The day is endorsed by UNESCO.
The official web page for World Radio Day states the following about the focus of the day:
"The World Radio Day seeks raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters.
Radio has to be recognized as a low cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the 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 technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today."
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is also taking part in the celebrations:
SABC Radio will be celebrating World Radio Day with all South Africans, informing them about its history and its importance in our daily lives. The SABC Radio network reaches over 25 million people on a weekly basis with its radio platforms positioned to serve all South Africans including Channel Africa, an International Public Service Radio Station whose role is to contribute to the development agenda of Africa."
"Radio is the pioneer of all electronic media. It is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago. Radio is still the medium of choice as it still commands the highest penetration as a medium in South Africaand the developing world.
SABC Radio, for the past 75 years, has assisted in informing, educating and entertaining South Africans from all walks of life, said Lesley Ntloko the acting Head of Radio of the SABC. On the 13th of February stay tuned to your favourite SABC radio station and join in as we reflect on special moments and memories that SABC Radio has created." - SABC Radio
SABC Radio Archives, the archives which collects and receives material from all the SABC Public Broadcast Services (PBS) Radio Services, also reflects on the importance of this day.
SABC Radio has been broadcasting for 75 years, and we have audio material covering the history and the culture of the same period, collected, catalogued and "stored in the various archive repositories across the country."
The SABC Radio Archives preserves material for the following reasons:
- To preserve SABC broadcasts and raw material as a corporate function;
- To be of service as a well-organised source of broadcast material to the SABC;
- To preserve permanently highlights in the history of the development and broadcast patterns of broadcasting in South Africa;
- To bequeath to future generations an audio-image of South Africa at certain periods as it was portrayed by the SABC;
- To provide researchers with information and facts on sound carriers that are not available in any other form;
- To preserve, as part of the National Broadcaster’s function and as far as possible, complete recordings of the South African culture legends and oral traditions, including a comprehensive set of nature and habitat sounds of South Africa
We truly preserve some of the most precious memories of our history in radio.
Our existence is because of the medium of radio, a medium which are able to reach more people than any other!
Happy World Radio Day!
Happy listening!
(Photo taken from SABC Bloemfontein exhibition for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage)
Post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives
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