The program BdF radioproduced by Brazil in fact, is shortlisted for this year’s Megaphone Activism Award. On air since 2020, the podcast innovates by giving children a voice in addressing issues on which they are normally not heard.
Conceived and presented by journalist Camila Salmazio, Radinho was born in the midst of social isolation due to covid-19. The idea was to guarantee quality content for a period when children stopped going to school and had to quickly learn how to live with the new reality.
The program’s team also includes editor and sound designer Lua Gatinone and journalist and producer Sarah Fernandes. Close to completing three years, Radinho consolidates itself as a rare product in journalism, “mainly, thinking that children’s products tend not to have so much strength in newsrooms, they end up having a somewhat intermittent character, of not having a certain periodicity”, scores Fernandes.
The great asset of the attraction is to put on the air content for children and youth that also invites adults and adults to reflect. “Listening to children is still considered something innovative in journalism, but it shouldn’t be. The legislation itself, the Statute of Children and Adolescents, our Constitution, guarantee children this active participation. Listening to children is also a journalist’s obligation”, emphasizes the producer.
Since it was created, Radinho has received recognition from several awards. In 2021, the program had an honorable mention in the Vladimir Herzog Award, for the report Refugee children discuss the right to migrate on Radinho BdF. In the same month, he was also awarded the José Luiz Egydio Setúbal Foundation Communication Award in the Audio category, for his production What is self-protection and how to take care of your body?
Less than a month later, he won the Silver Microphone (Radio) trophy in the Entertainment category, at the 53rd edition of the Communication Awards of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB). Camila Salmazio’s driving in the attraction was also recognized.
In 2022, the podcast won the José Luiz Egydio Setúbal Foundation Communication Award again in the Audio category, with the episode Children unravel soda formula and discuss risks of excess sugar.
The Megaphone Activism Award
First and only award of Brazilian activism, the initiative is in its second edition. In common, the projects and personalities selected for this year have the defense of democracy. Enrollments grew by 20%, coming from all regions of the country. North and Northeast stand out and represent 45% of the total.
I say Amazonas, from the Megafone Ativismo project – one of the organizations in charge of the award – says that covering more than the south and southeast axis and having women and black people as the majority is a sign that Brazilian diversity is represented.
“We also had a lot of entries from young people. So, I believe we are managing to show all this diversity as a way, not only to award. Our main intention is not to say who did the best activism, but rather to show inspiring activism, different ways of doing, different tactics and strategies that are being used in one place or by a group that can also be adopted and tried by other people. It’s a great idea to create a cycle of strengthening activism in the country.”
Podcasts, artistic interventions, images, music and even protests are on the list of competitors. The public will get to know the winners from April 10th, in ads starring the comedian Nathalia Cruz on social networks.
There are 14 categories focused on the issues that most mobilized society last year. In the first edition of the award, the covid-19 pandemic permeated the initiative. This time, topics related to human rights, environmental protection, combating discrimination and social issues are highlighted. I say Amazonas believes that, even with the recent political changes, these themes should remain on the agenda in the coming years.
“The megaphone award also works as a portrait of the main fights that took place in the country that year. Of course, the fight for democracy was something that appeared a lot in the submissions. At the same time, we understand that yes, we won this battle, but the fight continues. Therefore, we have no doubt that in the coming years this will be an agenda that will appear a lot, as well as other historical agendas in Brazil.”
In the list, he includes historical and structural issues, such as racism and inequality, and topics that are receiving increasing attention today, such as climate change and the fight against fake news. Click here to find out more and see the indications.
Editing: Nicolau Soares
