Listeners’ Letterbox on WRD

Our listeners' contributions to World Radio Day

România Internațional, 11.02.2023, 12:30

Greetings on World Radio Day 2023 with the theme of Peace.
As all other things in life radio can be used for the best or for the worst.
Spreading false news or real news. The Russian attach on Ukraine has made this
clear. It is obvious that the task of the radio is to give real news
about life, whether you like them or not. Cruel actions are not acceptable,
whether they are done by you friends or by your enemies. That can be a
difficult balance also why it can be difficult to verify so called facts.
Telling the truth will in the long run give basis for peace. (Hans Verner Lollike)

The Russian attack on Ukraine has now been going on
for almost a year. Nobody really believed that something like this could happen
in Europe. The independent public service radio stations have provided
excellent coverage of events in Ukraine but it is a fact that a radio service
under the direct control of a government can be used to further the goals of a
small group of people as in this case in Russia. A radio station can easily
loose its editorial independence and become the mouthpiece of a dictatorial
régime. There are numerous cases of exactly this. Not only can a radio service
be restricted to voicing the policies and opinions of a dictatorship but
journalists wanting to portray the truth are likely to find other employment.
In the case of Russia, any criticism of government policies or the attack on
Ukraine can lead to a prison term. Even to mention the word WAR can have that
effect. This it is of vital importance to have access to
independent public service radio stations which are totally free from
government control. Their reporting will give the audiences the information
needed to form an opinion about what is actually going on in the world thus
helping create an environment of peace and stability. Journalists and reporters are already doing a great
job in reporting on what goes on in today’s world and they all need our support
as it can sometimes be difficult and in some cases even dangerous as there are
forces wanting to prevent factual and independent reporting. (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden)

I feel that radio, and short-wave in particular,
have a role in providing peace across the world especially in times of
conflict. For citizens on both sides of a conflict, entertainment through Music
or Talk Shows can take the listeners mind to a different place away from the
scary situation they are in and give them momentary relief from the stress they
are in. (Roseanna Lakeland, UK)

Shortwave radio presents a unique opportunity to engage
listeners and build the pathways for understanding other cultures. Like reading
a book, listening to the radio involves just one sense. Thus it is possible for
the undistracted listener to be completely immersed in the broadcast. If
the broadcast is educational, cultural and fact based the listener may devote
100% of their attention to that show. If encouraged, the listener may
also request a QSL which is a valuable opportunity for the broadcaster to
communicate with them again. The listener’s curiosity may be piqued
about a certain subject which they can later research. Or they may store
away their colorful QSLs and/or pleasant memories of tuning in to a
far away station until they have a chance to visit the country they
spent so many hours listening to. Just as the author of a good book can form a
lifelong bond with the reader, so can shortwave radio. I am amazed at the
number of listeners who started with shortwave half a century ago and are often
featured on DX program segments. DXers frequently mourn long gone radio
stations as they do close friends who have passed on. Shortwave radio is a
powerful medium that can emotionally connect with listeners for many decades. Shortwave radio can vastly broaden the horizons of
individuals around the world. Radios are relatively inexpensive and
broadcasts reach every point on the globe. Powerful broadcasts cross
international borders with ease. Radio frequently offers a voice that is
different than what the listener hears in their local community. That can lead
to a deeper understanding of distant countries and cultures. Better understanding
and the freedom to hear new ideas is a building block for the antonym of war;
peace. (Timothy Brockett, USA)

The use of electromagnetic waves to transmit sounds over
long distances turned out to be an extremely efficient and cheap way of
transmitting information. What is more, radio messages ensure the comfort of
reception, because they do not require the involvement of the sense of sight,
which is why the radio can be listened to by both the driver on the
road and the farmer in the field. The spoken word remains an attractive
means of conveying information and providing entertainment. Broadcasts, debates
and radio podcasts successfully compete for the attention of listeners with
internet media, television and the press. Living in peace and a sense of
security is a basic human right. Unfortunately, it is constantly violated.
Radio may be an effective tool for fostering both peace and the dissemination
of false information. Radio plays a significant role in dispute mediation.
Through the distribution of information about each group’s viewpoints, radio
can mitigate conflicts between competing groups or races. Radio can enable competing
parties communicate with one another and find a peaceful solution to their
differences. In other words, radio has unlimited possibilities to build bridges
between people, but it can also become a powerful tool for sharing lies. (Pavel Nikodym, Poland)