Carel Pedre is at IVLP!

Earlier this month, Haiti multimedia personality Carel Pedre left Haiti to participate in the International Visa Leadership Program, an exchange program sponsored by US State Department’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs.

In existence since the early 1940s, the program recruits media leaders from all over the world, and in a series of exchanges, schools, trains, and immerses them into the US media landscape. Participants, in return, share ideas with another—and not just media-related insight, but cultural insight as well. This year participants came as far as Tanzania.

Carel was nominated and selected by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, and the other participants were selected by the US Embassies in their respective home countries.

Here he is posing with his colleagues.

Carel has made stops in cities like Austin, Seattle, Capitol Hill…and by the conclusion of the program, he will have assisted educational and exchange sessions in Denver, New York and Minneapolis.

And speaking of Capitol Hill…

here is the multimedia personality inside Capitol Hill…

Carel poses with fellow participants as well as radio personnel Erin Gesiler, Ben Philpot, Andrew Weber and Rebecca McInroy inside the KUTX/KUT building in Texas. KUTX broadcasts through the University of Austin’s Moody School of Communication.

Carel and the rest of the IVLP participants make a stop at the Austin Police Station and met with the Public Information officers for the station. They discussed the strategies they employed to assure the department’s transparency.

An International Visitor Leadership program would not be complete without a stop at Facebook!

Inside the Facebook office.

Spending time at Voice of America, broadcast through the Bureau of Broascasting Governors.

The radio and TV host has been chronicling his adventures at IVLP on his social media channels as well as on his personal website. The program is scheduled to end at the end of May, and is one of his primary triumphs as a media professional this past year. Earlier this year, the multimedia personality joined forces with Loop Scoop, a current events website, and got into a partnership with broadcasting vertical Zenio.

[All photos via Carel Pedre IVLP].

Haiti-based radio host and multimedia journalist Carel Pedre is altering the media landscape in Haiti.

Chokarella, Pedre’s flagship property, has grown into one of Haiti’s most recognized and most-esteemed entertainment platforms. The Chokarella brand launched as a morning radio show, then grew into a phenomenon among the Haitian-American Diaspora. Some of it had to do with Pedre’s timing.

Pedre, who has clarified in interviews that Chokarella existed prior to the 2010 earthquake, created a show that first resonated with Haitians in Haiti. In particular, with Haitian-Americans in the United States, and others living abroad—who newly shook by the earthquake in Haiti in the early 2010s—were looking for ways to establish, reconnect and rekindle their ties to Haiti. And here was Pedre with a morning show that appealed to their Haitian-American sensibilities while also stroking the newly-found love or reignited love for all things Haiti, and his tech-loving ways equally appealed to them. And here was Pedre who was their audio window to Haiti and everything that was happening in it.

Pedre has connected with audiences living outside of Haiti in a way that many, who also have an online presence, didn’t. Pedre also used his tech-savvy to launch an app for the show that made his brand even more distinct from his counterparts. And he kept on coming up with content that could engage his base listeners in Haiti, while also catching the interest of the Anglophone-oriented Haitian-American community.

And then there’s the matter of personal branding. His smiling face is everywhere. It’s almost as memorable as his vision for Haiti’s media. But then again, as any branding evangelist will tell you, a brand with a face will always be championed more than a simple logo. Pedre knows that. He’s not one to sit behind the microphone, close up his equipment when his interviews conclude, and call it a day. One minute he’s in Seoul, Korea at a journalism development conference, the next he’s conducting a “takeover” in Miami during Haitian Flag Week, and the next he’s in Haiti directing his crew, and covering some event in Petionville or Cap Haitien. Next thing you know, he’s in Montreal, Canada for the Haitian culture extravaganza show Haiti en Folie.

Pedre won’t rest. A tireless social media strategist, he can be seen posting on his social media platforms through the wee hours of the morning. The multimedia czar was honored this past October by the Creole Image Honors, a cultural organization, that is fittingly enough based in New York, one of the undisputed cocoons of the Haitian Diaspora. That same city honored him in June, this time by Fleur de Vie, a non-profit launched by designer Dayane Damier.

This concludes PART I of the article about multimedia journalist Carel Pedre. CLICK HERE to view videos on the Chokarella platform.

