The Last Great FM Station in America

John Platania, Van Morrison's Caldeonia Soul Orchestra
Copyright 2005 Jeff Wignall

Although taking pictures and writing about photography (and teaching it) takes up the lion's share of my creative ambition, I also have another passion: commercial free broadcast radio. For the past dozen years or so I have done a weekly show on an extraordinary noncommercial FM station in Bridgeport, Connecticut: WPKN 89.5 FM (www.wpkn.org). WPKN is one of the last great noncommercial stations left in America; in fact, it may be the greatest FM station in the country. WPKN is what broadcast radio was meant to be and, in particular, it's the kind of "diverse" station that was meant to be created when the FCC began licensing the low frequency stations that you find at the extreme left side of the FM band. Unfortuantely, most of these stations have since either been absorbed by large "public" radio networks (like NPR) or been taken over by organizations that have some sort of religious or political axe to grind.

WPKN is unique because it is an entirely listener-supported volunteer run organization: nearly 200 volunteers (including about 100 on-air personalities) staff the station and there is only one full time paid administrator. WPKN began as a university station but broke free of the university when the school came into financial trouble. The community-based staff just decided to go to the listeners and say, "Look, if you want to have a creative and free FM station in your community, you will have to pay for it." And they did. Today we raise about $250,000 a year from donations EXCLUSIVELY from individuals: we take no corporate or government money at all. None.

Creative freedom is not easily found or held onto in this world and that is why stations like WPKN are fading into history on a daily basis--and they will never be seen again. If we let them die, we have only ourselves to blame. But in Bridgeport, Connecticut the beacon of free noncommercial radio with real personalities and real passion still exists. You can listen to the station on the web (you might hear some fundraising if you listen this month, so you'll hear how we raise money) and you might hear things you love--or things you hate. But it will never bore you and it will never be what some corporation wants you to hear. You will hear what 200 very dedicated volunteers think is worth preserving: creative broadcast freedom. www.wpkn.org. Please take a minute to listen. Listen live: www.wpkn.org

Comments

[Bob Miller]

Jeff;
I attended the University of Bridgeport from 1964 to 1969. Was the station part of that institution or another?

[Jeff Wignall]

Hi Bob, Yes, WPKN was a part of UB until 1989 when we broke free of the university. Now we still rent space in the student center, but have no other affiliation. jeff

[Bob Miller]

Hi Jeff:
Great article. It's nice to know that this station still survives. I checked the link out and will bookmark for the future.

[Linda Nidle]

Are you the Bob Miller who played on the UB basketball team in 1967?

[Bridgeport]

Probably you are right. You are absolutely right. You are absolutely right.