Surin said.

The broadcaster believes that Haitians follow news in Haiti very closely, but they are also very interested in news that affects their community locally.

The Bendixon study found that immigration, poverty, and crime are among the most important issues for the Haitian community.

For Surin, the radio format and Creole language are vital when trying to reach his community because of the oral tradition in Haiti.

Surin believes it is hard to predict how second- or third-generation Haitians will maintain their connection to the homeland, but he knows that there are always new people arriving.

The Bendixon study revealed that 13 percent of the Haitian community in South Florida arrived after the year 2000.

For now, Surin feels there is a market for a national Haitian television station. Haitians in South Florida now have access to about six hours of Haitian programming daily through cable and satellite, but Surin hopes to launch a local television station that would include local programming as well as programming from Haiti. 

The reality of serving a minority community shape Surin’s view of journalism. 

“We have to explain to them the whole concept of the United States,” he said.  Programming ranges from educating the community about American laws, to keeping them informed about daily flights to Haiti.

Surin believes the station’s success is the result of this close community connection. Callers regularly phone in with their questions or problems, and revelers have even gathered in front of the station to celebrate Haitian soccer victories.

“They identify us as Haiti,” Surin said.

Among Radio Mega’s key competitors are WLQY 1320 AM, a 24-hour Creole station broadcasting out of Hollywood, and WHSR 980 AM, “Radio Haiti Amerique Internationale.”