This has been another episode of STRAIGHT OUTTA HAITI in which your fave chick Kreyolicious discusses talents and people emerging out of Haiti, and assorted things. Today’s episode centered on multimedia journalist Carel Pedre. But, there are others…ahem…

CLICK HERE to check out other episodes!

Carel Pedre’s work ethic pushes him to create original content seemingly around the clock. His Chokarella radio show has morphed into its own brand, the same way its creator has grown into a separate brand. Pedre introduced a show called “Lunch Break”, in which he has lunch in a posh restaurant in Haiti with a local celebrity. “Lunch Break” is a chance for the radio king to explore possibilities beyond radio, while giving people of Haitian descent living abroad an introspective view of life in Haiti.

Carel Pedre with actress Vicky Jeudy. Photo Credit: Dave

The past and future of media is video, it’s been said. To that end, Pedre has amassed a collection of content on the Youtube platform, and conducts Facebook Live streamings that get thousands real-time viewers—not to mention later time watchers. He gets ideas for content series the way real estate developers get ideas for new gated communities. “Personality of the Week”, one of the segments he’s introduced on that platform, explore the life and work of Haiti’s cultural icons. Done in Haitian Creole, these egments introduce viewers to vibrant personalities that have made considerable impact on Haiti’s cultural landscape.

Like the Chokarella entertainment news segments, they’re a break for those who could care less about political talk and disheartening news bulletins, and would rather see the lighter side of Haiti. The fact that Haitian Creole is the language of choice in these videos make them appealing to those who have no knowledge or limited fluency in French, Haiti’s other official language. Those in other French Caribbean countries, can also relate to Chokarella’s content, though there are major variations in the other islands’ Creole and Haitian Creole.

One of the most striking aspect of Carel Pedre’s content is his penchant to explore and give a platform to entertainment industries like stage theater that are not as heralded as other forms of entertainment, as well as health activism, such as a cancer awareness march he and his crew covered.

Pedre has launched a personal vlog to chronicle his life and career and give his viewers a more in-depth look about his work. The Port-de-Paix born media professional is also putting the finishing touches on what is bound to be Haiti’s first major podcast network. Pedre had previously begun a successful experimentation with the podcasting platform, first with “De Tout de Rien” (Everything and Nothing), a podcast with DJK9, a Haiti-based disc jockey. He’s since added Krik? Krak? hosted by Tina, that celebrates and seeks to revive Haiti’s storytelling tradition, as well as Woy podcast, in collaboration with singer-activist-media mogul Miss Talie, a social talk podcast that is parts Black Girls Pod, Black Girls Nerds, and even a bit of American Serial.

Pedre is the baseball player who goes to the field with multiple bats. He wants to hit all the bases. He breathes content marketing, drinks video strategy, and lives personal branding.

| CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHOKARELLA | CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHOKARELLA ON YOUTUBE

Did you miss the first part of this article? CLICK HERE to read it!

This has been another episode of STRAIGHT OUTTA HAITI in which your fave chick Kreyolicious discusses talents and people emerging out of Haiti, and assorted things.

CLICK HERE to check out other episodes!

Ready…set…go…Haiti’s carnival season has begun, and PleziKanaval, a website launched by Haiti multimedia personality Carel Pedre, is at it again. The platform will be posting carnival songs from Haiti’s artists (as well as Haitian artists living outside of Haiti). For this year’s edition, Pedre announced on social media that he invested in a dedicated server—a prudent move considering the traffic the sites receives.

According to Social Blade, a website that measures social media and video content analytics, the Plezikanaval Youtube channel has over 9 million views—not counting this year’s numbers. This figure is based on just a little over 300 videos. Social Blade also estimates that a Youtube channel like Plezikanaval has the earnings potential of about $18,000 annually, from Youtube ad sources alone.

One new feature of his website is the addition of Konkou Kanaval Timoun, a kiddie edition of the carnival, that allows Haiti’s youngins to have their own celebration and carnival song contest. As he has done in previous years, the radio host-music enthusiast plans to have an awards show to reward Haitian carnival artists for their kanaval song releases.

