Better Radio is a step closer to becoming a reality.

that the Senate approved the

a bill that expanded radio stations for Low Power FM and which mandated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to license virtually thousands of new stations.

Since then,

betterArts

achieved its 501(c)3 status as an non-profit educational organization. This characterization allows the Redwood-based, arts outreach group to apply for grants and conduct fundraising efforts that fuel free and low-cost arts education, outreach, events, and much much more. The group's latest effort is "Better Radio"; a radio station and educational program based out of

Better Farm

that

works in multiple ways

to increase access to the arts for all while simultaneously providing the community's youth with New Media education.

The proposed station will work in two ways

ONE:

Better Radio will help advance betterArts' mission of increasing access to the arts and culture in the North Country and beyond by offering the following broadcasts:

An eclectic mix of musical broadcasts (vintage vinyl, new music, pop, jazz, funk, rock, and classical tracs, and the promotion of local bands through interviews, live performances, and tracks off new albums)
Storytelling segments with different members of the community
"Art of Gardening" podcasts with tips on how to have a green thumb
Art and events calendar items punctuated by interviews with musicians, bands, painters, and gallery curators
Feature segments on sustainability issues, DIY projects, instructables, and green living
Interviews with prominent members of the community
Live music and spoken-word performances

TWO:

Better Ra

dio will provide educational outreach to high school students in and around the

North Country region with an interest in New Media, Journalism, Production, Editing Software, Music Mi

xing, and Broadcast.

Better Radio will function as a lab for high school students to learn how to do the following:

Create podcasts
Mix and record music digitally
Record interviews digitally, use editing software to polish the interviews, and play on-air
Create radio programming
Create setlists of music
Conduct on-air interviews, performances, and other programming
Report local news and weather

In conjunction with betterArts' application to create a radio station, the group has

also

applied for a

Best Buy Community Grant

that would afford much of the necessary equipment to be utilized in this project. Better Radio will work with teachers, parents, community members, and high school faculty to find students interested in new media, journalism, music, and performance work; and will create an after-school and summer program in which students help to run Better Radio. Better Radio would allow for the creative expression of people within the community of Redwood and surrounding areas (storytellers, farmers, others who would be the focus of business and feature pieces); as well as allowing for young students in the community to learn technological skills that will help them be more competitive as college applicants and new members of the job force.

The

application will b

e filed with the FCC on

our around Oct. 15, and the Be

st Buy Grant will be announced later this mon

th. Better

Arts hopes to have the station up and running by Summer 2014. Oh, and did we mention we'll be including

all the podcasts and interviews online as well through the

blog

and

website

for all