Radio project with local roots celebrates 10th anniversary Radio project with local roots celebrates 10th anniversary (January 26, 2005)

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

It's been more than a decade since a handful of local activists decided it wasn't enough to just complain about the mainstream media.

Disgusted and frustrated by what they saw as biased and incomplete coverage of important news issues and events, they came up with a plan to give people a chance to hear the voices of people rarely heard in corporate media outlets -- the poor, the underserved and underrepresented, liberals and progressives.

Although none of them had any broadcast news experience, they turned their energies to learning, and with little money but lots of determination, launched National Radio Project, headed by Portola Valley resident Peggy Law.

The radio project, which produces the news-documentary program "Making Contact," turns 10 this month, and is celebrating with a party for all, and an outreach effort for high school students interested in learning about radio broadcasting.

The National Radio Project aired its first "Making Contact" news documentary program in January 1995, with only a handful of radio stations around the country picking it up.

Today, the program is on 175 stations nationwide -- up from 55 in August 1995. That fact astounds -- and profoundly pleases -- Ms. Law, who says, "People who knew nothing about radio made this happen."

The birthday party -- a potluck dinner with free admission -- is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, January 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper, in Palo Alto. Dozens of social-change activists and journalists plan to join in the celebration, among them Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange; Paul George, director of the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center; and Judy Litekey, co-founder of School of the Americas Watch.

From 5 to 6:30 p.m., high school students can join professional radio journalists for a discussion and hands-on experience doing broadcast-style interviews.

Ms. Law said the session is part of ongoing training the radio project conducts for students. Radio project organizers, she said, are aiming to democratize the media, and one way is to teach people how to use the microphone.

"The microphone is a powerful tool," she said. "What kind of news we get has to do with who's holding the microphone -- where they point it and what kind of questions they ask. We've always believed that, of course, journalists should be doing this, but so should people who are not trained journalists," such as social and civic activists.

Complimentary tapes of "Making Contact" documentaries will be available at the potluck event. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. To reserve or for more information, call 851-7256.

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