Above: Carel Pedre poses with some artists featured on PleziKanaval. Photo Credit: Plezikanaval

In less than ten years of existence, the website has morphed into the foremost site for carnival songs and Haitian carnival-related content. But what has driven its popularity? As artists like TPO and others brought out in a previous interview, having a web platform where a user can get access to Haiti’s carnival in one place has helped tremendously. And it also helps that PleziKanaval doesn’t only posts Haitian carnival songs on its website, but also broadcasts them on the most powerful social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It’s like having a Haitian carnival song promotional package. Additionally, Pedre is a radio hosts and helms “Chokarella”, a radio morning show based in Haiti. Pedre uses the show to promote Haiti’s artists and during carnival season, he makes use of the popularity of his show to promote Haiti’s carnival season and the artists who create tracks for that purpose. And to add to all of this, he provides video coverage of carnival parades and events, completing the one-stop-shop aspect of PleziKanaval.

With more than 18,000 subscribers already on board, web traffic from all over, and a phenomenal growth rate, PleziKanaval’s growth appears to be unlimited.

CLICK HERE to visit PLEZIKANAVAL. | CLICK HERE to check out Plezikanaval on Youtube!

Whether living in Montreal or Toronto, Australia or New York, Miami or New Jersey, and elsewhere—and in different time zones, Haitians on the web come together every morning compliments of Carel Pedre and his music radio show “Chokarella”. The show, a mix of music, music criticism and social commentary, is broadcasted on the radio from Haiti, and streamed online. Pedre’s radio show is not the only Haiti-based radio show that can be heard on the web, but a combination of personality, and clever use of technology has made it the foremost, and “the one” to be listened to. Pedre’s show has the technological edge on many of the radio shows from Haiti broadcasted on the web, in that he’s had downloadable custom applications done to make the show listenable to users of Smartphones, and he uses social media regularly to promote it. Mostly though, the show has gained its popularity simply by word of mouth. Pedre’s playlist on a given day can range from Haitian konpa—Haiti’s pop music form—to jazz, R&B, techno, 1990s rap to contemporary U.S. pop music.

For Josny Sévère, who first started listening while living in the Dominican Republic, Pedre’s show is a breath of fresh air. “We can say that it is a great show in terms of content and [his] interaction with the audience. The [show’s] schedule also makes the show a success since there is a lot of people like me that don’t really care about the bad news we are having in the news everyday, so this show really entertains us during those hours of the day.”

Blogger Sarah Desamours, who initially came across Pedre on Twitter two years ago, has gone on to become one of the show’s biggest fans. If she had her way, Chokarella would be broadcasted during evenings and weekends (Pedre occasionally has what he calls Chokarella After Dark, during which he plays super sexy music). To Desamours, the show is a cultural connector. “Carel is the only one I know in the Haitian community who is able to connect Haitians all around the world with a radio show and most importantly, through social media. That is beyond amazing and as a Haitian that was born in Canada, it really helped me discover more about my country and my culture—events, artists.”

“I love his sense of humor, which adds a fun touch to his show,” Desamours gushes. “I also appreciate how he encourages local artists and the fact that I do not have to be in Haiti to be connected to the show as his online stream.”

For Espy César-Saveedra, a Haitian living in Australia, Pedre’s show is a must. “I like his professionalism, patriotism, the burning passion for his work and extreme confidence,” César-Saaverdra notes. “He is also a humanitarian, educator, and accomplished artist.” César-Saavedra says she uses Chokarella as a primer on Haitian music to non-Haitians living in Australia.

One capitvating aspect of the “Chokarella” radio show, says many die-hard listeners, is the sheer unpredictability of it. “I really like the fact that the show is not [stuck] into [some] formal script where the host always has to be the slave to that script,” says Sévère. “[I like] the variety of the music [played] since I personally don’t listen to other genres other than konpa, so the show always connects me with those genres. And I think all that makes the show different.”

New York’s Ti Kenny Dambreville, the host of the web show “The Sauce”, credits Pedre with introducing him to all sorts of new music, and more particularly electronic dance music, a genre that wasn’t exactly permeating his playlist before. That is the sort of power Pedre’s show has had in doing, among other things, persuading die-hard fans of musical genres to try something new—not to mention the sense of unity he evokes through his show. “I think this show enlightens and informs young Haitians about our community and our music,” says Dambreville. “I also like how Carel doesn’t hold his tongue for anyone.”

