The very year when Romania celebrates a century since it became a
unitary nation-state, Radio Romania too sees a major anniversary: 90 years
since its first broadcast, 90 years of serving its listeners in the country and
abroad, 90 years of journalistic and technological challenges, 90 years of
news, music, sports, science, drama. Romanian and foreign personalities have
sent us messages and best wishes.
The BBC Director-General Tony Hall spoke about the future of the
radio, saying that, although all public media services started out as radio
stations, today people are using the radio in new ways. Radio is a dynamic
medium, he went on to say, it has a fantastic future ahead and we should all be
very confident.
In turn, Javad Mottaghi, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU), spoke about the institution’s partnership with Radio
Romania. The Romanian public radio broadcaster, he explained, which has always
been in the service of listeners and catered to their needs, has also initiated
an intensive dialogue between the East and the West, via the Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union, which welcomes as many new partnerships as possible, in
order to build better understanding between the eastern and western
broadcasters.
In Romania, the chair of the Senate’s Committee for culture, arts
and mass media, Radu Preda, mentioned this year’s double anniversary: the Union
Centennial and the Radio’s 90th birthday celebration:
This is a jubilee;
we are at a time when we celebrate 90 years since the first broadcast was heard
in our country, and we are also very close to the most important moment for the
Romanian nation, namely the celebration of the Union Centennial.
In the Chamber of Deputies, head of the Culture Committee Gigel
Stirbu discussed the role of public radio:
On your 90th birthday anniversary, all I can
say as a regular listener is thank you for making our days more beautiful. I am
one of your most loyal listeners, you are and I hope you will remain a point of
reference for the national media, and an institution which is a symbol for the
country.
The president and director general of the Romanian Radio
Broadcasting Corporation Georgica Severin spoke about the love for the radio,
shared by both radio listeners and the Romanian Radio employees:
As I have said before, Radio Romania is an exceptional
occurrence, born from the meeting of the Corporation employees’ talent,
professionalism, and love for their profession, on the one hand, and our
listeners’ passion, devotion and loyalty. I wish them all to healthy, happy,
and I hope Radio Romania’s employees will keep our listeners close to us and
attract further, younger listeners!
Happy birthday, Radio Romania!