Valley Community Radio 89.5

E-mail Radio Committee Coordinator Christie Kelley Get Directions to the Center

89.5 fm STONE SOUP Radio is a community-supported organization building a grassroots radio station. This station will be a model of programming filling needs that other media do not address and providing progressive orientated programming to our diverse community.

The San Joaquin Valley area does not have one public radio station with locally-originated programming. All current non-commercial radio programming comes from outside the community. The many vibrant ethnic, musical, social and political communities that exist in this area do not have a voice, a place to express themselves. The Tracy/Manteca area comprises over 150,000 residents with a retail trade population of over 200,000. KYNJ, a local radio station, will concentrate on covering local issues concerning this valley region including community public affairs, create a forum to educate people regarding local issues, and provide exposure for local musicians. It will bring diverse communities together for dialog, entertainment and education. KYNJ will offer educational radio experience to local students from San Joaquin Delta College and the University of Pacific. KYNJ will collaborate on regional radio projects with Common Frequency, a non-profit organization working to promote democratic access to broadcast media. KYNJ will provide locally produced news and public affairs from well-trained volunteers in addition to music programming drawn from local musicians and from the largest station record library in California.

89.5 KYNJ radio will generate funds through local fundraising events, local business sponsors, community pledges, listener memberships, grants, underwriters, program sponsors, on-air fundraising, foundation support, word of mouth, corporate sponsors and sales of KYNJ paraphernalia. All funds will support this 501C3 non-profit radio station which in turn will prove to be a valuable marketing tool for investors. KYNJ has the potential to reach over 600,000 listeners in the Tracy/Manteca area and the I-5 and 205 commuter corridor providing information on products from agriculture, retail, and services. Listeners will become more aware of what services are available, what activities are going on and where the best local businesses are located as result of sponsorships to the radio.

The Radio Council plans to conduct listener surveys involving all sectors of the community to determine programming. Our programming will include community education, opportunities to network, as well as multi-lingual content. The station will greatly enhance the lives of our listeners, bringing our communities together supporting local businesses.

The KYNJ Radio Council has many talented local community members and organizations who volunteer their time for our radio project, including experience in electronics, project management, music, education, mass media, journalism, research marketing, online and on air experience and in radio education classes. The Radio Council is in the process of qualifying an experienced management team to staff our various organizational vacancies. We are collaborating with Common Frequency, Delta College, and University of Pacific, the local office of SCORE-Counselors to America's Small Business and with other nearby community radio stations.

The tasks before us include: acquiring equipment for the station, developing a larger council base in the Tracy/Manteca area, setting up the transmission site, continuing to raise funds and establish programming for on-line broadcasting. We have an established core of dedicated volunteers, eager to build a community radio station. There are many musicians and local residents with ideas for exciting programs. Our number one obstacle is having a dedicated, knowledgeable Station Manager who can provide the focus and expertise to guide us through this development period. If you fit this description and are interested in working with us, please contact Christie Kelley at 943-0539 or Tony Kiser at 471-5671 or by email 89.5fmkynj@gmail.com.

The guiding principles of KYNJ Community Radio:

* KYNJ shall be a model of programming, filling needs that other media do not, providing programming to diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups. KYNJ shall provide access and training to those communities.
* KYNJ's news and public affairs programming shall place an emphasis on providing a forum for unpopular, controversial, or neglected perspectives on important local, national, and international issues, reflecting KYNJ's values of peace, justice, democracy, and human rights, multiculturalism, environmentalism, freedom of expression, and social change.
* KYNJ's arts, cultural, and music programming shall cover a wide spectrum of expression from traditional to experimental, and reflect the diverse cultures KYNJ serves. KYNJ shall strive for spontaneity and programming excellence, both in content and technique.

Acting Station Manager	Vic Bernsdorff
Program Manager	Tony Kiser
Development Director	Christie Kelley
Assistant Development Director	Cathy Mathis
Radio Broadcasting Consultants	William Story, Billy Williams

Important Dates

June 28 (Tues): meeting at Peace and Justice Center at 6:30 p.m. (the June 14 meeting printed in Connections is cancelled)
July 16 (Sat): internet broadcasting workshop at Delta College starting at 10 a.m. in Shima 146
July 23 (Sat): tentative date for meeting in Tracy with interested parties from Tracy and Manteca

Important Links

Article by Mike Fitzgerald, April 09, 2010
Article by Mike Fitzgerald September 16, 2007

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