This coming February 13th will mark UNESCO’s World Radio Day. The event aims to bring together broadcasters, advocates, creators, and networks to improve and celebrate radio around the world. UNESCO recognizes that radio can, in emergency situations, be the best way to get information to people who need it most – and at other times can help people to engage with issues that affect them every day.
The UNESCO Website quotes Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
“…radio is the most important medium across the African continent. It’s where people get their news and information, and where issues are debated. Radio is where communities talk—where they discuss things that specifically affect them, and come up with solutions to their own problems.”
The event focuses on certain areas, one of which is the use of radio for youth representation. Their website says:
Over the past ten years, youth radio projects have been popping up across the world in various shapes and forms. From Bolivia to Bangladesh, New York to New Delhi, and Kinshasa to Kuala Lumpur, radio stations are seeing the benefits of getting youth on the airwaves. By putting young people in the driver’s seat, they are creating opportunities for dialogue and growing their youth audiences.
UNESCO also supports youth radio projects around the world such as this project in rural Zambia:
UNESCO also recognizes the importance of traditional shortwave radio, at times the most useful for reaching local communities and builds that debate.
Guest speaker at the event Oldrich Cip writes about shortwave radio in a changing media environment and the importance of retaining this technology for use in certain situations and due to affordability and accessibility.
You can also join in wherever you are! This World Radio Day International Committee web platform organizes sound items exchanges in order to promote the media (1 minute maximum). You are invited to produce and to send audio, whatever your link may be with the radio world (public radio, private radio, community radio, independent producer, listener, fan, …).
You can see their interactive map to find a celebration in your country or to register your own.