((PKG)) COMMUNITY RADIO
((Banner: Community Radio))
((Reporters: Mariah Espada, Asia Hester))
((Camera: Asia Hester, Mariah Espada))
((Map: Takoma Park, Maryland))
((Banner: In recent years, the US Federal Communications Commission established Low Power FM radio as a non-profit, community alternative to commercial stations.))
((NATS))
I’ll be watching you on Old Soul Collective every Sundays from noon to one.
And we’re back and you’re listening to Talk of Takoma, on WOWD-LP, Takoma Park, 94.3 FM.
((ERIC BOND, SENIOR EDITOR, TAKOMA VOICE))
Really, we’re kind of a magazine, interview program. I find out what’s going on in the community and I try to bring in people who can talk knowledgeably about, you know, different issues. What’s interesting about Takoma Park, that if something is happening on the national level, I am curious to find out, you know, how it affects our communities.
((NATS))
We have limitations on assault weapons here and you can get them more easily in other states. Do you feel that living in Maryland, do you have a sense of maybe relief or greater safety because we are a state that has more strict laws?
Silver Spring, Takoma Park area is particularly really safe just because we have really…..
((WEASEL, WOWD-LP))
The unique thing is that not only are we hyper local, but we are actually bringing this community of Takoma Park to the world because there are people who are actually listening (online) everywhere from Singapore, to Hong Kong, to the Asian countries, to everywhere around the world. And they are hearing about this little place called Takoma Park and I imagine that they have some sort of fantasy. "What is Takoma Park like? Who are these people? What is a Takoma Park?" They actually get a taste of Takoma Park. So, it’s hyper local, but it’s global.
((NATS))
((JAMES LEPINSKY CONTRERAS, OLD SOUL COLLECTIVE, WOWD-LP))
Well, Old Soul, a lot of it is music. We are primarily focused on music although we do have a lot of talking portions as well. I think the importance of local radio is that, I think, it gives a diverse audience for people who are listening and for people who make programs. There are a lot of people of different age ranges and, I guess, racial backgrounds and different sort of identities and different sorts of walks of life that come here to just play music or have a certain program prepared.
((NATS))
((MARIKA PATRIDGE, FOUNDER, WOWD-LP))
We are your friend. We are a companion. We are not the Prairie Home Companion. We are like literally the urban, inside neighborhood companion. We can tell you if the Red Line (metro) is running in a very kind, competent way. Nor do we require our DJ’s to say that. This is people’s radio. We go from, you know, Bayou Boogie to ad infinitum like a Trans music show. We go from a DC poetry show to 17-year-olds talking about what life is like in high school. And then to experimental music show.
((WEASEL, WOWD-LP))
It isn’t dot Coca Cola, or Pepsi, or a huge company that supports it. It’s the people down the street. So, to have a unique, independent community voice is absolutely amazing and it’s just sort of a wish and a dream come true.
((NATS))
