KSKQ: We Want the Airwaves!
by Leslie DeLorean
“Welcome to your radio station” a phrase coined by Terry Hill, Production Chair and co-founder of KSKQ 94.9 LPFM (low-power FM). That is now the greeting you hear when you arrive at the studio of Ashland’s in-process community radio station. Four years in the making, KSKQ is grinding towards its goal of being live on the air in June 2006. The momentum is building daily. In 2005, volunteers contributed over 10,000 hours raising funds, organizing, developing a programming strategy, and making a name for itself in the community. You may have seen volunteers “tabling” at the Ashland Co-op or at other locations around town, getting the message out about the station. KSKQ is supported by annual memberships, starting at $35 for individuals.
KSKQ’s philosophy is to offer locally produced relevant programming to the south end of the Rogue Valley with the distinct advantage of not having our programming under the influence of government, corporate, or advertiser forces. KSKQ is staffed entirely by volunteers at this point. We have been working with new volunteers to create programs by offering a workshop “How to produce a radio show” which covers how to record, edit audio files on a computer, writing and organizing a show, an overview of FCC programming regulations, and formatting it to be streamed over the internet and broadcast live, when we’re on the air in the near future. The next course to be offered is “How to be a DJ” and the training dates are to be determined.
Operating out of suite #6 in the Ashland Arts building, 258 A. street, upstairs from the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library (RVML). Plenty of people have found us during Ashland’s First Friday Art Walk, KSKQ is unofficially nominated as “the best First Friday open house” each month. Every month has a different theme for First Friday, March is (surprise) St Patrick’s Day. Wear green and join us!
Currently, you can web-in and hear KSKQ streaming on www.kskq.org for local and regionally produced music, and we are proud to offer Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman, and Free Speech Radio News.
Our goals for 2006 are: 1) raise $30,000, 2) locate a site for our broadcast tower and install it, 3) create 40+ hours of local programming each week, 4) get the support of 1,000 annual members, and most importantly, 5) be broadcasting live on the airwaves!
There are many volunteer opportunities to get involved at KSKQ. Here are just a few of our organizational needs: webmaster, publicity, fundraising, grant writing, data entry, administrative assistance, audio production, and many more tasks. If you want to get involved, contact Sean Gordon or Leslie DeLorean at KSKQ 482-3999. Office hours are Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm and Saturday 12pm – 2pm. Be sure and call first.
KSKQ is proud to present David Rovics and Atilla the Stockbroker, musical-political-satirical singer-songwriters on Sunday, March 5th, 7pm at the Unitarian Center, located at 87 Fourth Street, Ashland. For more information, see www.kskq.org
