The Reach of Radio

Since its inception, public broadcasting has prioritized building an informed and collaborative citizenry through accessible and high quality resources. In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was established. The BBC is largely credited as being the first public broadcaster in the world. This is not to say that the use of radio and broadcasting began in 1922.Rather the BBC was the first to advocate for the fact that broadcasting is a powerful tool that needs to be used to benefit the public, and therefore, should be guided by the needs of that public. After the rest of the world began to model their own public broadcasting after the BBC, the 20th century became an era of public broadcasting dominance that lasted more than 50 years. However, today many people rely on social media and other unreliable resources for their news, which means we need public radio, its resources, and the values it believes in more than ever. 

The development of public radio began out of an effort to restore the power of knowledge to the people after so much of the population had been denied that security over the course of World War I. Today, that mission has not changed. Public radio stations like Texas Public Radio, Tripod’s local radio station, collect a large portion of their funding through listeners. Meaning all the news, events, and other resources produced by local radio stations are funded by the public. Therefore, the level of support given by the community is returned by public radio; what you put in, is what you get out. The news that is produced by this collaboration means public radio suits those who support it, which is that station’s immediate community. Unlike social media and other unregulated sources, public radio must follow journalistic guidelines. This means that everything published for public broadcasting is reviewed by multiple parties and comes from seasoned journalists. Public journalism is inherently collaborative, so the more informed and engaged every individual is with their public radio station, the better those individuals are served by those providing the information. 

Recently, Tripod had the opportunity to bring Joey Palacios, the Engagement Producer and Intern Coordinator for Texas Public Radio, to the studio. In the episode, Joey states, “an informed community is a thriving community”. This statement perfectly encapsulates the importance of public radio to developing a healthy, knowledgeable, and connected community. When considering the products of public radio, many only think about the broadcast they hear over the radio. However, public radio stations are meant to serve as hubs for their communities. Texas Public Radio, and other stations across the nation, consistently host events that bring people together for events centered around learning, arts and culture, and other important qualities that communities need to be exposed to. Recently, Texas Public Radio (TPR) hosted their Summer Night City event, which invited several local bands and artists to perform outside the TPR news station for free. This event had great attendance and is just one of many ways that public radio connects communities to their social environment. To learn more about the importance of public radio to people, places, and our planet, check out Tripod’s latest episode, “Public Radio: A Timeless Necessity” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

By Lily Brennan