Communication and Information sector Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Development Section for Media Development and Society

Radio in times of emergency and disaster

FifteenIdeasforCelebratingWorldRadioDay2016

13February2016

ThisdocumentisforUNESCOFieldofficesandNationalCommissions.Itwillalsobesharedwithradiobroadcasters,journalistsandothermediaprofessionals,NGOsandpolicymakers.

ThethemeforWorldRadioDay2016is‘Radio inTimesofEmergencyandDisaster”,withthe goal of celebrating how important radio is in our lives, in both times of peace and intimesofemergencyanddisaster.

In talkingwithour colleagues fromaround theworld, it’s clear that2016will bea criticalyear for emergency response and educating the community about disaster risk reduction.What betterway todo this than through themosteasily accessible and commonly usedformofmedia thatwe have - Radio. It is an inexpensivemediumthat requires relativelysimple technology and its reach extends from policymakers to remote communities andmarginalizedgroups.Socialmediaisanimportantcomponent,butitisnotasubstituteforreliable,timelyandinteractiveradioservicesbasedoncommunitytrust.

From human-made conflicts resulting in large populations of people seeking asylum, toincreasing and more severe climate change related emergencies, it is important thatUNESCOhighlightstheimpactofRadiointimesofemergencyanddisaster.

ThereareFIVEKeyThemesandFIFTEENIdeastohelpbringWorldRadioDaytolifeonandaround13February2016.Thethemesare:

1. Freedomofexpressionandjournalists’safetyshouldbedisaster-proof.2. Radio empowers survivors and vulnerable people, being mindful of their right to

privacy.

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3. Radiohassocialimpactandprovidesaccesstoinformation.People’srighttoinformationshouldbeprotected.

4. Radiosaveslives.5. The immediate accessibility of radio frequencies is essential to saving lives. These

frequenciesshouldbeprotectedintimesofemergency.

SocialMediaforWorldRadioDay2016Twitterhandles:@worldradioday@UNESCOHashtagsforsocialmedia:#RadioSavesLives#ListenVoiceAct

QuickOverview

Date Idea About

14 December2015

Idea1:GetregisteredIdea2:GetActiveIdea3.GetinTouch

RegisteryouremailonlineStartsharingonsocialmediaLetusknowwhatyourideasare!

11 January 2016– launch ofwebsite

Idea4:GetCopyrightFreeContent YouwillbeabletogetcopyrightfreecontenttouseonWorldRadioDay.

11 January – 13FebruaryOrganise youractivities forWorld RadioDay!

Idea4:GetCopyrightFreeContentIdea5:GetSharingIdea6:GiveaVoicetotheVoicelessIdea7:GetYourIdeasontheWorldStageIdea8:GetaPartnershipIdea9:GetEducatingIdea10:GetCelebratingIdea11:GetanadvocacycampaignstartedIdea12:OrganiseaPublicOpenDayIdea13:Getapop-upradiostationbyusingonlinedigitalradiosuites.

Newcontentwillbeaddedweekly.PutWRDbannersonyourwebpage.SharestoriesofthosewhoaresurvivorsofemergenciesanddisastersTellusyouractivitiesandwe’lluploadthemonthewebpage.HostanemergencysimulationwithemergencyrespondersUseourteachingaidstoinformCelebratetheimportanceofradiointimesofemergencyanddisaster.Helpensureradioreachesthepeopleitneedsto.Invitethepublictovisityourradiostation,NGOororganisation.AnyonecanbroadcastonWorldRadioDay!

12February13FebruaryTunein!

Idea14:GetReportingIdea15:GetTunedintoWorldRadioDay!

ShareUNESCO’sWorldRadioDaypressreleaseandstories.TuneintotheWorldRadioDaybroadcast.

13February–29February

Idea5:GetSharing ShareyourphotosandtheactivitiesyouachievedonWorldRadioDay2016withtheUNESCOWRDteam.

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FifteenIdeastoCelebrateWorldRadioDay

Idea1.GetRegistered

Register your email with www.worldradioday.org from 16 December 2015 to receiveregularupdates,newcontentandideasleadinguptoWorldRadioDay,13February2016.

