Sunday 13th February marks World Radio Day.
UNESCO’s annual initiative sets out to highlight the unique power of radio to touch lives and bring people together around the globe.
World Radio Day 2022 is being celebrated with the theme of “Radio and Trust”, shining a light on radio’s position as the most trusted medium across Europe.
“Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the diversity of audiences in their organizations and operations.”
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
According to research carried out by Radiocentre – the UK’s industry body for commercial radio – radio has long been seen as a ‘trusted friend’ in the corner of the room, but the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – with lockdowns, self-isolation, and working from home – saw more people than ever turn to radio for companionship.
During the UK’s second nationwide lockdown in November 2020, 90% of people surveyed said they listened to commercial radio because ‘it kept them company’.
As Channel 103 and Island FM approach their 30th year serving the Channel Islands, the continued trust shown in us by listeners isn’t something we take for granted.
The most recently published figures from RAJAR (Q4 2021) show that in Jersey, 95% of islanders listen to the radio every week. That percentage is higher still in Guernsey, with radio reaching 97% of people who live there every week.
Just under 8 in 10 people also ranked radio as the most trusted source of news, ahead of TV, print and social media.
Channel 103 and Island FM both regularly come out ahead of the Channel Islands’ other media organisations on the quarterly Brand Reputation Index compiled by Island Global Research.
It monitors which brands resonate most with islanders – taking factors like trustworthiness, contributions to the community, and how likely they would be to recommend the business to a friend into account.