Radio Arte Teams Up with Latino Public Radio Network

“Línea Abierta,” the only live Spanish-language news talk show for public radio, to begin airing

Radio Arte has officially partnered with Fresno, Calif.’s Radio Bilingüe in order to air the daily news and talk program “Línea Abierta.” WRTE becomes the first urban Midwest affiliate to join the transnational Latino public radio satellite network. It is estimated that a potential audience of 450,000 Latinos living in the Southwest side of Chicago will be able to tune in to the new Spanish-language public service programming block via 90.5 WRTE-FM Radio Arte and online at www.wrte.org.

Radio Bilingüe’s “Línea Abierta” counts on the participation of Little Village native and immigration attorney Rosalba Piña, who hosts the immigration edition of Línea Abierta every Tuesday.

“The southwest side will benefit greatly from the range of issues covered on “Línea Abierta,” from immigration to health care and education, listeners will receive information that is vital to our community,” Pina said. “This compliments Radio Arte’s progressive energy and the goal of Radio Bilingüe’s programming.”

“Línea Abierta” has been on the air for 12 years and is the first and only live Spanish-language talk show that airs in the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Carlos Méndez, program director of WRTE, said the new service would help Radio Arte inform and engage its listeners.

 “The public affairs information that we will be receiving from Radio Bilingüe will allow Radio Arte’s listeners to connect with the community at large and further encourage civic participation,” Mendez said.

Samuel Orozco, the program’s executive producer, who has been with Radio Bilingüe since 1981, explained the philosophy at the core of “Línea Abierta.”

“There was, and still is a huge gap in the coverage of Latino issues in the mainstream media,” Orozco said. “Just as importantly, commercial programming does little if nothing to inspire its listenership to engage in its community.”

“Linea Abierta” will air daily on Radio Arte, 90.5 FM, from 2 to 3 p.m. (CST) and online at www.radioarte.org. Listeners can participate by calling toll-free: (800) 34-LINEA (from the United States and Puerto Rico).