Airwaves & Liberty

From the promotional email I sent around to Pacifica affiliates recently. The program’s website ElectionUnspun.org should go live later today. ~N

On February 4th, Pacifica Radio and Free Speech Radio News will launch a new community radio venue for national election coverage: “ELECTION UNSPUN.”

2008 is shaping up to be an important presidential election. During this time, we know that listeners turn to your station as their most valuable source of news and information. As news develops, you will want to keep the pace and give them more than the “horse race” coverage that dominates mainstream media. You will want to offer cutting-edge news and in-depth analysis about issues that really matter:

• The real differences – or not – between candidates’ positions
• The looming economic recession
• The health care crisis in America
• Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• The environment and global warming
• Immigration
• Ongoing race- and class-based inequality
• Ballot initiatives and third party efforts.
• Other unexpressed local concerns

Also:

• Important congressional and gubernatorial races
• Financial backers of the candidates and their influence
• Media’s role in the elections
• What’s being left out of the polls and how methodology affects outcomes

We are community media on a national scale. But politics is local. So we do what community radio does best: bring to your airwaves the grassroots voices, issues, and analysis that real Americans care about – from the ground up.

But we also know that, during this exceptional time, you need to find ways to fit national election news into your program schedule or newscasts. And we know that many of you prefer morning headlines.

ELECTION UNSPUN is national – but grassroots – coverage, brought to you in a flexible format that will be ready for you to use each morning.

ELECTION UNSPUN begins Monday, February 4th and includes news and issue-driven analysis every weekday, through the November 4th General Election.
– The daily 8-minute module includes election headlines, a short feature, and an interview excerpt.
– The daily 5-Minute module includes election headlines and a short feature