Radio Free Palmer
A desire for local content has inspired the creation of Radio Free Palmer, a non-profit group dedicated to bringing a real live radio station to Palmer, Alaska.
While I applaud the attempt to deliver news to a somewhat under-covered community, I question the focus on traditional radio as the primary medium. They are a tech savvy group — RFP established a free wireless network in the Palmer downtown area — but I don’t think they fully appreciate the new media landscape.
During the annual meeting RFP board president David Cheezem said the group’s goal is to build “a small station with a focus on small ‘d’ democracy.” But media consumers have realized they don’t need to be force-fed content anymore. They want a voice; they want to engage in debate; they want their content when they want it, not on some broadcast schedule. They want to be involved, even while (especially while!) sitting at home.
Traditional media is in turmoil because our consumers are going away. What we’re providing daily — a one-way flow of information — is becoming less relevant by the news cycle. To focus on the shrinking number of readers/listeners/viewers/users uncomfortable with the new tools will make the station obsolete before it gets an FCC license.
Saturday, April 19th, 2008