Station Governance

A clear station structure is the key to running a successful radio station.

That way it will be clear who gets to make decisions and how, who to call when your transmitter breaks, who will keep track of those thousands of donations that are pouiring and and also how to plug new volunteers in.  Some stations have a paid General Manager who makes most important decisions regarding most important issues at the station and other radio stations have decentralized committees where all people share decision making responsibiilites.  You will have to figure out what is the best structure for the people involved with your station.

WSLR guide to Station Governance

We collaborated with the folks at WSLR-LP to produce a guide featuring descriptions of the varieties of types of Station Governance and the key elements your station will need to have.  

WORT Governance Guide

WORT is a great community radio station in Madison Wisconsin that broadcasts "radio programming with a human perspective -- respecting all peoples and their environments." They have a fairly developed horizontal structure composed of different staff members and committees which you can learn about by reading their station governance guides.

Organizing Your Station: Building a Station Structure

Creating a community-based low-power radio station takes more than engineering expertise. It takes grassroots and political organizing. Prometheus Alumni Amanda Huron gives some helpful tips on organizing your station, and getting community support for your effort.

Resources:

Check out our Station Policies page for more information on the specifics of operating a station.

View our webinar on "Creating Station Governance Structures and Personnel Polcies for Community Radio." View the corresponding presentation here.

Read our handout on LPFM Operating Budgets