Recently there seems to be a growing apprehension about The End of Shortwave!
Reason? Major international broadcasters are either opting for a change of medium (read from on air to online) or dropping their programs, as well as closing down different language broadcasts entirely (without even caring to ask their longtime listeners about their opinion), with authorities giving explanations like - shortage of fund allotment from the respective government bodies, lack of listener participation and above all - ‘To Change With The Changing Times’ (read shift to internet-only format which will save costs).
“Change Is a Way of Life, If Nothing Ever Changed, There’d Be No Butterflies”
True! But practically speaking, is there any justification to close doors for radio just because WE have advanced technologies available? Has radio lost its relevancy in an internet world? Certainly NOT!
It’s More Important than it was ever before!
[The following is an excerpt from Ears To Our World’s webpage]
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| (Courtesy: Ears To Our World) |
"In many countries, access to the Information Economy, the networking technology which instantaneously connects people across the planet with information, media, and each other, is now often seen as a basic human right. Unfortunately, much of the world does not have the communications infrastructure to support access to the World Wide Web and other dynamic media sources such as digital television, wireless networks or even the telephone. Political instability, meanwhile, can undermine even the written word. For many people living in poverty or in war-torn regions, radio is still the best and the most effective way to receive life-supporting information.
Ears To Our World is a grass-root, humanitarian organization that specializes in the distribution of medium and shortwave radios to individuals, primarily children and teachers, in the developing world. Our mission is to enable children and their support networks in the most remote, impoverished parts of the world to receive educational programming, local and international news, emergency and health information as well as music and arts programming through the use of shortwave radio receivers."
Work such as this, which rarely hits headlines, actually matters!
No doubt, its a beacon of hope to radio enthusiasts as well! It’s reassuring to know that amid all the internet-craze, still there are people working silently for the spread of shortwave literacy among children of the future!
