World Radio Day 2026 came alive in Bhopal with UNICEF Madhya Pradesh and All India Radio collaborating on the theme ‘AI and Radio: Children’s Voices.’ At the heart of discussions was radio’s proven track record in supporting communities through disasters and health outbreaks.
UNICEF’s Madhya Pradesh field office director William Hanlon took center stage, praising radio’s advocacy for child rights. ‘It has reliably delivered information to communities in disasters and public health emergencies,’ he said, engaging with students, AIR staff, media pros, and comms experts.
Hanlon detailed radio’s lasting impact in the state, from awareness campaigns to crisis response. On AI’s encroachment, he advocated for human-centric communication: ‘Rapid tech growth doesn’t diminish the need for accountable, judgment-based storytelling.’
Reflecting AIR’s 90-year journey, program head Rajesh Bhat celebrated its adaptability. ‘Competing with every media wave—from papers to AI—has only made us stronger innovators,’ he declared. Reliability, ethics, and unbroken service define AIR, evidenced by its expanding audience.
UNICEF’s Anil Gulati evoked radio’s magic as ‘theater for the imagination,’ a bedrock of trust. The pandemic showcased its power in reaching the masses. Digital shifts haven’t eroded its core appeal.
Students probed radio’s survival against AI fakes and on-demand audio. Panelists highlighted AI’s data dependencies and lack of presenter polish. As the event wrapped, optimism prevailed: radio endures as a beacon for child-focused messaging and crisis solidarity.