Tribute Paid To Voices

Michael Hedges February 13, 2013Follow on Twitter

Evolution strengthens the being, say the scientists. As science and technology brought about rapid shift from analogue to digital media, the human voice carries information beyond words. It’s really quite natural.

The United Nations set aside February 13th  as World Radio Day to note broadcasters contribution to the media sphere. The first official celebration was in 2012, initiated by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO). And so dozens of organizations worldwide have given a moment of their time.

Radio is the oldest of the electronic media and has fared well in the internet age. While social media gets all the attention, radio broadcasting reaches far more people daily. Popular trust in radio broadcasting continues strong while failing in other media.

“In remote parts of the world, mostly in Africa and Asia, people rely on radio for their news and entertainment,” said Gulf News Broadcasting journalist Nawied Jabarkhyl (February 13). “Radio’s much easier, it’s on the go. People in the UAE mostly listen to it in their cars. I think, generally, people like to have the radio on in the background.”

“In a world where information and media streams hit you here, there and everywhere: what is the place for radio media? “ posed Association of European Radio (AER) president Stefan Möller. “The strength of radio lies in the well planned and produced mixture of talk, stories, entertainment, news, music and surprises. In today’s online world it is so easy to get lost and be misled: Radio is your trusted guide!” AER is the umbrella support group for European commercial radio broadcasters. (See AER statement here)

Many spokespeople repeated guiding words about an inherent digital benefit. “In today’s connected world, radio continues to provide an invaluable means of reaching out to the world,” said International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Radiocommunications Bureau director François Rancy. “The digitization of radio has increased user-interaction and the sense of user engagement with this media, which increasingly uses multiple platforms.” (See ITU statement here)

Digitization means many things to many people. For the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), support group for public broadcasters, World Radio Day is an opportunity to promote its vision of digital radio. “Radio remains a strong medium and is adapting bravely to the new digital world,” said EBU Media Director Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser. “The access and interaction on radio allows for freedom of expression which remains the cornerstone of public service broadcasting.” (See EBU statement here) The EBU devoted a week to radio broadcasting with a special day for digital radio coinciding with World Radio Day. The organization recently did away with its radio department, which had been fundamental to its membership.

Radio broadcasters “inform, entertain and strengthen regional and local identities,” noted German private broadcasters association VPRT. “They do this in every way, including across new distribution channels.” (See VPRT statement here – in German) Improving media policy in Germany, they added, would be helpful.

While UNESCO headquarters in Paris was the locus of World Radio Day observations several stand-out events elsewhere attracted attention. At London’s Institute of Contemporary Art an online radio channel was produced by the Children’s Radio Foundation with voices of African children and BBC radio hosts. Spain’s Association of University Radio produced a special day-long broadcast. Swiss broadcasters noted the recent passing of Stefan Kudelski, inventor of the Nagra portable audio recorder that allowed radio reporters to capture sound in the field.

Less uplifting was the plight of radio journalists, noted Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF). “At a time when video and new media get more and more attention, World Radio Day is an occasion to recall that traditional media still play a key role in providing news and information to people in many parts of the world, especially rural and remote areas,” said RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire in a statement (February 13), noting that 28 radio journalists are currently held in prisons and 18 have been murdered since January 2012. “Radio reporters are often exposed to great danger and sometimes risk their freedom or their life. We pay tribute to their courage and dedication.”

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