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{{Redirect|UN Radio|the Colombian radio station|UN Radio (Colombia)}}
{{Redirect|UN Radio|the Colombian radio station (not affiliated with United Nations Radio)|UN Radio (Colombia)}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
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'''United Nations Radio''' is the [[international broadcasting]] service of the [[United Nations]]. The radio broadcast is part of the [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]]. In the [[United States of America]], the broadcast can be heard on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]]/[[XM Satellite Radio]] via [[WRN Broadcast|the World Radio Network]] (of which UN Radio is a member).
United Nations Radio is the [[international broadcasting]] service of the [http://www.un.org/en/index.html United Nations] and part of the [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]] (acquired by Babcock International<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.babcockinternational.com/|title=Babcock International|website=Babcock International|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> in May 2015), Sirius Satellite Radio/[[XM Satellite Radio]]. [http://www.un.org/press/en UN Radio] produces content daily for its websites, weekly features and radio programmes, newspots, interviews, sound bites, podcasts, video and unedited audio for more than 2.000 partner radio stations around the world.


⚫
In 2001, the Portuguese Language Service, under the direction of [http://www.un.org/en/ga/coi/23/statements/mozambique.shtml Joao Lins de Albuquerque], and led by Maya Plentz<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/coi/23/statements/mozambique.shtml|title=General Debate: Mozambique, on behalf of the Community of Portuguese speaking countries (CPLP) - 23rd Session of the Committee on Information (2001)|website=www.un.org|language=EN|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref>, started a pilot to produce a website and distribute the news via FTP to partner stations - reducing distribution costs significantly. Former [http://www.shashitharoor.in/know-me.php Under-Secretary General for Public Information Sashi Tharoor], supported UN Radio efforts to become a digital organisation. At the time UN Radio studios were falling apart, with outdated equipment, and expensive and poorly managed distribution systems that still relayed mostly on sending cassette tapes via regular mail to partner stations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in conflict and post-conflict zones.
The radio station is the voice of the [[United Nations]], and its purpose is to promote the "... universal ideals of the United Nations, including peace, respect for human rights, gender equality, tolerance, economic and social development and the upholding of international law."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=22 |title=WRN |accessdate=2008-01-15 |work=World Radio Network}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


The Portuguese Language Radio Service started broadcasting a daily 5-min-bulletin in Portuguese for African Radio partner stations, and another in Brazilian Portuguese for partners in Brazil, Asia, Latin America, and Europe in 2001. The news stories and features are then distributed worldwide through radio partner stations that use the original material produced by UN Radio, these include [http://en.rfi.fr/ Radio France International], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1231075.stm BBC World News,] [http://www.rtp.pt/rdpinternacional/servicos Radio Difusao Portuguesa RDP], [http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/internacional/noticia/2016-07/brasileiro-roberto-azevedo-tentara-reeleicao-para-direcao-da-omc Radiobras (now EBC]), [http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2016-07/measles-eliminated-brazil-says-pahowho Radio Nacional,] [http://cbn.globoradio.globo.com/default.htm?url=/programas/cbn-brasil/CBN-BRASIL.htm CBN.]
UN Radio broadcasters produce content that includes weekly and daily radio programmes, newspots, features, interviews, sound bites and raw audio for some 400 clients around the world. According to the website, UN Radio produces about 1,200 features per year. UN Radio content is distributed around the world via the internet, [[FTP]], [[ISDN]] and telephone lines.

⚫
While other language services continue the 15-minute daily news programme format, these services—in Arabic, English, French and Russian—now also provide individual news and feature stories through their respective websites as well as access to unedited audio from meetings, interviews, news conferences and special events to enable journalists in newsrooms around the world to cover UN activities.


