News & Ideas

CounterSpin provides a critical examination of the major stories every week, and exposes what the mainstream media might have missed in their own coverage. Combining lively discussion and thoughtful critique of media, CounterSpin exposes biased and inaccurate news; censored stories; sexism, racism and homophobia in the news; the power of corporate influence; and more...

Democracy Now! goes beyond the rhetoric and party politics offered by the mainstream media. In 2000, Democracy Now! pioneered a unique multi-media collaboration involving non-profit community radio, the Internet, and satellite and cable television. Democracy Now! focuses on a range of issues that demand attention, highlighting grassroots efforts to enhance and ignite democracy. Some call this public journalism or civic journalism. Democracy Now! calls itself, "Radio in the Pacifica Tradition."

What's happening in the sky tonight? Earth and Sky has brought the words and insights of scientists to you since 1991, while enjoying the support and partnership of thousands of scientists and scientific institutions. We know science is not perfect. It’s a process, not a body of facts. History tells us that some of today’s scientific truths will inevitably turn out to be wrong, or only partially true. Still, science leads to profound insights about the natural world that are as true as anything can be here at the beginning of the 21st century.

FSRN is an independent broadcast news organization born in January 2000 as the result of a strike by 43 reporters who formerly worked for Pacifica Network News (PNN). It was created in defiance of the Pacifica Foundation's former Board of Directors and staff who imposed a gag rule and censorship restriction on PNN reporters. Since that time, FSRN has expanded to over 200 journalists who report from 40 states within the U.S. and 57 countries around the world, including Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Argentina, Mexico and Nigeria. Any journalist may pitch a news story to FSRN and every reporter who produces a story gets paid. FSRN actively recruits and trains people throughout the U.S. and around the world resulting in an ever-expanding and broadened reporter base.

Green ACRE Radio brings you the Agricultural, Conservation, Resource, and Environmental information you need. Every week producer Martha Baskin brings you in-depth stories about sustainability, local food production, restoration & environmental issues in Seattle and King County Washington. Sponsored by the HumanLinks Foundation and the Russell Family Foundation, in partnership with Jack Straw Productions and KBCS Community Radio.
To listen to archived episodes click here
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GRITradio with Laura Flanders is a weekly news and arts discussion show, with interactivity and a positive take on what's going on. As a best-selling author and broadcaster, Laura Flanders has built a reputation for presenting new perspectives on national and international issues, and for introducing non-traditional “experts” into the conventional political debate. She is a regular contributor to The Nation, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, Alternet, Common Dreams.org, and CNN.

Hard Knock Radio, out of KPFA Berkeley, is Pacifica Radio’s daily talk show for the Hip Hop generation. Hosts Davey D, Weyland Southon, Anita Johnson, and Tsadae Abeba Neway broadcast in-depth interviews and profiles with elected officials, community leaders, activists, authors, Hip Hop artists, and musicians with breaks and beats. HKR strives to be a voice for the community and prioritizes access for community groups and activists who are trying to make a difference and bring about meaningful social change.
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FSRN Headlines at 6:01 p.m.
Sable Verity Commentary at 6:55 pm Tuesday-Thursday.
Speak On It Radio Commentary at 6:55 pm Monday and Friday

The series is a fun and engaging weekday radio program with an information rich website and free monthly newsletter called the e-Digest. Our team of science writers and editors scour the planet for breaking news about the issues most critical to the health and well- being of this island we call Earth. We cover stories from Antelopes to the near-extinction of the Zuber. We also bring to you the latest on alternative energy development and about the environmental and conservation work of community groups and organizations.

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks. Twice elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Hightower believes that the true political spectrum is not right to left but top to bottom, and he has become a leading national voice for the 80 percent of the public who no longer find themselves within shouting distance of the Washington and Wall Street powers at the top. Hightower is a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, spreading the message of progressive populism all across the American grassroots.

Labor Neighbor Radio was formed by members of unions within the Washington State Labor Council to inform listeners of labor issues and news that often are not available through the mainstream media. Paramount to their mission is providing working families with information they need in their daily lives. Secondary is their desire for people to know that labor unions try to improve not only their working conditions, but their lives in society.

Listen Up! Northwest is a regional public affairs/cultural radio program featuring stories of communities in action across the Northwest. Each broadcast features the work of skilled community radio producers and artists from throughout our region, including Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logic Amen is an educator, artist, and activist. He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in English Literature. Logic is active in the hip-hop community with several albums and writings soon to be published and distributed.
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Award-winning author, scholar and social commentator Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is the host of this one-hour weekday news/talk radio show. It is an honor to be at the helm of a show that is dedicated to providing valuable information, generating discussion about news of the day and the issues which affect our world, and giving a voice to those making a difference,says Dyson. There are several topics about which I care deeply politics, religion, economic policy, arts and culture which will be regularly represented on the show. I hope that we will grow to become a go-to source for listeners who want to think, reflect, and engage. Loretta Rucker, Executive Director of the African-American Public Radio Consortium, hopes Dyson’s show sparks conversations that we hope will commence on the airwaves and continue beyond the show into communities around the country.

