MANHATTAN, Kan. - Community Bridge, Manhattan's alternative to talk radio, is now entering its fifth year on the air with another season dedicated to informing the public debate on issues of interest to Kansans.

When I started this program in June 2006, it was mostly to provide some balance to the other talk shows on KSDB 91.9 and commercial radio in the Manhattan area. Every talk show was presented from a rabid right-wing perspective.

For over a year, the K-State's Progressive Coalition had been trying to get a moderate to left of center show on the air waves, but were blocked by the executive staff of the station. Only after a talk show host had had a guest who on air referred to the film "Brokeback Mountain" as "bareback mounting" and used other expletives to describe gay and lesbian people, that resulted in a formal complaint being filed with the FCC, did space become available for an alternative to the toxic talk of Rush Limbaugh wannabes.

Community Bridge began with one goal: to provide community with quality programming from a progressive point of view. To that end the show has worked hard to inform the public debate and provide listeners with content that is not available on other local stations.

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The June 10th edition of Community Bridge, Manhattan's alternative to talk radio, featured the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Kansas Free Press, in a follow-up to our 2009 show about the online newspaper. Now in its eighth month of activity with over 70 writers, the Kansas Free Press provides Kansans with an alternative to the mainstream media.

She talks about how the Kansas Free Press has grown, what some future plans include, how people can support the newspaper, the mainstream media in Kansas, and the role Net Neutrality plays in allowing the Kansas Free Press to survive and reach its public.

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MANHATTAN, Kan. - "A dedicated group of people are starting a new radio station that serves the public interest." Now there's a headline we get to read about everyday in the for-profit media. NOT! But that very thing is happening here.

2007 logoIn 2005 and 2007, a group of Manhattanites, community members and K-State students, attended the National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis and Memphis sponsored by Free Press. Free Press is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to reform the media. Free Press uses education, organizing and advocacy to promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, quality journalism, and universal access to communications.

With the framework and knowledge gained at the conferences, local citizens began to question what the local Manhattan media was providing them in terms of content and diversity of opinion. What they found was a media landscape in which the major issues of the day were reduced to sound bites and celebrity trivia was pushed as meaningful content.

UPDATED - See Below.

TOPEKA, Kan. - Buried in the 2011 Budget passed by the Kansas Legislature last week is a cut of 50% to the public radio and television stations in Kansas.

The Kansas House included a $903,161 cut in the annual budget allocation for public radio and television. The 50% cut affects stations statewide but has particular impact on stations in the western portion of the state, where the state funding represents a larger portion of the budget.

High Plains Public Radio (HPPR) has told its listeners that the station will see a cut of more than $120,000. Being that we are the doorstep of the new fiscal year, HPPR had already budgeted to receive the same allocation as they had in 2010.

For High Plains and the other public stations these cuts are drastic, without precedent, and threaten each public broadcasting station's ability to bring high-quality, independent, informative programs the state.

HAYS, Kan. - My most recent essay dealt with the problem of disseminating or forwarding false, inflammatory, and slanderous materials. Most of the feedback I received was quite positive, except for a note from one very good friend, who suggested that I give equal attention to the similar offenses from "liberal" sources. His idea, I think, was that, in writing of the abuses of truth and civility in the disseminations and fowardings I described, I was criticizing conservatives.

On April 1st, the Kansas Free Press (KFP) celebrated its 6-month anniversary. With gratitude for the Kansans who nobly commit their time and talents to citizen journalism, we are celebrating our recent half-year anniversary by proudly showcasing each of our own KFP writers.

WICHITA, Kan. - In this profile, we are honored to introduce KFP correspondent, Claudean McKellips. She has taught at the high school and college level since 1997. Helping students find their voice in reading, writing and thinking brings Claudean the greatest joy. She has found her niche in the public alternative and charter schools where it is still possible to escape canned curriculum and some aspects of NCLB. Claudean is especially interested in leveling the playing field for first-generation college students.

On April 1st, the Kansas Free Press (KFP) celebrated its 6-month anniversary. With gratitude for the Kansans who nobly commit their time and talents to citizen journalism, we are celebrating our recent half-year anniversary by proudly showcasing each of our own KFP writers.

POTWIN, Kan. - In this profile, we are honored to introduce KFP correspondent, Eden Fuson. Active in citizenship and grassroots organizing, she talked with us about what motivates her to make the world a better place. Very simply, she said, "My main goal in life is to be someone my three children will be proud of." Eden explained that she hopes to always spend her life trying to change things that will positively affect their lives.

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Monthly Film Series takes on the issue of media consolidation next Tuesday, 13 April, when it screens Sue Wilson's Broadcast Blues - The Movie the Media Does Not Want You to See beginning at 6:30 pm in the Manhattan Public Library Auditorium. The public is welcomed to attend.

Sue Wilson Broadcast Blues laments the erosion of the contrasting-views concept in the wake of deregulation following the 1996 Telecommunications Act but also chronicles the consolidation of US media in the hands of five conglomerates over the last three decades.

Emmy-winning former news producer, Sue Wilson worked at Los Angeles' KCBS with Jim Lampley and Keith Olbermann. A 22-year veteran of broadcast journalism, she has won numerous awards include Emmy, AP, RTNDA, and PRNDI for work at CBS, PBS, FOX, and NPR. Read her blog at: http://www.suewilsonreports.com/

On April 1st, the Kansas Free Press (KFP) celebrated its 6-month anniversary. With gratitude for the Kansans who nobly commit their time and talents to citizen journalism, we are celebrating our recent half-year anniversary by proudly showcasing each of our own KFP writers.

LAWRENCE, Kan. - In this profile, we are honored to introduce KFP correspondent, Amber Fraley. She is a graduate of the University of Kansas (go 'Hawks!) where she achieved a bachelor of arts in English. These days, she is a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer living in Lawrence. She has over ten years experience working as a professional writer, editor and reporter for newspapers and magazines.

On April 1st, the Kansas Free Press (KFP) celebrated its 6-month anniversary. With gratitude for the Kansans who nobly commit their time and talents to citizen journalism, we are celebrating our recent half-year anniversary by proudly showcasing each of our own KFP writers.

SHAWNEE, Kan. - In this profile, we are honored to introduce KFP correspondent, Milack Talia. He is an attorney, businessman and public servant living in Shawnee, in eastern Kansas. Milack serves as business manager of an advertising firm and as the Kansas State Representative for the 23rd District. He graduated from KU in 2003 with his law degree and in 2000 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Milack is proud also that during high school he became an Eagle Scout. He explains that each chapter of his life has provided opportunities for triumph in the face of struggle.