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!