Local Radio Now

Local Community Radio Act of 2007 (S. 1675/H.R. 2802)

Migrated Content — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:35:07 -0800

The Local Community Radio Act (S. 1675), introduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), would open the radio dial to more Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations. These stations are community driven and locally oriented, providing news and information often ignored by mainstream radio.

Media Minutes: September 5, 2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Media Minutes (2008-09-05)

candace — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:06:53 -0700

In nearly 50 cities and towns across the country, media reform activists visited their representatives in their home district offices to urge them to veto the FCC’s media ownership rules. And in Davis, Calif., KDRT-LP won its dispute with the FCC to remain on the air after a big commercial station encroached on their frequency.

KDRT to Air on New Frequency

Stevie Converse — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:36:33 -0700

GRC radio tower

Stevie Converse — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:17:28 -0700

Mayor to LPFM Station: Free Speech Has Its Limits

Stevie Converse — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:03:25 -0700

Diverse Coalition Calls on U.S. Representatives to Co-sponsor Local Community Radio Act

Holiday Shapiro — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:09:44 -0700

Strong Signal for Local Music

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:15:55 -0700

Local music is what KZME (91.1 FM) is all about – or rather, will be all about when it begins broadcasting some time in 2009.

Based in Gresham, the venture will be a full power, noncommercial station, dedicated to local music on local airwaves. The station is the result of a coalition of music and media activists seizing a rare opportunity.

Low Power to the People

Stevie Converse — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:54:57 -0700

Money talks on the radio. The airwaves are full of voices backed by the millions of dollars it takes to buy a commercial radio station. Clear Channel Communications, for example, owns more than 1,200 of them. But how do America's smaller, average-income voices get heard?

The Return of the Program Manager

Stevie Converse — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:37:22 -0700

Thanks to media consolidation and vertical integration program syndication is no longer a station-by-station proposition. Today major shows are sold to entire station groups.
Story continues after the ad

Signal Interference: Tuning into the definition of 'Corporate Media'

Stevie Converse — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:21:51 -0700

There was an awkward moment at the end of “Minnesota Model: Countering Corporate Media,” a panel discussion at this weekend’s National Conference on Media Reform.

Alas, I must admit that I was the one who caused it.

Interview: Janis Lane-Ewart, the Breath of Fresh Air Radio

Stevie Converse — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:54:08 -0700

SPECIAL NOTE - KFAI and the Twin Cities Daily Planet are co-sponsoring the Party for a Media Revolution on Thursday, June 5. For more information, see kfai.org.

Free Press Media Reform Conference Covers Wide Range of Issues

Stevie Converse — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:29:15 -0700

Craig Aaron, communications director of Free Press, was a guest on my radio show Friday May 30th.

National Public Radio Rejcts Higher Status for Low-Power FM

Stevie Converse — Thu, 22 May 2008 05:35:18 -0700

Advocates for full-power pubradio stations and their low-power FM cousins are at odds again over FCC proposals to allocate more frequencies for LPFM, whose extent and prerogatives have been debated since the commission authorized the new class of noncommercial stations in 2000.

In Grove Hall, Radio Rebels Dig In

Stevie Converse — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:47:49 -0700

It's five minutes after 6 a.m. on a Tuesday morning and the loyal listeners of TOUCH 106.1FM - those who are awake, at least - have to settle for the crackle and puff of static from their speakers.

No James Brown, no New Edition, no Amiri Baraka. Just static.

Author Argues Clear Channel Destroyed Radio

Stevie Converse — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:21:08 -0700

The name "Clear Channel" became shorthand for everything wrong with terrestrial (nonsatellite) radio: Lack of diversity, repetitious music, boring programming, too many commercials, censorship, jingoism, ad nauseam.

Media Reform Convention Coming to Town

Stevie Converse — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:52:13 -0700

The National Conference on Media Reform is coming to Minneapolis June 6-8, with more than two thousand participants expected.

Radio from Denver to Texas Has 'Narrow Band of Filtered Information'

Stevie Converse — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:42:44 -0700

In today's Sacramento Bee, there was a very good article on conservative versus progressive talk radio. It is worth the read.

Federal Rules Give Corporation-Backed Conservative Radio All the Local Voices

Stevie Converse — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:48:05 -0700

There's a mournful hush in Sacramento these days, the empty sound of an entire political viewpoint quieted. More than 32,000 weekly listeners who once tuned to KSAC (1240 AM) to hear partisan Democrats beat up on President George W. Bush, now hear only Christian hip-hop.

Book Offers Tools to Foster Independent Broadcast Media in Developing Countries

Stevie Converse — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:36:46 -0700

People from the foothills of the Himalayas to small communities in Benin listen to the radio or watch TV. Now a new book seeks to help developing countries foster a diverse broadcasting sector that truly informs and empowers their citizens.