The theme is Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster, which is yet another reason tocelebratewhywe loveradioandwhy it’s important in2016. Byregisteringyouremail,ornominating a contact person in your office, NGO or radio station to disseminate theinformation,youwillhavethemostuptodateinformationinordertocelebratetheday.

Thefullwebsitewillgoliveon11January2016.Weencourageyoutoputthisdateinyourdiarynow.

Idea2.GetActive

GetactiveonSocialMedialongbefore13February2016.Youcangetactiveasearlyas14Decemberwhenourregistrationgoeslive.Youcan:

1. Tweet to your followers that registration is now open. Tweet: “Register now for@WorldRadioDay by visitingwww.worldradioday.org #RadioSavesLives in times ofemergencyanddisaster@UNESCO”.

2. Instagram yourself listening to the radio and sharewith your Instagram followersand the UNESCO handle: “I love listening to the radio. #RadioSavesLives#ListenVoiceActwww.worldradioday.org@UNESCO”.

3. ShareyourtweetsandInstagramphotoswithourFacebookpage.

Idea3.GetInTouch

Get in touch with your local or regional UNESCO office. Your UNESCO field officers areexcitedaboutthepossibilitiesofpartneringwithyouforWorldRadioDay2016.Youcan:

1. Arrangeanoutsidebroadcastinthelocalcommunityon13February2016.Youcaninvite emergency responders like police, ambulance, fire brigade and otheremergency responders (like the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement) orhumanitarian organisations to share their work with listeners. This helps thecommunitytobepreparedforanemergency.Usethehashtags#ListenVoiceActand#RadioSavesLivesforyouron-airdiscussion.

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Idea4.GetRoyaltyFreeContent

UNESCOwillstartreleasingroyaltyfreecontentforyoutodownloadandbroadcastonyourradiostation,activitiestosharewithyourconstituencyifyouareanNGO,videostoshareonsocialmedia and funactivities todowith friends, school childrenoruniversity classmatesfrom11January2016.Youcanbrowseourdedicatedwww.worldradioday.orgwebpagetostartbuildingyourownagendaandactivitiesforWorldRadioDay2016.Contentincludes:

1. MessagesfrominfluentialpeoplesuchasUNESCO’sDirectorGeneral, IrinaBokovaandtheUN’sSecretaryGeneral,BanKi-moon;

2. InterviewswithkeyemergencyanddisasterresponseinfluencersfromorganisationssuchastheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross(ICRC)andotherNGOs.

3. Infographics on radio and its reach in theworld, especially in times of emergencyanddisaster;

4. Generalcontent todownloadandshare–reportage,videos,podcasts,playlists formusicandlotsofactivities.Therewillbealotofcontenttochoosefromtohelpyouproduce your World Radio Day show or activity. These include UNESCOprogrammesthatensure#RadioSavesLives–suchastheRadioinaBoxprogramme.

5. TherewillalsobecontentonkeymessagesforRadioday,suchas:a. Ensuringthefrequencyallocationsforradiointimesofemergencyareopen

andaccessible.b. Ensuring that journalists have access to information and the right to

freedomofexpression.c. MoreoftheseideasareexploredinIdea14.

Idea5.GetSharing

UsetheWorldRadioDaybannersandwidgetstoputonyourwebpagetospreadthewordandshowthatyourRadioStationorNGOsupportsUNESCO’sWorldRadioDay.Ourbannerswill have theWRD logo andwill come in square, landscape and portrait sizes to fit yourneeds.Findthemonthewebsite:www.worldradioday.org

Idea6.Giveavoicetothevoiceless

Oneof the reasons for choosingRadio in Times of Emergency andDisaster is to highlightsomeof thestoriesof thosewhoarevulnerable in these timesand inparticular refugees.Sometimesdisasterandemergency situations remain ineffecta long timeafter the initialshock. People live in vulnerable conditions for years, increasingly due to climate changerelatedemergenciesorbecausetheyarefleeingaconflictzone.Thenumberofrefugeesisincreasingrapidlyworldwide.

