A MAG-Net Guide to the 2012 Grassroots Radio Conference

Check out these sessions, caucuses, and events that feature MAG-Net members, partners and allies. Stay in touch during the conference!  Join the Twitter Conversation by following us @mediaaction and Tag #mediajustice #GRC2012

 

THURSDAY, JULY 26TH

 

Celebrating Media Justice in Downstate Illinois & Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) Chapter Launch

Thursday, July 26th, 6-8:30pm

Join the the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) who anchors the Downstate Illinois Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) Chapter for an evening of music, food and thoughtful discussion about the possibilities of connecting the local media justice, independent media, cultural organizing and social change work to the national work of the Network.  Join us for this event as we officially launch the MAG-Net Downstate Illinois Chapter!

 

Event Info:

Where: Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. 202 S. Broadway Ave. Urbana, IL 61801

RSVP for the event: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/259488

 

Presenters include:

Betty Yu, Center for Media Justice & Media Action Grassroots Network

Carol Ammons, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center

Danielle Chynoweth, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center 

 

FRIDAY, JULY 27TH

Plenary: Where are We and How Did We Get Here? The History of Community Radio

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 9:00am – 10:00am

 

Presented by Nan Rubin, of Prometheus Radio Project


So often we forget or are unaware of our history, personalizing problems that are historical and structural.  To chart the future of community radio, we need to… 

 

TV on the Radio

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

Presenter(s): 

Carlos Pareja

Jeff Shaw

 

Combine the power of radio and video to make media a full spectrum affair.  See examples of other stations using video, and discuss how to make video part of your station.  Discuss public access television funding, how radio stations might leverage local resources, and learn some of the basics of video production so you can make video for your station.

 

Get On Air Clinic, Part 1: The opportunity to start a radio station and how you can make sure your city gets one.

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Candace Clement

Danielle Chynoweth

Jeff Rousset

Kim Lehmkuh

Steven Renderos

 

This introduction is a must for anyone wanting to start a radio station.  We will review the upcoming opportunity to get a license, get to know all the LPFM applicants at the conference, and get oriented to the Get on Air pathway that will run throughout the weekend. We’ll also review all the applicant support resources that Prometheus will provide.

 

Community Engagement – Whys and Hows

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Ann Alquist

Kimberlie Kranich

Milena Velis

Sabrina Roach

 

Making media takes time. It can be challenging to break out of the silos where we make our work and socialize, especially if we haven't looked beyond what's comfortable recently. Community media making demands a broad base of participants. To break out of our silos, we need to think about who isn't there, who might want to be, and how we build those relationships that make it possible. How are we telling the stories about what we do and what the possibilities are? In this session, we all will share stories about what's working, what's not, and how to make a plan for a path forward. We'll break into small groups to discuss specific challenges your station faces and we'll all give input. How do you go about building relationships with multiple communities while juggling all the responsibilities of running a radio station? We'll discuss tactics for building a strong base and share stories about how to craft a strategy that not only maintains relationships but can take your project to exciting and relevant places.

 

Introducting Youth Power, Media Freedom

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Carol Ammons

 

Why should I care about media? What does it have to do with ME? This introductory session will give an idea of what to expect over the weekend regarding sessions created by, and for, young persons. We will offer introductions amongst conference goers, introduce the resources available tfor you at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center both during and after the conference (including audio production and getting on the radio), and introduce the sessions in our Youth track.

The goal of this session is to get comfortable with thinking about radio and media, understand the big picture and get excited about creating your own media. We will discuss how you can showcase your work during the conference Saturday night.

 

Public Broadband Part 1: New Models for Communities to Control Communication and Ensure Access

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Brandon Bowersox-Johnson

Chris Ritzo

Jon Gant

Milena Velis

 

Most people have a few, expensive choices for internet access and our freedom online is being eroded. Several communities around the country are blazing a new path with community broadband models that give residents more choices. Learn specifically about UC2B, the community-owned, open access fiber optic network in Urbana-Champaign. Hear about other models around the country and steps your community can take to begin wiring your community.

 

Get On Air Clinic, Part 2: How to apply for and win a Low Power FM license

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Brandy Doyle

Ian Smith

Michi Eyre

Mike Couzens

 

Ready to apply for a Low Power FM station, but have some questions about the process? This workshop is all about the wonky details. Although the FCC hasn't yet wrapped up the final rules for new Low Power FM stations, we still know a lot about what's likely to be involved. We will cover eligibility, non profit status and board issues, engineering, the selection process, and strategies for winning your license.

