Chronicle Editor
John Masuku
TOMORROW (February 13) marks the 12th edition of World Radio Day, a day set aside annually to celebrate radio as a medium as well as enhance international co-operation among broadcasters.
The ideas was bounced off by the Spanish Radio Academy in consultation with different international radio stakeholders, associations, outlets, public service broadcasters, community, commercial and international radios, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. Thereafter it was proclaimed by member states of Unesco in 2011 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
The day motivates decision-makers and all radio broadcasting personnel towards providing inclusive and diversified content in addition to access to information on the airwaves. According to the United Nations, an estimated 44 000 radio stations broadcast to at least five billion people representing 70 percent of the population worldwide.
This means that radio is still one of the most dynamic and robust media in informing audiences through information, entertainment and audience participation. In fact, in many countries it is still the most widely accessible consumed media.
This year’s theme Radio and Peace reminds us all that radio is a key pillar for conflict prevention and peace-building when it is independent from political and commercial influence. Without bias, radios are able to tackle both root causes and triggers of interstate and societal conflicts and stimulate democratic dialogue with the listeners.
For me the road to World Radio Day 2023 celebrations has been a long and exciting one beginning with my appointment around the beginning of October last year as the international campaign coordinator and a two-week stint at the Unesco Headquarters in Paris, France. My functions until April mean being the point person under the supervision of the Unesco Chief of the Section responsible for Communication Development and Media and Information Literacy, Mirta Lourenco. The challenging but exciting job entails drafting a concept note based on the theme and sub themes, formulating a campaign strategy and coming up with an event calendar. Thereafter, what follows is extensive promotion of the forthcoming celebrations on all available media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Email, Facebook and other networks. Some most empowering duties included drafting commemoration messages for the Director General and one of her assistants in charge of the communication and information sector and arranging for him to be interviewed by at least six radio stations from different continents including ZBC Classic 263 whose content will be shared extensively on social media platforms. That entailed preparing essential talking points and all the co-ordination until pre-recording or live interviewing.
Getting approval of most of these drafts within acceptable frameworks is an empowering experience. Working with other sections and departments of Unesco and United Nations in general I ensured that all World Radio Day web pages are updated for the forthcoming celebration and new ones added.
I also had a wonderful opportunity of interviewing the world body’s strategic communication personnel like Francesca Mold, Ben Dotsei Malor and Douglas Coffman about the role of UN Peacekeeping radio stations like Radio Miraya in South Sudan, Radio Okapi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mikado FM in Mali and radio stations around the world are free to access these and many other audio, video and written historic resources on radio and peace which I obtained from the Unesco library. In addition we also formulated 13 programme ideas which radio stations are free to download and use on World Radio Day whose, website is also extremely rich with other ready to use content which our section put together.
Persuading radio stations and industry stakeholders to register their events on the online registration form was no mean task but as we get to the day the web world map is looking overcrowded to show interest and promising active participation by radio stations and other stakeholders from around the world. On the eve of World Radio Day, I have already been interviewed by four different stations about Radio and Peace and other roles of radio and its future while between 6.00am and 9.00am on Monday morning another four radio stations have booked me for interviews. At that rate how will 13 February 2023 World Radio Day end for me? Your guess is as good as mine. Happy World Radio Day to all!
John Masuku is a veteran Zimbabwean broadcaster who worked at ZBC and Radio VOP and is the 2023 Unesco World Radio Day International Campaign Co-ordinator.
Online Reporter