Radio Bilingüe regretfully announces that as of June 15, 2011 it is suspending LA>Forward and Los Angeles Public Media for the foreseeable future.
Los Angeles Public Media was originally launched by Radio Bilingüe and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as an effort to create a new paradigm for public media (radio, video, online, mobile) in Southern California, one that would give voice to Latinos, African-Americans and Asian-Americans who are under-served by, and under-represented in, public media.
LAPM proceeded with completing a research project that captured an unprecedented profile of the media habits of multi-ethnic audiences in Los Angeles. This research is applicable to other markets and continues to be shared with public media outlets and philanthropic organizations around the country to help them understand and reach new audiences. LAPM has also piloted new radio and video content that strongly resonates with our target audience.
In September 2010, LAPM launched LAForward.org, a website that looked at news and culture through the prism of race and ethnicity. The website has attracted a devoted following for its unique multi-media content that is created by staff writers and producers, as well as by prominent guest bloggers.
However, Radio Bilingüe’s efforts to secure a radio broadcast outlet in Los Angeles for LAPM have proven unsuccessful, while federal funding cuts to CPB’s digital appropriation are precluding the agency from assuring support to LAPM in the coming years.
LA>Forward has been produced by talented staff drawn from the local communities of color in Los Angeles, recruited specifically for their instincts and experience serving their audience. In the short period of its robust operation, LAPM and LA>Forward confirmed that content by and for communities of color will be responsive and welcomed by new public media audiences.
We are forever grateful for the tireless efforts of the LAPM staff and other project collaborators who took many risks and showed enormous perseverance and creativity on this journey with Radio Bilingüe. We also thank the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for its major support of the project.
We are especially grateful for our LA>Forward followers who provided us with support, encouragement and valuable feedback. Their response was proof that a service such as LAPM is wanted and needed.
Radio Bilingüe is honored to have been part of this breakthrough endeavor for public media. We will showcase the content produced by the LAPM staff for the world to experience in LA>Forward archives still available through its web address, and remain committed to expanding public media services to Latinos and other people of color in Los Angeles and beyond.
Hugo Morales
Executive Director, Radio Bilingüe
hugom@pacbell.net