February 13th, World Radio Day: The Radio’s Importance
By: María José González Cepeda 10°A
We all know what a radio is; however, we do not know much about its history. So here comes a brief timeline.
1874: Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor, and businessman was born.
1895: When Marconi was 21 years old, he developed the first wireless communication system.
1897: The company Wireless and Telegraph Signal Company, then known as Wireless Telegraph Company in 1899, was founded by Marconi.
1901 - 1902: When he was 27 years old, his company started working with naval industries making new technology advantages in the field. This new experiment took him to his worldwide recognition after he achieved long-distance communication in more than 3.000 km in the Atlantic Ocean, joining the Old Continent with The New Continent.
During the 20th century, this invention was improved, arriving in almost all countries and becoming the most used communication resource in the world.
2011: UNESCO celebrated the World Radio Day
2012: The UN proclaimed World Radio Day as a worldwide celebration.
The radio was used as a source of information, entertainment, advertisements, and education. But why is the day commemorated? As the UN (United Nations) said - “International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.” This is why the 13th of February has commemorated this important source of communication and its value.
Throughout history, it has been shown the radio’s power. In entertainment, for example, the War of the Worlds original Broadcast was transmitted in October 1938. Also in education, as it is in the case of our population.
Eighty years ago, the “Radio Nacional de Colombia” was founded, with the principal objective of educating people, for allowing them to have a better lifestyle and opportunities. Especially in culture and then evolving for the primary and secondary school academics. This was not an easy job since the Radio Nacional de Colombia had to wait almost 30 years to achieve a total program to be presented. The main objective of this project was reaching to the farmers and isolated Colombian populations, to increase the education levels.
At the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, the radio program was displaced by other radio stations, and other means of communication (television), causing almost the disappearance of all the intention, and lowing the radio spectators. Finally, after fighting against the different situations, the last emission of the Radio’s Education Program was on October 28, 2004.
After more than a decade, other Education plans were in progress. However, this new pandemic situation brought adversities for Colombian society making it difficult face to face education. This is why different academic programs are still broadcast on the radio, the new objective: continue With education.
Now that you know the radio’s importance, why not take a look at celebrating this day!
The UNESCO divided this celebration into three main themes:
EVOLUTION. The world changes, radio evolves.
This sub-theme refers to the resilience of the radio, to its sustainability;
INNOVATION. The world changes, radio adapts and innovates.
Radio has had to adapt to new technologies to remain the go-to medium of mobility, accessible everywhere and to everyone;
CONNECTION. The world changes, radio connects.
This sub-theme highlights radio’s services to our society—natural disasters, socio-economic crises, epidemics, etc.
Remember! Listen to the radio more often.
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