Pond Inlet (Sep 25/06) - Running a radio station where the DJs get six dollars a show, no matter how long they are on the air, is no picnic.

Joseph Maktar does it in Pond Inlet. He's the recreation coordinator and responsible for the three main DJs and one back up who go on the air three times a day.

As a relief DJ, Pond Inlet recreation co-ordinator Joseph Maktar knows how to do radio on a shoestring budget. He'd rather have state-of-the-art equipment and enough money to pay on air personalities a decent wage, though. - Bruce Valpy/NNSL photo

In between CBC programs, the DJs - Isaac Kiyoapik, Sheryl Koonoe, Simona Kublu, Gaisa Issigaitak - sit in a cramped room in the ice arena, pushing buttons on battered tape decks and dusty CD players, bending over to talk into a tattered microphone.

It's a tough gig but the people must like it because they always listen in. "We do community announcements and take phone calls for messages for other people," said Maktar. "Sometimes we have to unplug callers if they get mean or out of order.

Then there's music - country, dance, hip hop. No heavy metal. In fact, Marilyn Manson was banned in 1998 after ordinary folk took exception to the message of the music.

Aside from the DJ pay, the old technology on the shelves is a major headache. In fact, the $15,000 funding from the territorial department of Community, Language Education and Youth goes to the DJs so there's no money left for new equipment.

"We definitely need new equipment," Maktar said, a smile showing he still has his sense of humor.

If he had his choice, the first purchase would be a computer so visitors don't walk off with the music CDs, always a hazard when you have good musical taste.