==Languages==
==Languages==
UN Radio produces over 1,200 original features per year, in the six official UN languages, plus Mandarin, Portuguese, Swahili, and Bengali, reaching an estimated audience of 30 million+ worldwide, a week. UN Radio content is distributed around the world via the Internet, [[FTP]], [[ISDN]] and telephone lines. Its websites have 100 million+ unique visitors a week.
{{div col|2}}
* [[English language|English]]
* [[French language|French]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/fr UN Radio in French]</ref>
* [[Mandarin Chinese]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/ch UN Radio in Mandarin Chinese]</ref>
* [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/por UN Radio in Portuguese]</ref>
* [[Russian language|Russian]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/ru UN Radio in Russian]</ref>
* [[Spanish language|Spanish]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/es UN Radio in Spanish]</ref>
* [[Literary Arabic]]<ref>[http://radio.un.org/ar UN Radio in Literary Arabic]</ref>
* [[Swahili language|Swahili]]<ref>[http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/kiswahili/ UN radio in Swahili]</ref>
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref>[http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/bangla/ UN Radio in Bengali]</ref>
{{div col end}}


UN Radio Portuguese Language Service won awards for its website and its weekly programs ''Africa na ONU'' and ''UN in Action'' featuring [https://www.c-span.org/person/?ronaldosardenberg Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg] (former Science and Technology Minister of Brazil), [https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/209/43509.html Ambassador Gelson Fonseca Jr.], UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, [https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/bio_seixas_correa_e.htm Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa], Chair of the World Health Organisation Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.who.int/fctc/text_download/en/|title=http://www.who.int/fctc/text_download/en/|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Lafer on the Doha negotiations and the TRIPS Accord, who were interviewed by [http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/75494 Maya Plentz,] news editor, producer, and presenter at UN Radio 2001, 2002, 2003.
In the ''UN Calling Asia'' program, the broadcast is expanded to the Bengali, [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], and [[Urdu language|Urdu]] languages.<ref>[http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/features/12.html UN Calling Asia program]</ref>


All programs are available online and archived at the UN Library in New York.
All programs are available via [[podcast]]s<ref>[http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/rss/itunes.xml UN Radio podcast]</ref> and [[RSS]]<ref>[ [http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/rss/ UN Radio RSS feed]</ref> feeds.


==History==
==History==
The [[League of Nations]]' "Radio Nations" broadcasts began in 1929, first via the transmitter of the Dutch station [[PCJJ]] and beginning in 1932, from the League's own transmitters, HBL and HBP in Switzerland. "Radio Nations"' last broadcast was in 1939.<ref>http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/Wavescan/wavescan455.html</ref>
The League of Nations "Radio Nations" broadcasts began in 1929, first via the transmitter of the Dutch station [[PCJJ]] and beginning in 1932, from the League's own transmitters, HBL and HBP in Switzerland. "Radio Nations"' last broadcast was in 1939.<ref>http://www.un.org/en/sections/resources/delegates/index.html</ref>


UN Radio began broadcasting in 1946 from makeshift studios and offices at the United Nations Headquarters in Lake Success, New York, where it transmitted its first call sign: "This is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world."<ref>About UN Radio - History - Fact Sheet, [http://www.un.org/av/unfamily/radio.html# ''About UN Radio'']</ref>
UN Radio began broadcasting in 1946 from makeshift studios and offices at the United Nations Headquarters in Lake Success, New York, where it transmitted its first call sign: "This is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world."<ref>http://www.un.org/en/sections/resources/delegates/index.html</ref>


UN Radio was established by a [[UN General Assembly]] Resolution on February 13, 1946. Resolution 13 (I), mandating the Department of Public Information to establish UN Radio states “the UN cannot achieve the purposes for which it was created unless the peoples of the world are fully informed of its aims and activities”.<ref>United Nations (UN), [http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/032/64/IMG/NR003264.pdf?OpenElement ''UN General Assembly Resolution 13 (I), February 13, 1946 ;''] {{wayback|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/032/64/IMG/NR003264.pdf?OpenElement |date=20120823114720 }}</ref>
UN Radio was established by a [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html UN General Assembly] Resolution on February 13, 1946. Resolution 13 (I), mandating the Department of Public Information to establish UN Radio states “the UN cannot achieve the purposes for which it was created unless the peoples of the world are fully informed of its aims and activities”.


