SGPS Vote 2011
What is CFRC?
CFRC 101.9fm is Kingston’s only campus-community radio station. CFRC has been based at Queen’s University since 1922, making it the oldest campus-based broadcaster in Canada and one of the longest-running radio stations in the world.
CFRC broadcasts 24/7 at 101.9fm in the greater Kingston area, 90.9 on cable, and streaming live and archived online at www.cfrc.ca. Almost all of CFRC’s programming is produced live in the studio by more than 180 volunteers, about half of whom are Queen’s students.
CFRC’s work doesn’t only take place on the airwaves. The station also provides free broadcast training, including technical audio production, scriptwriting, mic technique, research, collective project management, digital audio recording and editing. In addition to 3 volunteer recruitment and training cycles each year, CFRC organizes skill-building conferences, workshops and creative radio projects on campus and in the community every few months. All of CFRC’s volunteer and employment opportunities, unless specifically restricted by project funders, are open to SGPS members.
CFRC’s Financial Picture
CFRC supports 5 paid staff and 180 volunteers, as well as a 24/7 programming schedule and numerous community events throughout the year, on an annual operating budget of under $150,000 - less than the average salary for the 500 highest-paid staff at Queen’s. Even though expenses are kept at the bare minimum required to sustain basic operations, CFRC still has trouble making ends meet and has faced operational deficits for the past six years.
Insufficient student funding is at the heart of this problem. CFRC receives less than half the national average in student funding for a campus-community radio station in Canada, whether measured per student or in total. Out of a survey of 26 campus-community stations prepared by staff at UMFM in Winnipeg for the National Campus-Community Radio Association in 2009, CFRC ranks 22nd in funding per student and 18th in total student funding per year, even with the increase of $1.02 per student that was passed by the AMS last year and is up for approval by the SGPS at the upcoming by-election.
It is in fact remarkable that the station has been able to survive and thrive, given its low amount of student funding: the station’s recent growth can be attributed to the untiring efforts of CFRC staff and volunteers, to the support of AMS officers, directors and permanent staff, and to the ongoing contributions of Queen’s University in providing rent-free studio and office space for the station in Lower Carruthers Hall.
If CFRC is to obtain a balanced budget, however, a more realistic model for student funding needs to be adopted. The incremental increase proposed for CFRC’s SGPS fees is a starting point for improved financial accountability.
7 Reasons to Support CFRC
1. SERVING YOU: CFRC offers relevant alternative news, diverse opinions and independent, underground music, along with dialogue and debate on campus and community issues not being covered by other local media.
2. FREE EDUCATION: CFRC gives SGPS members an opportunity to develop journalism, writing and broadcasting skills by providing free learning opportunities unavailable elsewhere at Queen’s. Come out to our Radio Free School on Saturday, March 26!
3. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Many of those who participated at CFRC as students have gone on to professional careers in media, broadcasting, communications and journalism. CFRC provides students with a working environment that is not only fun and interesting to learn in, but also offers career-building experience.
4. AN UNBEATABLE DEAL: CFRC sustains its operations with among the lowest amounts of student funding for a campus radio station in Canada.
5. CAMPUS-COMMUNITY ACTION: CFRC provides critical support, promotion, outreach and coverage for on- and off-campus groups, activities and events that do not get media exposure elsewhere, helping to build a strong and healthy community.
6. BRIDGING THE TOWN-GOWN DIVIDE: CFRC provides a vital link between Queen’s and the broader community, delivering timely information and resources to make happenings on campus accessible and interesting to off-campus listeners and vice-versa.
7. A LIVING TRADITION: CFRC is the oldest campus-based broadcaster in Canada and one of the longest-running broadcasters in the world. By sustaining CFRC, SGPS members can help to keep this vibrant history alive and kicking.
FAQs:
Q. Why should cash-strapped students pay for CFRC’s deficit?
A. Most campus-community radio stations receive more than half their operational revenue from student fees. In contrast, CFRC receives less than 50% of its revenue from students. It’s time to balance the books through a more equitable funding model.
Q. Why should I support additional funding for a service I myself don’t use?
A. Whether or not you are a volunteer or a listener, CFRC is making a difference to the community you live in. The station’s training programs, community events and daily live broadcasts involve hundreds of Queen’s undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty and community members at large, including musicians, artists and working people, throughout the year. CFRC also acts as a hub, connecting Queen’s with Kingston communities. A model for town-gown relations, CFRC is the only place where students and members of the greater community work side by side to learn about and create relevant, vibrant local media.
Q. Isn’t radio an obsolete medium? Shouldn’t we invest in something more modern, like subcutaneous iPods?
A. Radio is not just surviving, but thriving. Even many iPods and cell phones include an FM receiver! CFRC is also at the forefront of its sector in providing audio content on-line, both live and archived. The station’s training programs teach people to work in a digital audio environment and build transferable research, writing, communication, and collaboration skills that are an asset in any age.
Q. Shouldn’t the station run more advertising?
A. Under it’s campus-community broadcasting license, CFRC is restricted in the amount of advertising it can air. CFRC is also a not-for-profit community service, and as such needs to distinguish itself from your average commercial radio station by limiting the amount and types of advertising it airs.
Q. Why don’t you apply for more grants?
A. The station applies for increasing amounts of grant funding each year. However, this funding is inherently unstable and needs to be re-applied for annually. Grants for non-profits are almost always project-based, which means the costs and expenses have to balance out. Thus, although more grants may increase CFRC’s overall revenue and operating capacity, they will not decrease the station’s deficit.
Q. Why don’t you cut a staff position?
A. CFRC’s 1 full-time and 4 part-time staff coordinate the work of more than 180 volunteers. This means each staff person trains, supports and provides resources for about 40 people. We really can’t imagine how CFRC could continue its operations with any fewer staff than it currently has - can you?
Q. Where does the money go?
A. Almost 80% of CFRC’s operating budget pays for its 5 staff. The remainder covers all broadcast equipment, office supplies, promotions and marketing, repairs and maintenance, music licensing, insurance, phone, printing and photocopy costs. The station could not survive without ongoing in-kind contributions from Queen’s University.
Q. How can you be sure this fee increase will help CFRC become financially stable? Won’t you need to increase the fee again? And again?!
A. Without a fee increase that is also geared to inflation, it is inevitable that CFRC will have to ask for another increase in the future. However, the 101.9-cent increase per student per year will help to substantially reduce projected operating deficits at this time. Once CFRC is able to balance it’s budget, and has enough core operational funding to support day-to-day operations, it is anticipated that the station’s other revenue streams will also be able to grow. Supporting CFRC makes 101.9 sense!
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