“Excuse me, what radio programmes do youlisten to?”
“Oh I don't listen tothe radio much…”
Wednesday 13 February is World Radio Day. It was started byUNESCO to
remind people of the importance of radio to people around the globe.In
the UK we are so well blessed with radio we don't really pay it
anyattention. In Luton we have more radio stations than almost any other
town thissize in the UK, including our very own university community
station, Radio LaB97.1fm. We can listen to news and information, sport,
arts and entertainmentand all sorts of music.
“…I listen when I'm inthe shower so I know what the weather is - that
presenter, he makes me laugh!...”
But for many people around the world radio is their mainsource of
information. Spare a thought on 13 February, for the Charlanddwellers of
Bangladesh, who live on silt banks in the rivers. The weatherforecast
may be life or death for them.
“….actually, we oftenhave the radio on at work, the music cheers us up
and the day zips past…..”
Remember the aboriginal peoples of Australia who listen toradio
broadcasting in their own languages and to traditional music, which is
fromtheir own cultures. Music broadcasting is culturally defining, it is
not justwhat happens between the words.
“…I try and listen tothe local travel news so I get home easily…”
Think about the people in South America who through theirstormy
political times have used radio to challenge their more extreme rulers.
Consideralso the occasions when radio has been used for evil, the
Taliban radiostations in Pakistan which use radio to intimidate and
threaten, demandingmoney or a child to train as a suicide bomber and
remember the brave NGOworkers who run radio stations to counter these
threats and to educate andinform their local communities.
“… when I'm cookingdinner, I listen to the news ….”
People listen on radio receivers big and small, car radios andradio
streamed on computers. Smart phones listeners can also use social
mediato get straight in touch with the broadcasters. Hausa listeners in
sub-SaharanAfrica are notable for this!
“…I text a show whenthere’s a competition....But no, I don't listen to
the radio much.”
Wednesday 13 February, World Radio Day, - reallylisten to your radio.
Janey Gordon
Dr Janey Gordon
Radio LaB 97.1 co ordinator
University of Bedfordshire
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