Hold his tongue? That, he doesn’t do, sometimes even if it means losing a sponsor or an ad on his radio show. If he feels the need to say that Haiti would be in the same medical emergency disaster predicament again, if another earthquake were to strike—then that’s what he’ll say. If while riding the streets of Haiti he sees graffiti on walls with a group’s name, he will denounce the band in question. If a tobacco company is trying to market to underage kids, or market in Haiti period, it will feel the verbal wrath of Carel. If that much-publicized live weekend concert event didn’t live up to expectations, you will surely hear about it on Monday, or whenever his next radio broadcast is. If a Haitian star grossly misbehaves publicly, thou shalt heareth all the details, followed by a lecture and some tough words from Mr. Pedre. If the musical show of such-and-such band was is not up to par, and Carel Pedre happens to be on the scene, he will surely give you the no holds-barred rundown the next day. And if you think you can run some explicit, demeaning lyrics by Carel Pedre, well, think again.

Pedre’s outspokeness is a trait that, rather than turn his listeners off, is pulling them in. Desamours observes: “Although his criticism can be seen as harsh, I believe it is constructive criticism.” Gilles Freslet, himself a host of a radio show based in Haiti describes Pedre as “brilliant” and someone who knows very well what he’s doing. “His show is definitely popular with listeners,” observes Freslet. “He talks about everything and nothing. He criticizes when there’s a need to do so, and he gives props when that’s necessary which of course makes some glad and makes some ticked.”

Ticked, or fache as Freslet puts it, is definitely a reaction Pedre inspires out of some.

Some have gone as far as saying that Pedre is an opportunist that used the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to further his popularity as a radio host. Others accuse him of trying to hoag the spotlight reserved for his star subjects. It is indeed true that Pedre achieved a great deal of notoriety as a result of his using his Twitter and Facebook accounts to help family members to connect with another and posts photos and updates on social media during Haiti’s 2010 earthquake . But long before the earthquake, some observers should note, Pedre was already a seasoned radio man. And if post-earthquake he has indeed gained some social media fame, people are flocking to his show in the mornings for what he has to offer musically—and for what it’s worth—his commentary. The earthquake notoriety alone could not have sufficed to sustain his current following. And the following is huge, from Pedre’s social media network followers—who alone number about 50,000—to listeners listening directly on the radio and on their phone, to listeners on the web.

The breed that probably is the most grateful to Pedre (or at least should be)—other than his loyal listeners—are Haitian musicians. Many fledgling artists in Haiti had their first taste of radio play on Carel Pedre’s show—not to mention their first on-air interview introductions to music fans. Since most radio stations in Haiti are reportedly on a pay-for-play structure, new artists with little backing or sponsorship can struggle for some time before they can get meaningful exposure, Pedre’s show is highly regarded by newcomers and veterans alike. If some musicians’ music is going beyond Haiti, and getting airplay and recognition at lightning and hail speed (or at least at a faster speed than their nonexistent—or barely there marketing and publicity team—work), they have Pedre to thank—in part. “I feel as if Chokarella gives the Haitian music industry and its artists a voice,” Dambreville observes. “The show streams to people who would never have the opportunity to be exposed to to all of the different music Carel plays.” His show streaming can be compared to a form of guerrilla distribution for Haitian musicians, especially those based in Haiti, who are not being backed by big labels, and who often neglect to do international marketing.

Mario Accius, who listens regularly from New York, thinks of Chokarella as a God-send for Haitian online activism, Haitian music and Haitian musicians. He says: “I feel like it does a wonderful thing for our Haitian music and musicians due to the fact that the show reaches worldwide”. “I’m pretty sure there are countries or people who had never heard of Haitian music before, but because of the reach of the show to other nations, they have a sense and notion of what Haitian music is all about.”

Adds Desamours: “He also genuinely encourages artists, especially the youth.” Desamours sees Pedre as one who’s helped her get into vintage Haitian music. “I am a big fan of konpa but the show has helped me discover some of the older generation konpa such as Tabou Combo, which I knew about but never heard their music. It also helped me discover local Haitian artists who are not too big in Montreal but that are very talented such as BelO, Tifane, etc.”

