Recently I was fortunate to attend the annual convention of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB).  This was an eye-opening experience that helped me understand the critical nature of community radio in our society.  The folks who run these stations do so with little money or resources, but they have a passion for serving their local community and for running the most hyper-local radio stations in America.  Their conference, organized by NFCB president Sally Kane and her team of professionals, was also the most work-focused radio conference I’ve seen in a while.

Community radio stations often work in difficult funding environments, and in rural and non-affluent areas.  Community media is often the only locally-based, locally-focused media in communities of color and rural areas, giving it the opportunity to empower audiences and build community.  Like commercial radio and the bigger non-comm stations, community radio audiences have continuous access to digital media on a multitude of devices.  These stations are competing with quality, engaging programming on-air and through other channels (such as through digital media and live events).

Community radio as a group is big and influential.  There are 776 community radio stations currently in operation in America, 445 rural and 310 urban.  Forty five of the stations are Latino, 52 are Native, and 32 are African-American.  Only 404 of them receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, so many are 100% self-supported.

I went into the conference with a lot of respect for what community radio is about.  I came out of with even more respect, specifically for the people who are literally dedicating their lives to their communities.  Community radio stations and the people who run them are the Peace Corps of radio, and we should all be thankful for their existence.

More about Mike.