Archived Newsroom • Media Advisory |
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ITU
marks World Radio Day 2015 in Geneva, 13 February
Live global broadcast, exhibitions, demos, hackathon, debates, features
highlight theme: Youth and Innovation in Radio
Geneva, 4 February 2015 – World
Radio Day will be marked at ITU in Geneva on 13 February. The event will be
broadcast live around the world from 17:00 to 20:00 in the Popov Room in ITU’s
Tower Building.
Organized by UNESCO, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the United Nations
Office in Geneva, and ITU, World Radio Day will begin with a hackathon among
young innovators and software developers and an exhibition of new devices as
well as historic pieces opening at 14:00 followed by a technical session by
radiocommunication experts at 14:30.
The main
programme
will open at 17:00 with a live broadcast anchored by BBC correspondent Imogen
Foulkes and will include features produced by UNESCO, UN Radio and ITU, and the
World Radio Day concert by the UN Jazz Ensemble.
On the
occasion of ITU’s year-long 150th anniversary celebrations, World
Radio Day looks at Innovation with a specific focus on youth, exploring new
trends in radio technology while promoting free, pluralistic and independent
radio broadcasting. Radio is also an effective low-cost medium to broadcast
news, features, educational content and entertainment and plays a strong and
specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.
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What:
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World Radio Day
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When:
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13 February 2015, 14:00 – 20:00.
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Where:
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ITU Popov Room, Place des Nations, Geneva
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Why:
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World Radio Day marks the anniversary of the
first broadcast by UN Radio in 1946, with:
“This is the United Nations calling the peoples
of the world.”
World Radio Day seeks to raise awareness about
the importance of radio, facilitate access to
information through radio, and enhance
networking among broadcasters. In November 2011,
UNESCO approved the creation of World Radio Day
following a proposal from the Spanish Academy of
Radio.
Radio is 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. Radio is also
an effective medium to broadcast news, features,
weather reports and entertainment and is a
medium that is available everywhere – at home,
at work or on the move.
The theme for World Radio Day is “Youth and
Innovation”
and is being held in Geneva this year to mark
ITU’s 150th anniversary.
Radiocommunication lies at the core of ITU’s
mandate, ensuring that spectrum is available for
this medium as it evolves and is available in
every country. ITU develops the global standards
that ensure the lowest costs through economies
of scale and the most efficient use of spectrum
for the sustainable development of radio in the
future, in particular to reach the one billion
people who still do not have access to radio
today.
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Who:
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Diplomats, UN agencies, representatives of
broadcasting unions and radio networks. Live
broadcast anchored by BBC correspondent Imogen
Foulkes.
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Media Information:
UN Press accreditation is valid. Others who wish to attend, please send your
request to Lucy Spencer:
lucy.spencer@itu.int.
Please bring a photo ID to show at the Gate. The best point of entry is the ITU
Tower building.For more
information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations & Public
Information, ITU
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Catherine Hardy
Senior Communications Officer
European
Broadcasting
Union (EBU)
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