==Transmission==
==Transmission==


===Founding partnerships===
===Founding partnerships===
In 1946, the International Broadcasting Division of the [[United States Department of State]] began transmitting the entire proceedings of the [[Security Council]] and the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] on shortwave to the rest of the world. News bulletins and feature programmes were broadcast in the UN’s then five official languages - Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish - for 9 to 12 hours each day. Arabic was added in 1974.
In 1946, the International Broadcasting Division of the [http://www.state.gov/ United States Department of State] began transmitting the entire proceedings of the [http://www.un.org/press/en/content/security-council Security Council] and the [http://www.un.org/press/en/content/economic-and-social-council/press-conference United Nations Economic and Social Council] on shortwave to the rest of the world. News bulletins and feature programmes were broadcast in the UN’s then five official languages - Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish - for 9 to 12 hours each day. Arabic was added in 1974.


Lacking its own broadcast facilities, UN Radio initially made arrangements with leading broadcasting organizations to relay its programmes to different regions, including the [[Radio Canada International|Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's International Service]] (1946 to 1952), the European Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and [[Voice of America]] (1953 to 1985).
Lacking its own broadcast facilities, UN Radio initially made arrangements with leading broadcasting organizations to relay its programmes to different regions, including the [http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/explore/our-history/ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's International Service] (1946 to 1952), the European Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and [http://www.voanews.com/ Voice of America] (1953 to 1985).


===Shortwave broadcasts===
===Shortwave broadcasts===
Beginning in 1960, UN Radio started transmitting its own programmes via [[short-wave]] transmissions. UN Radio initially leased shortwave transmitters from France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. In 1963, transmission facilities were obtained with considerably greater reach and effectiveness and were able to reach Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of South East Asia.
Beginning in 1960, UN Radio started transmitting its own programmes via [http://www.hfcc.org/ short-wave] transmissions. UN Radio initially leased shortwave transmitters from France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. In 1963, transmission facilities were obtained with considerably greater reach and effectiveness and were able to reach Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of South East Asia.


⚫
Shortwave broadcasts were temporarily suspended in 1986 due to the sudden rise of transmission charges. UN Radio then sent out its programmes on cassette tapes. This delivery grew from 110,000 per year in the late 1980s, to 205,000 cassettes per year by 1997. Since then, the number of cassettes delivered has decreased dramatically since electronic delivery has become possible in many areas of the world in a much more cost effective way.
By 1984, UN Radio was producing a total of 2,000 hours of programmes a year in 25 languages and serving 167 countries and territories. Its shortwave programmes accounted for some 759 hours of air time annually.<ref>About UN Radio - History - Fact Sheet, [http://www.un.org/av/unfamily/radio.html# ''About UN Radio'']</ref>

⚫
Shortwave broadcasts were temporarily suspended in 1986 due to the sudden rise of transmission charges. UN Radio then sent out its programmes on cassette tapes. This delivery grew from 110,000 per year in the late 1980s, to 205,000 cassettes per year by 1997. Since then, the number of cassettes delivered has decreased dramatically since electronic delivery has become possible in many areas of the world.


==Live program and new formats==
==Live program and new formats==


===Live Program===
===Live Program===
On the occasion of the UN General Assembly's [[Millennium Summit]], UN Radio launched live radio broadcasts in the six official languages from UN Headquarters in New York.
On the occasion of the UN General Assembly's [http://www.un.org/en/africarenewal/subjindx/143mille.htm Millennium Summit], UN Radio launched live radio broadcasts in the six official languages, and Portuguese, from UN Headquarters in New York. The 15-minute daily current affairs broadcasts consisted of news, interviews with UN officials, government representatives, diplomats and UN ambassadors, background reports, features, updates from peacekeeping missions and coverage of activities of [http://www.un.org/en/about-un/index.html United Nations] organizations around the world.


