WORLD RADIO DAY

13 February proposed as WORLD RADIO DAY

UNESCO’s Executive Board recommended the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a feasibility study undertaken by UNESCO, further to a proposal from Spain. The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, suggested the date of 13 February, the day when the UN radio was established in 1946. The new World Day should raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters.

Radio has to be recognized as a low cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today.

A wide consultation process started in June 2011, carried out by UNESCO. It included all stakeholders, i.e. broadcasting associations; public, state, private, community and international broadcasters; UN agencies; funds and programmes; topic-related NGOs; academia; foundations and bilateral development agencies; as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions. Among the answers, 91% were in favour of the project. The leader of the project, the Academia Española de la Radio, received over 46 letters of support from diverse stakeholders, including the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB), the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA), the Organización de Telecomunicaciones Ibeoramericanas (OTI), BBC, URTI, Vatican Radio, etc. A World Radio Day Feasibility Study provides more details about the consultation process.

The date of 13 February, the day the United Nations radio was established in 1946, was proposed by the Director-General of UNESCO. The objectives of the Day will be to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.

The consulted stakeholders also proposed ideas for the programme of celebration: extensive use of social media, annual themes, a dedicated website enabling virtual participation, special radio programmes, radio programmes exchange, a festival involving key partners, and so forth.

The Executive Board recommends that the upcoming General Conference proclaims a World Radio Day on 13 February and that the Director-General of UNESCO submits the final resolution to the United Nations General Assembly for endorsement.

07.10.2011
Source: UNESCO

Proclamation of a World Radio Day -UNESCO Executive Board document (pdf).

Requesting international support:

The Academia Española de la Radio wishes to propose to the UNESCO the founding of a "World Radio Day".

Since its launch more than a century ago, radio has been free and accessible to the majority of the world’s population. We believe that radio deserves a World Radio Day tribute. Undoubtedly, this date will be celebrated by radio professionals and millions of radio listeners around the world.

We propose to establish 30th October as the "World Radio Day". This date coincides with the broadcasting of one of the most relevant and well-known radio programmes in the history of radio, "The War of the Worlds". This radio drama was directed by Orson Welles and broadcast by CBS on the 30th of October 1938 and since then, radio stations all over the world have produced versions in their own languages.

We invite you to support our initiative by completing and sending this form.

The Spanish Academy of Radio Arts and Sciences is an institution which aims to promote radio in Spain, represent interests of radio professionals and provide training to existing and future radio professionals.

enlace_cartel

espacio

THE BACKGROUND:

Requesting international support:

SUPPORT REQUEST:

War of the Worlds Monument

12/25/09

OCTOBER 30 - VIDEO CLIP

Broadcasters letters of support (alphabetic order):