Urban Unrest

28 June 2006 | Programming | Ernesto Aguilar

As of August 1, Open Journal, KPFT’s experiment in community-inspired radio, will undergo a number of important changes. These changes are being undertaken in the interests of making a more accessible, more dynamic program.Open Journal is the only radio program of its kind in Houston and, very likely, anywhere else. It permits the public an opportunity to host live programming on the air at no cost. The programming that appears on Open Journal is eclectic; we’ve featured music, call-ins and more. At times, it’s been controversial. But Open Journal is one of the reasons why KPFT is such a powerful radio station in the state of Texas.

Over the last two years, Open Journal’s schedule has developed a backlog of eight weeks or more. We average about 12 of our 20 available Open Journal days per month with ‘regular’ shows that appear monthly. While helpful in some respects, this has limited community access, which was Open Journal’s intention all along.

To deal with this issue, several changes will take place.

The number of ‘regular’ Open Journal programs will be cut drastically. More topical programming will take the place of our ‘regular’ Open Journals. Some of the Open Journals you now hear monthly may appear instead as half-hour monthly, bimonthly or quarterly programs. The programs you will likely continue to hear each month include some of our most popular Open Journal programs: Return to Nature, the Christmas Coup Comedy Players, the Hep C Show, Religious Voices for Peace and Justice and a newer program, Her Sex, Her Health with Dr. Alexandra Simotas.

On the official front, the Program Director’s Report will be merged with the General Manager’s Report to become the KPFT Report to the Community, freeing up one day of Open Journal, while the Local Station Board Report leaves Open Journal in favor of monthly evening preemptions; this change will allow more board members an opportunity to speak with listeners.

More changes are in store. Your feedback on Open Journals you want to hear regularly or don’t like as much is most certainly appreciated. Please email me your feedback at pd@kpft.org. Thank you!

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