ASIA

The Voice of Vietnam celebrated World Radio Day with a talk show at its headquarters in Hanoi on Monday.The event was attended by journalists, representatives of listeners’ clubs and nearly 300 students of journalism and communication.Themed “Radio and Peace”, this year’s World Radio Day focuses on the role of radio in promoting cohesion, sympathy, sharing, speaking out against injustice in society, and addressing conflicts and disputes toward building a peaceful and compassionate society.

The speakers included Pham Manh Hung, VOV Vice President and Chairman of VOV Journalists Association, Philomena Gnanapragasam, Director of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Journalist Cong Vinh of Voice of People’s Ho Chi Minh City (VOH) and Journalist Thu Hoa of VOV Ethnic Affairs Department (VOV4).The guest journalists talked about the opportunities, challenges, and the role of radio in promoting peace and defusing tension and conflict. They also shared stories about their profession and their passion for radio journalism.Journalist Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said: “The Voice of Vietnam has taken bold steps in the digital transformation process. Its radio programs were originally from the waves and now are available on the Internet platform, spreading to people in all regions as well as internationally. This approach is certainly in the right direction.”VOV President Do Tien Sy said that VOV is always proud of the voice of conscience, the fight for the aspiration for freedom and independence, and joint efforts to build a peaceful world.“VOV is a pioneer in innovating and modernizing the media to meet the public needs in the era of booming new kinds of media. VOV pays great attention to innovating broadcast programs to attract more investment and enhance interaction with the public, thus improving their quality and turning radio into a true companion of the public in all circumstances,” said Sy.Hai Quang, vice president of Voice of Vietnam (VOV), in his article written on the occasion of World Radio Day, said: “Radio represents both a powerful and effective tool used to promote peace and security, whilst it plays a significant role in enhancing mutual understanding and enhancing dialogue in order to reduce conflicts.”Earlier, in a pre-recorded video sent to the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) to mark World Radio Day 2023, the leadership of VOV affirmed radio’s role in assisting in reducing tensions, preventing conflicts and fostering peace by acting as a tool for humanitarian communication. […]

Association of Community Radio Broadcasters’ (ACORAB), AMARC Asia Pacific and UNESCO Kathmandu Office held an event in Kathmandu on the occasion of #WorldRadioDay, whose theme this year was ‘Radio and Peace’.The event explored, emphasised and understood the roles of radio and community radio in building peace in Nepal.Meanwhile, talking to Radio Nepal on the occasion of World Radio Day, the country’s minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said that the government was responsible for the betterment of radio stations in the country.

She also asked for suggestions from all stakeholders to resolve the problems seen in the radio communication sector, stating that radio was a pivotal medium for the flow of information in Nepal.Minister Sharma also appreciated the role played by Radio Nepal as a leading media house in Nepal.Executive Director of Radio Nepal Buddhi Bahadur KC also expressed his best wishes on the occasion of World Radio Day and said that Radio Nepal had remained an important medium for ensuring democracy, prosperity, and citizens’ access to information, education and health since its inception in 1951. […]

On the occasion of World Radio Day 2023, Eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar hosted the Ninth International Radio Fair from February 11 to 13.The objective of the event is to increase Radio listenership, sensitizing broadcasters on importance of radio in public service, encouraging youngsters to choose radio as career, promotion and exchange of culture and providing assistance to community radio enthusiasts.Radio listeners from many parts of India, working Radio Jockeys, Broadcasters and technicians from different stations of India, Union & State Ministers, Government officials, station owners, stake holders, radio associations, radio Stations from different parts of the country and abroad, artists from different states, broadcasting equipment manufacturers, radio Set manufacturers and ham radio operators from different states joined the event.

Stalls on the exhibition ground displayed thousands of antique radio sets, old and new broadcasting equipment, Digital Radio Mondiale Sets (DRM), auxiliary studio and sand art.There was also a radio repairing shop, new radio sets for sale and a handmade radio shop.Simultaneously, there were meetings, seminars, workshops and cultural programs featuring popular radio stars performing on stage.The fair also featured a Radio Jockey from Jammu and Kashmir, who said he was thankful for the chance to promote his culture through the radio.“In 2012-13, there was a decline in radio listeners, but in 2021 and 2022, the craze was back for the radio. We are here to promote the radio. Ours is a community radio which promotes our culture and we got a good platform here to do so,” Kasim, an RJ at Radio Pir Panjal from Poonch told ANI. […]

On the occassion of World Radio Day, Radio Taiwan International (RTI) released the following statement:World Radio Day is February 13 and this year’s theme is “Radio and Peace”. During times of war, radio has been an important tool to promote access to accurate news and information.Due to the Ukraine War, Russia has blocked foreign and independent media from operating in Russia. In response, the BBC resumed its shortwave broadcasts so that people in Ukraine can access news and information, demonstrating the value of the medium. Radio Taiwan International, for its part, has increased its Russian language shortwave broadcasts to Ukraine by one hour. It has also started a Ukranian Facebook fan page to show its support as people in Ukraine fight for their freedom.

