Czech Radio joins the UNESCO World Radio Day
In November 2011, the 36th General Conference of UNESCO approved the creation of the World Radio Day. The aim is to raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters. The first celebration took place on the 13th February 2012 and Czech Radio Supported this activity by broadcasting special thematic programmes, debates and public inquiries.
Nationwide, special and regional stations of Czech Radio broadcasted thematic reports, programmes, competitions and interviews. Czech Radio 1 – Radiožurnál discussed for instance the availability of digital radio in the Czech Republic. The Czech Radio 2 listeners had the opportunity to check their knowledge in a competition of legendary Czech Radio´s jingles. Czech Radio 6 dedicated its programme Media in the Postmodern World to the international broadcasting of Czech Radio. The invitation accepted Miroslav Krupička, director of international broadcasting Czech Radio 7 – Radio Praha, journalist David Vaughan and Petr Pleva, secretary of Czech Radio´s Director General.
The initial idea to establish the World Radio Day came from the Spanish Academy of Radio four years ago and the proposal was formally presented at the session of UNESCO´s Executive Board in September 2011. After a long debate the date was finally set for the 13th February, which corresponds to the birth of the United Nations Radio in 1946.
The World Radio Day is supported worldwide by a large number of public service, state, private, regional and international radios, broadcasting unions or NGOs. All of them paid deserved homage to the medium, which remains for many communities the only accessible source of information with a strong role in emergency communication and disaster relief. In the present times of media convergence the radio services take up new technological forms and remain popular thanks to their global availability.
MgA. Jakub Čížek
Communications and External Relations Director
Czech Radio
Phone. +420 221 551 310