{"id":31750,"date":"2018-04-23T15:49:16","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T19:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=31750"},"modified":"2018-04-23T15:49:16","modified_gmt":"2018-04-23T19:49:16","slug":"puerto-rico-am-radio-makes-a-comeback-post-hurricane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/puerto-rico-am-radio-makes-a-comeback-post-hurricane\/","title":{"rendered":"Puerto Rico: AM Radio makes a comeback post-hurricane"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: Columbia Journalism Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2017\u2014the day before Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico\u2014the evening news team at WORA-TV in the coastal city of Mayag\u00fcez broadcast its final program before shutting down the station ahead of the storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Maria was going to be the monster everyone was predicting,\u201d says Carolina Rodriguez Plaza, the news team\u2019s production manager, \u201cwe knew the power could be cut off for a long time. We decided to shut down the station and send everyone home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plaza told her team of 12 reporters not to worry, their salaries would be paid during the downtime and their jobs would be waiting for them when broadcasting resumed. Plaza retreated to her parents\u2019 home, where she spent the night of the hurricane watching updates about the storm on cable TV. Then, as happened in homes across Puerto Rico, the lights flickered and the power went out. Hurricane Maria\u2019s 150-mile-per-hour winds toppled power lines and torrential rains grounded out the island\u2019s power grid.<\/p>\n

Desperate for news about the disaster befalling her island, Plaza turned on a battery-powered radio and found that a local radio station, WKJB 710 AM, was maintaining its broadcast. The station\u2019s managers had learned a lesson about disaster preparedness in 1998, when Hurricane Georges blew down their radio antenna and cut off the power. Since then, staff had equipped the station with a backup power generator and a reinforced antenna that could withstand hurricane-force winds.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaria erased the world of journalism in Puerto Rico,\u201d Plaza says. \u201cIt reemerged in a new form, with radio playing an important role.\u201d[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at the CJR.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: Columbia Journalism Review) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2017\u2014the day before Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico\u2014the evening news team at WORA-TV in the coastal city of Mayag\u00fcez broadcast its final program before shutting down the station ahead of the storm. \u201cIf Maria was going to be the monster everyone was predicting,\u201d says Carolina Rodriguez […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,433,3],"tags":[625,6995,6529,5686,102],"class_list":["post-31750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-mediumwave","category-news","tag-am-radio","tag-columbia-journalism-review","tag-hurricane-maria","tag-puerto-rico","tag-why-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-8g6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28585,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/puerto-rico-this-radio-station-stayed-on-the-air-even-though-it-lost-its-roof\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":0},"title":"Puerto Rico: This radio station stayed on the air even though it lost its roof","author":"Thomas","date":"September 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: The Miami Herald) SAN JUAN Normally, Rub\u00e9n S\u00e1nchez would not interrupt a live interview with as prominent a newsmaker as Gov. Ricardo Rossell\u00f3. But Wednesday was anything but normal. Less than an hour after Hurricane Maria plowed into Puerto Rico, Rossell\u00f3 was updating Spanish-language radio listeners by phone on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28509,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-arrl-asks-for-volunteers\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":1},"title":"Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief: ARRL asks for volunteers","author":"Thomas","date":"September 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I received a message from a friend. Knowing that I'm an amateur radio operator, she asked if I could contact someone in Puerto Rico and verify that her friends' family are safe--no one has heard from them since Hurricane Maria hit the island. The situation in Puerto Rico\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28593,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/npr-amateur-radio-operators-stepped-in-to-help-communications-with-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":2},"title":"NPR: Amateur Radio Operators Stepped In To Help Communications With Puerto Rico","author":"Thomas","date":"September 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: NPR via Eric, WD8RIF) Volunteer HAM operators have set up informal radio networks to connect family and friends with their loved ones in Puerto Rico. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to one of those volunteers, Greg Dober. Click here to listen via NPR.","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28776,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/nab-and-other-broadcasters-donate-10000-shortwave-radios-to-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":3},"title":"NAB and other broadcasters donate 10,000 shortwave radios to Puerto Rico","author":"Thomas","date":"October 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: AP) With no end in sight for the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, the radio industry is putting its best foot forward to help the folks on the ground. This week, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, and a number of U.S.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28590,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/cnn-ham-radio-operators-are-saving-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":4},"title":"CNN: “Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico”","author":"Thomas","date":"September 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: CNN) (CNN)The phone call from the Red Cross came in late Friday night, just as the full scale of Hurricane Maria's calamity began taking shape. \"We need 50 of your best radio operators to go down to Puerto Rico.\" In the days after the worst storm in three generations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28615,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/wapa-radio-radio-voice-of-calm-in-the-storm\/","url_meta":{"origin":31750,"position":5},"title":"WAPA Radio: “Radio Voice of Calm in the Storm”","author":"Thomas","date":"October 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: US News) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - News anchorman Luis Penchi has slept about three hours a night since Hurricane Maria turned his radio station into one of the few sources of public information on this battered island. Working more than 25 hours straight during the height of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31750\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}