World Radio Day 2022:
Community Radio – high on the TRUST barometer!!!
TRUST in media has been a growing issue and challenge, where the space for freedom of
speech and of the media has been narrowing along with the space for exercise of other
rights. The consequences for the state of democracy are clear: the world has become
less free and less democratic every year for the past 15 years – and the negative
development continues. In 2020, 75 percent of the global population had their
basic rights restricted or limited in some way, to which the Covid-19 crisis has only
contributed further, the Executive Director of International Media Support, Jesper
Højberg reports.
The search has been on for media and information sources you can trust, where the
past US President's crazy rants about 'fake news' and 'alternative facts' showcased the
desorientation and the subsequent need for both fact-checking in the media and
strengthened citizen Media Literacy levels. In our increasingly complex world, we
need this to make sense of it all and make well-informed life choices. Also this has been
further underscored during the Covid pandemic, where mis- and disinformation has
thrived.
Over the years I have carried out quite a few impact assessments of community media
in different parts of the world, and every time audiences and producers have stressed
that they trust their community radio, because it is theirs; because it speaks their
language - even their local dialect, because the broadcasters are their community
members and because they know each other.
Trust in community radio is earned because of its community roots. Because it
is ours! Now that the February 13, the World Radio Day is behind us, it is time to live up
to the celebratory talks and the vows for next steps. With trust as the basis, then
next step is action!
Happy World Radio Day 2022 – from me to you,
Birgitte Jallov