Internet Distribution for Progressive Independent Radio
By Ursula Ruedenberg. Originally written for AIR in 2005.
This past July, The Pacifica Foundation celebrated the launch of its first Internet program exchange and distribution system called the Pacifica AudioPort, found at AudioPort.org. This provides broadcasters within the Pacifica & Affiliates Network with one easy-to-use website for receiving, sending, and storing digital audio files for broadcast.
Aimed at strengthening the circulation of digital media, the AudioPort offers independent producers, as well as producers in the Pacifica Network, more distribution opportunities. This system is also already proving itself as a useful tool for collaboration in this new era of geography-defying production and program sharing.
AudioPort was built by Pacifica’s national Internet team, Pete Korakis (Pacifica.org Project Manager) and Shawn Ewald (co-founder of radio4all.net). The web site is housed in a Linux server, with AMD processors (no Intel inside, or Microsoft either). It is powered by Apache, MySQL, and PHP (all Open Source technologies –we always prefer to use Open Source technology where and when possible).
Designed for over-extended radio workers at independent college, public, and community radio stations, the Pacifica AudioPort is utilitarian, user-friendly, and fast. The home page displays three tabs which designate it’s three general uses: finding programs for download to air, adding (uploading) programs for distribution, and posting sound files in private “workrooms” for storage or to share with work partners during production. The rest of the home page features the most recent programs sorted by program type.
The download and electronic workroom features are limited to registered users within the Pacifica & Affiliate Network. Access to the add (upload) feature, on the other hand, is available to all producers, provided that their programs are compatible with the spirit of Pacifica’s progressive mission “to contribute to lasting understanding between nations and individuals of all races, cultures, creeds, colors, and preferences, and to provide accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community.”
Pacifica is aware of many existing independent productions with these same goals. If you do production, and wish to target Pacifica and affiliated stations, we invite you to look AudioPort over. To register as a contributor, go to the “create account” page, follow the link for independent producers, and upload a sample of your program. Staff from the Pacifica national office will contact you shortly with a password. We welcome your work. We hope that the AudioPort will serve to make your voice be heard.
The Pacifica Network, founded in 1949 by pacifist Lewis Hill, pioneered listener-sponsored independent community radio. Today, the network consists of five sister stations owned by the Pacifica Foundation – WBAI in New York, KPFK in Los Angeles, KPFT in Houston, WPFW in Washington DC, and KPFA in Berkeley – two associate stations, and a web of independent affiliates (55 to date and rapidly growing) expanding from Maine and Florida to Missouri to Hawaii and Alaska.
Until now, satellite (KU band) has been Pacifica’s primary form of program distribution. The AudioPort will provide additional access to audio content – including raw actualities – at dates and times convenient to stations’ needs.
A list of pacifica affiliates can be found at our website. They include nonprofit community-based stations, college-based stations, hybrid college-community stations, and public radio stations. New to the network has been a rapid influx of LPFMs. While the more established stations have full schedules and tend to focus on news and special coverage from Pacifica, many are stations newly being built or looking to introduce a more progressive program grid. These stations increasingly peruse the AudioPort for material.
Pacifica’s recent release announcing AudioPort also drew interest from potential affiliates in Nigeria, Indonesia, and South Africa. By assembling and showcasing work by progressive radio journalists and activists across the globe, the Pacifica AudioPort will hopefully stimulate increased intercultural communication.
Pacifica, which is outspokenly non-corporate, aspires to giving voice to people and movements that are often underrepresented. This expressed orientation is what most distinguishes AudioPort from other the other existing program exchange web sites.
Furthermore, since AudioPort comes with affiliation at no charge, stations do not pay to register or download programs received and producers are not paid for programs distributed. Conceived as a streamlined distribution tool within the network, AudioPort also lacks the reviews and rating systems that PRX offers. There is talk about adding these with time, as well as any functionality requests we may get.
We invite you to use AudioPort. We hope that it will prove to be another tool for keeping radio vital. We welcome questions and feedback. Send them to Ursula Ruedenberg, Pacifica Affiliates Coordinator, at Ursula@pacifica.org.
Designed for over-extended radio workers at independent college, public, and community radio stations, the Pacifica AudioPort is utilitarian, user-friendly, and fast. The home page displays three tabs which designate it’s three general uses: finding programs for download to air, adding (uploading) programs for distribution, and posting sound files in private “workrooms” for storage or to share with work partners during production. The rest of the home page features the most recent programs sorted by program type.
The download and electronic workroom features are limited to registered users within the Pacifica & Affiliate Network. Access to the add (upload) feature, on the other hand, is available to all producers, provided that their programs are compatible with the spirit of Pacifica’s progressive mission “to contribute to lasting understanding between nations and individuals of all races, cultures, creeds, colors, and preferences, and to provide accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community.”
Pacifica is aware of many existing independent productions with these same goals. If you do production, and wish to target Pacifica and affiliated stations, we invite you to look AudioPort over. To register as a contributor, go to the “create account” page, follow the link for independent producers, and upload a sample of your program. Staff from the Pacifica national office will contact you shortly with a password. We welcome your work. We hope that the AudioPort will serve to make your voice be heard.