EDITORIAL
World Radio Day
Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/67/124) in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).
Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out to the broadest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity and stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and be heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.
Radio is a low-cost medium specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people, offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. It also plays a crucial role in emergency communication and disaster relief.
Radio is uniquely positioned to bring communities together and foster positive dialogue for change. By listening to its audiences and responding to their needs, radio services provide the diversity of views and voices needed to address our challenges.
On World Radio Day 2023, UNESCO highlights independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
An armed conflict between countries or groups within a country may also translate into a contest of media narratives. The narrative can either increase tensions or maintain conditions for peace.
In reporting and informing the general public, radio stations shape public opinion and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international situations and decision-making processes.
Increasing radio’s journalistic standards and capacity should be considered an investment in peace.
Radio is an important player and an essential part of maintaining and transitioning to peace. Professional radio addresses the root causes and triggers of conflict before they potentially explode into violence. It offers an alternative methodology of conflict prevention by clarifying frustrations, or clashes of interest, clearing misunderstandings, and identifying issues of distrust. It can help counter hate, the desire for revenge, or the will to take up arms.
Radio programmers’ varied collaborative techniques also reinforce a culture of dialogue through participatory programmes and formats, such as calls-in, talk shows, listeners’ fora, etc., and so give opportunities to discuss – on air and democratically – latent issues, including disagreements.
Professional independent radio, thus, strengthens democracy and provides the foundation for sustainable peace.
UN Peacekeeping Missions support radio stations and programmes in many host countries. Read more about the impact of UN Peacekeeping radio stations.
Radio has played a significant role in media management in Pakistan. It has not only connected listeners but also provided entertainment to them. Apart from entertainment, it has educated people in all aspects of individual and collective life. Radio Pakistan has served to inform people about social, political, cultural and informative issues. State-run radio stations and privately owned radio channels provide first-hand information to the listeners. Radio day reaffirms that radio is still relevant in the age of video dissemination. Therefore, there is a need to celebrate the success of radio.
