Outreach: Spread the Word

The expansion of community radio stations offers social justice movements in the United States an important opportunity to build media outlets in the hands of the people. We need to ensure that every town and city is ready for this one-time-only chance ahead to apply for new licenses. Volunteers are spreading the word to nonprofits, social justice groups, and community activists about this amazing chance to amplify their work by applying for and building a community radio station. The work we do over the coming months will reap rewards for decades.

 Check out these materials below to learn how you can help spread the word. Tell us you want to volunteer on the sign up page, and we'll be in touch!

Click here to view a list of our Outreach Partners.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Share our Start a Station page on facebook and twitter. Use the language below or talk about why community radio is important to you!

Facebook (link to http://prometheusradio.org/start_a_station)
Don't depend on corporate media to tell your stories. Start a community radio station! Thanks to a decade of organizing by Prometheus Radio Project and allies, thousands of new noncommercial FM radio licenses will go up for grabs to nonprofits nationwide over the coming months. Enter your zip code and see if you can apply for a license near you. Amplify the 99%!

Twitter
> RT. Don't depend on corporate media to tell your stories. Start a community radio station in 2012! http://prometheusradio.org/start_a_station #GetRadio #LPFM

> RT. Is there room for a new community radio station in your city? Find out with the new zip code tool! http://prometheusradio.org/start_a_station  #GetRadio #LPFM
 

EMAIL

Dear __________

We need to own and control our own media to tell our stories, express our culture, and organize for change in our communities. 

After a 10 year fight, media justice advocates successfully passed the Local Community Radio Act in 2011. Now, there is a one-time opportunity opening up access to the airwaves for community groups.

In the next year, nonprofits will have a historic chance to apply for thousands of new non-commercial FM radio licenses! This will be the first time urban areas can apply and the last big chance to get a radio license. These Low Power FM (LPFM) stations can function as broadcast studios and multimedia training and organizing centers for our movements. They are a powerful local organizing tool, and integrating new technologies allows us to amplify our messages nationally and globally. 90% of Americans currently say they listen to the radio once a week.

Community radio stations can amplify the voices of people addressing important issues in their communities. They have proven to be impressive organizing tools for exposing government corruption, cleaning up toxic waste, winning better working conditions, and promoting local arts and culture.

Prometheus Radio Project is the recognized leader of the Low Power FM movement, and will be providing start to finish support to apply, build and sustain these stations to amplify our movements for years to come. Contact Prometheus if you want to apply for a license or to learn more about expanding community radio!

Sign up to receive updates on community radio expansion

ORGANIZING RESOURCES

Radio Summer Toolkit  Download this comprehensive toolkit of information, materials, and additional resources to spread the word about community radio!

Introduction to Community Radio  On this page you'll find a list of materials to help you get familiar with Low Power Radio, so you can more effectively communicate about community radio on tour.

Popular Education Tools  Here are some ideas for workshop actvities you might use to help groups think collaboratively about using media for social change.

Contact Kit  We want to know who you meet along the way, so we can connect them to resources about getting an LPFM.  Read how you can make sure we keep in touch with the people you reach here.

Sign up to Volunteer  and we'll support you through the process with additional training, resources, and one-on-one assistance! 

ORGANIZE AN EVENT

• Find your partners. If you're not already working with others, find a local organization or a few friends to help host a presentation. Working with others will boost turnout, help with logistics, and maybe even form the basis of your new community radio station. Decide who you want to reach with your event-- what voices are missing in the media landscape in your area? Immigrants? Youth? Progressives? People of color? Who are the leaders in these communities, and what organizations might have the resources to support a new station?  Knowing who you want to reach will help you target your outreach and plan your meeting.

  The presentation can be an in person event or a conference call or webinar. Get in touch with Prometheus if you would like one of our staff members to Skype in to present, answer questions, or lead a webinar for your group.

When you create a list of partners then we will send you a sample email you can use to invite them to an event. If you are coordinating with multiple groups it may be easier to create a free Doodle account to invite folks. This gives the people you're contacting a few possible meeting dates and time slots so you can clearly see which dates/times work best for folks. To create a Doodle account click here.

• Book a location. Public libraries, churches, schools, and community centers often have meeting rooms available to the public at no cost. Local non-profit organizations are often willing to donate space as well. (If you get stuck, contact Prometheus and we'll see who we know in your area.)
  

• Advertise your event. The best way to reach a diverse crowd is to do diverse outreach-- not everyone is on Facebook or checks it regularly. Definitely use Facebook and other social networking tools to spread the word far (Facebook and Twitter make it easy for others to re-post your announcement). But be sure to also post your announcement to local listserves or on bulletin boards in popular spots. Call people and send text messages. Place an announcement in your local paper or alternative weekly. Ask local organizations to send the announcement to their members. Partnering with other organizations is an easy way to connect with folks you normally couldn't reach. And be sure to let us at Prometheus know, so we can send the announcement to our contacts in your area.
  

• Create an agenda. We provide Sample Agendas in this toolkit that you can use or modify. Also check out our Popular Education Tools for activities to engage the group in thinking creatively about the possibiliites for community radio.
  

• Gather and print copies of materials. Be sure to bring big paper and markers to take notes during your meeting, and post a big copy of your agenda for participants. Use our Contact Kit to collect attendees' contact info and share it with Prometheus so we can offer them additional support, resources, and technical assistance to start a station.
  

• Send reminders and call key participants. This step is key. It's a busy world, and for most people, your event will be one of many on their calendar. If you know some of those who are planning to attend, a quick phone call reminder asking if they can still make it goes a long way. It's usually a good idea to call or email the day before, and then send a text message reminder an hour or two before the event.
   
• Host your event!

• Follow-up with Prometheus. Let us know how the meeting went, and feel free to send us any questions that came up that you couldn't answer. If you upload your contact list (see Contact Kit) we'll send you a free t-shirt!