Says Freslet: “We appreciate the man a lot for his talent and what he represents in the community. We really need a whole lot more Carel Pedres in the country, though he’s not perfect. No one is.”

Carel Pedre in his musical studio with two musical guests.

Q & A

K. St. Fort: Tell us about yourself. What sort of person is Carel Pedre really?
I’m not one who likes to talk about myself. I prefer that people find out on their own the type of person that I am. But If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am cool and down-to-earth kind of guy, a proud father, someone who loves his country and I’m definitely into electronics. I am optimistic and I like to look at the positive side of things. I also believe in sharing my positive energy with those around me.

K. St. Fort: What are some of the memories you have of your childhood in Haiti?
First thing I can think of is that growing up, the country—Haiti—was in a much better place, therefore it was easier to go out and take a swim in the rivers, play soccer with friends like every child wants to do. I was really into school when I was growing up, so there was also lots of studying involved in my childhood.

K. St. Fort: Did you attend a broadcasting school there, or was the talent for broadcasting pretty much innate?
I did not attend a broadcasting school. Inversely, my experience as a host started when I was 17—therefore I can say that I spent more time doing radio shows in my entire life than anything else. However, I had the opportunity to attend a conference on broadcasting in Washington DC in 2004 and I also educate myself on what is going on around the world when it comes to broadcasting. Whether it includes reading a book, watching a show, doing research, anything that involves broadcasting is of high interest to me.

K. St. Fort: In 2010, you used Twitter to help in the relief effort. A great use of technology, some might point out. What misuse of technology have you witnessed since you’ve been a techie?
When I think of misuse of technology, I think of people who use technology to their own advantage by spreading lies, harass other people, spread rumors, fraud, and even those who take advantage of the system to fool those who are not so tech-savvy in order to panic, or scam others.

K. St. Fort: Do you remember when you first got the idea for your show “Chokarella”?
The idea for my morning show was first based on my schedule. I used to work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the communication officer of the World Health Organization office in Port-au-Prince. Therefore, the only time I had available for a morning show was early in the morning, which is why “Chokarella” was originally a 6-8 a.m. show. I decided that having a morning show would offer the listeners an alternate option other than listening to the news in the morning. The show was originally called Radio One’s morning Show, but I felt like the name needed to be catchier. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of calling the show “Carel’s Show” vs. “Carel Live”. When translated in creole, “Show Carel la” felt more original and all I had to do was to come up with a creative writing. And so there it was, “Chokarella”!

K. St. Fort: You use your show to update music fans on the latest activities of their favorite bands, and of course up-and-comers. What’s your favorite band? And naturally, what newcomer in recent times has made an especially profound impression on you?
My favorite band is Mizik Mizik, Gwo Djaz! [Laughter]. For up-and-comers, I don’t have a favorite.

K. St. Fort: You’re practically Haiti’s king of all media. What do you have cooking up next?
I am flattered that you considered me the king of the media, but I personally feel like I am on my way to the throne. Although I have a lot cooking, my biggest dream is to have “Chokarella” on TV. I’ve been working on it for two years now, and I hope that it can become a reality before the end of the year.

K. St. Fort: Is payola, or pay for play really a part of the Haitian music industry, as some have said it is?
Yes, it is. And unfortunately, that is one of the main reasons why some artists and groups, especially newcomers can’t afford airtime on some of the shows that are considered popular in Haiti.

K. St. Fort: Your fans consider you to be very outspoken. Have you ever had fallout with anybody, any company as a result of your opinions?
Yes, it’s not easy in a country like Haiti where people tend to suck up to other people. But being the person that I am, I will always share my opinions in all honesty—even if it offends others. I do not mean anything personal, but I believe that it is a quality that every successful radio host should possess. Yes, I have had fall-outs with companies before and it resulted in them stopping their commercials as part of my show. But thank God that the owner of Radio One understands and respects my point of view; otherwise, I would probably be the one left without a job. As far as musicians, we sometimes have disagreements, but it never ends as a fall out, we usually find a way to either work things out or agree to disagree.

K. St. Fort: What are you most proud of?
Professionally I can say that I proud of my accomplishments. Personally, I am proud of my two beautiful daughters. I am a blessed man.

