RADIO: A CENTURY INFORMING, ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATING
Written by Neo Molefi on February 13, 2024
Written by: Mapaballo Borotho
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) globally.
Radio is known as a powerful medium for communication, connection and celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.
The medium remains the most widely consumed media and according to reports it continues to be one of the most trusted and used media in the world.
Radio continuously prove that it is a resilient medium, capable of defying trends to consistently appeal to new generations.
A Technical Producer from the Voice of Wits (VOW FM) Kutlwano Serame says streaming services will not have any impact on the business of radio.
He says even though Digital Streaming Platforms (DSPs) now host podcasts, they’re still not free and easily accessible for anyone who might just want to consume the content.
“For starters, radio has a huge opportunity to grab within the digital landscape of the day.”
“Having withhold its own throughout the introduction of digital streaming services, it now has a gap it can easily fill with digital audio broadcasting, in the form of DAB+ which is already the main form of broadcasting in most Europe countries.”
“What is DAB+? Think of the famous digital satellite company in SA, it has a whole lot of channels – that’s going to be the same for radio, but with a hundreds and possibly thousands of radio stations” said Serame.
Programming manager at 94.7 Greg Aldridge says radio remains the most important tool for connection and communication.
He says radio makes it easy for a thousand listeners to listen and experience the same thing simultaneously.
Greg shared these sentiments with VOW FM News on world Radio day, during the VOW FM and 94.7 simulcast.
“Radio is always there in time of need and in time of loneliness.
“When you need companionship or need to laugh, radio is there.
“It’s a shared experience but it is also extremely personal, this is what makes radio beautiful.
“There is many other social media platforms, but radio is still here and it is here to stay and there is that magic of everyone experiencing the same thing at the same time,” Aldridge added.
At the same time, VOW FM’S News Editor and Head of content, Siyabonga Motha KaNtuli, says radio remains number one, in terms of entertaining, soft music, information and news reporting.
“Radio is still a leading communication platform and it will not die anytime soon.
“In-fact we have allowed technology to be a tool that complements what we do.
“There are other sources of communication that we have, but they are not even closer to defeating or taking out radio as a medium of communication”.
The 2024 World Radio Day is celebrated under the theme “Radio: A Century Informing, Entertaining, and Educating”.
This theme shines a broad floodlight on Radio’s remarkable past, relevant present and promise of a dynamic future.