Prometheus Radio Project
The Prometheus Radio Project is a non-profit organization founded by a small group of radio activists in 1998. Prometheus builds, supports, and advocates for community radio stations which empower participatory community voices and movements for social change. They demystify technologies, the political process that governs access to our media system, and the effects of media on our lives and our communities.
PRP’s primary focus is on building a large community of low power FM (LPFM) stations and listeners. They hope that this community will grow into a powerful force working toward the democratic media future they envision. PRP supports community groups at every stage of the process of building community radio stations, facilitate public participation in the FCC regulatory process, and sponsor events promoting awareness and support of media democracy and LPFM radio.
PRP is available to speak on the following topics (and more – just ask!):
Communicating Resistance: Radio from across Latin America
As a Neoliberal Economic Order continues to spread across the world, displacing people from their lands and privatizing their public resources, communities across Latin America are increasingly turning to community media as a tool of resistance to this capitalist globalization. In this multi-media presentation The Prometheus Radio Project in conjunction with Palabra Radio will highlight the central role that media has played in building popular power from the women in Oaxaca, Mexico who led a take-over of corporate and state media outlets in protest to the complete media black-out of the popular rebellion; to a rural Guatemalan Community using a radio station to fight a mining project; to migrant farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida broadcasting programs about economic justice on their Low Power FM radio station.
Fight for the Airwaves: Radio Reclamation
Since the creation of public radio broadcasting in the early 20th century; women, people of color and other marginalized groups have been consistently denied access to the airwaves. Since that time, communities have challenged their exclusion by broadasting unlisenced radio stations and also pressuring the government to create a low power fm radio service for non commercial use. Through brief videos and short audio documentaries the Prometheus Radio Project will lead participants on a tour of media justice struggles with a focus on people’s continued fight for the airwaves.
Put your Hands on the Radio
Armed with a small transmitter, antenna, a couple of microphones and a mixer, people can unleash the power of radio as an essential communications tool. In this workshop participants will learn what technology is needed to start your own broadcast, internet radio station or podcast. They will also learn what vital rool radio can play in emergency situations. The presentation will include a screening of Ya Se Pudo about a Radio Barnraising with the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United who use their low power fm station to advance immigrant rights and labor justice.