RTI’s Chairperson Cheryl Lai said: “Taiwan is constantly facing threats of the mind rather than of gunpowder, so we need to be on our guard. Rti continues its mission to broadcast the truth, foster dialogue and safeguard Taiwan’s values in order to build a foundation for peace.”The United Nations has said that radio is a pillar to prevent conflicts and build peace. Radio programs can help people have deeper clarity and conversations about current affairs, which can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.RTI is one of the world’s oldest radio stations in operations today and was established in 1928 by the Republic of China (ROC) government as the Central Broadcasting System (CBS) in Nanjing, China. It followed the ROC government from city to city during and after WWII, eventually coming to Taipei, Taiwan. It now broadcasts news, audio and video features about Taiwan in 18 languages. […]

February 13 is World Radio Day (WRD) and the theme for the 12th edition of the event is Radio and Peace.It acknowledges that in reporting and informing the general public, radio stations shape public opinion and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international situations and decision-making processes.On World Radio Day 2023, UNESCO will highlight independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peace building, saying that this is the reason why support to independent radio has to be viewed as an integral part of peace and stability.

In India, a Community Radio Symposium is being organised on Saturday, February 11. It start with a panel discussion on Role of CR in Deepening Democracy, followed by another discussion on Radio in the Digital Age. It will conclude with media presentations by radio stations from across the country featuring snippets of their programs and discussing their relevance in today’s scenario.All India Radio, Delhi, will organise a special edition of its program Mati Ke Rang featuring Rajasthani folk music by Seema Mishra and Group which will be broadcast live on air and on the channel’s YouTube channel on February 13.Eastern Indian city of Bhubaneshwar will host the ninth International Radio Fair from February 11 to 13 to mark WRD. It will feature radio professionals, ministers, government officials, radio associations, equipment manufacturers and sand art on WRD theme, besides meetings, seminars and workshops. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonLast week I spent 5 days working with a new hire. Note I said, “New Hire” which should send you all into spasms of envy that we found a new salesperson. Not only did we find one, but he pursued US and he is absolutely thrilled to be in the radio industry. When was the last time that happened to you?This gentleman has no history in radio. He has some history in sales, but in an entirely different industry and sales system. So, he is a novice.

His first day on the job, I arrived. I prefer to come a week or so later, but the timing worked out this way. We began with “radio 101” and then proceeded to work on learning my sales system: best practices, how to plan your daily activities, prospecting, doing good needs analysis meetings, writing proposals, handling objections, understanding the basics of how marketing works on the brain of consumers, how to create effective campaigns, what makes a great radio commercial, using ROI sheets. In other words, the plan he must follow to insure success.The last day, we did something additional. I had the owner and the tenured salespeople come into our meeting and share the history of the stations.Which brings up the subject of this newsletter: what is your on-boarding system?One of the problems we encounter, other than finding good people to hire, is keeping good people. And one of the reasons people leave is that they have not fallen in love with the radio industry. They don’t understand WHY we do what we do. They don’t understand how vital the radio industry is to the communities we serve. Nor do they understand that advertising is the grease on the wheels of commerce. When consumers buy, the economy improves. Advertising delivers messages from businesses to potential consumers. Our life blood is the local business person and we can help them to compete with the giant companies of the world.So, what should be included in your on-boarding process?Ideally, the owner or general manager of the company should set aside some time to meet the new person and to share their history and their “Why?”. They should share their vision for the company moving forward.The new hire should spend some time with each department in the station: sit in on a morning show and listen to the interaction with listeners. Watch the production department produce commercials. Watch the traffic department do their jobs (no person new to radio understands what a traffic person does. They think of the cross walk guard in the neon yellow vest.) Go out with the current sales staff to see them in action. Go to station promotions to SEE the listeners.Learn the forms and paperwork that each station needs to function. In other words, the internal flow of information. What resources are available at the station to help them to do their job?At each and every step, emphasize the “Why?”I remember the first time I attended an NAB. I saw 100,000 broadcasters in one place and it hit me that this was the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the staffs were still at home running the stations. Wow! I was blown away by how big and powerful we are!New hires need to feel that they are a part of something bigger than one station or group. Yes, they need to enjoy their fellow workers. They need to believe in our mission. But they also need to believe in the mission of radio in general.Radio is not dead nor dying. We have only to remember how vital we were in 2020. We remain that vital as we serve our communities in a hundred different ways. We should all be proud to call ourselves “radio broadcasters”.I hope you may formulate your own on-boarding system. Indoctrinate the new hires in the best of our industry. Welcome them into the midst of one of the best jobs in the world.Happy recruiting and happy retaining! […]