Aaron Brown's thoughts on cuts to Public Broadcasting

You can listen to Aaron's essay here, or read the text below:

The proposed, probable federal cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could lead me down a predictable path. I could just say, hey, give money to the cause and call your Congressional Representative. Or just give money. Mostly, we need the money because calling Congress is like calling Bigfoot. Even if you reach Bigfoot on his landline in the Pacific Northwest, he is unlikely to change his mind because of the words you say, which he may not even understand in the first place, presuming he actually exists.

Stations like KAXE exist because of members, still the largest source of revenue and the most important part of our survival. But the nickels and dimes of the working folks who support KAXE have always been augmented by the federal government and other grants. This happens because public radio is more than entertainment, it is a service, a beacon of our culture, a market for the currency of democracy and free thought.

We live in the Information Age. You can’t see this, but I’m capitalizing those words. “I” like “iPhone” and “A” like, well, one of the letters in Facebook. We still need and use industry, machines and such, just as we still use wheels, flint, bronze and the occasional arrow. But the freshest layer in our human development, and the thing that in the future will most define what we now call the United States of America, is information: Technology, communication networks and what the kids these days call “content.”

Private industry has an important role to play in the Information Age. If you’ve used a cell phone or sent a text message this year, you know why. If you’ve ever used the internet to buy things or do work, you know why. But it isn’t just the private sector entering the Information Age, it’s the public sector too, and the public square. The government once ensured that the town square was clear of garbage and street toughs so that the people could safely conduct the town’s civic affairs. Today that town square is online. Elections are won and lost on the internet. Ideas are exchanged through the internet, debated and restructured, before being excreted out through the traditional media.

If you look around northern Minnesota, the only organization offering carte blank access between the people, their information and the ability to access other people in the area is Northern Community Radio. From KAXE and KBXE to Northern Community Internet and an active Facebook cohort, this organization isn’t beholden to corporate overlords or the interests of the powerful. Because power in the information age is information, not many would give that power away in exchange for so little; your voluntary contributions and your desire to express to your elected leaders, no matter your party, the importance of vibrant public media.

There is no profit in news, or in shows about birds, or in letting regular people from your community on the air to talk about what’s important to them. These things lose money, displeasing stockholders. But without this kind of media, we lose something more important that money or the free market system. We lose our hold on the only thing that really matters these days, information, and how it affects we the people.

Aaron Brown is a writer and community college instructor from the Iron Range. You can read more at MinnesotaBrown.com or in his book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” 

Your Job Today is to Join KAXE

by Aaron Brown, MinnesotaBrown.com.

Do me a favor. Go over and look at the website for 91.7 KAXE. If you're in northern Minnesota, tune in to 91.7 FM or, if you're anywhere else, stream the audio feed (click "Listen").

Spend some time looking at that website. Read the blogs. Read about the people. Read about some of the programs. Then listen to the station. Listen to the archives of programs that sound interesting. Listen to the variety of music, of voices, and -- most of all -- listen to how different it is than everything else in the media.

KAXE is public, but not slick. It's a large and growing organization, but it's not corporate. It's creative, but it's not amateurish -- even when programmed by volunteers. It covers news, birds, politics, trees, events, lakes, but mostly KAXE covers people. It plays music -- every kind you can imagine, except for Top 40 -- and celebrates local and Minnesota musicians, too. It provides family programming but isn't afraid of edgy and challenging material, either. Most of all it celebrates the unique culture and attitudes of the people of northern Minnesota.

The most remarkable thing about all of this is that KAXE is able to do all of this -- pay a professional staff, support a huge network of volunteers, broadcast a 100,000 watt signal with two translators and a web stream to boot -- predominantly with member support. They do this on a freaking shoestring. This is coming from a guy who volunteers in nonprofit arts event planning, so believe me, I know shoestrings.

But the economy is bad and KAXE's spring fundraiser is running behind what's needed. Don't mess around, people. This station will outlast the newspapers. This station is developing a media model that will integrate the internet with radio and print content. This station will outlast the blaring shock jocks and mindless droning of zombie MTV. This station will cover the people of northern Minnesota, forever. Unless you fail to become a member today.

Be a member of KAXE. Join, join, join. As I've said, if you're a fan of what I do here at the blog or in my column or my recent book, I beg you to pay it forward and help the organization that's helped me over these past five years.

I'm "on assignment" this week and won't be a part of the "Between You and Me" program this Saturday morning. Nevertheless, Michael Goldberg and Gail Otteson will be guest hosting and taking calls between 10 a.m. and noon. Tune in and join us again next week, and the next week and the next. If...

Now Hear This! Audio Highlights from KAXE

There is always a lot going on around the KAXE Studios, and this last week is a good example. Here is a sampling of recent audio highlights:

Making Sausage of Proposed Out-State Health Coverage
Republican commentator Chuck Marohn and DLFer Colleen Nardone talk about Governor Pawlenty's proposed change to allow Minnesota residents to buy health insurance from companies located outside the state.

