{"id":38128,"date":"2019-06-07T07:29:15","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T11:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38128"},"modified":"2019-06-07T07:33:51","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T11:33:51","slug":"the-guardian-the-loss-of-rural-radio-leaves-us-communities-with-another-cultural-and-informational-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/the-guardian-the-loss-of-rural-radio-leaves-us-communities-with-another-cultural-and-informational-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"The Guardian: The loss of rural radio leaves US communities with “another cultural and informational gap”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

(Source: The Guardian<\/a> via BJ Leiderman and Kris Partridge)<\/p>\n

\n

America’s rural radio stations are vanishing \u2013 and taking the country’s soul with them<\/h1>\n

When I arrive at the radio station, Mark Lucke is standing in the doorway, looking out at the spitting, winter rain. He\u2019s slim and stoic, with sad, almost haunted, eyes. The first thing he asks is if I\u2019d like to see \u201cthe dungeon\u201d. Who wouldn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Lucke pulls on a Steeler\u2019s jacket and a baseball cap over brown hair that falls halfway down his back, and leads me across the five-acre yard. Out here, 90 miles east of Tucson, the desert is a long sweep of brush the color of beach sand. Lucke seems to slip through the rainy day like a ghost.<\/p>\n

The radio station, whose call letters are KHIL, has long been the daily soundtrack for this frontier town (population 3,500) that prides itself on its cowboy culture and quiet pace of life. But six decades after the founding of the station, the property is in foreclosure, with utility disconnect notices coming nearly every month.<\/p>\n

Small-town radio is fizzling nationwide, as stations struggle to attract advertisement dollars. And as station owners are forced to sell, media conglomerates snap up rural frequencies for rock-bottom prices, for the sole purpose of relocating them to urban areas. In a more affluent market, they can be flipped for a higher price. With limited frequencies available, larger broadcasters purchase as many as possible \u2013 especially those higher on the dial \u2013 in a race not dissimilar to a real estate grab.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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

(Source: The Guardian via BJ Leiderman and Kris Partridge) America’s rural radio stations are vanishing \u2013 and taking the country’s soul with them When I arrive at the radio station, Mark Lucke is standing in the doorway, looking out at the spitting, winter rain. He\u2019s slim and stoic, with sad, almost haunted, eyes. The first […]<\/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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,56,433,3],"tags":[4097,625,3479,5584,2228,4099,432,7815,787],"class_list":["post-38128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-broadcasters","category-mediumwave","category-news","tag-am","tag-am-radio","tag-bj-leiderman","tag-kris-partridge","tag-local-radio","tag-mediumwave","tag-mw","tag-rural-radio","tag-the-guardian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-9UY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61113,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/the-shipping-forecast-a-special-1993-filmed-version\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":0},"title":"The Shipping Forecast: A Special 1993 Filmed Version","author":"Thomas","date":"November 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and good friend, BJ Leiderman, who shares the following video on YouTube--a special Shipping Forecast tribute: On 18 December 1993, as part of the Arena Radio Night, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 2 collaborated on a simultaneous broadcast so the shipping forecast \u2013 read\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Longwave"","block_context":{"text":"Longwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/longwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/shipping-forecast-locations.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/shipping-forecast-locations.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/shipping-forecast-locations.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45440,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/qtc-article-clear-channel-mw-broadcast-stations-in-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":1},"title":"QTC Article: Clear Channel MW Broadcast Stations in Australia","author":"Thomas","date":"September 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who notes that the July\/August 2020 issue of the Australian amateur radio magazine QTC (an issue we noted in a previous post is free) actually has an article about the mediumwave scene in Australia. Click here to download a PDF of those\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\/2020\/07\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-20-at-8.08.42-AM-e1595247033738.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-20-at-8.08.42-AM-e1595247033738.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-20-at-8.08.42-AM-e1595247033738.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-20-at-8.08.42-AM-e1595247033738.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11805,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/ny-times-recalling-the-imperfect-radio-and-tv-reception-of-the-past\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":2},"title":"NY Times: “Recalling the Imperfect Radio and TV Reception of the Past”","author":"Thomas","date":"December 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to my dear friend, BJ Leiderman, for sharing this brilliant piece by\u00a0Dana Jennings in the NY Times. I'm only including a few quotes from this piece (below), so please visit this link to read the full article\u00a0about the adventures, charm and nostalgia of analog TV and radio: by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"TV-Analog-Noise-Snow","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/TV-Analog-Noise-Snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/TV-Analog-Noise-Snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/TV-Analog-Noise-Snow.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28235,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/lunch-with-a-friend-and-a-hearty-side-of-enabling\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":3},"title":"Lunch with a friend (and a hearty side of enabling)","author":"Thomas","date":"October 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A few weeks ago, I had lunch with my good friend, BJ Leiderman. \u00a0If you ever listen to public radio programming, especially NPR, you've probably heard BJ's name. BJ is a musician, singer, and composer, and has written the bulk of the theme music you hear on National Public Radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/BJ-Leiderman-and-Thomas-Witherspoon.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/BJ-Leiderman-and-Thomas-Witherspoon.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/BJ-Leiderman-and-Thomas-Witherspoon.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/BJ-Leiderman-and-Thomas-Witherspoon.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51835,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/bbc-ws-documentary-world-wide-waves-22-the-sounds-of-community-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service Documentary: “World Wide Waves ’22: The sounds of community radio”","author":"Thomas","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who shares the following: Just heard a trail for this BBC World Service Radio programme to be broadcast at 12h00 UTC this coming Saturday, 12 February 2022. Here is the background of the programme: For World Radio Day 2022, we tune in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44138,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/uk-analog-commercial-broadcasters-given-permission-to-go-digital-at-their-discretion\/","url_meta":{"origin":38128,"position":5},"title":"UK analog commercial broadcasters given permission to go digital at their discretion","author":"Thomas","date":"July 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who shares the following article that notes the UK will not follow a Norway-style digital switch-off.\u00a0Rather, broadcasters will be allowed to switch off individual AM (and eventually FM) transmitters once they determine it is no longer a cost-effective strategy. From Radio Today:\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\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38128","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=38128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}