Turkey’s Changemakers: Açık Radyo open to alternative stories and ideas

Açık Radyo has been crowned as the eighth “Changemaker” of the 7th season of the Sabancı Foundation’s “Turkey Changemakers Program.”

Radio programmer and author Ömer Madra first launched Açık Radyo (Open Radio) 20 years ago, together with 92 partners. The independent station has since attracted a loyal following and tries to create greater awareness of key social issues such as inequality, freedom, democracy, gender equality and environmental pollution. Açık Radyo today broadcasts under the motto: “Open to all the sounds, colors and vibrations of the universe.” 

As the name suggests, the doors of Açık Radyo are open to any social commentator. Up until today, 1,090 programmers from 21 different countries have contributed to more than 1,000 programs on the station, while 20,000 different guests have spoken into Açık Radyo microphones. 

Açık Radyo has reached hundreds of thousands of listeners, helping ease the circulation of thousands of stories and ideas and making a great difference in civil society by providing a platform for all alternative voices, and the voices of the voiceless, to be heard.