Two programmes of Onda Benidorm, examples of good practices in promoting equality and preventing drug addiction

Two programmes from the municipal radio station Onda Benidorm have been presented as examples of good practices in promoting equality and preventing drug addiction at two professional and academic meetings held in recent months. These are the programmes ‘En la Onda Psicológica’ and ‘Femenino Plural’, which are broadcast weekly on 100.6 FM.

‘Femenino Plural’, a programme promoted and coordinated by the Department of Equality and which has just finished its fifth season on the air, was cited as an example to follow in the UNED summer course ‘Culture and the media as agents of change in the face of gender violence’; a course taught by Ana Zamorano Rueda, professor of the Department of Foreign Philology and Linguistics and coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Gender Studies at UNED, and professor Adriana Kiczkovwski.

Both teachers were interviewed to talk about this course in another of the reference programs of Onda Benidorm, ‘La Ventana de la UNED’, which has been on the air for seven seasons and is broadcast on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. to publicize the activity and training possibilities offered by the UNED in Denia and its classrooms in Benidorm and Xabia.

‘Femenino Plural’, which is broadcast on Thursdays at noon, focuses its content on issues related to gender equality and diversity, the fight against gender violence, as well as the dissemination of those actions promoted by the Department of Equality at the municipal level: from the installation of ‘violet points’ at different events, to support groups such as Anémona, or outreach campaigns such as ‘Playing free, growing equal’ to combat gender bias in toys and which has been replicated in other municipalities in the region.

The programme also addresses issues of interest to women in the social-health field or problems as serious as trafficking in women and sexual exploitation, always with the help of professionals in the field.

On the other hand, 'En la Onda Psicológica', a programme presented by the psychologist María José Gutiérrez Miñana that is broadcast on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., was praised by all social agents and experts present at the 'IV International Congress on prevention, treatment and control of the consumption of cannabis and its derivatives', which was held in Vigo at the end of 2023 and which had more than 300 registered participants and professionals in the field.

María José Gutiérrez, a psychologist from the UPCCA of the Department of Social Welfare of Benidorm City Council, gave a presentation at the congress on 'Media, necessary allies in the prevention of addictions. Twelve years of Alliance in the municipal sphere', referring to the twelve years of broadcasting on the radio programme Onda Benidorm.

This programme, which has completed 12 consecutive seasons, initially began under the name 'On the Wave Without Drugs', addressing issues on drug addiction prevention, both from the work of the Community Prevention Unit for Addictive Behaviour (UPCCA) of the Department of Social Welfare, and through interviews with experts and professionals in the field of national and international prestige, with special collaboration from the FAD (Foundation for Help against Drug Addiction), today FAD Juventud.

The last three seasons have opened up the spectrum of its subject matter, including content on mental health and analysis of psychological problems, while also maintaining the initial theme of drug addiction prevention.

Both programmes will continue on the Onda Benidorm programming schedule next September. Both these programmes and all the sections of the municipal radio station can be heard in the podcast window of the multimedia platform located on the municipal website, www.benidorm.org, by accessing the communication area. Onda Benidorm broadcasts on 100.6 FM and its content can also be followed through Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).