K. St. Fort: Do you have a record that you especially cherish?
I can’t think of one record in particular that I like the most. I listen to a lot of music; it’s fair to say that I’m always on shuffle.

K. St. Fort: What does it take for an artist to succeed in the Haitian music world?
I think in the Haitian music world you need talent, a hit song, discipline, and a good manager. These things are key! For example Belo, Mika, and Wanito all have these things in common, and I would say that they are quite successful.

K. St. Fort: Now, according to you, what sets you apart from your contemporaries who work in radio?
I think that what sets me apart is the fact that I do things differently. I am a visionary, I strive to do things in a different manner. For example, my show has an app, a podcast, and a website, a Twitter account, a Facebook page—it’s a brand. These are things that people in the field who work in Haiti would not really consider doing.

K. St. Fort: What will it take for Haitian konpa music to reach the mainstream stratosphere of other world musical genres?
I think that we need to define a musical structure for konpa music as the Dominicans did for bachata. The lack of structure makes it difficult to reach a universal level, thus harder to become mainstream.

K. St. Fort: What artists and band do you think are bound to make a big comeback this year?
I had the chance to listen to some of Carimi’s tracks for the next album, and I believe that the fans will love it. I think Alan Cave is also likely to have a big comeback this year.

K. St. Fort: You have any regrets so far in life?
No, I don’t have any regrets. I don’t live with regrets. Neither do I ever expect to regret anything in the future. Any experiences that I have been through have been lessons for me and these lessons are what shaped me into the person that I am today.

K. St. Fort: What are some of the biggest problems faced by radio personalities in Haiti?
People don’t consider being a radio host as a career. I hate it when people ask me “ Qu’est ce que tu fais après la radio?” [French for, “What do you besides radio?”]. I don’t recall ever asking a doctor, or tailor, or teacher what they do once they leave the workplace.

K. St. Fort: You have a foundation The Sunday Project.
The Sunday Project is not a foundation; it was a movement. I did not want to have another nonprofit organization—since there are thousands in Haiti. It was a movement to encourage young people to use their time to do good to other people, especially kids. I stopped the Sunday Project in December 2010, and we are working to resume our activities in the near future. In the meantime, we are still supporting the youth and still working with those in need—without making it public.

K. St. Fort: What makes Carel Pedre happy?
My daughters, my job, a tweet to compliment me, a smile, a simple thank you note, knowing that I was able to help someone in some shape or form, a smile when it was not expected. Knowing that my work is not in vain makes me happy.

K. St. Fort: Are there other radio hosts that you model your career after?
I don’t use anyone as a role model because I started my career in Port-de-Paix and therefore I made myself who I am. If you listen to my show, you won’t find that I share similarities with anyone.

K. St. Fort: Fans love musical performances, but as a radio and media personality you get to see Haitian music from the performance perspective as well as the logistics and inner going-ons perspective. What goes on behind the scenes in the Haitian music industry that fans and other observers do not see?
A lot, a whole lot. Musicians who don’t get along, but have to play together on stage. Musicians who aren’t happy with their paycheck yet stay in the business. Lots of frustration, but also preparation and some fun.

K. St. Fort: What do your parents think of the person you’ve become?
I think my mother is proud, and my father would be more proud.

K. St. Fort: Are you doing anything to prepare the next generation of Haitian radio broadcasters and TV hosts?
Yes, that is one of my projects. I plan on sharing my knowledge and experience with others in the next two years. But, I believe that my accomplishments as a young radio host who started in Port-de-Paix can also inspire others who want to pursue the same path.

K. St. Fort: Do you ever imagine a time when you will no longer be doing radio?
Yes, but if I ever leave the radio, I will be on TV for sure like Dick Clark or Larry King.

K. St. Fort: You are based in Haiti. Do you ever think that there will be a time when you’ll go out of the country for good?
Never. I think that the time has passed for me to come to the U.S for studies. I have also made a name for myself in Haiti and I am honestly comfortable in my country. I love my country too much.

K. St. Fort: Besides radio, what other talents would your fans be surprised to know you have?
I would rather the readers discover for themselves the other talents that I have. I promise they will find out soon.

K. St. Fort: What was the last thing that made you cry? Besides the earthquake.
The last time I cried was because I was disappointed with someone’s reaction towards me.