Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Information and Communication (Photo: linkedin.com)

According to UNESCO, over many years, newsrooms and radio stations around the world have only focused on training reporters to cover stories on wars, conflicts, or terrorism, rather than offering in-depth training courses on how to report on natural disasters.

This year’s World Radio Day is the time for radio stations to improve reporters capability to cover extreme weather events, ranging from pre-prepared mapping of at-risk areas, contact lists of experts and authorities for various disaster scenarios, the upkeep of stocks of the requisite tools for emergency scenarios, and a list of improvised broadcasting "rooms". 

To help radio stations optimize their resources, UNESCO has developed a “WRD 2025 Map” that finds radio stations keen to enter into partnership with other stations. This year UNESCO will publish a preparation model and response plan to help radio stations maintain operational readiness and respond to natural disasters and emergencies.

Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Information and Communication, said, “Radio continues to be the most easily accessible communication medium educating, informing, and entertaining all segments of society. It can reach the most remote areas and the most marginalized people.”

VOV’s Vice President Vu Hai Quang (Photo: Duc Anh)

In Vietnam, for many years, Voice of Vietnam has been developing specialized programs on environment and climate change associated with coastal, island, rural, remote, and isolated areas.

VOV’s Vice President Vu Hai Quang said, “Radio is always a timely and reliable source of information. When natural disasters occur – storms, floods, or droughts – radio remains the fastest and most accessible means to warn and guide the community on how to respond.”

According to Mr. Quang, radio also plays a key role in educating and raising environmental awareness. Through radio programs, people can access information about environmental protection, sustainable lifestyles, and resource conservation, thereby contributing to minimizing negative impacts, the VOV leader noted.

On the occasion of World Radio Day, Mr. Quang, called on all people to listen, to learn, and to take action, so that radio will continue to be a partner in the fight against climate change.