The show is produced by the African-American Public Radio Consortium in partnership with consortium member station WEAA-FM, located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of historically black university Morgan State University.
National Native News at 4:01 pm

Rustin Thompson has reviewed films for KBCS for more than 10 years. He is also an independent filmmaker with more than 25 years experience as a director, cameraman, editor and writer. In addition to making documentaries and short films, he worked for more than ten years as a freelance CBS cameraman, and has years of experience shooting in third world locations, including Bangladesh, Haiti, Guatemala, and North Korea.
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Since 1987, National Native News has provided Native and non-Native radio listeners with a regular, timely, and balanced source of news about Native issues. National Native News covers the social, economic, and cultural issues that affect every community, and helps listeners understand the interconnectedness between Native people and their non-Native neighbors.

Every week, KBCS producer Toby Scott highlights a Northwest blogger writing about something really cool or on a compellingly unusual topic. From a blog about the science of brand naming to the latest in the Seattle music scene, On the Blogs tells you where to click to expand your horizons.
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Ever hear the saying, think globally-act locally? Now there’s a radio show that helps you to do just that. One World Report addresses social justice around the world and here in the Puget Sound, and helps you make a difference in your community.

One World Report is produced by a team of volunteers at KBCS. To learn how you can become a volunteer with One World Report, contact Joaquin Uy, KBCS News and Public Affairs Director at (425) 564-6195 or by email at: Joaquin Uy juy (at) kbcs(.)fm.
For an audio archive of recent programs click here.
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Sable Verity is one of few women bloggers of color in the Pacific Northwest covering issues that directly impact minority families. Sable looks at the world through a sociological perspective, no matter how mundane the situation may seem.
Mother, writer and activist, editor and founder of the SV, friends (and enemies) describe Sable Verity as a tireless advocate (or that bitch that just won’t go away), who believes in speaking (ranting) the truth (her irrational race-tinged views).
For an audio archive of recent commentaries click here.
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The brainchild of host and producer Jesse Thorn, The Sound of Young America is an irreverent weekly arts and entertainment interview program, described by its creator as "a public radio show about things that are awesome." An hour-long episode can showcase comedians, writers, punk rockers and rappers, each of whom Thorn interrogates with equal parts empathy and enthusiasm. TSOYA has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine. Salon.com wrote, "If you've never heard The Sound of Young America, then The Sound of Young America is the greatest radio show you've never heard."

Logic Amen, longtime KBCS producer, commentator, and frequent host of Voices of Diversity, also hosts KBCS’s locally produced public affairs program, Speak On It Radio. Every month, Logic connects hip-hop communities with issues concerning society, pop culture, spirituality and politics, just to name a few.
For an audio archive of recent commentaries click here.

Hosted by public radio veteran John Hockenberry, The Takeaway delivers national and international news and cultural stories through a conversational and personality-driven format, rather than a magazine format. The web presence of the program strives to be a virtual public square, allowing listeners to respond immediately to news and participate in editorial decision-making, as well as building a significant online community around the content. The Takeaway is a unique partnership of global news leaders. It is a co-production of PRI (Public Radio International) and WNYC Radio in collaboration with the BBC World Service, The New York Times, and WGBH Boston.

Listeners can also participate in feedback and the conversation for The Takeaway by joining The Mix. The Mix offers users a way to participate with the program creators and comment on issues and topics of the day. Some listener call-ins are also featured on the broadcast. On a dedicated section of the user comments blog, there is a space for users to listeners to talk and even vent complaints about the new program, its hosts, and topics.

Voices of Diversity tells the untold stories in our community and celebrates the diversity of cultural expression found in the Northwest. The program is a collaboration between KBCS and the City of Bellevue Cultural Diversity Program. The show comes to you each week thanks to a dedicated team of volunteer reporters and producers from across King County.  A different volunteer hosts Voices of Diversity each week.

Voices of Diversity seeks to literally give voice to those not often heard on the airwaves, and to that end, trains community members in radio skills and independent journalism. To learn how you can become a Voices of Diversity volunteer contact Joaquin "Wakx" Uy at 425-564-6195 or email at juy@kbcs.fm.
For an audio archive of recent commentaries click here.
To sign up for podcasts click here.

Workers Independent News producers gather news from labor unions and activists across the country. WIN then packages the material for distribution to radio stations and for print publication. Their producers and reporters come from a diverse background encompassing all fields of media journalism, from print to radio, video to the Web. WIN share one common goal: to create media that puts people over profits and empowers citizens to become journalists in their own right.