NFCB 2007 Debrief

No one does voodoo like you do, New Orleans. The NFCB, the community radio organization, gathered this past weekend in NOLA.

The crowd was a bit smaller than past years but the enthusiasm made up for that. You could tell by the noise level during the opening reception that overlooked the expanse of the curving Missisissippi. We were all painfully aware of the post-Katrina impacts -- a lot of rebuilding and damage, ruined streets, homeless and boarded-up structures.

This year a lot of the discussions focused on audience, tight funding, the challenge of new technologies and the management of small stations with large, volunteer support. My hat is off to those folks running community stations: you'll hear some mighty creative on air work in the midst of challenges that would cause business veterans to tremble.

Like most gatherings, the highlights took place away from the formal schedule. For me, dinner with freelance reporter Eve Troeh was a big plus.

You probably have heard Eve's stories on NPR. She's a courageous and determined reporter who works to get beyond the knee jerk pictures of New Orleans; more than murder rates and corruption. Eve is passionate about telling stories of people struggling to retain and rebuild the community that makes NOLA special. Eve clearly has found a powerful connection to the city. Her work is supported in part by the Open Society Institute. Stations: she would be a great person to invite onto one of your talk and call-in shows. Ask her about her strategy for navigating the railroad tracks in her neighborhood at night.

I was also lucky enough to share a lunch with some of the students from Hopi High in Arizona.

Hopi produces youth radio pieces that can be found on PRX...check them out. I learned a bit about how the Hopi dialect changes from mesa to mesa on the rez. Paul Quamahongnewa, who you see above with Traci Talahytewa, proudly told me his ancestors were from the snake people who are charged with protecting the tribe. The producers at Hopi High had a good sense of what they want to do: Paul wants to cover sports; Generation PRX Youth Editorial Board member Felix Poleheptewa is into music; others were interested in first person story telling from people like themselves.

Now, there's a lot about New Orleans I won't share here. But I will tell you that Ellin O'Leary of Youth Radio in Berkley won a new Bader Award for her long career and impact in community radio.

Congratulations, Ellin--well deserved!