Podcast #317 – How Radio Survived 18 Months of Pandemic (and Keeps Going)

A year-and-a-half ago high school, college and community radio stations shut their studio doors in response to safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID. They quickly scrambled to find ways to stay on air, broadcasting archived programming, allowing DJs to pre-record or even broadcast live from home. We’ve dedicated several episodes to learning how […]

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A year-and-a-half ago high school, college and community radio stations shut their studio doors in response to safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID. They quickly scrambled to find ways to stay on air, broadcasting archived programming, allowing DJs to pre-record or even broadcast live from home. We’ve dedicated several episodes to learning how different kinds of stations in a variety of regions confronted the emergency.

Whatever methods were employed, today – with the pandemic still ongoing – it’s heartening to listen around and note that most stations seem to have survived this period. There’s no sense that more stations closed down than in any other 18-month period. In fact, on October 1, college stations from around the world will join together in celebrating the 11th annual College Radio Day, featuring Ambassador “Weird” Al Yankovic.

We take this opportunity to survey radio’s remarkable survival story. Just as internet technology, like Zoom calls, revolutionized the ability to move work, school and other activities into the home, it also let stations stay connected with programmers and volunteers in a way that would have been significantly more challenging even just a decade earlier. Of course, we’re not arguing this is a net plus – too many lives have been lost or altered forever due to this disease. As well, working or DJing from home isn’t a boon for everyone, on top of the fact that closed studios severely impacts the collaboration and camaraderie that is at the heart of so many stations. Yet, it’s worth reflecting on why and how grassroots radio withstood this unprecedented challenge, continuing to serve listeners and communities and help them through this crisis.

Show Notes

Episodes on stations dealing with the pandemic:Podcast #237 – How Community & College Radio Can Deal with COVID-19Podcast #238 – Social Distancing, Going Remote and Automation during Global PandemicPodcast #239 – Hunkering Down with Raven Radio in Sitka, AlaskaPodcast #240 – WFMU is Still On the Air During the PandemicPodcast #285 – Running a Big Community Media Organization in the 2nd Year of the PandemicPodcast #298 – College Radio at the end of the Academic COVID YearOct. 1 is College Radio DayCollege Broadcasters Inc. Student Electronic Media ConventionRadio World: “Goodbye ISDN, Hello Streaming“The Homelessness MarathonNegativland:Negativland’s NPR Tiny Desk ConcertNegativland live (online) at the Ann Arbor Film FestivalNegativland’s Over the Edge Radio: Brain SciencePrinceton University’s WPRBDr. Demento“Weird Al” YankovicKCPR at Cal Poly is where “Weird” Al Got his start in radioJennifer’s Tour of KRRC at Reed CollegeKRRCRadio Survivor’s Top Radio Shows – Jennifer’s #4 – Dr. Demento

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