CNA MEMBERS JOIN THE REST OF THE WORLD IN COMMEMORATING ICDB

By Victor Kanguya,

         

The first Sunday of March is a very important day in the world’s media calendar. This is because on this day, children and broadcasters are presented with a unique opportunity to use the power of the media to benefit children. On Sunday March 3^rd 2013, members from the Children’s News Agency joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB).

Television has the power to inform, to educate and entertain; this year’s ICDB celebrations marks the 22^nd edition since its launch in 1991. Child Journalists from the Children’s News Agency under The Media Network on Child Rights and Development were spread across major media houses. The children took over; the national broadcaster ZNBC TV, Radio 2 and private owned media houses such as; Muvi Television, Radio Christian Voice and TBN.

Some children talked to, who took part in the celebrations also expressed their views. Chrispine Sinyangwe a CNA member said, “ICDB is a platform where children voice out their emotions, feelings and issues affecting them. More of print media should be actively involved in the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, as much as the electronic media”.

Governments in many countries should embrace this day and should use it as a catalyst for action on behalf of children. Broadcaster involvement should go far beyond the mere allocation of an hour or two of programming and children should play a stronger role each year.

Mwiza Zulu, who has participated in ICDB for the past three years, also expressed her views. She said there has been no notable improvement in the way the day (ICDB) was being commemorated and there was need to adequately plan future celebrations. She further commended other children who took part in this year’s celebrations for the job well done and urged children who did not take part in this year’s studio celebrations not to despair, as there is a next time.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund UNICEF, in light of the enormous success of the day, decided to introduce the International Council/UNICEF award. This award is intended to honour whose programming of the Day best interprets the theme.

While the saying is that children are the future, it is also clear that children are the present. Their future is so much dependent on their healthy development today. The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting is without doubt, as it is rated as UNICEF’s most successful advocacy initiative. It is hoped that Zambia will continue participating in ICDB activities, and hopefully mint the International Council/UNICEF award one day. –Children’s News Agency.