The 15-minute daily current affairs broadcasts consisted of news, interviews, background reports, features, updates from peacekeeping missions and coverage of activities of [[United Nations]] organizations around the world. These live broadcasts were distributed by satellite and telephone feeds and were broadcast by national and regional radio networks in most parts of the world, as well as through UN Radio's website. Short-wave service was relaunched for the live transmission to reach audiences in the Middle East and North Africa, but was again suspended in 1997 due to the decrease in shortwave audiences in these regions.
These live broadcasts were distributed by satellite and telephone feeds and were broadcast by national and regional radio networks in most parts of the world, as well as through UN Radio's website. Short-wave service was relaunched for the live transmission to reach audiences in the Middle East and North Africa, but was again suspended in 1997 due to the decrease in shortwave audiences in these regions.


===New format===
===New format===
In 2001 the UN Radio Portuguese Language Service, under the direction of Joao Lins de Albuquerque<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/coi/23/statements/mozambique.shtml|title=General Debate: Mozambique, on behalf of the Community of Portuguese speaking countries (CPLP) - 23rd Session of the Committee on Information (2001)|website=www.un.org|language=EN|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> and implemented by international affairs news and web producer Maya Plentz<ref name=":0" />, started a pilot to produce the daily UN Radio website and distribute the news programs digitally, via FTP to partner stations, reducing distribution costs significantly.
⚫
In 2001 the Portuguese Unit, under the direction of Joao Lins de Albuquerque, started a pilot to produce a website and distribute the news via FTP to partner stations reducing distribution costs significantly. Former Under-Secretary General for Public Information Sashi Tharoor, supported UN Radio efforts to become a digital organisation. At the time UN Radio studios were falling apart, with outdated equipment, and expensive and poorly managed distribution systems that still relayed mostly on sending tapes via regular mail to partner stations in Africa, Asia, and post-conflict zones.


Former [http://www.shashitharoor.in/know-me.php Under-Secretary General for Public Information Sashi Tharoor], supported UN Radio efforts to become a digital organisation. At the time UN Radio studios were falling apart, with outdated equipment, and expensive and poorly managed distribution systems that still relayed mostly on sending tapes via regular mail to partner stations in Africa, Asia, and post-conflict zones.
In 2007 UN Radio's Spanish service changed its programming format, moving from the fully produced 15-minute programme to disseminating via its website news and features throughout the day, supplemented by a daily 3-minute news bulletin. Another example of short format is the Portuguese Unit which broadcasts a daily 5-min-bulletin in Portuguese for Africa and another one in Portuguese for Brazil.

⚫
While other language services continue the 15-minute daily news programme format, these services—in Arabic, English, French and Russian—now also provide individual news and feature stories through their respective websites as well as access to unedited audio from meetings, interviews, news conferences and special events to enable journalists in newsrooms around the world to cover UN activities.


===Web and social media===
===Web and social media===
UN Radio currently distributes its content and materials to hundreds of stations around the world via the internet (until more recently, also by FTP, ISDN and telephone lines). Broadcast-quality MP3 files can be downloaded from the website. All UN Radio programs are available via podcasts and RSS feeds. UN Radio is also present on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.
UN Radio currently distributes its content and materials to hundreds of stations around the world via the internet (until more recently, also by FTP, ISDN and telephone lines). Broadcast-quality files can be downloaded from the website. All UN Radio programs are available via podcasts and RSS feeds. UN Radio is also present on social networking platforms Twitter and Facebook.


===Call-to-Listen===
===Call-to-Listen===
In December 2013, UN Radio programmes were made available via a call-to-listen platform operated by [[AudioNow]]. Users call a local number to listen to the audio feed, which also includes live audio from the [[United Nations General Assembly]] and the [[United Nations Security Council]]. Starting in the United States, the service is currently available also in Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine.
In December 2013, UN Radio programmes were made available via a call-to-listen platform operated by [http://www.audionow.com/about-us/ AudioNow]. Users call a local number to listen to the audio feed, which also includes live audio from the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html United Nations General Assembly] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html|title=Main Organs {{!}} United Nations|website=www.un.org|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref>and the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html United Nations Security Council]. Starting in the United States, the service is currently available also in Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine.


