Listen Up Northwest is a collaboratively produced radio magazine featuring stories of communities in action throughout the Northwest. Each broadcast highlights the work of skilled community radio producers and artists from our region, including Alaska, British Columbia, Washingon, Idaho, Montana and Oregon.

The pilot broadcast (for the first week of April 2008) features pieces on an environmental initiative of the Samish Nation, (Robin Carneen/KSVR), homelessness in Seattle (Adam Vaughn/KBCS), arts and empowerment in women's prisons (Julie Sabatier/Destination DIY) and remembering Japanese internment (Marianne Gutteridge/KSER).

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From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

...Although dwarfed by such noncommercial/public-radio stations in this market as KUOW-FM and KPLU-FM, KBCS-FM still manages to draw enough listeners to show up in the quarterly ratings tables (behind the two NPR stations, KEXP-FM and KNHC-FM in fall quarter, according to the Radio Research Consortium).

KBCS hopes to build on that by rolling out new technology. This year it started an audio archive featuring programs from the previous two weeks that can be streamed an hour at a time, as well as a real-time playlist.

Next up is its digital transmitter, which the station hopes to have operating by the end of this summer. That will enable KBCS to use HD technology's capabilities to provide three channels of programming -- two for KBCS itself, the third a student-run channel tied to a curriculum program to be developed with BCC.

But lots of stations boast the same technology. What will set KBCS apart, Ramsey says, is its community focus, with a rich mixture of specialty music programs (featuring everything from vintage jazz to bluegrass, zydeco and Hawaiian) and public-affairs programming (nationally syndicated as well as local).

The local content is produced by about 200 volunteers who come through the station each month. KBCS has built that army of volunteers with training courses through BCC's continuing education program to turn almost anyone into a radio producer...

KSVR DJ Jerome Edge has become quite an ambassador for community radio (and hip-hop) since taking part in last year's AMARC summit in Amman, Jordan. Check out his latest reportback, via KSVR.

This (doc) is good news for the many local community groups, schools, microbroadcasters and others applying for full-power radio licenses this month, during the FCC's rare application window for new noncommercial stations...

Low-power FM radio demystified! In this hands-on workshop (4:30-8:30pm, Sunday, Oct. 21 at Seattle's 2020 Cycle), you’ll get a basic overview of how radio works and a chance to set up a station and go on air. You can build a microtransmitter or learn how to use free software to put together a radio program. Meet trainers from Chicago's Radios Populares, see how accessible media technology can be and dream about the possibilities in your community. No experience necessary. Limited to 30 participants. Read more for registration details!

[via Sabrina at KBCS]

KBCS team works with Spokane Community Radio Station

This past weekend, a team of KBCS staff and volunteers traveled across the state to provide a series of radio training workshops to KYRS, the low-power FM community station located in the heart of downtown Spokane. KYRS went on the air in 2003, and since its beginning, KBCS has been active in providing mentoring assistance to the station s staff and volunteers. This latest round of workshops covered everything from audio production to interviewing techniques, podcasting to pledge drives, and was made possible through a grant KBCS received to build a model for regional mentoring between community radio stations. KBCS is committed to supporting community radio in Washington state, and across the nation.

Reclaim the Media is looking for a community radio producer/organizer to help take the Northwest Community Radio Network project to the next level, in collaboration with creative radio producers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Alaska!

The position involves two main functions: (1) coordinating production of a weekly collaborative radio program and (2) organizing related to the launch of the Northwest Community Radio Network.

CiTR Radio, one of Canada's leading community radio stations is pleased to host the National Campus Community Radio Conference, June 11-16 2007 in Vancouver. CiTR is inviting American community media friends and allies to cross the border and join in this year's conference!

We found out about this fledgling Internet station through a chance conversation in a local coffeehouse... Hollow Earth Radio, with what looks like a mixture of music, live programming and recorded live performances, with a yen for found sounds, collage, old mix tapes and other audio sports. Check them out!

There must be more of these small Internet stations around the Northwest.