A Statement from Our Board President on the Annapolis Journalist Shootings presents:

A Statement from Our Board President on the Annapolis Journalist Shootings

As the leader of the governing board of a community radio station, I am beyond saddened by the loss of fellow journalists in the recent shooting in Annapolis. Journalists and the presence of independent news are vital to the community; a job so important and necessary to our democracy that the U.S. Bill of Rights explicitly protects it.

Journalism is not a 40 hour a week job. It’s a 24-hour-a-day job. Reporters, editors, producers work out of a sense of passion for truth in the news. They give all they have every day to inform you of what’s happening in your neighborhood, city, and country. Reporters Without Borders reported that threats faced by journalists worldwide are increasing and that last year was the most dangerous year ever for journalists.

Who will protect community journalism?

It certainly can be you. You can help us stand up to the violence against the very voices telling the stories of your life, reporting on the issues important to you, and lifting up the voices of those most unheard.

At WRIR, we are volunteers. We work with you in the communities of the greater Richmond area. We are not only journalists; we are your friends, your family, and your neighbors. We care deeply about all of the residents we live next to, go to work with, socialize with and whose stories we tell. I feel certain that the same can be said of the staff of the Capital Gazette.

To our five colleagues who lost their lives in the service of news, truth, and democracy, we honor your work and stand in solidarity with journalists everywhere.

Carol Olson,
President of the Virginia Center for the Public Press,
Co-chair, News and Public Affairs Committee

VolunteerCoordinator    June 30th, 2018

Posted In: News

Open Source RVA presents:

Open Source RVA for April 13, 2018

On Friday’s Open Source RVA, a rebroadcast of our March 2 episode, host Don Harrison talks about The Valentine Richmond Historymakers Awards with Ashley Hall from the The Capital Region Collaborative, Eric Steigleder from The Valentine, and Diversity Richmond’s Rodney Lofton. The 13th annual Historymakers awards are presented to outstanding community organizations and leaders, and Diversity Richmond is one of this year’s history-making recipients. And do we have to live with friction? Co-host Angela Lehman talks with Mark Rubin, the executive director of the Virginia Center For Consensus Building, about the art of conflict resolution and how to bring people together in this polarizing age. All of that PLUS RVA Dirt’s Melissa Vaughn and Jessee Perry put on the cleats and helmets for a rough and tumble “Hell to the Redskins” installment of the Quick and Dirty Council Roundup. LISTEN TO THIS REWARMED SOURCE! IT MICROWAVES WELL! Friday at noon on 97.3 FM and http://www.wrir.org.

OSRVA    Open Source RVA    April 13th, 2018

Posted In: News