Our Mission, Audience, and Reliance on Community Support
Mission:
The mission of WCOM Community Radio is "A vibrant, interactive, and culturally rich community." In pursuit of that mission, WCOM exists so that:
There is high quality, distinct and unique music programming.
- Music programming is creative, lively, and emotionally stimulating.
- Music programming satisfies an intellectually curious audience with diverse, eclectic musical interests.
- Local music is celebrated.
The community hears points of view that challenge assumptions, raise issues, and provoke thought and discussion.
- WCOM’s airwaves serve as a forum for the discussion and debate of issues, with a strong emphasis on listener participation.
- Community members have a forum to discuss important issues.
- A broad range of educational, political and cultural organizations have media access.
- Programming portrays issues and events through perspectives and values relevant to our community.
- There are relevant local productions created by community members and local producers.
- High quality national programs are available for the first time.
The community celebrates its cultural diversity.
- Musical programming originates from and encourages outreach and dialogue with local communities.
- Radio programming and other communication is bi-lingual.
- Local artists have a forum for their work.
Individuals and groups have a hub that links them with the greater Chapel Hill and Carrboro community.
- Listeners have a significant and accessible source for local information and community activities.
- Artists and programmers have an outlet for their work, and a medium to express their concerns.
- WCOM is a visible and respected cultural institution that resonates and is relevant to a significant portion of community.
Volunteers have the knowledge and opportunity to participate in media.
- WCOM is welcoming, accessible, and fun.
- Volunteers have access to radio production training.
- There is an ongoing opportunity for new programs.
The public airwaves have a local steward.
- WCOM is a grassroots, membership organization and a broadcast medium owned and licensed to the community through its membership.
WCOM is responsive to the desires of the local community.
WCOM acts in the community's interest regarding emerging technologies and government regulation relative to broadcast media.
Audience: WCOM exists to serve the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community. Our audience is made up of our listeners, members, volunteers, and underwriters.
- Our programming reflects, proportionate to the number of listeners, the desires of our audience.
- WCOM schedule is considerate of the way people use radio in their lives. The schedule is consistent, rational, and harmonious.
- Our audience is intellectually curious, interested in issues of vast magnitude, enjoys diverse music, and is multicultural-oriented. Inherent in this description is the implication that our mission statement resonates with our audience; our values are their values.
- WCOM values the importance and uniqueness of its underlying cooperative structure as a membership organization, and strives toward positive linkage and responsiveness to its membership base.
Reliance on Community Support: WCOM operates at a fraction of the cost of other radio stations. We are grassroots, self-sufficient, and frugal.
- WCOM relies on donations and underwriting to cover $50,000 in expenses annually. We raise this money in a light and humorous fashion.
- WCOM relies on dedicated volunteers in all aspects of our operations. We expect volunteers to obtain and update technical training, improve on-air skills, fulfill stated expectations and program guidelines, and follow rules that satisfy external regulators.
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