MostofthetimenewspapersandTVbroadcastsfeatureexpertsbutseldomgivethevoicesofthoseaffectedbydisasters.Veryfewfromthegeneralpublicgettotelltheirstories.The

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strengthofradioasamediumallowslistenerstohearthosevoicesandtointeract,oftenforthefirsttime:

1. Organise an online program to collect the statements, stories and hopes for thefutureandbroadcastitonWorldRadioDay;

2. ProposetoNGO’sworkinginarefugeecampinyourareatoorganizefieldvisitsandinterviewsandsharethemonlineand/orwithyourradiopartner.

3. Useourroyaltyfreecontenttobroadcastonyourradiostationorshareonyourwebpageandsocialnetworks.

Idea7.GetYourIdeasontheWorldStage

Onceyou’veplannedyourWorldRadioDay2016activity,letUNESCOHeadquartersinParisknow about it! Let’s put your activity on ourWorldMap so others can find you in yourregion or country and get involved locally in person or by listening in. Visitwww.worldradioday.orgafter7Januaryandrightupuntil13Februarytoregisteryoureventonourinteractiveworldmap.

Haveyougotyourownideayou’dliketoshare?Ifyouhaveaninspirationalideatospreadthemessagethat#RadioSavesLiveson#ListenVoiceAct,thenwe’dliketohearfromyousowecanshareyourfabulousideawithourpartnersandnetworks.

Idea8.GetaPartnership-HostanEmergencySimulation

Invite your local Red Cross/Red Crescent or another emergency response organisation tohostanEmergencySimulationExerciseonSaturday13February,WorldRadioDay. Inviteyoung people, for example, local Scouts and Girl Guides, to participate in the simulation.Involvelocalcouncillors,firebrigade,emergencyrespondersandotherstohelpsimulatetheemergency:

1. Invitea localcommunityradiostationtodo livecrossingsthroughouttheday,andbuildapicture for thecommunityaboutwhatanemergency looks like,howmanydifferent people are involved inmaking the scene safe and how#RadioSavesLivesduringanemergency;

2. UNESCOwill provide a full “HowToHost an Emergency Simulation”documentonourwebpage,www.worldradioday.org;

3. Don’tforgettodoapressreleaseandinviteothermediatoyoureventtospreadthemessageandpubliciseyouractivity.

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Idea9.GetEducating!

UseWorldRadioDaytohelpeducatestudents in your classroom or youngpeople in your community. Visitwww.worldradioday.org to find abunchofactivitiesforyoungpeople:

1. Build a Foxhole Radio out ofhouseholditems.TheFoxholeRadio can be built in anemergency situation. Follow our instructions available online and see what radiostations you can tune into. Create a partnership with a local radio station sochildrencanlistenintoadedicatedshowwiththeirnewlybuiltradios;

2. Useteachingaidstohelpteachchildrenandyoungpeopleaboutthereachofradioandhowithelpsintimesofemergency.Forexample:

a. Empoweryouththroughradio.UNESCO’sradiotoolkit–LinkingGenerationsThroughRadio–isanopenaccessdocument,whichisinspiredbychildrenandyouthwhomakeupone-thirdoftheworld’spopulation.Thetoolkitwillhelpyoustartupacustomisedyouthradioprogrammearoundthethemeofradiointimesofemergencyanddisaster.Youcanfindthetoolkithere:http://en.unesco.org/radioict/linking-generations

b. Use this learning tool from the British Red Cross on how radio reachedmigrantsintimesofwar.Itwillbetranslatedintodifferentlanguagesonourwebpage:http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Teaching-resources/Lesson-plans/Refugees-primary

Idea10.GetCelebrating!

