[Peace-discuss] Re: [Imc] Re: [Prairiegreens] Flag flap

[Mike Lehman]

Just a bit of additional information...

Over the course of the next year, a new Low Power FM station will be 
built in our community, in part with the technical advice and training 
assistance of WEFT, which has been supportive of this effort since it 
was initiated. The intent of those who will hold the license for this 
new station, Socialist Forum, has always been to provide a space for 
expanded public affairs programming in our community, but we also intend 
to air music and other entertainment programming. The station will be 
operated by SF in conjunction with the IMC. Thus, there will soon be 
another 168 hours a week to fill with all the news, talk, rants, etc 
that people can make.

As Jason noted, the problem is having enough volunteers to fill this 
amount of airtime, even just with the current amount of airtime on WEFT. 
People currently interested in radio news can participate in the IMC 
Radio news group (imc-newsroom at ucimc.org), which Clint Popetz has been 
ably coordinating (the grant that funded Clint's position is ending, but 
the news will go on as long as people are interested in making it 
happen.) And the current news/public affairs shows on WEFT are always 
interested in new volunteers to aid those who have puts in years of 
their lives to making these programs. And soon we hope to have another 
station.

So the problem really is less that there are no opportunities than it is 
people stepping up to take on these responsibilities.

Those interested in building a new LPFM station should contact me via 
email so that I can keep you up to date on the situation.
Mike Lehman

Jason Pitzl-Waters wrote:

> 
>> 5. Take OVER WEFT!!!!!!! WEFT needs a renewal. Its dominated by the 
>> alternative music with a handful of decent public affairs. Take over 
>> the PC, BOD, and make it real community radio. not just for different 
>> subcultures. KPFK is more about providing that grassroots coverage 
>> from bottom up. It is ordinary people not just leftist intellectuals 
>> doing the shows.
> 
> 
> Considering that the majority of "alternative" music is herded into a 
> musical "ghetto" after 10pm I can hardly agree that WEFT is "dominated" 
> by it. I suppose a more accurate statement is that there is more music 
> than public affairs on WEFT, which in itself is true.
> 
> I'm suppose I am somewhat offended by a call to make WEFT "real" 
> community radio which means that the current makeup of WEFT is somehow 
> "fake" community radio and doesn't represent the people living in and 
> around Champaign/Urbana. Perhaps in your world view it doesn't, but that 
> doesn't mean your vision is accurate for everyone in this community.
> 
> Contrary to the opinions of some conspiracy theorists, WEFT has always 
> been open to more public affairs, especially locally produced shows, but 
> the people have to come forward, produce the shows and go through the 
> process of application for open slots like everyone else. That sounds 
> pretty open to me.
> 
> Plus WEFT *has* been adding new public affairs shows, like "Digital 
> Citizen" on alternating Wednesdays from 8-10pm, or "FALA" which mixes 
> political hardcore and punk with news and commentary late Friday nights 
> (or early Saturday mornings) from 3-6am, or "C-U in Action" which 
> alternates with "Parenting Issues" every Saturday morning at 7:30am, or 
> my new show "Pagan Thoughts" which alternates with Lori Serb's and Mick 
> Woolf's public affair programs on Sunday mornings at 10am.
> 
> Lastly, to any progressive who feel they must remove "alternative" music 
> from our only community radio station in favor of public affairs I can 
> only quote Ms. Goldman and say "If I can not dance, I want no part in 
> your revolution."
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jason Pitzl-Waters
> 
> host of...
> TheSkysGoneOut
> http://www.wildhunt.org/sky/
> Sundays from 10pm-12am
> and...