RADIO  BILINGÜE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2009

                                                                                                                                 CONTACT:

                                                                                                                  Kenia Chavez

                                                                                                                              Marketing Coordinator

                                                                                                                559. 455.5763

                                                                                                                                   kenia@radiobilingue.org

‘Frente a la Crisis -- Facing the Crisis’

Economy crisis impact on Latinos examined in new Radio Bilingüe series

(October 21, 2009) -- Families across the nation are feeling the dire effects of the current economic crisis but probably none more so than Latinos who may be the hardest hit by job loss, home foreclosures, loss of health insurance and deeper poverty – topics that are the focus of a new national series by Radio Bilingüe, Inc: “Frente a la Crisis/Facing the Crisis.” 

This comprehensive, special multimedia series that chronicles the effects of the economic crisis in the Latino community, particularly unemployment, is airing on Satélite Radio Bilingüe’s nationally-distributed news and talk services, Línea Abierta and Edición Semanaria de Noticiero Latino.

Línea Abierta broadcasts daily at noon and Edición Semanaria airs weekly on Fridays at 4 p.m. -- each featuring weekly episodes of the series over a twelve month period that began in September.

The network’s online platforms also are being used in the media campaign as well as community activities such as town halls, live talks shows and public service announcements promoting not just the shows but vital services available in the community for listeners.

Samuel Orozco, executive producer of the series, said “Facing the Crisis” focuses on the lives of those people who are most heavily affected by the current crisis -- and the governmental and non-governmental initiatives to bring relief and work on the economic recovery.

“News and information on these issues and financial literacy in Spanish is hard to get,” Orozco said. “Radio Bilingüe’s services have been filling this void at the national level and now this new series zeroes in on the devastating effects of the economic crisis in the Latino community.”

Funded with a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the series also will look at other elements of the crisis’s fallout such as access to food, shelter and healthcare, and mental health issues associated with job loss, home loss and deepened poverty.

In Central California -- ground zero for joblessness and foreclosures in the nation -- the project will include a specialized look at the impact of the unemployment crisis on Latinos through live talk shows, promotional messages about the shows topics and educational messages on employment issues and services tied to partners.

Radio Bilingüe is working with community partners to connect Spanish-speaking Latinos affected by unemployment with resources to navigate the unemployment insurance system, apply for regular benefits and learn about eligibility requirements, emergency compensation, extended benefits, federal aid, reemployment services, self-employment help and small business help.

In addition, the nationally-distributed program service includes weekly talk shows featuring roundtables and interviews with newsmakers. Topics that aired in the first few weeks included a one-on-one interview with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solís on unemployment insurance and green job. Other program topics include the challenges of the unemployed to find a new job, benefits for homeowners under the stimulus package, and the fate of pension plans during this crisis. 

In-depth news feature reports also will bring to the airwaves compelling stories of troubled homeowners who struggle to prevent foreclosure and workers who have lost their jobs and health insurance plans. 

In addition, the national coverage will include special visits by the Línea Abierta team to broadcast from the epicenters of the recession to capture stories in the communities hardest hit by unemployment and foreclosures. These remote broadcasts will originate from selected partner public stations. The live broadcasts will portray on the national airwaves outstanding efforts at the local level, including community-organizing initiatives, citizen ideas and government programs to help workers and homeowners get out of the economic crisis.

The online platform will magnify the content generated over the air through webcast, podcast, audio on demand archives, news stories, blogs, photo galleries and other platforms - and will connect listeners and visitors to the websites of consumer advocates, professional associations, federal agencies, financial institutions and more.

Mobile phone applications such as Facebook, Twitter also will be used to distribute content and/or links to resources. 

For more information, contact Kenia Chavez, Marketing Coordinator at 559.455.5763 kenia@radiobilingüe.org or visit www.radiobilingue.org.

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About Radio Bilingüe 

Radio Bilingüe is a community-based radio network with a satellite system that reaches 125 affiliates throughout the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico as well as its own six stations in California. Radio Bilingüe provides audiences with news, information and cultural programming from its award-winning programs Noticiero Latino and Línea Abierta. Programming is also available via webcast on Radio Bilingüe Internet: www.radiobilingue.org. The network’s online service features links to program audio archives, podcasting multimedia files, timely news transcripts, several interactive blogs, hyperlinks to relevant organizations and more.  

Funds for Radio Bilingüe's news services are provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The California Endowment, the James Irvine Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, The California Wellness Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.