Global World Radio Day launched for the first time from Asia
UNESCO is inviting today all radio stations and supporting organisations to celebrate radio and how it helps shape our lives. The theme this year is “Radio is You!”. World Radio Day (WRD) is now in its 6th year.
As part of the 2017 celebrations, a signature event is being held in Shanghai, China with the support of the Shanghai Media Group, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Events will include a full day of radio-related discussion with some of the leading figures in Chinese and global media. A special Chinese New Year concert dedicated to the Day will also be held.
The ABU is represented at this world event by the Secretary-General, Dr Javad Mottaghi who commented on today’s radio status: “It is no longer free – to – air alone but it is challenged to provide services on the Internet, broadband and increasingly on mobile technology. Social network platforms openly provide radio programming such as news, music and other genre. The rapid growth of Internet radio stations from all over the world provide radio content for specific areas, specific languages and with a modern global style”.
Dr Mottaghi added that the ABU fully supports UNESCO and all other organisations for establishing this important celebration of the power of radio to link people and change lives.
Several ABU Members have geared up to celebrate this special day. Malaysia’s iM4U fm will be going on air 80 metres up in the clouds as they broadcast in a moving hot air balloon to give their listeners a unique and an unforgettable experience.
UNESCO, jointly with the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan organised an ‘Open Doors’ event for professionals and students from the journalism faculties to mark the sixth World Radio Day (WRD).
All public, private and community radio stations in Bangladesh are celebrating WRD under the leadership of the national broadcaster Bangladesh Betar. On this occasion Bangladesh Betar will arrange a rally, seminar and cultural program at its premises featuring representatives from media, civil society members and administration, which will be broadcast live.
Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) in collaboration with other media organisations is inviting webcasting media, university students, and its members to participate in a one-hour radio broadcast, to be produced by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) to discuss WRD. Simultaneously, it is joining up with media students from the University of Jaffna through Skype and discussing ‘The role of Radio in Promoting Diversity’.
The Voice of Vietnam Radio (VOV) and UNESCO’s Hanoi Office will jointly host a ceremony to mark WRD in Hanoi, highlighting the role of the audiences. VOV will also report on two radio workshops with the themes “Radio is YOU” and “Media promotes Gender Equality”. The 250 guests will include speakers, leaders from provincial radio and television stations, lecturers, journalists, reporters and students from various academies of journalism as well as domestic and international organisations.
The United Nations designates February 13th as World Radio Day to honour the role of radio in our modern life.