<p><a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/" target="_blank">UNESCO</a>’s
Executive Board has recommended the establishment of a <a href="http://www.worldradioday.org/" target="_blank">World Radio
Day</a>. The <a href="http://www.bokova.eu/" target="_blank">Director-General of
UNESCO, Irina Bokova</a>, has suggested the date of 13 February: the day
when <a href="http://www.un.org/av/unfamily/radio.html" target="_blank">UN
radio was first established in 1946</a>. The new <a href="http://www.worldradioday.org/" target="_blank">World Day</a>
will raise awareness about the importance of the medium, facilitate
access to information through radio, and enhance networking among
broadcasters.</p>
<p>Radio is recognised as a low cost communications medium, specifically
suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the
illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a
platform to engage in 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 formats such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However it
is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio
services today.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/" target="_blank">UNESCO</a>
started a comprehensive consultation process in June 2011. It included a
wide range of 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 <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/" target="_blank">UNESCO</a>
Permanent Delegations and National Commissions.</p><p>Among the
responses received, 91% were in favour of the project. The project
leader, the <a href="http://www.academiadelaradio.es/" target="_blank">Academia
Española de la Radio</a>, received over 46 letters of support from
diverse stakeholders, including the <a href="http://www.asbu.net/www/en/home.asp" target="_blank">Arab
States Broadcasting Union (ASBU)</a>, the <a href="http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm" target="_blank">Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU)</a>, the <a href="http://www.aub-uar.org/eng/" target="_blank">African Union
of Broadcasting (AUB)</a>, the <a href="http://caribunion.com/" target="_blank">Caribbean
Broadcasting Union (CBU)</a>, the <a href="http://www.ebu.ch/" target="_blank">European Broadcasting
Union (EBU)</a>, the <a href="http://erc.unesco.org/ong/en/directory/ONG_Desc_portal.asp?mode=gn&code=701" target="_blank">International Association of Broadcasting (IAB)</a>,
the <a href="http://www.nabanet.com/nabaweb/" target="_blank">North
American Broadcasters Association (NABA)</a>, the <a href="http://www.esmas.com/oti/" target="_blank">Organización de Telecomunicaciones Iberoamericanas (OTI)</a>,
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/" target="_blank">BBC</a>, <a href="http://www.urti.org/" target="_blank">URTI</a>, <a href="http://www.radiovaticana.org/inglese/enindex.asp" target="_blank">Vatican Radio</a>, etc. A <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/news/wrd_study.pdf" target="_blank">World Radio Day Feasibility Study [PDF]</a> provides
more details about the consultation process.</p>
<p>The date of 13 February, the day <a href="http://www.un.org/av/unfamily/radio.html" target="_blank">United
Nations radio was first established in 1946</a>, was proposed by the <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/director-general/" target="_blank">Director-General of UNESCO</a>. The objectives of the <a href="http://www.worldradioday.org/" target="_blank">Day</a> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The Executive Board recommends that the upcoming General Conference
proclaims a <a href="http://www.worldradioday.org/" target="_blank">World Radio
Day on 13 February</a> and that the <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/director-general/" target="_blank">Director-General of UNESCO</a> submits the final
resolution to the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/ga/" target="_blank">United Nations
General Assembly</a> for endorsement.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.worldradioday.org/" target="_blank">Source</a>.</p>\\<br><br>Community Media Association<br>-- <br><a href="http://www.commedia.org.uk/">http://www.commedia.org.uk/</a><br><a href="http://twitter.com/community_media">http://twitter.com/community_media</a><br>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation">https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation</a><br><a href="http://www.canstream.co.uk/">Canstream Internet Radio & Video</a><br><br>