Though I’m disappointed I won’t be traveling to Louisville this year, host station ARTxFM has assembled a really impressive online Grassroots Radio Conference for 2020. None other than Public Enemy’s inimitable MC Chuck D will deliver the first keynote on Friday night, titled “And You Don’t Stop Radio.” WFMU’s stalwart station manager and streaming radio innovator Ken Freedman delivers the Saturday keynote, “The Fine Art of Staying on the Air.”
Those who register will be treated to three days of hardcore grassroots radio goodness, with a particular focus on:
- The Pandemic: How to Broadcast Safely & Responsibly
- The Protests: Amplifying Justice & Equality for All
- The President: Energizing the Electorate Through the FM Dial
- Hyperlocal News Reporting during Wildfires and Other Natural Disasters
We Radio Survivors will endeavor to add productively to the conversation with a live episode of our podcast and radio show on Friday, October 9 at 12:15 PM PDT / 3:15 PM EDT tackling the question of how community stations help their communities cope with crises. We’re pleased to welcome two thoughtful and accomplished guests whose stations have been at the epicenter of the conflict between policing and protests in defense of Black lives. Tia Marie is a producer at ARTxFM and was the organizer behind the August 13 nationwide simulcast, “Justice for Breonna [Taylor].” Miranda Selinger is the Talk Content & Grant Coordinator at XRAY.FM in Portland, Oregon, which has been the home of more than 130 days of continuous protests against police violence, amidst attacks from right-wing agitators.
Seriously, the organizers at ARTxFM have put together a can’t-miss program schedule that is overflowing with great minds and talent from across the worlds of community radio, art and activism.
While we can’t all be together in Louisville, this also means the expenses associated with travel and lodging are one less barrier to participation. Registration is open now, and one-day passes are available for those who can’t make the three-day commitment.
I hope we’ll see you there!
