Global: International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Tunes in to Young Journalists

The 16th annual International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) took place on 10 December 2006. The theme for the day was UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS and hundreds of broadcasters around the world participated.

What exactly is ICDB?

Scheduled each year on the second Sunday in December, this UNICEF initiative encourages broadcasters to air programming that focuses on children’s rights and involves youth in the participation and production process.

Based on the ICDB theme for the year, television professionals and youth journalists work together to write, produce and present reports and programmes. With their work, the day turns into a celebration of creativity and expression.

One wonderful part of the initiative is the participation of broadcasters from a wide variety of countries each year. The Day of Broadcasting is celebrated from Azerbaijan to Mongolia, Brazil to Pakistan , Lebanon to Tanzania. The day has grown into a worldwide event that unites reporters and other newscasters for a common cause.

2006 ICDB Award

But even more important, the ICDB allows children to learn about media and share their opinions and other information with their peers through an outlet that is not often accessible to youth. In many countries, the ICDB has been so successful that it has spawned weekly or monthly youth television shows.

Each year, to honour the broadcasters who participate in ICDB, UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences present the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Award. The award is given to the broadcaster who best captures the spirit of the day and is presented at the Academy’s International Emmy® Awards Gala.

This year, UNICEF was proud to honour Teleradio Moldova with the 2006 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Award. Teleradio Moldova’s entry, ‘Let’s Play’, featured two hours of programming that included a live talk show, video reports and in-studio games. The talk show was moderated by youth journalists Daniela Babici, 15, and Dumitru Antoceanu, 23. Teams of young broadcasters pitted their wits and strength against adult journalists in quizzes and sports.

Teleradio Moldova’s programme was selected from six nominees, which included ATN Bangla’s ‘Elegy for Dipu’, RCN Televisión’s ‘Bichos Bichez’, Gambia Television and Radio Services’ ‘ICDB: Children in Charge – Every Child Has the Right to Play’, TVE’s ‘Los Lunnis’ and Syrian Broadcast TV’s ‘Let’s Play’. All six nominees received ICDB awards for their respective regions and represent the best work produced internationally for the Day of Broadcasting.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to honour broadcasters who have dedicated their time to giving children a prominent role in the programming and production process,” said UNICEF’s Executive Producer of Children’s Broadcasting Initiatives, Karen Cirillo.

ICDB is a great occasion to empower youth by giving them the opportunity to speak their minds and have adults listen to what they have to say.

For more information, please contact:
Karen Cirillo
Executive Producer, Children’s Broadcasting Initiatives
UNICEF
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
Tel. (212) 326-7506
Fax (212)326-7731
Email: kcirillo@unicef.org
www.unicef.org/icdb

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Colombia: Caracol Radio Getting Children on Air

Colombia’s children and young people have actively participated in the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) since 1997 and have twice received the special honour presented at the International Emmy Awards for television programming produced to celebrate ICDB.

For the last three years, preparations for ICDB have become a major production at Caracol Radio – one of the most important radio networks in Latin America – with the support of UNICEF.

How it works

Children from public and private schools are selected and trained with the necessary media skills to perform various radio-related functions. During workshops in preparation for the day, children discover the richness and potential of radio as a vehicle to transmit their concerns and ideas about making child rights a reality.

Programming is developed according to each year’s ICDB theme. Jingles and publicity spots are created, and the children’s creativity is paired with reports and stories from radio professionals who share the microphones with them throughout the day.

The selected children go through the entire experience of doing a radio show and have their voices heard by approximately 40 million Colombians – even in the most remote parts of the country.

“We've learned the difference between what is live on air and recorded. And I also learned how to control nervousness,” said one of the young participants.

Results

On the second Sunday in December, the ICDB itself, the celebration begins at 8 a.m. Caracol Radio links its 170 local stations to hear the voices of children in every corner of the country with news, interviews, commentary and sports updates. Laughter and wit fill the airwaves. The presence of the participating children stands out in the different programmes of Colombia’s foremost radio network all day long.

“It's great to be able to talk live and be listened to in different places at the same time,” said one of the young broadcasters. “Very few kids have this kind of opportunity.”

Beyond ICDB

Caracol Radio has become increasingly committed to the task of offering participation and self-expression to children, in an effort unprecedented in the country’s commercial communication media. As a result of this work, Caracol Junior will be launched in 2007.

“In Colombia, radio has a high penetration, almost similar to television. Almost 60 per cent of our population is under 21 years old,” says Caracol Radio News Director, Dario Arizmendi. “The philosophy of our organization is to link many young people in all the programs. All of this has given us marvelous results.”

Born out of the ICDB experience, Caracol Junior is a new initiative supported by Plan International. The main objective is to promote the rights of the child all year round in three regions of the country by supporting and encouraging the participation of young people in radio programme production.

The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting on Caracol Radio has become a permanent tool to help ensure that the rights of Colombia’s children become a reality.

 For more information on Caracol Radio, please contact:

Claudia Méndez, Social Division Director
cmendez@Caracol.com.co, or
Jose Manuel Martinez del Arco, Corporate Vice-president
jmmartinez@Caracol.com.co
Caracol Radio
Calle 67 No. 7-37 Piso 7
Bogotá, Colombia
(571) 3487600 Ext. 1088
www.caracol.com.co

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Kenya: “The Inspirational Woman” - The Power of Photography

Arege Doulas, 23, is a gender and human rights activist in Kenya. In the first Media Magic Digest interview, which follows, he talks about his experience as the winner of the UNICEF State of the World’s Children and Voices of Youth photo contest and about his volunteer work with youth.

