Ebon Dooley From WRFG Holds Affiliate Seat on the Pacifica National Board Written by David Miller For Ebon Dooley, Program Director of Pacifica affiliate WRFG (Radio Free Georgia), becoming involved with Atlanta's community radio station seemed to be an exciting way of spreading the positive message of alternative radio. As a recently elected member of the Pacifica National Board, (his term runs through February 2007) Dooley has been enthusiastically advocating for Pacifica and getting more stations involved with the network.
"There isn't the opportunity that there may be in larger cities like New York or Chicago," said Dooley, "but we definitely need for more radio stations to take up the Pacifica banner, particularly in the south. I know there are also stations in New Orleans and Tampa that have been doing a great job, but in our area of the South WRFG really seems to be a maverick station." Not only would Dooley like to see more stations in the south carry the Pacifica banner but he is also dedicated to bringing those stations that are already on board even closer. "I am trying to help bridge the gap between affiliates and get stations to distribute more of their own programming." Known as a poet and community leader since the 1960s in Chicago, Dooley has been involved with WRFG since its beginning in 1971. Dooley's guidance and experience has served WRFG well in building a loyal following for the station, although WRFG is in a location where one wouldn't normally associate community radio having an influential presence. According to Dooley, "Alternative radio, with its live and studio programming, is one of the easiest ways for people to talk about issues that impact the community." WRFG's individualistic outlook has served the community well. Since going on the air in 1973 WRFG has managed to fill a void through many of its programs. The station started as a blues, bluegrass and jazz station. But when the city began to grow dramatically in the 1980s, WRFG became a pioneer and began programming geared toward Atlanta's growing African, Asian and Carribean communities to reach out to those sections of the expanding city. WRFG has not only initiated programming that is geared toward Atlanta's ethnic neighborhoods, but also for people with disabilities and alternative lifestyles. Helping these disparate communities has been a trademark of WRFG and to this end, the station has organized town hall meetings and covered a wide variety of events, including a recent march to support immigrant rights in which more than 50,000 people including members of the Mexican, Carribean and South American communities participated. WRFG's coverage of the 1987 rebellion at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary also garnered positive feedback. The station also broadcasts a weekly interracial forum and has produced documentary programs most notably the "Living Atlanta" series which ran between 1977-80 and chronicled the history of the city of Atlanta. The station also participates in an annual Homelessness Marathon to bring awareness to the tragedy of homelessness. The station, and the city of Atlanta, is also anticipating the United States Social Forum which will take place in Atlanta in the summer of 2007. The Forum is a gathering of social activists which is dedicated to social and economic justice, democratic and environmental issues. The Forum is the national incarnation of the World Social Forum which took place earlier this year in Caracas, Venezuela. Along with the station's participation in these events, and its programming of progressive news, WRFG has also continued to program a variety of music from Celtic to jazz, from doo-wop to gospel, and from hip hop to international music. The stations broadcasts 24 hours a day and though it had humble beginnings, first broadcasting at ten watts in 1971, since 1995 the station has been broadcasting at 100,000 watts. The station is in the midst of a fundraising drive and capital campaign to help with its move from the campus of Clark University, the college that gives the station its tower, to a new location near Emory University. The new location and transmitter will allow the station to have a lot less feedback and interference from the skyscrapers and towers of downtown Atlanta. Dooley expects the move to happen this fall. But as Dooley states "whether they are low-powered FM stations, or stations with larger broadcasting capabilities that have an advantage of reaching and representing different communities, there is always room for growth at Pacifica." Though WRFG may be one of a small number of alternative radio stations in the southeast, it will also undoubtedly become a model for other stations to follow. It is already one of the leading voices in community radio and by bringing important issues and invaluable information into the living rooms of communities throughout Atlanta, WRFG 89.3 has become an invaluable Pacifica affiliate. |
