For Immediate Release: March 16, 2009
Contact:  Camille Lacapa, 602-810-8193
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NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA TO HOST ANNUAL NATIVE RADIO SUMMIT

Native Public Media will host the annual Native Radio Summit on April 1, 2009 at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters 34^th annual conference in Portland, Oregon.

Since 2001, Native Public Media has sponsored a one-day meeting specifically for the 33 Native-owned public radio stations in the country to discuss changes in the broadcast industry and public radio, hear reports on special projects, and exchange information about programming, fundraising, station management, engineering and community engagement in a peer setting. This year, the meeting will welcome representatives from 30 new Native licensees awarded construction permits since the FCC’s October 2007 non-commercial education filing.

The Native Radio Summit will feature presentations on two projects Native Public Media is undertaking to carry out its mission of promoting media access, control and ownership for Native America:  The New Horizons Project and The Blueprint Project. 

The New Horizons Project examines how Native stations currently impact their communities to determine benchmarks to measure, implement and sustain best practices for maximum community service.  Research data will be used to develop replicable strategies for further impact.  The selection of two Native stations for a pilot study will be announced. The project is funded by the Annenberg Foundation in partnership with Chris Corrigan of Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd. and Public Radio Capital.

The Blueprint Project forms the foundation for Native Public Media’s direct consultative work with Native communities to explore and pursue media strategies and opportunities that best fit their needs, resources and goals.  NPM’s Director of Media Architecture and Services, Peggy Berryhill, will work with Sascha Meinrath of the New America Foundation to determine how broadband technologies can provide opportunities to enhance Native radio services and assist Tribes without a radio station to inform, support and engage their communities with alternative media technologies. The Blueprint Project is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Benton Foundation.

In addition to the Summit, Native Public Media will co-host three workshops on Thursday, April 2 during the NFCB Conference. More information about the workshops: Running Your Station as a Business, Generating Revenue at Native Stations, and Purposeful Programming: Cultural and Language Programming at Native Stations, is available on the NFCB website at www.nfcb.org.  Affinity group dinners to discuss programming, automation systems, creating a music library, and general information are also scheduled. 

Space is still available to attend the Native Radio Summit.  Contact Camille Lacapa, Network Services Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 602-810-8193 for more information.  Complete details about the conference are listed at www.nfcb.org.  More information about Native Public Media is at www.nativepublicmedia.org.

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