Guido's Guide to the Arts
Steve Downing (Guido) is what you might call a renaissance man. Writer, patron and slave to the arts, hunter, hair model, connoisseur of fine wine, beer and food, recycler and fashion guru.

Heidi and the Bullhead Queen
Minnesota author Sue Leaf talks about her memoir "The Bullhead Queen: a Year on Pioneer Lake" where she asks the questions what is our relationship to wild animals and what is our responsibility to them?

Digging For Your Roots
The 28th Annual "Digging For Your Roots" Genealogy and Local History Conference is Sat. Oct 17th at the MN Discovery Center in Chisholm and we talked with Dr. Melissa Stewart, the new museum director and she talked about tracking down the source of a quilt.

Gun Lake Potato Farm
Roger & Markel Vogt talked about the potato harvest this year, and the growing season, varieties and marketing the Gun lake Potato Farm in Palisade.

Monthly Forestry Update w Eli Sagor
University of MN Extension educator Eli Sagor gives his monthly update about Minnesota forests. Eli manages www.myminnesotawoods.org

Namco Museum Essentials
A downloadable game for the PS3 network which includesPacman!!! But is there anything else do this boringly-named game? LISTEN!!! And enjoy more at The Binary Boys page.

The Public Speaking Bear is Going To Maul You
Aaron Brown would much rather give a 5 minute talk than die horribly before his time. Public speaking is a like a bear that never kills but instead just bats you around for 15 or 20 minutes every time it sees you. Check out more from Aaron at his blog MinnesotaBrown.com. On Between You and Me.

Subtleties for Sound Bites?
Michael Goldberg has the Last Word on "Public Speaking." Let's face it, things were never like they used to be...what about our own time, right now - when all the world is one wide web. On Between You and Me.

Now Hear This! Recent Audo Highlights from KAXE

At KAXE.org we have twitter updates, YouTube videos, a photo album, 24 hour live stream AND audio highlights like:

All Things Equine and Horse Driving Today
Bobbi talked with Gloria Austin on Modern and Traditional Driving in America today. Gloria reviewed the similarities and differences between modern and traditional types of driving and spoke of the venues for each with explanation of competitions including the upcoming WEG (World Equestrian Games) driving competition. She also talked about types of classes and turnouts and about how to get started in driving. Hear more at All Things Equine.

Daddy's 10 Fishing Commandments
Robert Saxton, 'The Mini-Van Man," shared this audio essay on fishing culture with us on RealGoodWords, about taking his 3 kids out fishing earlier this summer.

Why Aren't You Naked on the Cover?
John Wozniak of Marcy Playground about the new album Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage from Centerstage MN w Doug MacRostie. Marcy Playground: http://www.marcyplayground.com/

Stereotypical Northern MN BWCA Discussion
Regular contributor Aaron Brown penned this radio satire for Between You and Me on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Check out Aaron's blog at www.minnesotabrown.com

How Can KAXE Serve Hibbing Better?

By Maggie Montgomery

Aaron Brown (in the photo) was one of 9 KAXE members and listeners that attended a dinner meeting at Zimmie’s restaurant Monday night to talk about how 91.7 KAXE could be more of a hometown radio station to people in Hibbing.

Others in attendance were Tom Vucetich, Al Lipke, Joe and Sue Gnoza, Lucy Vitale, Mike Ricci, Jean Winter and Joann Mulonovich. Scott Hall, Stephanie Rose and I got to be part of a lively and fun discussion!

Here are a few things we learned:

Hibbing has not had a locally originating radio station—at least not for many years.

There was interest in a satellite KAXE studio to serve people in Hibbing.

It’s really hard to get through to Green Cheese (trivia). The phone lines are always too busy.

Those in attendance were not necessarily enamored of the Binary Boys but were impressed to learn the show was produced locally.

Hibbing Community College Theater would like to partner with KAXE for some events. There may be other partnership opportunities in Hibbing also (the Hibbing public library, Mesabe Concert Assn, Silica Fire Department).

KAXE might be viewed as elitist or inaccessible on the Range.

In spite of the fact that KAXE sees itself as a regional radio station, it is hard to portray it in Hibbing as other than a Grand Rapids station. One reason is the largest number of underwriting and other announcements are about Grand Rapids, followed by Bemidji. Another is the divide between being on or off the Range.

The outstanding work of KAXE’s music volunteers is appreciated (Volunteer of the Year Rev Dave was especially singled out for praise).

People in Hibbing don’t know KAXE is out there. Many think KAXE is part of MPR.

There is interest in more news and cultural information from Hibbing, including food. The group supplied Scott Hall with many leads for interviews.

Tonight some members of KAXE’s staff will head to Virginia to meet with another group of KAXE listeners. More on that meeting later!