13 Ideas to Celebrate World Radio Day 2024
By Michael Harrison
Founder
TALKERS
The United Nations and its specialized agency, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have given the radio industry all around the globe an invaluable gift. It’s called “World Radio Day 2024.” Now in its 13th installment, WRD takes place annually on February 13 with the purpose of spotlighting the accomplishments, importance, and ongoing relevance of the radio medium as it evolves deeper into the 21st century. This year’s WRD theme is “Radio: A Century Informing, Educating and Entertaining.” By officially designating the platform as worthy of its own officially sanctioned UN International Day, the august world body has recognized, spotlighted, and endorsed radio’s continuing relevance and potential for being a vital force for the betterment of humanity.
On a global level, the scope of radio is huge. However, we, practitioners of radio in America, face formidable challenges keeping the spirit and uniqueness of the platform viable as both a business and iconic connector as it faces stifling debt, exotic competition, a generational divide, creeping censorship, and the growing risk of simply getting lost in the noise and distractions of the ceaselessly evolving digital era. I strongly encourage my American colleagues to embrace WRD 2024 for the fabulous opportunity it offers our industry to make a compelling and inspiring case for the ongoing importance and positive impact of radio to inform, educate and entertain.
Please read and consider any or all of the “13 Ideas to Celebrate World Radio Day 2024” posted on the UNESCO website and in this edition of TALKERS magazine. To see the list of 13 ideas, please click here.
Michael Harrison can be contacted directly via email at michael@talkers.com.
billion in total local advertising, only a 2.2% increase in local advertising year-over-year.” BIA VP of forecasting & analysis Nicole Ovadia adds, “As expected, 2024 will be driven by political spending, and, even in markets that are not highly contested there will be a large amount of political advertising. Local political advertising will be fueled by the presidential and senate campaigns as well as issue-based advertising. When we look at the forecast without political, we expect only a slight increase in ad spending due to both global and local economic trends that may create more cautious spending.” 
“soon.” Elder challenged Gavin Newsom for governor of California in the 2021 recall election. Elder was the top Republican vote getter in that failed bid to unseat Newsom. Tradup says that Elder has visited Iowa and that his political action committee, Elder For America, is bringing in donations. Federal Elections Commission data indicates that the PAC raised nearly $1.7 million in 2022. Elder currently hosts a video talk program for The Epoch Times.