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World Radio Day is on 13 February. It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO's 36th General Conference. It was originally proposed by Spain.

Radio is the predominant source of information in areas of the world that are sometimes too remote to get a newspaper delivered, let alone access the internet. This is why UNESCO has noted that radio is a "low-cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people," the Guardian reports.

Attention given to technology for information communications has recently been captivated by web-based applications, especially "new" or "social media". But about 65% of the world's 7 billion people do not use the internet. In addition to those who are offline due to lack of access, there are also those who are unaware, unable or simply do not want to use social media.

People listen to the radio in their cars, on the move and at work. Radios don't require large amounts of electricity, and wind-up radios don't need an electrical source at all. Moreover, radio reaches large groups of people, being easily shared among families or listener groups. It is a medium often used as a focal point for community discussion on subjects including politics, elections and service provision. Radio efficiently reaches large audiences in real time.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, over 75 % of the world’s homes own a radio. Moreover, a growing number of people use broadband connections to get news and interact.

February 13 also marks the anniversary of United Nations Radio, which was launched in 1946.