 

Working your Audio Chops: Audio Editing Workshop

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Abdulai Bah

Carlos Pareja

Sean Powers

 

In this hands on workshop, you will learn the basics of how to edit sound – how to cut, move, alter and improve sound quality. We will use Audacity, free and open source software. Open to youth and adults.

 

Get On Air Clinic, Part 3: Engineering Basics

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Ana Martina

Andy Gunn

 

How many engineer waivers do you need to start a radio station? Surf the mysteries of a technical LPFM application!!! You want to start a radio station? Awesome, let the techies help you to surf the oceans of engineering radio frequencies and technical information for your LPFM application. In this session you will learn how to search for an available channel in your town, identified the ideal tower/transmitter site, learn about second adjacent channels and engineering studies. If you feel like you have questions about engineering waivers, come to this session!

We encourage participants to create a Radiospark.org account previous to this session.

http://radiospark.org

 

Wireless Bill of Rights: A Vision for Internet Freedom

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 4:45pm – 6:15pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Amalia Deloney

Steven Renderos

 

Today, more than 100 million Americans live without equal access to information or the media platforms that keep the world connected and engaged- including the Internet, telephones, journalism, and broadcast media.  While 95% of upper- income households use the Internet, 37% of lower-income households do not, nor do 48 % of those without a high school diploma. Nearly 19 million people in poverty only access the Internet at public library computers, and 18% of blacks and 16% of Latinos use cell phones as their exclusive means of Internet access.  That access however is not equal, the Federal Communications Commission protected the online experience of wired Internet users when they passed net neutrality rules in 2010 but opted to keep wireless internet deregulated.  

 

The result? A second class Internet in which companies can dictate what information people can and can't receive. Now more than ever, local communities need a vision for wireless platforms that are accessible, affordable, and accountable. That's why the Center for Media Justice and several other organizations drafted the Wireless Bill of Rights which seeks to address the systemic inequities that communities of color experience in the wireless market, and unites the work of numerous media policy and racial justice organizations under a common vision for Wireless Equity that's essential for our community’s health and wellbeing.

During this session we'll share our approach to developing a rights-based framework and engage participants in an interactive discussion about the future of wireless and what we can do about it.

 

Get On Air Clinic, Part 4: Nuts and Bolts of Operations 

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 4:45pm – 6:15pm

 

Presenter(s): 

David Beaton

Donna DiBianco

Vanessa Maria Graber

 

From station operations to fundraising, this workshop will give participants a dose of everything they need to know about running a community radio station.  We'll cover governance structures, policy making, generating income, and managing personnel.  This one-stop workshop is designed to give a basic overview of what it takes to run an effective community radio station from seasoned experts in the field.  Participants will also receive a wealth of station support resources that will allow for further training and exploration into the world of station operations.

 

 

Keynote: Joe Torres: The History and Future of Community Radio

Friday, July 27, 2012 – 8:00pm – 10:00pm

 

Joseph Torres is the Senior External Affairs Director for Free Press, a non-governmental organization for research and policy lobbying related to media reform with the goal of supporting diversity and independence in U.S. media. Joseph also serves on the board of directors of both the Center for Media Justice and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Before joining Free Press, Joseph worked as deputy director of communications and media policy at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was a journalist for eight years.

He also works to build new coalitions to broaden the base of the media reform movement, writing frequently on media and Internet issues.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 28TH

 

Plenary: Where are We Going? The Future of Community Radio 

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 9:00am – 10:00am

 

Hosted by Danielle Chynoweth of the UCIMC and Prometheus Radio Project

Community Radio stands at a moment of great challenges and opportunities.  A number of stations are struggling with lagging energy and membership and the consequences of an economic downturn.  The internet provides so many options, the era of DJs playing their favorite “mixed tapes” on the radio may be coming to a close. Providing access is no longer sufficient – stations need better community engagement strategies. Yet with the recent passage of the Local Community Radio act, we are facing the biggest expansion of community radio in U.S. history. Hundreds of new community radio stations are being built right now from the 2007 license window and 1000+ new low power FM stations will be going on air in the next few years.  With digital technology, local community radio stations have the opportunity to engage global audiences, deploy mobile studios, share community wireless internet, and become multi-media community centers. How can grassroots stations integrate digital technologies? What does this new era of community engagement look like? How can we go beyond pledge drives and underwriting to deepen the financial viability of stations? In this plenary we lay out some of the key questions we face and break into groups to discuss.

