“The future is an infinite succession of presents,
and to live now as we think human beings should live,
in defiance of all that is bad around us,
is itself a marvelous victory.”
-Howard Zinn

 
Harvest season is upon us and it seems like every time it kicks in I am looking back at the year and thinking about what experiences and lessons I have harvested. For me, the year has been full of deep conversation about the future of public media, the policies that shape its safety net, the many opportunities that beckon media makers among us, and the formidable challenges that give us pause and create a sobering silence that most us us in the business are uncomfortable with. In all of these arenas I have spent time speaking with public media colleagues who are thoughtful, caring, smart, and dedicated. It reminds me of how fortunate I am to have found this field to work in even when the future seems precarious and daily onslaughts eschewing the role of media in a democratic society reach a deafening roar.
 
We don’t have to be perfect at this, but we have to have the courage to create a public service that illustrates the best in ourselves, each other, and our communities. As Zinn describes it, “to live now as we think human beings should live.” It’s a powerful antidote to succumbing to the toxic poison of endless derision and the annihilation of hope that comes with that. 
 
As you will read in the newsletter this month, it was a year of showing up for stations at NFCB. We’re humbled by the amazing people we have spent time with and the great work that is being done around the country by so many of you. We’re clear about what we need to do moving forward to keep this engagement and momentum going and, like many of you, our business model simply doesn’t work without stations investing in it. We’re going to be there for you with renewed commitment, so please be there for us with a renewal of your membership.
 
As we say on the airwaves, stay with us!

Sally Kane, CEO
National Federation of Community Broadcasters
skane@nfcb.org
 

Join NFCB in 2020

This has been a year for community radio to innovate for the betterment of public service around the nation. NFCB was able to lead a cohort this year to provide lessons for all of community radio. In addition, we trained stations on matters like building an effective underwriting program and handling underwriting from controversial businesses as well as groups invested in the upcoming election season. With equity and inclusion rising as essential conversations in media, NFCB presented learning opportunities for stations. NFCB has also endeavored to help community radio do its best work in areas like volunteer management and digital strategy.
 
This summer, more than 200 community radio leaders traveled from all points to San Diego for the 2019 national conference. Author Nina Simon articulated important questions about media relevance, John Crigler reminded us of our past and our future, and a cast of experienced speakers offered station organizers needed training, data analysis and insights on noncommercial media trends. Along the way, we’ve also been present across the radio spectrum, sharing community media perspectives on the Community Service Grant front, low-power FM space and in alliance with like-minded organizations in defense of the public’s right to the airwaves.
 
NFCB member stations enabled the organization to accomplish so much this year. We’ve been able to teach new community radio leaders, advocate for and represent community radio in Washington, and host the longest running convergence of grassroots media in America.
 
NFCB could not have had such a powerful 2019 without you. We need you in 2020.

• Discounts, including participation in the SoundExchange reporting agreement for your station’s web stream.
• Access to the Solution Center, which contains a host of source documents, such as NFCB’s Public Radio Legal Handbook, Underwriting Guide, and more to help you navigate the federal laws and regulations that govern public broadcasting.
• Training webinars, email communications and peer-to-peer learning providing innovative ideas, grant opportunities, best practices and more.
• Customized station-based consulting to meet your specific organizational needs.

Jessie Dick, WXPR

Jessie Dick is the General Manager of WXPR Public Radio in Rhinelander, WI. Jessie has worked in community radio since 2003 and has served as Marketing Director, Development Director, Volunteer Coordinator and was named General Manager and President in 2018. WXPR has been broadcasting since 1983 and covers northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with NPR news, local news and volunteer hosted music programming.
 
What is your favorite community radio memory?
Gosh, there are so many! The one that was the most formative happened right after I started working at WXPR. WXPR used to broadcast a big band show every afternoon. One day I answered the phone and the caller told me she had lost her husband and was feeling down and lonely until she turned on her radio. She said the music made her feel like she was sharing memories with an old friend. We have probably all had conversations with listeners that were moved by music or a certain story. It’s a reminder that radio is such a powerful and intimate medium and we create companionship. 
 
What have you learned about yourself since becoming manager at WXPR?
I’ve learned that leadership involves a combination of risk taking, listening to others, and following your instincts. Having peers to talk to, either in community radio or elsewhere, is key. I’ve also learned the importance of unplugging from work. That taking the time to vacation, or attend a field trip with my kids makes me a more fulfilled person and a better leader. 
 
How do you stay motivated when the work gets challenging?
Sometimes I get bogged down by the small details, or I find myself comparing what we do to other stations. One of my favorite things is to take a drive and imagine that I just discovered WXPR on my radio. That perspective is refreshing and allows me to appreciate the station as a listener and rediscover that magic.

Self-care in community radio

“Practicing self-care is especially important if you’re a leader in your organization,” Katie Hawkins-Gaar recently shared. “If you set the example that the only way to succeed is by working endless hours, you’re perpetuating a vicious cycle.”
 
And so opens one of the most overlooked conversations in community radio: self-care and well-being. In a space where low pay, few-to-no health benefits and long hours are too often the norm, not accepting those issues is often judged. Pressure to achieve particular goals at stations with these dynamics can lead to burnout and soured relations. These problems, combined with failing to invest in people, perpetuates a lack of diversity as well.
 
The self-care movement has emerged as a way to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Of late, as stress and depression have gone up for media workers dealing with difficult situations, self-care in media circles has gained popularity. Maybe you don't think you or your station needs to think about self-care, but you probably do.

Feeling overwhelmed? Tangling with imposter syndrome? Needing a breather from the demands of the work you do, so you can be your best? You probably need self-care more than you know.

• Kid Cudi is perhaps one of the most high-profile artists to publicly detail his mental health struggles and suicidal feelings. In a new interview, he talks about how he centered his life and way of thinking, which may inform our own outlooks. “I’m just creating a lot, with more love in my heart for what I’m doing and for myself. Living a healthy life, keeping my family around and staying on a mission, which is making music that means something. I’m focusing on my art again and throwing myself back into it and wanting to write something with more of a positive outlook on things, because I’ve written the dark so well for so long. I wanted to bring the opposite of that, you know? I’m at a place where I was able to do that. It took me so long to get to that place, and I was really excited to write from that standpoint when I got there.”
• The Online News Association’s 2019 conference featured a session on self-care and well-being. You can check out insights from it here.
• “Showing up for other people is hard to describe, but you know it when you see it, or when someone does it for you. When we talk about showing up, we’re talking about bearing witness to other people’s pain, joy, and true selves; validating their experiences; easing their load; truly seeing them; and communicating that they are not alone in this life. Showing up is at the core of creating and maintaining strong meaningful bonds with friends, family, coworkers, and Internet pals. It’s what turns the people you know into your people.” It feels great when people do it for us, and here are 60+ ways to do it for others.
• Some of us came to community media to find fulfillment from other careers. And if you’re dealing with self-confidence problems, look for no better guidance than this: How To Regain Confidence After Leaving That Toxic Hellhole You Called A Job.
• Nonprofit AF suggests a few techniques to enjoy your breaks when your overthinking brain won’t be quiet. “For many of us though, even when we are not at the office, we’re not exactly on a break. This is due to several reasons. Our field tends to attract people who care a lot about others; nonprofit work does not end when we go home; and the complexity of the work combined with the fact that we care about people means we’re always trying to read up on the latest research or model or thinking of new strategies or whatever. There are always more things we could and should be doing.”