Joanne Rideout is Coast Community Radio’s News Director. She’s been hanging about at KMUN for 18 years, and has served as a volunteer, staff member and station manager. She’s the creator and producer of a unique local maritime radio show, the Ship Report, which airs weekday mornings. She loves community radio and the people in it.
What is your earliest memory of community radio?
I was listening to community radio during my twenties in New York, where I grew up. Those quirky stations were the ones that had the most unusual and interesting programs.
How did you come to connect with Coast Community Radio?
When I moved to the local listening area that KMUN serves, my next-door neighbor was a volunteer and board member. She suggested I volunteer at the station to meet people.
What is one thing no one would ever guess about the community you serve?
Despite our political differences, we are connected by our shared vulnerability, since the Pacific Northwest has the highest risk of experiencing a devastating earthquake and tsunami of any coastal area in North America.
Is there anything you have learned about yourself during your tenure that you never expected to learn?
How much I love to interview people, and share information that is useful and interesting.
What is a challenge your station has faced that you found a solution for?
During a time of financial hardship and crisis, I was in a position to help lead the organization out of that and get it on more solid ground.
How would you advise a peer facing difficulties in fundraising for their station?
Look to your peers for help and information. Many stations have figured out solutions to the problems you face. You are not alone. Ask for help! Also, cultivate a harmonious board of directors who will help you fundraise.
If you could recommend one book to everyone, what would it be?
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. It reminds me that life should be an adventure.
Why is community radio important to you?
It’s personal; it’s people talking to people on the radio from their hearts. It’s a chance to be yourself and contribute good to the world. A real opportunity to serve your neighbors. A wonderful soup of creativity, information and great music. A healing influence in troubled times.
