Massachusetts/Mongolia Sister Station Project

Series produced by Atlantic Public Media

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Radio stations in Coastal Massachusetts and in the Gobi Desert get to know each other.

We're putting pieces on the PRX not for other stations to air, but as a template for any who may want to try similar projects of their own.

Those who listen much to WCAI and WNAN know that we believe a shared story can help build community and foster neighborliness, even across the ocean, among islands. But how about across the planet, from Coastal Massachusetts to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia? Can we extend our neighborliness that far?

We wonder. And we're going to try. Partly because we believe such exchanges might have a soothing effect in a frightened world, and also because it seems like fun.

Bill Siemering, one of the founders of National Public Radio and the first director of programming at NPR, has created Developing Radio Partners, to work with community radio stations in developing nations. Atlantic Public Media is working with Bill to pilot a Sister Station Project between WCAI-WNAN and Gobi Wave, 103.6FM in the Mongolian town of Dalanganzad in the Gobi Desert.

Gobi Wave serves about 13,000 people. They also have a speaker mounted above their door which broadcasts to the dirt street in front of their red brick building. Electricity is intermittent and supplies often travel by camel. Their budget is about $8,000 per year.

WCAI-WNAN will periodically exchange audio and email with our colleagues in Mongolia and we'll broadcast what's going on over there. Our listeners, in turn, can help us with what we send over. E-mail us at cainan@wgbh.org or call our listener line and make suggestions, ask questions, tell us what you want them to know, tell a story, sing a song. Or have your children call. The number is 508-548-9600 x 103.

Other radio stations interested in trying such a project should get in touch with us.

-Jay Allison Hide full description

We're putting pieces on the PRX not for other stations to air, but as a template for any who may want to try similar projects of their own.

Those who listen much to WCAI and WNAN know that we believe a shared story can help build community and foster neighborliness, even across the ocean, among islands. But how about across the planet, from Coastal Massachusetts to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia? Can we extend our neighborliness that far?

We wonder. And we're going to try. Partly because we believe such exchanges might have a soothing effect in a frightened world, and also because it seems like fun.

Bill Siemering, one of the founders of National Public Radio and the first director of programming at NPR, has created Developing Radio Partners, to work with community radio stations in... Show full description


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The introductory piece to our Sister Station project between radio stations in Coastal Massachusetts and the Gobi Desert

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Apr 11, 2004
  • Length: 10:54
  • Purchases: 1