GREAT BAY:--- World Radio Day, 13 February, marks the anniversary of the first broadcast by United Nations (UN) Radio in 1946, when it transmitted its first call sign: this is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world."
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon. Rita Bourne-Gumbs, would like to wish all radio station owners, program hosts, technicians and staff a Happy World Radio Day on 13 February, and at the same time commends them for doing a great job where it concerns keeping the Sint Maarten community informed and entertained on a daily basis.
The theme of World Radio Day is: "Youth and Innovation."
World Radio Day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio, and enhance networking among broadcasters.
Radio is recognized as a low-cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the less fortunate, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people's educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.
Radio is also an effective medium to broadcast news, features, weather reports and entertainment and is a medium that is available everywhere – at home, at work or on the move.
The changing face of radio services, influenced to a great extent by the current trends in media convergence, is taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets as well as hybrid radio (which combines FM/DAB broadcasts with the Internet).