Feature:
NAB Meets Media Democracy
Wednesday, September 20
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Note: Clicking on any bordered pictures in this feature produces a larger, captioned version Sounds of the Street - Click here The first organized protest at the NAB's convention site (the Moscone Center) was hosted by the National Organization for Women. Several chapters of NOW marched at noon with picket signs and chanted slogans blasting corporate radio for turning women into pieces of meat for marketing purposes.
Ireland herself made several comments not only in favor of general diversity on the airwaves, but expressed specific enthusiastic support for the FCC's new low power FM (LPFM) service and, surprisingly, for pirate radio and the people who engage in it. Several radio convention attendees came out to ogle the women, but all kept a respectful distance. Later that afternoon, I had a chance to visit Stephen Dunifer and Free Radio Berkeley. While Dunifer's no longer on the air himself, having lost his federal court case, he's stocked with supplies - Free Radio Berkeley's 'workshop' is more like a warehouse, with shelves piled high filled with boxes of old electronics, components and tapes of FRB shows. It's a room full of history, and I could've spent the whole week there rummaging through it all.
Then, almost as if on cue, visitors arrived bearing gear in need of Dunifer's touch; the amplifier for Humboldt Pirate Radio was sick, and the station ops were at a loss. Dunifer took one look at the box of jumbled wires and solder, and with much rolling of eyes and a few sighs, immediately went to work - immersed in his element. I snuck back out at that point, and began the long walk back to the train. I slept well that night. Friday, September 22 - (I) / (II) |
