 February 2021 |
| Celebrating Radio in our Lives |
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| Photo: Sergio Santimano – for UNESCOAll over the world RADIO has been celebrated before, on and after February 13, World Radio Day. Stories of change, celebrating the role community radio can have in the lives of people in a distant rural village, in the lives of people living in a new community and country, having had to flee from prosecusion; people living with disabilities; or people marginalised for locally determined reasons – or sitting in a queue on your way to work in a busy city – radio is increasingly recognized as a core information provider.In Europe we have during the Covid-crisis – which has accentuated the urgency and power of COMMUNITY – seen how the community’s media – community media – have gained recognition for being exactly that: adding languages overnight when needed, and receiving that recognition and trust that few media have these days of mis- and disinformation. Lots of wonderful reasons to celebrate. And we have!Below you receive your invitation to the February 22 celebratory closure of the New Neighbours project, which we have documented in these columns over the past year; you will read about the adverse reality in Hungary, where community media apparently are so trusted and listened to that the authorities have now closed the last community radio with an FM license. We share experts’ take on what our digital rights will look like in 2030; and invite you to sign up for a video profile if you are a migrant in Europe between 18 and 25? And you can read about new research documenting the role of community media as platforms for peace in Cyprus – and much more! We in CMFE look forward to receive your story of change, cooperation, and about how you make community media visible and struggle for legal recognition.In solidarity, Birgitte Jallov CMFE President |