As seen from the perspective of the SABC Radio Archive archivists.
This is the second year in a row that World Radio Day is being celebrated worldwide.
It is a day to highlight the importance of radio, and for broadcasters to make a connection to cooperate.
World Radio Day and UNESCO are focusing on the “promotion access to information and freedom of expression over the airwaves”
The SABC Radio Archives in South Africa collects and receives radio material from all South African Broadcasting Services (SABC) public broadcast services (PBS).
The material is catalogued and stored in various repositories across South Africa.
The archivists at SABC Radio Archives in Johannesburg have the following to say about the importance of radio:
Refiloe Jele (Acting Manager & Music Archivist): My history and my culture on record!
Johann Greyling (Sport Archivist & Team Leader: Cataloguing): Radio is the most important medium of communication in the world; it reaches where TV, the internet and no print medium can dream to reach.
Obakeng Phiri (Archivist: Sound Restoration): 1. Radio as a wealth of information is always readily available;
2. Radio continues to play an important role in information sharing; and,
3. Radio broadcasts provide real-time information, broadcasting 24 hours a day to provide the most recent updates to listeners.
Retha Buys (Request archivist & Springbok Radio custodian): Radio is your any-time anywhere companion and memory….
Morongwa Mokwena (English archivist): I think radio is a powerful tool for social change as it provides access to information . . .addresses issues for social change like gender inequality, HIV etc. and in this way it empowers society.
Joseph Lobeko (Archivist: Sound Restoration): Old preserved records of historical nature are re-purposed by being broadcasted on radio; e.g. the Mandela treason-trial speech is still relevant today in nation-building.
Peter Raseroka (Ikwekwezi archivist): Radio is important because it updates you each hour on news and programmes that are educational, religious, youth orientated and sports, to name a few. Radio people also watch television, but sometimes turn down the audio to listen to radio simultaneously, especially with sports. Blind people are enjoying radio because they are able to visualize more. Radio gives you more information on what's happening!
Elizabeth Mate (Channel Africa archivist): Radio is very important in the rural areas, especially where people don’t have television. It helps tremendously with death announcements!
Ntokozo Khanyile (News & Actuality archivist): Radio tells various stories and brings news to the listeners as soon as they are available. Radio Archives bridges the history gap and makes all news accessible to all generations.
Nare Monyai (News, actuality & sport request archivist): Radio broadcasting is the modern instrument for informing, educating and entertaining listeners, even in remote areas of the country.
Karen du Toit (Afrikaans archivist): Radio records the heritage of the cultures in South Africa. The radio archives are vital to store this memory for future generations.
Links to follow today's proceedings on World Radio Day:
World Radio Day
UNESCO celebrating World Radio Day
Related posts:
Springbok Radio - a radio station lives on because of dedicated listeners
World Radio Day 2013 - Press Release
Blog post by Karen du Toit.
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