The People’s Press Project Awarded a $25,000 grant for Community Innovation
Beginning July 1st, 2015, the People’s Press Project (PPP) will begin outreach to establish Fargo-Moorhead’s newest low power FM radio station called KPPP-LP FM.
The Bush Foundation has invested $25,000 towards the community building that the PPP will undertake in the FM community. The grant will be used to engage communities of color and disenfranchised communities in the creation of a non-commercial, community owned low power FM radio station serving Fargo-Moorhead. This project focuses on community outreach, workshops and skill building trainings to engage the community in the infrastructure, production, development and operation of the station
Communities of color, particularly in the Fargo-Moorhead area, often do not see themselves reflected with authenticity in traditional media—whether as consumers, owners or operators. The People’s Press Project will lead the Fargo-Moorhead area in the design and implementation of a grassroots, community-owned FM radio station. Relationship building and facilitated media justice training workshops will give underserved individuals the tools of the trade.
On January 28, 2014, The People’s Press Project (PPP) was awarded a LPFM Broadcast Station Construction Permit from the FCC. The LPFM radio station will be located in Fargo and has an anticipated reach of 2-5 miles. This coverage can potentially reach over 165,000 people in the FM community. All community participation will involve free training in broadcasting, radio show programming, computer skills and internet. Station members will learn marketing, fundraising and components of the radio and media industry.
This project will focus on creating programming and will engage the community in understanding communication rights. This work will teach multi-media skills to traditionally disenfranchised communities (immigrants, new Americans, communities of color, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, youth, blue collar and working poor, rural communities, single parent households, homeless, elderly, etc.), as well as students, nonprofits, small businesses, artists, and new journalists. Having a radio station combined with the training program will put community members in the driver’s seat of their own media production and ownership.
PPP will be announcing public workshops in the community to engage people in the development and creation of this station. Watch for meeting announcements and training opportunities.