YoucancelebrateWorldRadioDayandtheworld’slovefor Radio within the theme of “Radio in Times ofEmergencyandDisaster”,aswehaveanumberof funactivitiesaimedspecificallyatCommercialMusicRadioStationsandYouth:

1. See our short video called “EmergencyBlackout”availableonwww.worldradioday.org.From the week starting Monday 6 February,encourage listeners to tweet their favouritesong to listen to in an emergency blackout, toyourRadioStationtwitterhandle.Youcanplaylisteners’songsthroughouttheweekandhaveacountdownofthetop10songsonSaturday13February;

Photocredit:http://i465.photobucket.com/

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2. DownloadandprintoutourmobilePhotoBoothwithradioprops.RunadedicatedmusicprogrammeonSaturday13Februaryintheeveningforyoungpeopleandaskthem to send Instagram photos of them using the photo booth props while theylistentoyourprogramme.Offeraprizeforthebestphoto.

Idea11.GetAnAdvocacyCampaignStarted

Doyouhaveanissueinyourareathatyouneedtoinformpolicymakersabout?Maybeyouhave an early warning system for disasters like floods or tsunamis but it is lacking incommunityradiosupport.Ormaybeyoubelongtoanamateurradiogroupthatcanassistinemergencies but you don’t know how to help? Perhaps you are part of an emergencyresponsevolunteergroupandyou’rekeentoinvolvecommunityradioinyouractivities.UseWorldRadioDaytospreadyourmessage:

1. Host a reception at your local council or Parliament. Have an MP or Counsellorsponsor the event. Invite stakeholders such as elected officials, policy makers,emergency responders, radiobroadcastersandkeymembersof thecommunity totalkabouthowyoucanchangepolicyforthebettertoensure#RadioSavesLives;

2. Create awareness of Member States of UNESCO on the availability of radiofrequencies and spectrum congestion for broadcasting in an emergency. Did youknow that the immediate availability of pre-identified and pre-coordinatedfrequencies, and/or spectrums are important for the successful use of radio-communicationsintheveryearlystagesofemergenciesfordisasterrelief?Youcanfind out more on the issue of radio frequencies by visiting the website of theInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion,oneofUNESCO’sofficialWorldRadioDaypartners,here:http://www.itu.int/en/action/emergency/Pages/default.aspx;

3. WritetoyourlocalMPtoaskforameetingtotalkaboutyourissue–whetheritbeaboutradiointimesofemergencyoraboutdisasterpreparedness.Invitethemonalocalradioprogrammetotalkaboutit.

Idea12.OrganiseaPublicOpenDay

Anopenday isagreatwayto involvethepublic inyouractivities. Invitingprofessionalaidworkers, first responders, radio reporters and disaster risk reduction specialists to yourorganisation’s open day is an excellent opportunity to spread the message that#RadioSavesLives.

Youcan:

1. Write to local radio stationsaboutyourorganisationand invite themto reportonyour open day, explaining to the public how your organisation assist in times ofemergencyanddisaster;

2. Partnerwith a radio station to do an outside broadcast in a public space, invitingmembersofthepublictoattend;don’tforgettoinvolvebeneficiaries(refugees)togivethemtheopportunityofsharingtheirstories.

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3. Organise a workshop on disaster risk reduction – how can people disaster-prooftheirhome?Inviteanexperttogiveaworkshopduringyouropendayandinvitealocalradiostationtoreportonthefindings.

Idea13.GetaPopUpRadioStationUsingDigitalOnlineSuites

JoincollegestudentsaroundtheworldbysettingupyourownPopUpRadioStationforthedayonWorldRadioDay13February.YoucanuseInternetradiobroadcastingsuitessuchaswww.mixlr.com to create yourown radio showwithUNESCOcontent from Idea 4, or askstudentstohelpcreateyourowncontent.