===Mobile apps===
===Mobile apps===
In September 2014, UN Radio's parent office the [[United Nations Department of Public Information]] released two mobile apps, including UN Audio Channels (for Android and iOS), also in cooperation with [[AudioNow]]. Similar to the call-to-listen service, app users can listen to UN Radio programmes as well as the live audio feeds from the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] and the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]].
In September 2014, UN Radio's parent office the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html United Nations Department of Public Information] released two mobile apps, including UN Audio Channels (for Android and iOS), also in cooperation with [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html AudioNow].

Similar to the call-to-listen service, app users can listen to UN Radio programmes as well as the live audio feeds from the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html UN General Assembly] and the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html Security Council].


==UN Radio's Anti-Apartheid Programme Section==
==UN Radio's Anti-Apartheid Programme Section==
In 1977, the [[UN General Assembly]] established an Anti-Apartheid Programme Section (AAPS). The goal of the AAPS was to counter the broadcasts of the government of South Africa and to help bring about the end of apartheid. The AAPS implemented this goal by producing radio material for direct broadcast into South Africa, Namibia, and other countries in the region. The daily programmes were initiated in March 1978. Originally seven, 15-minute scripts in English were translated into the five South African languages (Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana). Many personalities not only from South Africa, but also around the world, including the United States, who participated in the international campaign against apartheid, were interviewed.
In 1977, the [http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/main-organs/index.html UN General Assembly] established an Anti-Apartheid Programme Section (AAPS). The goal of the AAPS was to counter the broadcasts of the government of South Africa and to help bring about the end of apartheid. The AAPS implemented this goal by producing radio material for direct broadcast into South Africa, Namibia, and other countries in the region. The daily programmes were initiated in March 1978. Originally seven, 15-minute scripts in English were translated into the five South African languages (Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana). Many personalities not only from South Africa, but also around the world, including the United States, who participated in the international campaign against apartheid, were interviewed.


The AAPS was restructured in 1988, and beginning in 1989 the programme was changed to "One South Africa." The UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 49/38, decided "following the establishment of a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa, to discontinue United Nations information efforts in support of the eradication of apartheid".
The AAPS was restructured in 1988, and beginning in 1989 the programme was changed to "One South Africa." The UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 49/38, decided "following the establishment of a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa, to discontinue United Nations information efforts in support of the eradication of apartheid".


==UN Radio and peacekeeping==
==UN Radio and Peacekeeping Operations==
UN Radio first produced radio and television programmes related to a peacekeeping mission in 1989, for Namibia.
UN Radio first produced radio and television programmes related to a peacekeeping mission in 1989, led by former United Nations High-Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed on the bombing of the UN offices in Iraq, in August of 2003.


In 1992, UN Radio establishing its first broadcasting facility on the ground as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAC. The main task of Radio UNTAC was to clarify its mandate and support the peace and electoral process under way in the country.<ref>United Nations (UN), [http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/untacbackgr2.html ''United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, 31 October 1991 ;'']</ref>
In 1992, UN Radio established its first broadcasting facility on the ground as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAC, led by [http://www.un.org/en/ga/coi/23/statements/portugal.shtml Joao Lins de Albuquerque], a Swedish-Brazilian journalist who later was appointed UN Radio Service Editor-in-Chief in New York. The main task of Radio UNTAC was to clarify its mandate and support the peace and electoral process under way in the country.<ref>United Nations (UN), [http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/untacbackgr2.html ''United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, 31 October 1991 ;'']</ref>


Radio stations in UN peacekeeping missions now include those in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kosovo, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan (in Khartoum and Darfur), Haiti and Timor-Leste.
Radio stations are a critical communications component of [http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dpko/ DPKO] operations; there are radio services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kosovo, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan (in Khartoum and Darfur), Haiti and Timor-Leste. They both provide information on the ground operations to the international news media, and also as act as broadcast partners in post-conflict and difficult to reach areas.


==Awards==
==Awards==
In 1997, "The Child Sex Trade", a four-part-series exploring the global problems of commercial sexual exploitation of children, won the Silver Medal at New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition. In addition, two other UN Radio programmes, "Female Condom" and "Teenage Reproductive Health and Namibia", were finalists in the same competition.
In 1997, "The Child Sex Trade", a four-part-series exploring the global problems of commercial sexual exploitation of children, won the Silver Medal at New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition. In addition, two other UN Radio programmes, "Female Condom" and "Teenage Reproductive Health and Namibia", were finalists in the same competition.


