The radio works by changing sounds or signals into radio waves, which travel through air, space, and solid objects, and the radio receiver changes them back into the sounds, words, and music we hear. A radio broadcast is a one-way transmission, originating from a radio station. In the early 1920s, radio played an important role in people’s lives, and over 500 stations were broadcasting news, music, sports, drama, and variety shows. By the 1930s, most households in the U.S. and Europe had at least one radio. In the evening, the family gathered around a big “console” that was usually located in the living room, where they might spend hours listening to variety shows or comedies from their favourite anchors or comedians. Everyone used their imagination to visualise all of the characters in their favourite shows. This was the beginning of the “Golden Age of Radio.” 

Following a request from the Spanish Radio Academy on 20 September 2010, Spain proposed that the UNESCO Executive Board include an agenda item on the proclamation of a World Radio Day. UNESCO’s Executive Board adds the agenda item in its provisional agenda for the proclamation of a “World Radio Day ” on 29 September 2011. UNESCO carried out a wide consultation in 2011 with diverse stakeholders, such as broadcasting associations, UN agencies, funds and programmes, relevant NGOs, foundations and bilateral development agencies, as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions for UNESCO and among the answers, 91% were in favour of the project. The Board recommended to UNESCO’s 36th session of the General Conference that it proclaim a World Radio Day at the said session and that this day be celebrated by UNESCO on 13 February, the anniversary of the day where the United Nations established the United Nations Radio in 1946. It also invited all United Nations Member States, organisations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organisations, professional associations and broadcasting unions, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organisations and individuals, to duly celebrate World Radio Day, in the way that each considers most adequate. The board further requested that UNESCO’s Director-General bring the resolution to the attention of the Secretary-General of the United Nations so that World Radio Day could be endorsed by the General Assembly and celebrated by the whole system. The matter was subsequently treated by UNESCO’s General Conference, which was adopted in November 2011. In December 2012, The General Assembly of the UN endorsed the proclamation of World Radio Day, which thereby became a day to be celebrated by all UN agencies, funds, programs and their partners. 

In honour of the first World Radio Day in 2012, Lifeline Energy, Frontline SMS, SOAS Radio, and Empowerhouse hosted a seminar in London. A variety of practitioners, academics, and tool providers joined the School of Oriental and African Studies to explore ways in which radio reaches even the most remote and vulnerable communities. At the University of Pisa in Italy, a public event was held on 13 February 2012 to commemorate World Radio Day. The event was organised by Italradio and the Faculty of Engineering and Telecommunication, focused on the cost and ease of use of radio as a source of information. Pisa was chosen as the first Italian city to host an intercontinental radio station built by Marconi in the early years of the 20th century. In 2012, in Barcelona, Spain, a public event organised by the College of Telecommunications Engineers of Catalunya (COETTC) was held on 21 February 2012 to commemorate World Radio Day. The event was organised with the help of the Government of Catalonia. There were panellists from radio stations and personalities from the world of radio broadcasting in attendance. 

At #defyhatenow through our mission which seeks to support the voices and actions of citizens working against online induced conflict within and outside affected regions by bringing youth, community leaders, media, grassroots organisations and civil society stakeholders into a peace-oriented media and information literacy framework, in bridging gaps of knowledge and awareness of social media mechanisms between those with access to technology and those without.  The radio has been a powerful medium for spreading misinformation and insecurity and equally for building peace. We noticed that not everyone who listens to the radio takes advantage of the options available to them, but at least due to some programmes, the public gets equipped to make informed decisions on particular issues they encounter, it could be hate speech, violation of their rights, or induced violence extremism on them or other people around them. It suffices to know that many people have used the radio to promote hatred and violence, as seen in the way the radio was used to report the case of the dead of the Journalist who was killed in Cameroon in January 22, 2023, it is also important to find ways to use this platform to support peace building and development for a #HateFreeCameroon. As in our case, #defyhatenow has had the opportunity to train and equip some Cameroonian journalists of both the radio and Television on acquiring the necessary skills on the techniques and tools to use for fact checking information before sharing with their audience or listeners.

This week through our sensitization campaigns we were able to reach out to radio stations and Ngala Desmond #defyhatenow Country manager shared views on the causes of violence in the North West region of Cameroon in one of his interviews with CRTV Radio in the North West region and Amplitude Fm in the Centre region as he also shared on the place of the radio in the fight against hate speech in Cameroon. 

On May 3 every year, journalists around the globe commemorate World Press Freedom Day (#WPFD). Last year, the 2021 theme “Information as a Public Good” stressed on the necessity to ensure economic viability of news media, in the face of the ever-changing communications system. The advent of new digital media and social media has modernised news production, dissemination and reception processes, thus directly influencing the quality of new contents and their impact on our health, human rights, democracies and sustainable development. At the same time, the digital era has introduced an unprecedented spread of information, usually marked by a rise in the proliferation of mis/dis/malinformation. The rise of “citizen journalism” also raises the question of how media are adapting to evolving trends in the news production and consumption chain.

About 30 years after the institution of this day by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, journalism continues to play a major role in shaping narratives in todays’ society, the more reason why accessing ‘quality’ information remains capital. This year, the 2022 theme: “Journalism under Digital Siege”, further lays emphasis on the digital era’s impact on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information and privacy. It also seeks to address the threats posed by increased surveillance to press freedom and privacy.

World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) reminds governments of their commitments towards ensuring press freedom, ending impunity for crimes against journalists and ensuring their safety. It is equally an opportunity for media professionals to reflect about issues relating to their work, especially press freedom and professional ethics. 

Between 2020 and 2021, #defyhatenow through its #Media4Peace mandate engaged over 150 Journalists serving English-speaking audiences through nine Regional workshops and mentorship sessions on conflict-sensitive reporting. In addition to building the capacity of mainstream media actors, under the theme: “Catalysing Media for Peace and Justice in Cameroon;” a pidgin version of the project was developed in collaboration with members of the Association of Broadcasters in Pidgin English. In a bid to counter the spread of mis/disinfonrmation both online and offline, we have gladly trained 75 Fellowship under our quarterly Africa Factchecking Fellowship – #AFFCameroon, creating a critical mass of journalists, bloggers and civil society activists working as frontline actors in promoting #SafeDigitalSpaces for ALL internet users. 

Engaging media professional at regional levels

In a bid to foster #Media4Peace by mobilising mainstream and new digital media stakeholders towards contributing to peace processes through their work on a daily basis, #defyhatenow envisages a series of hybrid activities in different parts of the country. In Buea, South West Region, 30 journalists are gaining skills through a one-day training on media laws and ethics, led by the African Communication Center for Ethics and Standards (ACCES). Meanwhile, their peers under the canopy of the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union – CJTU will met in Bamenda, regional headquarters of the North West Region.

In line with our #Women4Peace mandate, #defyhatenow will equally mobilise women in media for a discussion session on journalism practice in Cameroon. Three leading Associations with 10 members each will meet in Yaounde on Friday May 6, for a fire-side chat on this year’s #WPFD and media related issues. They are Journalistes d’Action, Femmes de Coeur – JAFEC; Cameroon Association of Women in Media – AFMEC and Women in Communication – WIN. Later in the month, the over 300 members of the Cameroon Media Community Network (CCMN) in all 10 regions will participate in a virtual session co-organised with #defyhatenow, to address issues relating to journalism practice in Cameroon. The West Regional Chapter will close the month on the last week of May with a training session on promoting peacebuilding via community media to hold in Bafang, West Region. 

#WPFD2022 #Media4Peace #Women4Peace #HateFreeCameroon