Fundraising – New Forms and Old

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Carol Ammons

Milena Velis

Nathaniel James

Sabrina Roach

 

Whether you are with an older station with a mature development department that needs some fine tuning or at a new station just starting out, we all need money or resources to get the work done. We can talk about some traditional methods and some innovative ones. Crowdfunding, events, individual donors, giving circles, pledge drives, underwriting, earned income, rentals, AmeriCorps program and/or so much more.

 

Get On Air Clinic, Part 5: Airwaves Around Town: Antennas, Towers and Transmitters, oh my!

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Ana Martina

Andy Gunn

Norm Stockwell

 

No station knows exactly where their signal will go before they turn on their transmitter. It’s hard to predict how transmission will work – your signal will be affected by things like mountains, trees, buildings, rain, and the presence of other radio waves. Come to this session to learn the nuts and bolts of the equipment that you need for your studio and the equipment for the transmitter site. Questions? Come to this Q & A session.

 

Radio & the Radiohead: Making Sure the Community is Listening

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 10:15am – 11:45am

 

Presenter(s): 

Hakim Bellamy

 

Is getting your program on the air enough? As media justice organizations, our objective is to give a balance of power, access, voice to those who are underrepresented or marginalized in the current media climate. However, as the old adage goes “"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" While getting voices from the grassroots to airwaves is empowering to the message sender, what responsibility do we have to the message receiver (or message non-receiver to be exact)?

In this workshop we will discuss opportunities and models of building a communications strategy into your radio programming, to make sure that the community is listening.

 

This strategy session is facilitated by Hakim Bellamy, a former radio journalist and television news staffer who is currently the Strategic Communications Director for Albuquerque-based Media Literacy Project. Hakim also currently contracts as freelance print journalist and music columnist.

 

Engaging Communities: Building Media Training Programs for Diverse Groups

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Abdulai Bah

Carlos Pareja

 

People's Production House builds media skills and access for under-served communities and strengthen the impact of their social justice campaigns. They have taught media skills to public school youth to report on what's missing in the news, day laborers in Queens, who educated their peers about labor laws, nannies who produced a documentary about their fair wage campaign, and street vendors who produced a radio piece about reforming existing vendor laws.  They will share their approach to establishing trust, developing partnerships, and finding the intersection of the struggles communities face and storytelling.

 

Bustin’ In, Bustin’ Out: The Key to Prison Justice, Part 1

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 1:15pm – 2:45pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Barbara Kessel

Carol Ammons

Nick Szuberla

Steven Renderos

 

Prisons and jails create legal boundaries between us. And with those legal boundaries come physical, mental and spiritual distance as well. What role does radio play in bridging this divide? How can be begin to be whole again? In this workshop, we will address these questions on both local and national levels. We will look at the unique ways in which radio is being used to shatter these boundaries through the national Prison Phone Justice Campaign, and specifically the Thousands Kites' Calls from Home program to connect with those on the inside. We will discuss how local advocates are using radio and other media, from books to petitions, to shift the prisoner landscape from the outside in.

 

The workshop will include interactive ways to get involved with these campaigns and an introduction on how to start your own prison radio program.  The first half of the workshop will focus on the campaign and how it is using radio/media as an organizing tool.  The second half will be a hands on workshop on creating your own prison radio show. Urbana-Champaign's Books to Prisoners will also be hosting a work session where we will be responding to letters from prisoners and mailing them books.

 

Bustin’ In, Bustin’ Out: The Key to Prison Justice, Part 2

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Nick Szuberla

Steven Renderos

 

Prisons and jails create legal boundaries between us. And with those legal boundaries come physical, mental and spiritual distance as well. What role does radio play in bridging this divide? How can be begin to be whole again? In this workshop, we will address these questions on both local and national levels. We will look at the unique ways in which radio is being used to shatter these boundaries through the national Prison Phone Justice Campaign, and specifically the Thousands Kites' Calls from Home program to connect with those on the inside. We will discuss how local advocates are using radio and other media, from books to petitions, to shift the prisoner landscape from the outside in.

