RADIO -FRIEND  OF  YOUTH

 

Anuradha Arya

Curiosity and creativity have always been the best supporting systems for human civilization. We love to derive pleasure from every possibility. This hedonistic tendency accelerates the entertainment value. Probably when ‘Guglielmo Marconi’ invented radio he would have hardly imagined the multifarious instrumentality of wireless technology called radio. The proximity that radio provides both in terms of reach and touch is outstanding. It makes radio undoubtedly the ever best medium of mass communication. 

 

Radio possesses the power to generate the million images in million brains at single instance. Being audio in nature imagination is never compromised. The portability of radio has enhanced its potentiality manifold. New generations is always loaded with new expectation. Radio has beautifully managed not only to live but to generate love for it in their hearts. Starting from traditional radio station up to Internet and Satellite Radio the craze among youngsters seems to be simply unchanged. Ranging from personal and emotional needs up to awareness and entertainment radio is unique in many ways. Charm of radio is such that switch it on anytime it would not allow your interest to decline. 

 

From the days of ‘Binaca geetmala’ to numerous FM channels magic of this mini media is still appealing. Present scenario is providing full fledged platform for youth participation both as being listener and presenter.  The Yuv-vani service of AIR provides an enriching and novel radio-experience by encouraging youth participation and experimenting with varied script ideas.    With shows like "Mehfil", "In the groove" and "The Roving Microphone" which have been around for more than three decades, Yuv-vani still holds a firm ground of its own. Some of the big names on the Indian media scene began their journey with Yuv-vani. Praful Thakkar, a well known documentary maker comments that- "Yuv-vani came as a breath of fresh air in our reckless college days. It was a great learning experience for me and it made me realize that radio is not all about goofy quotes and PJs."

 

Frequency modulation (FM) channels have really hit it big time across almost all major Indian cities. A market research survey undertaken at the behest of the Indian Music Industry, an association of music companies in India to study the trends in listening habits as well as changes in purchasing patterns, reveals that going by the number of listeners and the number of hours spent listening to FM radio.  Customers with lower purchasing power have cut down on CD and cassette purchases finding FM channels a welcome alternative. The taste of budding generation has been fully justified over radio.

 

Radio is instrumental in providing emotional support, confidential information, counseling and role of friend in crisis. Through the hotline or helpline programs which are phone in programs take care about specific issues of youngsters. Radio call in programs usually involves a host and sometimes guest who answers call or write-in question on air. Various issues like sexual problems, health, suicide prevention, drug abuse and violence are covered by it. In true sense radio can be called faithful companion of youth. 

 

 Relationship of youth with parents and friends is sensitive issue. Radio takes care of it. From difficult task like making proposals and to apologize to simple one like sending messages and greetings are getting voice through it. Whether it is ‘Dial a friend’ in Philippines or ‘Love guru’ in India, these programs are extremely famous among youngsters. Reason behind popularity of these shows is simply because of their friendly and warm approach. 

 

Not resting only up to personal level, radio waves are set for revolution after 15 years of satellite in the form of community radio service. These stations are providing leap in enhancing the level of knowledge and awareness among youth. It is required here to mention about ‘Mullakkam’ the initiative, which started in 2005, provides a radio program in Tamil for the plantation community and in particular for the youth. It allows young people a space to have access to information, exposing them to outside sources thus widening their perspective and giving them new approaches to solving conflicts. Further, the initiative supports them with solving their problems and hopes to contribute to the peace building process by giving out unbiased knowledge.

 

Even In the movies like ‘Lage raho munna bhai’ the constructive role that radio can play has been depicted in well manner. The sensational but revolutionary concept of Gandhi giri highlighted through radio in movie itself. It’s just the matter of imagination that is enough to convert simple time pass into typhoon of awareness and change. 

 

International radio networks also provide programming that features voices of the young and responds to the needs of new audiences such as children affected by war and other disadvantaged groups. There are many examples of children's and youth participation in small, grassroots radio projects, all of which depend on the support of local and national radio broadcasters. Many represent fragile beginnings, but the long-term effects of allowing these voices to be heard should not be underestimated. In a globalised media environment, radio is the technology to span the digital divide.   Radio is winning the battle of survival of fittest by utilizing all its potentialities. It is really hard to keep the eyes off from such media that provides true infotainment. It’s true that radio needs just auditory sense of human being. But it can cheer up the gloomy heart, flair the mind within a minute. Being the active partner as councilor, guide and entertainer it can never lost its appeal. Young generation is the best hope for any nation. In their life of diversions, medium like radio could bring the essence of divergent orientation.

 

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