In 1999, the UN Radio programme "[[UNESCO]]" Funds Documentary on Links between Calypso and High Life Music", was awarded a bronze medal in the New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55059128.html UN Radio programme wins award in 1999 New York festivals]</ref>
In 1999, the UN Radio programme "[http://en.unesco.org/ UNESCO]" Funds Documentary on Links between Calypso and High Life Music", was awarded a bronze medal in the New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition.

UN Radio Portuguese Language Service won awards for its website and its weekly programs ''Africa na ONU'' and ''UN in Action'' featuring [https://www.c-span.org/person/?ronaldosardenberg Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg] (former Science and Technology Minister of Brazil), [https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/209/43509.html Ambassador Gelson Fonseca Jr.], UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, [https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/bio_seixas_correa_e.htm Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa], Chair of the World Health Organisation Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,<sup>[[United Nations Radio|[3]]]</sup> Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Lafer on the Doha negotiations and the TRIPS Accord, who were interviewed by [http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/75494 Maya Plentz,] news editor, producer, and presenter at UN Radio 2001, 2002, 2003.


In 2007, Silver Medal was awarded to the feature “200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.” The programme was also given a certificate for "Honorable Mention" by the Association of International Broadcasters (AIB).
In 2007, Silver Medal was awarded to the feature “200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.” The programme was also given a certificate for "Honorable Mention" by the Association of International Broadcasters (AIB).
Line 106: Line 98:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{official website|http://radio.un.org/}}
* {{official website|http://radio.un.org/}}
* [http://www.wrn.org/listeners/#united-nations-radio Information] at [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]]
{{United Nations}}
{{United Nations}}
{{World Radio Network}}
{{World Radio Network}}

Revision as of 21:20, 30 July 2016

"UN Radio" redirects here. For the Colombian radio station (not affiliated with United Nations Radio), see UN Radio (Colombia).
United Nations Radio
TypeInternational public broadcaster
AvailabilityInternational
OwnerUnited Nations
Launch date
1946
Official website
radio.un.org

United Nations Radio is the international broadcasting service of the United Nations and part of the World Radio Network (acquired by Babcock International[1] in May 2015), Sirius Satellite Radio/XM Satellite Radio. UN Radio produces content daily for its websites, weekly features and radio programmes, newspots, interviews, sound bites, podcasts, video and unedited audio for more than 2.000 partner radio stations around the world.

In 2001, the Portuguese Language Service, under the direction of Joao Lins de Albuquerque, and led by Maya Plentz[2], started a pilot to produce a website and distribute the news via FTP to partner stations - reducing distribution costs significantly. Former Under-Secretary General for Public Information Sashi Tharoor, supported UN Radio efforts to become a digital organisation. At the time UN Radio studios were falling apart, with outdated equipment, and expensive and poorly managed distribution systems that still relayed mostly on sending cassette tapes via regular mail to partner stations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in conflict and post-conflict zones.

The Portuguese Language Radio Service started broadcasting a daily 5-min-bulletin in Portuguese for African Radio partner stations, and another in Brazilian Portuguese for partners in Brazil, Asia, Latin America, and Europe in 2001. The news stories and features are then distributed worldwide through radio partner stations that use the original material produced by UN Radio, these include Radio France International, BBC World News, Radio Difusao Portuguesa RDP, Radiobras (now EBC), Radio Nacional, CBN.

While other language services continue the 15-minute daily news programme format, these services—in Arabic, English, French and Russian—now also provide individual news and feature stories through their respective websites as well as access to unedited audio from meetings, interviews, news conferences and special events to enable journalists in newsrooms around the world to cover UN activities.

Languages

UN Radio produces over 1,200 original features per year, in the six official UN languages, plus Mandarin, Portuguese, Swahili, and Bengali, reaching an estimated audience of 30 million+ worldwide, a week. UN Radio content is distributed around the world via the Internet, FTP, ISDN and telephone lines. Its websites have 100 million+ unique visitors a week.

