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Radio: A century of information, entertainment and education

Celebrating radio's rich past, ongoing relevance, and promising future is the topic chosen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization () to mark  on 13 February 2024.

With radio having crossed the 100-year milestone, it is a significant occasion to commemorate the medium's extensive virtues and continuing potency. However, radio faces challenges to its audience and revenue numbers from digital platforms, social media, digital and generational divides, censorship, consolidations, and economic hardships.

At this special and pivotal point in its century-long journey, UNESCO invites the global radio industry in all its many forms - commercial, public, and non-profit - to join in this global celebration of the medium.

Anticipating the next century of radio

The 2024 observance highlights the history of radio and its powerful impact on news, drama, music, and sports. It also recognizes the ongoing practical value as a portable public safety net during emergencies and power outages, caused by natural and human-made disasters, such as storms, earthquakes, floods, heat, wildfires, accidents, and warfare.

Furthermore, the continuing democratic value of Radio radio is to serve as a grassroots catalyst for connectedness within underserved groups, including immigrant, religious, minority, and poverty-stricken populations.

Get involved in #WorldRadioDay

Broadcasters are encouraged to bring their own culture, style, and sensibilities to their celebrations leading up to and during the 13 February event. World Radio Day is an excellent opportunity for radio stations to connect with fellow broadcasters worldwide, and UNESCO invites them to take the initiative for such broadcasts.

UNESCO provides your station, network or show with a list of radio stations around the world willing to participate in with their colleagues in other countries.  You can schedule interviews/conversations (either live or pre-recorded) with your broadcasting colleagues around the world to compare the history and role of radio in their respective countries on, or leading up to 13 February.

Simply for the 2024 celebration and fill out the form if you, your station, or network is interested in partnering with others in this exciting process.

Background

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).

Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. 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 should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.

Radio is a low-cost medium specifically suited to reaching remote communities and vulnerable people, offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people¡¯s educational level. It also plays a crucial role in emergency communication and disaster relief.

Radio is uniquely positioned to bring communities together and foster positive dialogue for change. By listening to its audiences and responding to their needs, radio services provide the diversity of views and voices needed to address the challenges we all face.

On this World Radio Day, we celebrate not only the history of radio, but also its central role in our societies, now and in the years to come"

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO -

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