Industry marks 10th anniversary of World Radio Day

Written by RadioToday Staff

Radio people around the UK and around the world have been marking World Radio Day by tweeting anecdotes about themselves and how long they have been in radio.

And today, on World Radio Day 2021, UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate this event’s 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio.

Radio stations can download and play a special 30 second ad here and play it during the day.

Radiocentre has been marking the event over the last week with a number of articles published leading up to the big day. They can be found under the #ForceForGood hastag on Twitter.

Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale said: “Radio has been a beacon of light during the pandemic – providing companionship for the vulnerable and isolated and faithfully serving audiences with trusted news and entertainment.

“I encourage everyone to mark World Radio Day by celebrating the industry and sharing why this fantastic medium means so much to them.”

World Radio Day was proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).

This year’s theme, New World, New Radio, recalls how this medium is part of humanity’s history by following the various developments in our society and adapting its services. As the world changes, so does radio. Thus, during the Covid 19 pandemic, radio made it possible, for example, to ensure continuity of learning, to fight against misinformation.

At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard.

Radio stations are also getting in on the occasion. One station in Kirkcadly is broadcasting two special programmes the highlight the day.

K107fm will use this edition’s theme to reflect on their development and growth within the local community. Earlier today, the community station aired ‘COVID-19 and Community Radio – Presenting In a Pandemic’ to highlight how the station has stayed on-air, managed volunteers self-isolating, produced content, interviewed guests with social distancing in place and increased its output.

In addition, the station will highlight its additional content from the past 12 months covering wide-ranging topics such as Carers, COVID-19, Disability, Drama and Mental Health in a two hour special. This show features an extended interview with Dom Chambers, Chair of the Community Media Association discussing wider challenges across community stations and the wider radio community.

There will be focus on innovation, with Alan Coote, Development Director of Monogram Media talking of the use of social media, with K107fm being the first radio station in Scotland to deliver localised weather update videos via the stations social media.

Hear the special programmes here, and hear the latest edition of our inRadio Podcast with Dom Chambers here.

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Posted on Saturday, February 13th, 2021 at 10:59 am by RadioToday Staff

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