By Sheila Flanagan
from Salem Monthly, Section News
Posted on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 09:43:04 PM PDT
Have you ever dreamed of having your own radio show? Karen Holman might be able to help with that. Holman, a chemistry professor at Willamette University, is spearheading a drive to bring community radio to Salem. Community radio is noncommercial, nonprofit radio that serves portions of a community that are not represented by mainstream media. Holman became addicted to radio while at UC Santa Barbara, where she was a DJ for Santa Barbara's KCSB.
"I really learned to love community radio, what it is and what it could be. I love seeing the personality of towns evolve and be expressed."
When Holman moved to Salem in 2001 and found there was no community radio, she looked into FCC rules for getting a station started. What she found was that it would be "nearly impossible to start." A frequency could only be applied for when the FCC opened an application window, and the FCC hadn't done that in years.
Holman didn't give up. In April 2006 she learned that the FCC would be opening a one-week application window for nonprofit radio licenses. Excited by the opportunity, Holman and others worked with an engineer to identify a frequency, 88.5 FM, that was available in the Salem area.
One requirement for the license was that the applying organization needed to be affiliated with a nonprofit organization that had been in existence for at least two years. The Salem Folklore Community provided an excellent partnership opportunity. Their activities had waned in the past few years, and the group was looking to revive itself. Additionally, Salem Folklore Community's mission was a good fit with what Holman's group was hoping to achieve in advocating music and culture.
The Radio Project Committee of Salem Folklore Community submitted its application to the FCC on October 15. Now it's a waiting game, with the outcome depending on whether other groups have applied for the 88.5 frequency.
While Holman is fairly confident about the outcome, it won't be known until at least February whether the license will be granted. If the license is obtained, the station would have two years to get on the air, and in that time some serious fundraising would need to occur. Holman estimates it will cost several thousand dollars to get on the air. Grants are available through the Oregon Cultural Trust and other sources, and once on-air, the station would have periodic fundraisers.
Diversity of programming is a goal of the station. Holman said that would be reflected not only in the program schedule, but in making sure that every one of those shows reflect the community.
In terms of musical tastes, Holman hopes the station can accommodate everyone.
"[We're open to] anything and everything ... the guy who has this rare record collection, or a girl who has experimental CDs from Europe."
In addition to music, the station also would have local news. Anyone in the community would be welcome to step forward with ideas.
"People can propose any show they want," Holman said.
Community radio also will train people in how to express themselves on-air.
"One thing you're definitely going to hear are people that are not trained DJs," she said. "I think that's part of the charm."
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