Solution Details 3a of 5: The Project-Based Radio Format   The Goal:   Even in this Internet information age, radio is still a powerful medium that can spearhead efforts to generate lasting and meaningful social, economic and political change.  Such change should reverse the dominance of corporation over citizen; restore representative democracy; and guarantee free and publicly controlled media to protect the interest of the population ahead of the government.  On terrestrial radio stations far and wide, conservative voices and talking points are dominating the airwaves.  This has left an ideological hole that the Democratic Party hopes to fill.  The Democrats perceive this opportunity as a potential cash cow that would also get their agenda more attention.  This proposal has established significantly higher and more impactful goals.  The project-based radio format will contribute to achieving these aims by first establishing such social, economic and political change as primary aims.    How To:   The project-based format puts radio hosts in a role equivalent to that of project coordinator.  Listeners will call to contribute not only to the program, but directly to the action of the movement.  Rather than commercial radio's gratuitous rudeness and arguing, discussion will be kept positively focused on activist training and event planning, brainstorming new tilt targets and methods, promotion of sustainable business via strategies including boycotts, procotts and co-ops, and exposure of information the mainstream media won't investigate or report.  Staying focused on such positive developments and outcomes requires program hosts to function as if leading a strategy session for Global Exchange, ACLU, MoveOn, etc.  In this context, the appeal of the program could even be thought of as the audio equivalent of interactive reality TV with an upshot of societal change.   This format could be implemented by programmers of any political ideology.  However, its success seems most assured when practiced by groups with complementary goals.  In this way, it is particularly suited to the progressive peace movement.  Umbrella organizations such as Win Without War and United For Peace and Justice have already established a high level of coordination among member organizations.  This established affinity allows for pooling of resources including not only money but also technology, facilities, manpower and creative input.  Such a joint effort will go a long way towards credibly establishing the unity of the movement.  This itself is one of the most important social developments possible, putting an end to the divisiveness exploited by conservative voices in politics and the mainstream media.   Content (sample of first two weeks; two hour daily show):   Each day of the first two weeks, a round table will be convened featuring leaders from five different member groups per day.  An hour will be devoted to discussing the reasons for belonging to the umbrella group; the complementary pursuits of the member groups; the development of integrated goals based on these connected dots; and efforts to get listeners more involved.   The second hour will begin with 30 minutes spent interviewing volunteers from the same featured member groups.  Interviews will focus on motivations for activism; personal rewards; obstacles, limitations and frustrations; and input from listeners encouraged to contribute in a very specific context.  Borrowing from the positive propaganda campaign, the slogan "What would be better?" will serve to drive all dialogue towards positive and constructive input.  This will encourage an overall atmosphere of collective and collaborative problem solving while also boosting morale and serving as a recruitment mechanism.  The last half hour will be largely the same though the interviews will be with callers.   Audience:   According to Arbitron, the audience for audio webcasts has tripled in size over the last 3 years and as of Feb. 2003, 103 million (44%) Americans have watched or listened to a webcast.  The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has also caused the demise of many online music channels, leaving an underserved listening audience that understands the necessity of seeking news outside the American mainstream media.  Webcasting is far more expedient and cost effective than terrestrial broadcasting.  With a wide array of member groups and sympathetic alternative news outlets (i.e. buzzflash.com, alternet.org), there are countless websites and e-mail newsletters that will promote links to the broadcast site(s) to a significant number of potential audience members.  All broadcasts will be archived for convenience of subsequent streaming.  Links to excerpted soundbites will be available for promotional purposes, capitalizing on the viral dissemination of e-mail.  Each media project will cross-promote all the others.   Proceed To Solution Details 3b: The Activist Network Video Hub   Proceed To Solution Details 3c: Necessary Resources and Costs   Go To Solution Details 2: Organizational Structure   Go To Solution Details 4: The Tilt Strategy   Go To Summary 3: Technology                                                     Go To Summary 4: Goal Setting   Go To Main Menu