SunstarTV Bureau: World Radio Day celebrates the power of radio as a medium and the impact it has created all over the world.
Radio is the oldest broadcast medium that reaches the widest audience in the world, more than 75% of people in developing nations have access to radio. It brings people and communities together and allows them to share stories, music, news, ideas and their culture. It has the ability to reach the most remote communities and people irrespective of their socio-economic conditions.
Radio creates a vast impact on developing countries by addressing social problems and providing the diversity of views and voices needed for change.
World Radio Day is an international day which has been celebrated each year on 13th February. The day was decided by UNESCO on 3 November, 2011, during its 36th conference. The day was proposed by the Director General of UNESCO because it coincides with the anniversary of the United Nations Radio, the UN’s international broadcasting service was established on February 13, 1946.
During its 67th Session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on January 14, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly formally endorsed UNESCO’s proclamation February 13 as World Radio Day.
Radio is the primary medium and source of information. In India Radio broadcasting started in the early 1920s and in 1923, the first program was aired by the Radio Club of Bombay. Lord Irwin, then Viceroy of India, inaugurated the Indian Broadcast Company (IBC) in Bombay.
This year, the day’s theme is ‘New World, New Radio.’ This was decided to keep in mind the services the medium during COVID-19. The theme is divided into three sub-parts.
- Evolution: The world changes, radio evolves radio is resilient and sustainable;
- Innovation: The world changes, radio adapts and innovates- radio adapts to new technologies and remains the go-to medium of mobility, accessible everywhere and to everyone;
- Connection: The world changes, radio connects – radio services our society during natural disasters, socio-economic crises, epidemics, etc.