2007 State of World's Children Report Multimedia Project "Inspirational Woman"

Q. What has it meant for you to be the winner of the State of the World’s Children and Voices of Youth photo contest?

A. It means getting a platform where I can stand up for children. Every small deed by humanity to make the world better for our children and youth is worthy and counts. It is an opportunity for me to work towards mobilizing society to do something to make a difference for the world’s children.

Q. How do you see the role of photography in conveying messages?

A. Photography is a powerful tool in putting across messages in a more simple and touching way. Photography brings out the emotions and feelings that make us challenge the problems and issues it depicts.

Media can help young people communicate messages by creating a child-friendly forum where youth can express themselves and create opportunities where they can contribute ideas on making the world better.

Q. Why do you think it's important for young people to create media?

A. It is important because this is the avenue through which society can know and address their needs. Media is important because it showcases what society thinks of itself and this is where influence of the masses lies.

I think that to enable young people to use media they should be provided with capacity building, training and provision of media technology, which can enable them pass messages without hindrances.

Q. What kind of images do you think most youth are exposed to today?

A. Youth are being exposed to images that are showing that life is bliss and to get the bliss there is always an easy way out, which is not true. Though there are positive images and news, there are those images that also paint despair and hopelessness.

Photography and other media can empower young people by creating dialogue and debate on issues affecting youth and society. This will create opportunities for solutions to problems facing young people today.

Q. What issues do you feel passionate about? Tell us about your dreams.

A. I am passionate about human rights, social justice, democracy and ecological justice.

I have been an advocate and activist in the above areas. I am mostly concerned that young people in developing nations are facing crises that are huge and threaten the very fabric of our society.

I appreciate that my grandmother educated my mother and this had a ripple effect on me. This is why I appreciate the big role women play in society, hence why we need to empower the girl child so that if she is happy, society is happy too.

Another important thing I will share with youth is that they should be proactive and seek to participate actively in social issues. Through my participation and volunteerism I have found reasons why I should live - to make this world better for us all.

My biggest dream is to put my academic and other resources into running a foundation for children and youth.

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Nepal: Magazine Promotes Open Discussion amongst Youth

Today’s Youth magazine is a forum that allows young people in Nepal to discuss issues that matter to them. Launched in October 2002, the bi-monthly magazine is now well known in schools, universities, and governmental and private organizations.

But the concept behind Today’s Youth is very new to Nepalese media and society.

In the past, youth media has been non-existent in Nepal. Mainstream television and media houses in the country never considered the opinions of young people. The popular belief has been that youth are interested only in fun, entertainment and gossip. Now, the public regards the issues and voices of the young generation in a different light.

“Earlier, my ideas were never taken seriously, let alone discussed. Now, they are being heard and paid attention to. I am corrected when I am wrong and praised when I say something interesting,” said 19-year-old Suyog Shrestha.

Focus on serious issues

Today’s Youth has played an important role in bringing young people’s issues to light and making them visible to others in the media. Many mainstream media outlets have been inspired by this new concept and have implemented youth programmes and sections of their own.

The magazine’s reporters range from 15 to 22 years of age and are trained by media professionals. What makes it special is its focus on serious national issues rather than popular culture.

Regular columnists and professionals from other sectors also write for the magazine, which reaches out to its readers for feedback.  The young writers are encouraged to generate and work on their own ideas. Therefore, the concept and structure of the magazine reflect a youthful perspective. 

The young editors and writers have regular discussion sessions to brainstorm on story ideas for future issues. The magazine also publishes research-based articles, for which reporters are dispatched to different localities of Nepal to conduct interviews. And there is a regular influx of articles from freelancers.

Quality and originality

Today’s Youth also covers a variety of issues – such as abandoned grandparents, child prostitution, national identity and the generation gap, among others. Originality, quality and subject matter are considered in the selection of stories. If the article has good content but is poorly written, the writer receives assistance from a professional editor during the rewrite process.

Instead of asking donors to fund the project, the founders of Today’s Youth initially financed it through a bank loan. The vision was to introduce a magazine, show its sustainability and then ask for funding from additional sources.

Given the very tight budget, expenses are kept to a minimum. Most of the work is performed out of contributors’ homes, and the young volunteers use their own computers. School space is sometimes requested to run projects as well.

Although the magazine’s print run is only 5,000 copies, each issue reaches as many as 50,000 readers.  There are plans to debut the first issue of an Asian edition in January 2007.

Current projects

• Today’s Youth was born from a desire to have a platform for young people to share and discuss their opinions and feelings on issues relating to them and their country. Projects include:

• The Today's Youth team, which embraces a group of amateurs from 17 to 22 years of age who have the option of working closely with visionaries in the media field while volunteering at the magazine

• A weekly forum that is open for young people to interact and express views on a myriad of topics

• Media training for 15-year-old student representatives of various schools

• National, issue-based interaction focused on promoting a public dialogue between youth and media professionals

• A writers’ workshop dedicated to socio-cultural, ethnic and economic diversity in literature

• School lectures conducted by Today's Youth team members that actively involve student discussion on youth-related issues and the role of media in finding solutions to social problems

• The BNKS Journalism Club, where students of Budhanilkantha School – who come from diverse backgrounds in Nepal – have an ideal platform for nation building.

To learn more about Today’s Youth or related projects, please contact:

Santosh Shah
Publisher & Editor, Today’s Youth
Project Director, Youth Projects
Mail: Today’s Youth, GPO-8975, EPC-5478, Kathmandu, NEPAL
Phone: +977-98510-91562
Email: santoshmedia@yahoo.com

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