• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

What makes a radio station a "community " station?

A

Arnold Poon

Guest
Ok people, time to get your views on exactly what makes a radio station, a "community " station. Nominate your Rutland area station...

Is a community station one that, dones lots of community events, for example Mud Volley ball? (Where was the Z? Mr Marbles not likley the muddy?) Or if a radio station does a few fund raiser events? Pack the Paramount, Stuff a Bus, WSYB Christmas Fund

Or if a station has their vans in a parade, does that make it a community station?

Or is a station truly for the community, if it does more FOR the community? WSYB high school sports for example...

Hey , not making fun of anyone here, (dont wanna get taken outsdie), so I'm curious as to what you think makes a great local, radio station.

I look forward to your replies...

Poon
 
I am an outsider so I don't know the stations you mention.

Here is my first line of a paragraph or list defining community radio: Your civic club, your church or your favorite charitable organization is trying to put together a first time event. It could be a fund raiser, it could be an open house, it could be to honor an outstanding citizen. And someone starts a list of how to promote and publicize the event and make the community aware of the event. And someone volunteers, "I'm sure we could get W??? to talk about it."
 
Arnold Poon said:
Ok people, time to get your views on exactly what makes a radio station, a "community " station. Nominate your Rutland area station...

Is a community station one that, dones lots of community events, for example Mud Volley ball? (Where was the Z? Mr Marbles not likley the muddy?) Or if a radio station does a few fund raiser events? Pack the Paramount, Stuff a Bus, WSYB Christmas Fund

Or if a station has their vans in a parade, does that make it a community station?

Or is a station truly for the community, if it does more FOR the community? WSYB high school sports for example...

Hey , not making fun of anyone here, (dont wanna get taken outsdie), so I'm curious as to what you think makes a great local, radio station.

I look forward to your replies...

Poon
Click to expand...

Your general subject question is a good one. Why must you poison the waters with your "Rutland only"
and your over the top bitterness to the other station?
 
Hey 12,
Thanks for the reply...but what ARE your thoughts on the post? Regarding the "bitterness", that's an atmosphere that is created everyday for us at Camp Pamal..
 
Hey why all the attacks on people here? Should be moved to "Take It Outside." You asked a good question.

I think a community station is one indeed that does lots for the community. That could be things like sponsorships or lots of promotional events. It could be raising money for charity or giving out free gas. Reporting bad weather also helps. A station that has no promotional events it attends and stays inside their offices all day is one that does not care about it's community. And yes, there are some stations like that.

I don't usually post on this board and don't know the history here so please don't attack me lol.

Arnold Poon said:
Ok people, time to get your views on exactly what makes a radio station, a "community " station. Nominate your Rutland area station...

Is a community station one that, dones lots of community events, for example Mud Volley ball? (Where was the Z? Mr Marbles not likley the muddy?) Or if a radio station does a few fund raiser events? Pack the Paramount, Stuff a Bus, WSYB Christmas Fund

Or if a station has their vans in a parade, does that make it a community station?

Or is a station truly for the community, if it does more FOR the community? WSYB high school sports for example...

Hey , not making fun of anyone here, (dont wanna get taken outsdie), so I'm curious as to what you think makes a great local, radio station.

I look forward to your replies...

Poon
Click to expand...
 
I'm an outsider also (Central Indiana) and have loved the experiance of working in small market, community focused stations. In a way a commuinity station documents the importiant events of the lives of its listeners. Voices that cheer the sectional basketball champs, doing the 2 hour remote for every VFD fish fry in the county, and being there 6 hours after your shift to make sure vital information about storms and floods is covered. It's the local politician making his or her announcment to run and then 3 months later saying thanks to the voters. Maybe its not so much the events but the connected-ness. Knowing that it's not just The Bears of Blue River Feastival but, that it's everyones chance to catch up with your friends and neighbors whom you haven't seen since the kids got out of school for the summer.
 
THere are corporations that do not want the stations to do parades. They feel it is a wate of time. The stations have to get permission. Plus, if they do go out, no Mascot because they don't want to pay someone. The big wigs think the doors should be locked at 5:00 on friday and not opened till Monday morning. Who needs to work on the weekends? That's there motto. And they wonder why they are losing so much money.
 
Heres a question, is it really a community station if you send your parttimers to EVERY local event? Is there a thing as TOO much community involvement? There are a few stations through out the USA who go to every walk, every parade, every baseball opening day, BUT are 90% VT and only send out some promo interns whom no one knows. Does that make a community station?
 
I just returned from my summer vacation. Last night, I was at the Orange County Fair. I shot the shit with the promo girl in the 104.3 My FM tent. I asked her why there were no live jocks there. Granted, it was a Sunday night, but I get the feeling that the fairgoers won't get to meet Valentine. I also get the feeling that Rick Dees won't be making an appearance at the Movin' 93.9 tent either.

Maybe those two are a stretch, but why not let listeners connect with the midday or PM drive host? Send the night guy to the fair...that's when all the 15-year olds are there. Reach them now. This is why radio is failing...nobody can connect with the people that talk at them.

Everybody in radio needs to see Mike Czarny at a remote...that's how radio is done.
 
Will,
I agree totally...but too many times as of late, stations steer away from face time with the P1's....Instead they settle for superficial parades and waving to the crowds. And guess what people, it ain't CC's fault either. Many small market owned groups do the same thing. They think that a van in a parade is doing community service, I disagree...By the way, lots of great input here, keep it coming!

Poon
 
Here’s my 2 cents: A community radio station is a radio station that is aware of it’s proximity to the people it serves and uses that awareness to the best advantage of the community and the radio station. Being a community station is both a mission and a market position.

Louie
 
In your market, what Station is the MOST community focused and connected? In mine, it's WSYB...Doesn't get any better than that!
 
Right now? In Plattsburgh WIRY and in Burlington I would say Hall's WJOY.
 
I think what makes a station community oriented is simply being aware of what is going on in the area, and in turn, actively trying to make the community a better place. There are stations like JOY, Champ, OKO and others that do benefits for Special Olympics, Fallen Soldiers funds, Children's Miracle Network and others. Some don't do a thing for the community and can't even be bothered to take their stations off satellite programming. To me, that is what makes community radio is actual participation in the community and to the listeners served.
 
WFTN in the lakes/concord NH is the MOST community oriented in NH. They still do tours for cubscouts, do tons of local psa, and lots of great community projects including thier cash n cans every dec. The PD is a staple in the community and incourages the staff to do the same. When I was there I was really into the March of Dimes because my son was a premmie and we did TONS of things for them BECAUSE I believed in the orginization, not for ratings or a publicity stunt. THATS what makes a great comunity station, a station that does it for the orginization or the community NOT as a publicity stunt or a ratings stunt.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom