FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patricia Hernandez
(559) 455-5782
patriciah@radiobilingue.org

This is the first presidential election in times of war since Vietnam. Immigrants living in the shadows anxiously expect renewed talks on immigration reform. Uninsured families seek answers for their dire health care needs. These are just some of the issues at stake in the road to November. Radio Bilingüe addresses those issues providing a forum for news and analysis by political leaders, community activists and experts gathered at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Boston and New York. This special radio series is a live, gavel-to-gavel coverage in Spanish of the four-day national presidential conventions, including simultaneously-interpreted segments of keynote speeches, news reports from the convention floor and demonstrations outside, and interviews with guest commentators. It is widely expected that the Latino vote will increase this year by 1 million. A powerful 7.5 million Latino voting force is expected to help shape the political landscape of cities, states, congressional districts and the contested presidential race. This special series opens a forum for hard news and intense deliberation to help under-served Spanish-speaking audiences develop informed opinions and turn out to vote and participate. With this coverage, Radio Bilingüe builds on the experience of its live, bilingual nationally-distributed broadcast of the national presidential conventions in 1984. That was the first coverage of its kind.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION TIMES:

 

Monday, July 26th

15:00 – 16:00 EDT. EDUCATION. This edition of the weekday program Línea Abierta provides an analysis on the Democratic Party’s positions on public education. The program also airs news stories on pre-convention activities, including the party’s caucuses and the shadow convention outside.

 

21:00 – 23:00 EDT. THE CONVENTION I. Special, live coverage of the first evening of the convention. This program includes segments of keynote speakers, news reports from the floor, and analysis by guest commentators.

 

Tuesday, July 27th

15:00 – 16:00 EDT. HEALTH. This Línea Abierta edition focuses on the plans for health care reform in the Democratic platform. The program also airs hard news and feature reports.

 

21:00 – 23:00 EDT. THE CONVENTION II. Special, live coverage of the second evening of the convention. The program includes remarks from keynote speakers, interviews from the floor, and analysis by guest commentators.

 

Wednesday, July 28th

15:00 – 16:00 EDT. IMMIGRATION. Influential Democrats and analysts join this edition of Línea Abierta to discuss the proposals for immigration reform being discussed in the convention. Reporters also file news stories.

 

21:00 – 23:00 EDT. THE CONVENTION III. Special, live coverage of the third evening of the convention. The program includes segments of the address of the vice-presidential nominee, reactions from the floor, and analysis by guest commentators.

 

Thursday, July 29th

15:00 – 16:00 EDT. THE WAR. Analysts and Democratic activists give answers on the current war in Iraq and the national security plans. News reporters also provide stories on the convention.

 

21:00 – 23:00 EDT. THE CONVENTION IV. Special, live coverage of the final evening of the convention. The presidential candidate address and acceptance speech, analysis by commentators, and news from the floor are also part of this program.

 

Friday, July 30th

15:00 – 16:00 EDT. WRAP-UP. Highlights of the closing night of the convention air on Línea Abierta; listeners encouraged to comment via voice mail.

 

19:00 – 19:15 EDT. OVERVIEW. News feature reports providing overview on the convention air on Edición Semanaria, a weekly news segment.

 

TIMES FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON. 

 

USAGE: Free of charge to all public stations. The radio series can be used in its entirety or in parts. Stations are encouraged to use the entire live broadcast. News features and brief interviews can also be used as self-contained modules or as part of news and information programs. 

 

PROMOS: Audio and written promotional announcements available upon request.

 

DISTRIBUTION:  Public radio satellite system and online streaming (www.radiobilingue.org)

 

FUNDING: Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides partial support for HACIA EL VOTO 2004.

Radio Bilingüe is the Latino public radio network. With satellite uplink in Fresno and national offices in San Francisco, CA, Radio Bilingüe distributes news, information and musical programming to radio affiliates throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico.