MTV, of all corporate-controlled media outlets, produced a great piece on Radio Free Nashville (WRFN-LP) and the fight for low-power FM. You can find it here.
WRFN-LP is in a rural community, but the fight for access to the airwaves is nation-wide, and can be especially hard in urban areas. Here in Brooklyn, no licenses have been granted (there have been 8 applicants!) for any low power FM stations at all! The same is true for cities all over the country. As a media educator and activist, the lack of community stations in a place like New York City is quite alarming.
The last part of the MTV piece does a good job summarizing the arguments for why low power FM (LPFM) is an important battle to fight to retain our human right to communicate. Many LPFM stations have successfully been used as organizing tools in community/worker campaigns–like with the CIW in Immokalee, FL. Radio is still one of the most accessible forms of media we have. Let’s not lose further control of it!
Once you’re done with your 7 minute MTV experience, check out some of the folks doing the real work: the Prometheus Radio Project based in Philly. They are part of a larger network of media justice activists who will be meeting up in Detroit in a couple weeks for the 10th annual Allied Media Conference. Be prepared to be inspired, informed, and energized after you leave. It really is the best conference out there.
PS–check out WBAI 99.5 FM in NYC on Tuesday, June 10th at 10 am to hear some great independent radio produced by high school students in Brooklyn.
1 Comment
June 9, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I can’t wait to see the Prometheus crew in Detroit!
Hey, I’m tagging you for this music meme: http://tiffanyten.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/the-7-songs-of-early-summer/. I’d love to hear what’s moving you if you got some time, girl. Let’s catch up soon.
Tiffany
P.S. Still tryin’ to get out to the big, bad east coast, but may not be thru LN. We shall see!