UN Radio Portuguese Language Service won awards for its website and its weekly programs Africa na ONU and UN in Action featuring Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg (former Science and Technology Minister of Brazil), Ambassador Gelson Fonseca Jr., UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, Chair of the World Health Organisation Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,[3] Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Lafer on the Doha negotiations and the TRIPS Accord, who were interviewed by Maya Plentz, news editor, producer, and presenter at UN Radio 2001, 2002, 2003.

All programs are available online and archived at the UN Library in New York.

History

The League of Nations "Radio Nations" broadcasts began in 1929, first via the transmitter of the Dutch station PCJJ and beginning in 1932, from the League's own transmitters, HBL and HBP in Switzerland. "Radio Nations"' last broadcast was in 1939.[4]

UN Radio began broadcasting in 1946 from makeshift studios and offices at the United Nations Headquarters in Lake Success, New York, where it transmitted its first call sign: "This is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world."[5]

UN Radio was established by a UN General Assembly Resolution on February 13, 1946. Resolution 13 (I), mandating the Department of Public Information to establish UN Radio states “the UN cannot achieve the purposes for which it was created unless the peoples of the world are fully informed of its aims and activities”.

Transmission

Founding partnerships

In 1946, the International Broadcasting Division of the United States Department of State began transmitting the entire proceedings of the Security Council and the United Nations Economic and Social Council on shortwave to the rest of the world. News bulletins and feature programmes were broadcast in the UN’s then five official languages - Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish - for 9 to 12 hours each day. Arabic was added in 1974.

Lacking its own broadcast facilities, UN Radio initially made arrangements with leading broadcasting organizations to relay its programmes to different regions, including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's International Service (1946 to 1952), the European Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (1953 to 1985).

Shortwave broadcasts

Beginning in 1960, UN Radio started transmitting its own programmes via short-wave transmissions. UN Radio initially leased shortwave transmitters from France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. In 1963, transmission facilities were obtained with considerably greater reach and effectiveness and were able to reach Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of South East Asia.

Shortwave broadcasts were temporarily suspended in 1986 due to the sudden rise of transmission charges. UN Radio then sent out its programmes on cassette tapes. This delivery grew from 110,000 per year in the late 1980s, to 205,000 cassettes per year by 1997. Since then, the number of cassettes delivered has decreased dramatically since electronic delivery has become possible in many areas of the world in a much more cost effective way.

Live program and new formats

Live Program

On the occasion of the UN General Assembly's Millennium Summit, UN Radio launched live radio broadcasts in the six official languages, and Portuguese, from UN Headquarters in New York. The 15-minute daily current affairs broadcasts consisted of news, interviews with UN officials, government representatives, diplomats and UN ambassadors, background reports, features, updates from peacekeeping missions and coverage of activities of United Nations organizations around the world.

These live broadcasts were distributed by satellite and telephone feeds and were broadcast by national and regional radio networks in most parts of the world, as well as through UN Radio's website. Short-wave service was relaunched for the live transmission to reach audiences in the Middle East and North Africa, but was again suspended in 1997 due to the decrease in shortwave audiences in these regions.

New format

In 2001 the UN Radio Portuguese Language Service, under the direction of Joao Lins de Albuquerque[6] and implemented by international affairs news and web producer Maya Plentz[2], started a pilot to produce the daily UN Radio website and distribute the news programs digitally, via FTP to partner stations, reducing distribution costs significantly.

Former Under-Secretary General for Public Information Sashi Tharoor, supported UN Radio efforts to become a digital organisation. At the time UN Radio studios were falling apart, with outdated equipment, and expensive and poorly managed distribution systems that still relayed mostly on sending tapes via regular mail to partner stations in Africa, Asia, and post-conflict zones.

Web and social media

UN Radio currently distributes its content and materials to hundreds of stations around the world via the internet (until more recently, also by FTP, ISDN and telephone lines). Broadcast-quality files can be downloaded from the website. All UN Radio programs are available via podcasts and RSS feeds. UN Radio is also present on social networking platforms Twitter and Facebook.

