Public Radio Urban Alternatives Launch 2020 Voting Campaign

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, August 13, 2020 | 2:30pm CT

The Movement Continues

Four public radio stations are combining efforts to encourage their young and diverse audiences to register and vote in the 2020 election. The campaign, "The Movement Continues -- Vote 2020," is driven by four Urban Alternative stations including WBEW-FM (Vocalo) in Chicago, KTSU-FM (The Vibe) in Houston, KUVO-FM-HD2 (The Drop) in Denver and WNSB-FM (Blazin' Hot 91) in Norfolk.

Each station will promote local efforts to register voters and encourage them to vote on November 3. The campaign includes partnerships with local organizations that are already established to support voter registration and voting efforts, along with each station's broadcast, website, social media and on-site promotions. The four-station campaign social media hashtag is #themovementcontinuesvote2020.

"U.S. Representative John Lewis told us that ‘The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it,'" said Vocalo Chicago's Senior Content Producer, Ayana Contreras. "His recent death is a reminder of all that he lived for, which included ensuring that all of us have access to that powerful tool. Unfortunately, that access is in jeopardy for too many citizens."

The Vibe Houston Marketing and Community Engagement Director Holly Charles stated, "Our goal is to advocate for social and political change, starting with the next generation of leaders. If we've learned anything from the recent 2020 protests, we've learned that there is power in numbers and power in the voices of our youth. As an Urban Alternative that caters to a young, urban demographic, we accept the responsibility of encouraging and mobilizing our listeners towards the polls."

The Drop Content/Program Director Nikki Swarn said, "This is the time to support and encourage the young, vibrant voices of a very motivated generation to engage in the civic fabric of this country, to validate the ideologies of what could be the future generation of the world's leaders, CEOs, and radio broadcasters, and exercise their power to choose through the action of voting. Many people, and specifically young people, can be distracted by the process of voting. Everything from registering to finding their polling location. As servant leaders, Public Media, especially Public Radio, can help stand in the light and illuminate a pathway towards solidarity as the movement continues to the polls."

WNSB Norfolk Marketing and Community Engagement Director Toni Jones added, "WNSB is excited to be at the forefront of voter participation. We take seriously our commitment to inform, educate, motivate and rally the Hampton Roads community to register and then vote!"

The four Urban Alternative stations are consulted by Mike Henry and Paragon Media Strategies, who assisted in developing the campaign.