What is Radio? conference podcasts, for those who couldn’t be there
I am jealous that my Radio Survivor colleagues Jennifer and Matthew were both able to attend the What is Radio? conference this past weekend in Portland, OR, while I could not. Nevertheless, I am glad that they were able to represent, and am really pleased that this important conference took place. For those of us […]
Broadcasters ask for more time on FCC indecency proceeding
The National Association of Broadcasters has asked the Federal Communications Commission for a 30 day extension on a proceeding requesting feedback about the agency’s indecency rules. The FCC launched the proceeding following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of the Commission’s policies against “fleeting expletives,” basically dirty words said on the fly. The high court said that […]
Radius creates an on-air exhibition space for transmission art in Chicago
Several times a month, mysterious and unique sounds appear on the Chicago airwaves. Listeners might hear the rumble and pop of very low frequency signals generated by environmental electromagnetic fluctuations, or collaged field recordings from distant city streets. Some may mistake these transmissions for strange interference, or a broken radio, while others may be briefly […]
WQXR and its website, an uneven partnership?
The University of Oregon’s What is Radio conference (#whatisradio) wrapped up on Saturday, with many interesting panels on the last day. One of the best was named “Web Radio: Say Goodbye to the Dial.” But a fascinating talk by Dr. Neil Washbourne from Leeds Metropolitan University convinced me that, given the case of WQXR in […]
Radio storytelling: property of the upper middle class?
Jennifer Waits and I are at the What is Radio conference in Portland, which opened with an interesting lecture by veteran radio/TV journalist Charles Jaco. It focused on the importance of narrative and storytelling in radio, and its decline on the commercial radio dial. Jaco noted that it is in the public radio sector that one […]
A quarter century on, micropower pioneer Mbanna Kantako still broadcasts to Illinois capital
An uncompromising voice for human rights, unafraid to make unrestrained and harsh criticisms of local and federal officials, is still heard on the airwaves of Illinois capital city. Despite multiple letters and visits from the FCC over the years, the Springfield, Illinois unlicensed station Human Rights Radio celebrated its 25th anniversary last fall. This week […]
Radio Free Sarawak broadcasts independent voices to Malaysian Borneo
Al Jazeera reports on the unlicensed Radio Free Sarawak which is making itself a thorn in the side of the Malaysian government, broadcasting independent voices in the run-up to general elections in that country. Sarawak is a former British colony located on the island of Borneo. The station is operated by expatriates out of studios […]
Spinning Indie Radio Station Field Trip to WZRD in Chicago
On Friday I continued my Spinning Indie radio station field trip series with a visit to Northeastern Illinois University’s college radio station WZRD 88.3 FM. With this trip, I was happy to check another Chicago college radio station off my list of stations to visit. Last summer I toured WLUW 88.7 FM at Loyola University, […]
Are you still a radio deejay if you just text?
This Thursday the What is Radio conference begins in Portland, and Radio Survivor will be there. Both Jennifer Waits and I are presenting papers. Expect some blogging about the conferences activities too. My paper is titled “The rise of the radioText” deejay, and wonders out loud whether it is possible to function as a radio […]
FCC indecency proceeding filling up with pro-censorship comments
I’ve been keeping an eye on the Federal Communications Commission’s proceeding on its indecency rules. It’s not looking good, from a First Amendment standpoint. Most of the comments seem to support more censorship. Some background: The FCC has been asking for public feedback on how stringently to enforce its broadcast indecency regulations since the Supreme […]