United Nations Radio

The United Nations has a radio service. It began in 1946. This radio helps people learn about the world. It tells news in many ways to talk. It uses eight different ways to talk.

In the past, they used tapes. They sent tapes to many places. Now, they use the internet. People can listen on phones too.

Some radio stations need this news. It is often their only news. This helps them tell stories to others. It is a very helpful tool.

Radio can also help keep peace. It shares news in places with wars. This helps people stay informed. It is a great way to connect.

United Nations Radio began on February 13, 1946. It helps people learn about the United Nations. The group wanted people to know their aims and activities. At first, they used temporary offices in New York. Their first message was a call to the peoples of the world.

In the past, they used shortwave radio to send news. Shortwave is a way to send signals over long distances. In 1986, costs went up. They stopped using shortwave for a while. Instead, they sent news on cassette tapes. They sent about 205,000 tapes by 1997. Later, they moved to the internet. Now, they use the internet and mobile apps. People can even listen by calling a phone number.

Radio also helps with peace. In 1992, they started a radio station in Cambodia. This helped explain the peace process there. They also run radio services in many places today. This includes Mali and South Sudan. These services help people in hard-to-reach areas. In 2017, the radio service merged with the UN News Centre. Now, they make news in eight languages. This includes English, Arabic, and Chinese.

United Nations Radio is a special way to share news with the world. It began on February 13, 1946. The goal was to keep people informed about the work of the United Nations. This helps people understand the aims and activities of the group. In 2017, the radio service merged with the UN News Centre. Now, they work together as UN News. This team makes news every day for people everywhere.

There are many ways this news reaches listeners. In the beginning, the radio used shortwave signals to send messages. Shortwave is a way to send sounds over very long distances. Later, when shortwave became too expensive in 1986, they used cassette tapes. By 1997, they were sending about 205,000 tapes each year. Today, things work much differently. They use the internet, social media, and mobile apps to share stories. People can even use a call-to-listen service to hear news on a phone.

Learning about the history of this service is quite interesting. Before the United Nations, there was the League of Nations. Their radio broadcasts started in 1929 using a station in the Netherlands. By 1932, they used their own transmitters in Switzerland. The very first United Nations Radio broadcasts came from Lake Success, New York. Their first message was: "This is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world."

This service works in many different languages to reach more people. They use eight languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Swahili, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. In 1974, they added Arabic to their list. The Chinese Language Unit reaches millions of people through partnerships. For example, they shared Earth Day news with Radio Shanghai. This reached about 50 million listeners in China. The English team even has a podcast about topics like peacekeeping.

Radio is also a helpful tool for keeping peace in different countries. In 1977, they started a program to help end apartheid in South Africa. In 1992, they set up a station in Cambodia to help with the peace process. This station was called Radio UNTAC. Today, radio services help in many mission areas. These include places like Mali, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This helps people in hard-to-reach areas stay connected to the world.

United Nations Radio was a vital global communication service established on February 13, 1946. Its primary purpose was to inform the world about the goals and activities of the United Nations. The United Nations General Assembly created the service through Resolution 13 (I). This resolution tasked the Department of Public Information with its creation. The UN believed it could not reach its objectives without informing the people of the world. In 2017, the radio service merged with the UN News Centre. This merger formed the current UN News organization. Today, UN News produces daily multimedia content for a global audience.

To reach listeners, the service has used many different transmission methods over time. In 1946, the service lacked its own transmission facilities. It relied on arrangements with other organizations to relay its programs. These partners included the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the British Broadcasting Corporation. They also worked with Voice of America from 1953 to 1985. By 1960, the service began using shortwave radio to transmit its own programs. Shortwave is a method of radio transmission that can travel very long distances. In 1963, the service acquired better facilities to reach Africa, Europe, and Latin America. These upgrades allowed for much greater reach and effectiveness across many continents.

Technology changes often forced the service to find new ways to distribute news. In 1986, shortwave broadcasts were temporarily stopped because transmission costs rose sharply. During this time, the service used cassette tapes to distribute its programs. The number of tapes sent out grew from 110,000 in the late 1980s to 205,000 by 1997. Eventually, electronic delivery methods became more cost-effective than physical tapes. This led to a decline in cassette use. Today, the service uses the internet to send audio files for free. It uses RSS feeds, SoundCloud, and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Many listeners also use mobile apps or a call-to-listen service to hear live news.

History shows that the service grew from the foundations of earlier international groups. The League of Nations had a "Radio Nations" service that began in 1929. Those broadcasts were first sent through a Dutch station called PCJJ. By 1932, the League used its own transmitters in Switzerland. The last Radio Nations broadcast occurred in 1939. When the United Nations began, it used temporary studios in Lake Success, New York. The very first broadcast used a famous call sign. It stated, "This is the United Nations calling the peoples of the world." This established a direct link between the organization and the public.

Language is a key part of how the service operates globally. It currently produces content in eight different languages. These include Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Swahili, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Arabic was added to the broadcast list in 1974. The service is massive in its reach. For example, the Chinese Language Unit reaches millions through partnerships. On Earth Day, its programs reached an estimated 50 million listeners in China. The English-language products saw about 250,000 downloads in late 2018. French audio content reached at least 100,000 downloads in 2017. This multilingual approach ensures that news is accessible to diverse populations.

Radio has also been used to support specific political and social goals. In 1977, the General Assembly created the Anti-Apartheid Programme Section. This section aimed to support efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. It produced daily programs in English and five South African languages. These included Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana. After South Africa became a non-racial democracy, these specific activities were discontinued. Radio has also been a tool for peacekeeping operations. In 1992, the service established Radio UNTAC in Cambodia. This station helped explain the peace process and supported electoral activities. It was the first in-country broadcasting facility for the UN.

Today, radio remains an essential part of modern peacekeeping missions. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations uses radio to reach many areas. As of 2019, services operated in places like Mali and South Sudan. They also work in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These radio services provide information to international news media. They also serve as partners in post-conflict or hard-to-reach areas. This connection helps keep people informed during critical times of transition. By using both old and new technology, the service maintains its global presence.