KBCS: A world of music and ideas

Page 7


By Steve Ramsey

Public radio is alive and well in the Puget Sound area. Not only are we blessed with living in a part of the country with great natural beauty, it’s also home to some of the best listener supported radio in the country.

Here in Seattle, the 13th largest media market in the country, KBCS 91.3 FM currently shares the dial with over 40 commercial and non-commercial radio stations. KBCS initially turned on its transmitter in February of 1973. Over the subsequent 37+ years, KBCS has grown into a vibrant community radio station, featuring an eclectic mix of music as well as progressive news programming. And, it ’s all made possible by over 100 active volunteers, a small staff, and financial support from its listeners.

Community radio plays an important role in the national media landscape. Nearly 400 stations have no affiliation to NPR or other providers such as Public Radio International. These community stations are licensed to, for example, Native American tribes, school districts, and other non-profit organizations. The unifying thread of these stations is their role in connecting communities through their programming and their lower barriers to participation in actually creating that programming.

Historically, it’s been training and ease of access that has set community radio apart. Each station has its own approach and philosophy, and at KBCS, we offer three training classes most every academic quarter: Basic Broadcasting, Community Radio Journalism, and Broadcast Audio Production. These low-cost classes are taught by experienced KBCS staff and focus on practical broadcast skills that give students hands-on experience with the same equipment used in KBCS ’s daily operations.

The music programming heard on KBCS comes directly from the community. Rather than following a more commercial model that dictates adherence to a specific format, KBCS provides opportunities for trained community members to host radio programs. These individuals have an abiding passion and knowledge of their respective musical genres, and with the training KBCS provides, produce outstanding radio programs. KBCS is the only radio station in the Seattle metro area committed to providing that level of training and access.

News and information programming provides the other focus at KBCS. In stark contrast to other radio stations, where paid producers and reporters cover specific beats, KBCS is committed to being a real alternative. Along with many syndicated news programs not heard elsewhere, our local news programming often strives to tie national or international events to the communities in which we live and work. Our weekly program Voices of Diversity focuses on the often untold community stories from a racial and social justice point of view. One World Report, a weekly local news magazine program, takes a look at some of the issues facing our communities. Finally, our most recent addition to our local program lineup, The Morning Blend, airs weekday mornings at 7 a.m. and is a unique and lively mix of music and information.

Along with featuring a wonderful mix of jazz, folk, bluegrass, funk and R&B, we also present music that spans the globe, from Latin America to Hawaii, Africa to the British Isles, the Middle East to South Asia. Add to that a unique lineup of news and public affairs programming, and it’s easy to see why KBCS listeners know the station as a “world of music and ideas”.

All of KBCS’s locally produced news and information programming is available online for instant listening or download. In addition, KBCS also features two full weeks of archived music and news programming through our online streaming audio archive. To find out more about KBCS, please go online at www.kbcs.fm or call 425-564-2427.

Steve Ramsey is station manager a KBCS and a member of PSARA.