RADIO REMAINS A UNIFYING FORCE DESPITE DIGITAL EVOLUTION - EXPERT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Radio will continue to play an important role as a medium that unites society despite facing technological evolution and the emergence of digital platforms, says an expert.

Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Dr Shahnon Mohamed Salleh, said the history of radio development proved that it had always adapted to changing times while retaining its social function.

He said that since the early days of broadcasting, radio has served as a medium for information delivery and propaganda to unite the people, including during the post-independence period and regional confrontation, thereby shaping its role in society.

bootstrap slideshow

“Radio was used as a key tool to unite Malaysians during the Indonesian Confrontation, and at the time, among the popular songs frequently played was ‘Inilah Barisan Kita’ (Prajurit Tanah Air), which became a source of strength for the people,” he said.

Shahnon said this during Bernama Radio’s programme titled Radio and Artificial Intelligence in conjunction with World Radio Day 2026 here, today.

Commenting on current developments, Shahnon said the radio industry had now entered a phase of digital integration, with broadcasting stations combining traditional broadcasts with social media platforms and technologies including artificial intelligence (AI).

He said AI helped in production processes, content discovery and listener data analysis, but the technology should be viewed as a support tool rather than a replacement for human roles.

“AI should serve as an assistant to improve production efficiency and content reach. The human touch remains important to ensure broadcasting stays close to the emotions and culture of society,” he said.

He also opined that radio competition today was no longer among broadcasting stations alone, but also involved podcasts, audio streaming and various other digital platforms.

However, he remained optimistic that radio would continue to stay relevant, based on history showing the medium’s ability to adapt whenever new technologies emerged.

“As long as radio is able to adapt without neglecting human values and creativity, it will continue to be a trusted medium that remains close to the community,” he said.

-- BERNAMA