 

The workshop will include interactive ways to get involved with these campaigns and an introduction on how to start your own prison radio program.  The first half of the workshop will focus on the campaign and how it is using radio/media as an organizing tool.  The second half will be a hands on workshop on creating your own prison radio show. Urbana-Champaign's Books to Prisoners will also be hosting a work session where we will be responding to letters from prisoners and mailing them books.

 

Hot Topics in Broadcast Law for Noncommercial Radio Stations

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Brandy Doyle

Mike Couzens

 

Experienced broadcast attorney Michael Couzens shares the latest on broadcast law for noncommercial radio. Topics include content regulation (underwriting, copyright, political broadcasting), compliance (public files, license renewals, EAS) and good journalistic practice (slander, libel, phone conversations). Your chance for free legal advice!

 

Streaming Social Movements: Podcasting and Internet Radio 101

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Ana Martina

 

Want to start broadcasting NOW? You don't need a radio signal, just a webstream. With just an internet connection, a few open source programs, and some rubber bands and glue, you can connect your voice and your programs to web listeners (rubber bands and glue definitely optional). In this workshop we will learn free, open source tools to create our own webstreams. We will explain what is a mountpoint, how do you connect an audio interface and how to do streaming. We will talk about the different platforms and the program options for each operating systems: Windows, Mac and Linux. You just want to be able to publish your awesome radio show in the internet? Want to share your audios in social networks? Come and learn how to do an easy podcast. The potential of webstreaming and podcasting is HUGE, from broadcasting live events and organizing mass communication movements, to connecting communities in struggle around the world. Come join us in this workshop and get involved in these efforts!

 

Building Radio, Building Movements: Strategizing Outreach for the low power FM licensing window

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 4:45pm – 6:15pm

 

Presenter(s): 

Danielle Chynoweth

Jeff Rousset

Steven Renderos

 

Strategy session on how the LPFM opportunity and community radio movement generally can be used cross sector to build the power of social justice movements. Some history on how it has been used to do so. Overview of outreach efforts to date and what is left to do.

 

Plenary: SPEAK Café Presents Hakim Bellamy, Aaron Ammons, and Friends

Saturday, July 28, 2012 – 8:00pm – 10:00pm

 

Acclaimed poet-activist Hakim Bellamy & the Aaron Ammons of Speak Café are performing as part of Grassroots Radio Conference 2012: The Future of Community Radio (July 26-29 at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center) on Saturday, July 28 at 8:00pm.

 

THIS EVENT IS FREE FOR GRC REGISTRANTS! Tickets $15 ($7.50 low-income) in advance only at Brown Paper Ticketsor 800-838-3006; $15 at the door. This event is open to the public!

 

Hakim Bellamy

Hakim Bellamy is inaugural Poet Laureate of Albuquerque, NM, and is a national and regional Poetry Slam Champion and holds three consecutive collegiate poetry slam titles at the University of New Mexico. His poetry has been published in Albuquerque inner-city buses and various anthologies. Bellamy was recognized as an honorable mention for the University of New Mexico Paul Bartlett Re Peace Prize for his work as a community organizer and journalist and was recently bestowed the populist honor of "Best Poet" by Local iQ ("Smart List" 2010, 2011 & 2012) and Alibi ("Best of Burque" 2010, 2011 & 2012). He is the co-creator of the multimedia Hip Hop theater production Urban Verbs: Hip-Hop Conservatory & Theater that has been staged throughout the country. He facilitates youth writing workshops for schools and community organizations in New Mexico and beyond. Hakim is currently finishing his MA in Communications and Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico. He is the proud father of a 4 year-old miracle and works as the Strategic Communication Director at Media Literacy Project.

 

SUNDAY, JULY 29TH

People of Color Radio Caucus

Sunday, July 29, 2012 – 9:00am – 10:30am

 

Presenter(s): 

Ana Martina

Vanessa Maria Graber

 

We invite people of color and allies to attend this caucus to discuss resources, support networks, and issues that affect our communities.  This discussion will focus on how we can work together to support the expansion of community radio and help more people of color get on the air.  We also will discuss how we can build robust social networks and independent media infrastucture that is accessible to diverse populations as well as creating systems for sharing content and continuing dialogue.