Idea14.GetReporting

UNESCOwill be hosting a press conference on Friday 12 February 2016. Share the pressconferenceandpressreleasewithyournetworksandreporttheWorldRadioDayactivitiesand messages in your local press. Don’t forget the hashtags for social media:#RadioSavesLives,#ListenVoiceActandaddourhandles:@worldradioday,@UNESCO. Youcan:

1. Use the five main themes in UNESCO’s World Radio Day message to start adiscussion with key people in your community – emergency response workers,governmentministers, humanitarianorganisations, non-government organisations.Howpreparedisyourlocalcommunityforanemergency?;

2. Use theWorld Radio Day jingle, or create your own, to advertise that the nextsegmentonyourradiostationisaboutWorldRadioDay.YoucanuseWorldRadioDayfreecontentduringtheweekleadinguptoWorldRadioDaytocreateapictureoftheimportanceofRadioinTimesofEmergencyandDisaster;

3. Haveanon-airdiscussionabouttheparticularthemesaroundWorldRadioDayandRadio inTimesof EmergencyandDisaster. Forexample– invitea journalist andahumanitarianworker to have a discussion about their experiencesworking in thefieldintimesofemergencyorconflict;

4. Create a Vox-Pop. Take an emergency response worker with you into yourcommunity and ask some basic survival questions. How disaster-prepared is yourcommunity? When you air the show, invite radio listeners to call in with theirsuggestionsonhowyoucanbebetterpreparedasacommunity;

5. Useourmaterialsonhatespeech:http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002332/233231e.pdf(English)http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002332/233231a.pdf(Arabic)http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002346/234620f.pdf(French)Usethefivepointhatespeechtesttoencouragediscussionaroundhatespeech intimesofemergency–orwhenhatespeechcancreateanemergency;http://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/en/contents/hate-speech-infographic

6. Sharethestoriesonthesafetyofjournalistsinconflictanddisasterzoneswithyourcommunity. What were their experiences in ensuring the news reached its

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audience?Whyare journalistsmoreat risk in timesof conflict andcrisis?YoucanrefertotheUN’sPlanofActionontheSafetyofJournalistsandIssueofImpunity:http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/freedom-of-expression/safety-of-journalists/un-plan-of-action/;

7. Access to information for journalists is vital during emergencies and disasters, sotheycanfreelyreportthe latestnews.Accessto informationsaves lives. Considerorganisingaprogrammeoraneventwhereapublicrepresentativeandcommunitygroupsdiscussaccesstoinformation.Doesyourcountryhaveaccesstoinformationlawsinplace?Whathappenstoaccesstoinformationintheaftermathofadisaster?

8. Women and men are affected differently in disaster and emergency situations.Gender can play an important role how people become vulnerable in times ofemergencyanddisaster.Organiseacommunitydiscussionandafocusongendertohighlight the issues pertinent to gender in an emergency. You can find moreinformationfromtheGenderDisasterNetwork:http://www.gdnonline.org/

9. Linkupwithotherradiostationsorradiocommunitiesandpoolyourresourcestoholdaspecial eventonWorldRadioDay.Forexample,All IndiaRadio,PrivateFMandCommunityradiostationsBhubaneswar,India,areorganizingaRadioFairon13February2016,whereoverseasbroadcasterswilltakepartintheevent–providingauniqueopportunityforlocal,nationalandinternationalengagementonWorldRadioDay;

10. Organise a discussion with representatives from radio member/professionalassociations or the International Telecommunications Union. The ITU has vastamounts of information on theirwebsite regarding radio in times of emergenciesanddisasters.Youcanfindinformationhere:

a. https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-BT.2299-2014-PDF-E.pdfb. https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Emergency-

Telecommunications/Documents/Publications/brochure.pdf;11. Visitwww.worldradioday.organdbuildyourownprogrammeusingtheroyaltyfree

programmes.

Idea15.GetTunedinonWorldRadioDay!

UNESCO will be broadcasting a special radio programme LIVE from an emergency zone,interviewingemergencyresponseworkers,aidworkers,representativesfromhumanitarianorganisationsand talkingwith thosewhoareaffectedby theemergency. Tune in tohearthevoicesofthosewhohavebeendirectlyaffectedbyconflictandwhoareseekingasylum.Learn about their lives after a conflict and how radio is helping to enhance their livesthroughinformationandculture.Sharethisradioprogrammewithyournetworks,LIVEonWorldRadioDay,13February2016.

Tuneinbyvisitingwww.worldradioday.org