About the Council
The WAMU Community Council is WAMU 88.5's community advisory board, as defined by the Public Broadcasting amendments of 1981. The purpose of the Community Council is to represent the interests of the listening public in regular meetings with the staff and management of WAMU 88.5.
Purpose
The WAMU Community Council serves as an extra set of "eyes and ears" for the station. The Council also provides assistance to station staff in carrying out community outreach activities. The role of the Community Council is solely advisory in nature. The Council’s activities provide a way for citizens to become more involved with the station.
Activities
The Community Council periodically reviews the programming goals and significant decisions of WAMU 88.5 and advises station management with respect to whether the programs and other policies of the station are meeting the needs of the communities served by the station. Meetings of the Council are held quarterly and are open to the public.
The Council also carries out other plans and activities calculated to strengthen ties between WAMU 88.5 and the community. For example, the Council regularly holds Community Dialogues which convene local leaders and members of the community to discuss specific issues of particular interest to the region. These closed, off–the-record sessions provide background information and valuable contacts for the station's reporters and program producers. Past topics have included “Emergency Preparedness in the DC Metropolitan Area,” “Educating DC’s Children: Are They Getting Our Money’s Worth,” “Concerns about Gentrification and Affordable Housing in the District of Columbia,” and “Community Policing.”
How You Can Become Involved
Community Council meetings are open to the public. Each meeting includes a “Public Comment,” a time for listeners in attendance to voice their comments, concerns, or suggestions for the station. A full schedule is available here.
Community Dialogues are closed to the public, so that the participants can freely have off-the-record discussions for the benefit of the reporters and program producers; however, there is a valuable way for you to impact the conversation, and possibly future stories on WAMU 88.5. If you have an idea for a topic that you believe has potential for in-depth, community-based discussion, email dialogue@wamu.org.
If we use your topic, you will be notified, so that you know for sure you have had an impact!
