Urban Unrest

25 July 2006 | Programming | Ernesto Aguilar

I’m forwarding this from longtime community radio activist and generally good guy Jim Ellinger. I don’t necessarily support the sentiments — I believe programming decisions should be local determinations for the most part — but I think it opens up a curious debate. How do others in favor of community radio see this approach, as what’s happening at KOOP? As a program director and a fan of community radio, I agree with KOOP’s approach of less syndicated and more local programming. While I agree, mostly, that local programs are often a bit rough and that syndicated shows often offer much better content, if we’re positioning ourselves where the best sounding, most in-line-with-what-we-think-is-amazing programming wins, doesn’t this largely shut off the educational opportunities and individual enthusiasm that community radio brings? By the numbers, syndicated shows are more likely to have more experienced staff and budgets to buy great audio. I generally think going local is best, but I realize NPR and other outlets do a great job with syndicated content and no one seems to mind. Thoughts?

After a recent decision made by the Programming Committee of http://www.koop.org Radio (91.7), May 10th was the last chance to hear syndicated broadcasts of the http://www.wings.org the Women’s International News Gathering Service (WINGS).WINGs has been on KOOP radio since it began, for many years in this same timeslot.

WINGS is an all-women independent radio production that produces and distributes their programs all around the world. The topics of news are concerning global and local women’s issues by and about women. WINGS programs are used and heard by non-commercial radio stations, university women’s studies programs and individuals.

This program is unique and very important considering the vast majority of news out there is made by and for men. Mainstream media doesn’t have a history of prioritizing women’s issues, and the cancellation of this broadcast takes away important voices and stories of women from the Austin community. The mission statement of KOOP radio is to serve and promote underserved communities like women, which usually they do very well (for example: for the new 2006 schedule, all programming on Tuesdays will be in Spanish) so I was very surprised to hear about the cancellation of WINGS.

Amy Wright,* station manager of KOOP, said that the committee decided to scale back on syndicated programs in favor of more local programming and that they also had not heard much response from listeners about WINGS. WINGS has an Austin bureau and many programs have come from this community. The future of WINGS on KOOP will be brought back to the committee in six months at their next scheduling meeting. If you care about WINGS and radio programming for women in general, please contact the station and let them know your opinion: info@koop.org.

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