[Imc-radio] Re: [Wefta] Public Affairs at WEFT

[Mike Lehman]

I'm sure that the IMC will be supportive of public affairs programming 
in coordination with WEFT, as we've always been. Given the people needed 
to cover adequately local events and news and the relatively small size 
of our community, avoiding duplication of efforts while consolidating 
the resources available will lead to the most productive use of what 
resources we have at our disposal.

As people at WEFT are probably aware by now, the IMC Radio News has gone 
on hiatus, due to the lack of enough people available to do the work. 
Dave Berliner did a good job given the relative lack of support from 
others this summer, but it clearly takes more than the energy that any 
one person can bring to the table to do this work.

But the core of a good public affairs collective is already present in 
our community; it just needs to be brought together. There has been some 
talk about folding the IMC Radio News project into WRFU, but there are 
also many good reasons to keep it independent to better serve both WEFT 
and WRFU, when it goes on the air, that I won't elaborate on here. I am 
certain that an initiative to build a viable and sustainable public 
affairs collective would be well received by the IMC and WRFU.

Additionally, there are potential grant monies that are available, but 
pursuing these will take a functional group to initiate. The IMC has the 
space, inclination, and some basic equipment for production; there is 
also a small sum available from WEFT's past payments for IMC Radio News 
that could be available for additional equipment. In a few months, when 
the IMC has moved upstairs and WRFU is on the air, there should be 
better studio and production space available.

But all these great ideas will take interested people to make them work. 
  Right now, the IMC has its hands full with the renovation of the first 
floor and getting WRFU on the air. But there is present locally the germ 
of something that could be at least part of what is needed to sustain an 
alternative news and public affairs production collective to serve our 
community. I am myself too overwhelmed with IMC/RFU projects and grad 
school to do much except provide suggestions and networking assistance 
for those interested in such a collective. However, I fully agree that 
this is something that has tremendous potential to build on the existing 
strengths of the community media in our community at WEFT, WRFU and the IMC.
Mike Lehman

Cope Cumpston wrote:

> Euan -- this is a great idea. It might be a good way for WEFT and WRFU 
> to work together; WEFT has the experience with on-air work, and WRFU has 
> new fresh energy, specifically for Public Affairs. I'm copying this to 
> Mike Lehman who's  helping coordinate WRFU.
> 
> Cope
> 
> On Sep 2, 2005, at 8:56 AM, Euan Fernsler wrote:
> 
>> Hi all!
>> For those of you who didn't make the Associates Meeting last night, 
>> one of the
>> things that was mentioned by some is a desire for more local public 
>> affairs
>> programming.  I have an idea that I've mentioned to a few folks, but 
>> as I'm
>> leaving soon, I thought I'd drop the idea out to you all.
>>
>> WEFT has a pretty strong commitment to public affairs feeds with 
>> drop-ins,
>> DW news, Democracy Now!, and others.  It seems though to really expand 
>> the PA
>> programming there need to be more folks asking for shows.  Unilaterally
>> taking away music shows that have been asked for, and worked for, doesn't
>> seem fair to me. (Though I wouldn't mind seeing an hour long news show in
>> the morning at the expense of a half hour each of blues and jazz - 
>> though I
>> may be hung for that statement. Oh, and not DN!, but something 
>> different.)
>>
>> But, it's hard to create a PA show.  I've had some interest, but no 
>> skill, and
>> a friend with an idea actually went through the training, gave up on 
>> WEFT,
>> and now has his show on another radio station - because they gave him 
>> more
>> support.
>>
>> That's what we lack for the PA programs; support.  I couldn't do my 
>> Blues show
>> if it weren't for the Music committee getting in new music, organizing 
>> what
>> was there, and generally overseeing all the stuff that needs to be done.
>>
>> Why don't we have a public affairs committee?  The group could do any 
>> number of
>> things to help get more PA programming on at WEFT.  Outreach, regular 
>> formal
>> training on phone interviews, how to interview, research resources, topic
>> advice, special equipment loans & training, help making contacts, etc.
>>
>> Maybe all these things are in place, and I'm just not familiar with 
>> them, but
>> I know if I have a music question, I contact Lady Red for Blues, and her
>> contact information and specialization is posted in two or three 
>> places around
>> the station, and on line.  Moreover it's not a personal request for 
>> assistance,
>> she has already committed to that job for the station.
>>
>> I think the same sort of structure for a PA committee would bring 
>> people out
>> who have an idea but need a little support, and keep them at WEFT.
>>
>> A radio show, any radio show, can be hard work.  I think public 
>> affairs shows
>> tend to be harder, but certainly at WEFT they're about as hard as they 
>> can
>> get.  The Programming Committee does a good job of making sure we get the
>> satellite feeds, and tries to help, but they have their own jobs as 
>> well, and
>> often have their hands full.
>>
>> You want more PA programming at WEFT?  Create an infrastructure to 
>> grease the
>> wheels. :)
>>
>> Santih,
>> Euan
>>
>> -- 
>> The Web. Chilled.
>>  www.korora.com
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Wefta at lists.weftfm.org
>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/wefta
>>
>>
> ________________
> 
> Copenhaver Cumpston
> Art Director
> University of Illinois Press
> 1325 South Oak Street
> Champaign, IL 61820-6903
> www.press.uillinois.edu
> (217) 333-9227
> fax (217) 244-8082
> cumpston at uiuc.edu
> 
>