Call-to-Listen

In December 2013, UN Radio programmes were made available via a call-to-listen platform operated by AudioNow. Users call a local number to listen to the audio feed, which also includes live audio from the United Nations General Assembly [7]and the United Nations Security Council. Starting in the United States, the service is currently available also in Brazil, South Africa, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Mobile apps

In September 2014, UN Radio's parent office the United Nations Department of Public Information released two mobile apps, including UN Audio Channels (for Android and iOS), also in cooperation with AudioNow.

Similar to the call-to-listen service, app users can listen to UN Radio programmes as well as the live audio feeds from the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.

UN Radio's Anti-Apartheid Programme Section

In 1977, the UN General Assembly established an Anti-Apartheid Programme Section (AAPS). The goal of the AAPS was to counter the broadcasts of the government of South Africa and to help bring about the end of apartheid. The AAPS implemented this goal by producing radio material for direct broadcast into South Africa, Namibia, and other countries in the region. The daily programmes were initiated in March 1978. Originally seven, 15-minute scripts in English were translated into the five South African languages (Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana). Many personalities not only from South Africa, but also around the world, including the United States, who participated in the international campaign against apartheid, were interviewed.

The AAPS was restructured in 1988, and beginning in 1989 the programme was changed to "One South Africa." The UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 49/38, decided "following the establishment of a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa, to discontinue United Nations information efforts in support of the eradication of apartheid".

UN Radio and Peacekeeping Operations

UN Radio first produced radio and television programmes related to a peacekeeping mission in 1989, led by former United Nations High-Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed on the bombing of the UN offices in Iraq, in August of 2003.

In 1992, UN Radio established its first broadcasting facility on the ground as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAC, led by Joao Lins de Albuquerque, a Swedish-Brazilian journalist who later was appointed UN Radio Service Editor-in-Chief in New York. The main task of Radio UNTAC was to clarify its mandate and support the peace and electoral process under way in the country.[8]

Radio stations are a critical communications component of DPKO operations; there are radio services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kosovo, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan (in Khartoum and Darfur), Haiti and Timor-Leste. They both provide information on the ground operations to the international news media, and also as act as broadcast partners in post-conflict and difficult to reach areas.

Awards

In 1997, "The Child Sex Trade", a four-part-series exploring the global problems of commercial sexual exploitation of children, won the Silver Medal at New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition. In addition, two other UN Radio programmes, "Female Condom" and "Teenage Reproductive Health and Namibia", were finalists in the same competition.

In 1999, the UN Radio programme "UNESCO" Funds Documentary on Links between Calypso and High Life Music", was awarded a bronze medal in the New York Festivals International Radio Programming competition.

UN Radio Portuguese Language Service won awards for its website and its weekly programs Africa na ONU and UN in Action featuring Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg (former Science and Technology Minister of Brazil), Ambassador Gelson Fonseca Jr., UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello, Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa, Chair of the World Health Organisation Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,[3] Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Lafer on the Doha negotiations and the TRIPS Accord, who were interviewed by Maya Plentz, news editor, producer, and presenter at UN Radio 2001, 2002, 2003.

In 2007, Silver Medal was awarded to the feature “200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.” The programme was also given a certificate for "Honorable Mention" by the Association of International Broadcasters (AIB).

In 2008, the UN Radio series on Climate Change was a finalist in the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Awards.

References

  1. ^ "Babcock International". Babcock International. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  2. ^ a b "General Debate: Mozambique, on behalf of the Community of Portuguese speaking countries (CPLP) - 23rd Session of the Committee on Information (2001)". www.un.org. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  3. ^ "http://www.who.int/fctc/text_download/en/". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  4. ^ http://www.un.org/en/sections/resources/delegates/index.html
  5. ^ http://www.un.org/en/sections/resources/delegates/index.html
  6. ^ "General Debate: Mozambique, on behalf of the Community of Portuguese speaking countries (CPLP) - 23rd Session of the Committee on Information (2001)". www.un.org. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  7. ^ "Main Organs | United Nations". www.un.org. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  8. ^ United Nations (UN), United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, 31 October 1991 ;
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