DTM Joins the World in Commemorating World Radio Day, 2026

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 February 2026

DTM Joins the World in Commemorating World Radio Day, 2026
Theme: “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice”

First introduced in 1946 to mark the establishment of the United Nations Radio service, World Radio Day continues to affirm radio’s enduring relevance as the most accessible, trusted, and participatory medium in the world. Today, as we commemorate this day under the theme “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice,” as designated by UNESCO, Development Through Media (DTM) reflects on the evolving relationship between technology and human storytelling.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming newsrooms, automating processes, analysing data, and enhancing production. Yet AI cannot replace the human voice that carries lived experience, moral judgment, and community memory. AI can support journalism — but it cannot embody accountability, empathy, or democratic responsibility. It must remain a tool in service of people, not a substitute for them.

In Kenya and across Africa, radio remains the heartbeat of public discourse. It reaches remote communities, broadcasts in local languages, and sustains interactive spaces where citizens engage leaders directly. As AI tools increasingly enter media ecosystems, the responsibility of radio becomes even greater: to safeguard truth, uphold ethics, and ensure technology strengthens — rather than distorts — public trust.

At DTM, we approach AI as an enabler of impact, not a replacement of human agency. Through Radio Baraza, we convene structured community dialogues that centre citizens’ voices in governance, development, and social accountability conversations. Through our network of DevReporters, we equip journalists and storytellers with skills and tools — including emerging technologies — to enhance evidence-based reporting while maintaining editorial integrity and human-centred storytelling.

Radio’s power has never been merely in transmission. It lies in connection. AI may accelerate workflows, but it is people who ask hard questions, challenge power, and share stories that build resilient societies.

On this World Radio Day, we reaffirm that the future of radio is not about machines speaking louder — it is about communities being heard more clearly.

About DTM
Development Through Media (DTM) is a pioneer media-based, not-for-profit Civil Society Organisation (M-CSO) in Kenya, dedicated to harnessing the power of media and communication for inclusive and transformative development. Through partnerships, capacity building, content creation, dissemination and advocacy, DTM empowers citizens—including youth and marginalised communities in the rural and urban areas—to actively participate in shaping the social, economic, and political decisions that affect their lives.

Signed:

Ms Dommie Yambo-Odotte
Executive Director and Producer
Development Through Media (DTM)

For Media Inquiries contact:
Communications Desk
Email: info[at]dtmafrica.com
Website: https://www.dtmafrica.com; https://radiobaraza.org
Commemorating with Song: https://www.radiobaraza.org/world-radio-day-tribute-by-finnish-artist-mzungu-mzuzu/