Play with Radio - Make a Buzz

Radio has long been acknowledged as one
of the most powerful, practical and cost-effective communications
tool. Particularly for women who are expected to take on
several different responsibilities at any one time, radio
can be a great way to actively listen and acquire information
while doing other things.

However, according to the 2005
Global Media Monitoring Report, women are most underrepresented
in the news in radio compared to other kinds of media.

Take back the radio! Use it as an information
tool that does more than import you the latest tunes from
developed countries with a big marketing budget. Play with
the media

• Think
  of some topics around violence against women that doesn't
  get much airtime, or something that you would like to
  know more about, or contribute to. For example, the impact
  of new information and communications technology (ICTs)
  on pornography and how this affects women, or how things
  like the internet has changed intimate relationships and
  where violence can feature in that, etc.
  
   
• Call up
  your local radio station and suggest a topic that
  they can discuss, or as a call-in listeners opinion poll.
  Let them know that 25 November - 10 December is period
  where people around the world are campaigning against
  gender-based violence.
  
   
• Community
  radio is also an effective way to take radio into
  your own hands, and generate content that is relevant
  to your community - whether it is in a remote area, or
  at the heart of a city. Find out if there is a community
  or alternative radio initiative in your area, and ask
  them if they are interested to take up an issue around
  this theme. Or if you can do a programme on your own,
  interview some people on their opinions. Make this a 16-day
  project with your friends.
  
   
• Podcasting
  is an emerging tool that enables internet users to have
  their own 'radio' channel and create own content over
  the worldwideweb. All you need is connectivity and a mike,
  where you can record your programme and upload them --
  usually as MP3 files -- onto a server. Then other internet
  users are able to 'tune in' or log on and listen to what
  you have to say. You can find out more about podcasts
  and how you can use it in a Techsoup article by Michael
  Gowan, "Podcasting:
  A New Voice on the Net".
  

   

• Happy buzzing!