empower
independent media

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Jump to:
"Are you a nonprofit?"
"Who funds National Radio Project?"
"What’s your budget?"

"Do you offer production services, like event taping, sound booth rental, CD duplication, etc.?"

"How can I support/contribute to National Radio Project?"
"How can I be added to the mailing list?"

"How many radio stations are you on and where are they?"
"When does Making Contact air in my area?"

"How do you choose topics?"
"What topics or initiatives are coming up?"
"How can I get in touch with people on your program?"

"How do I order a CD or Cassette Tape?"
"Do you offer discounts for CDs or Cassettes to teachers?"
"Do you offer discounts for bulk CD or Cassette purchases?"
"Do you offer transcripts?"

"Do you have events?"
"Do you have any job openings?"
"Do you have internships?"
"What are your volunteer needs?"
"Can I volunteer if I live outside the San Francisco Bay Area?"

"I work for a radio station. How can we air Making Contact?"
"How can my group use Making Contact?"
"How can I suggest or pitch a story?"
"Which grassroots groups do you collaborate with?"

"What is your theme music?"

"Where are you located?"

If the answers to your questions cannot be found on this page, please contact us.

(back to top)

Q. "Are you a nonprofit?"

A. Yes. National Radio Project is the main endeavor of International Media Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax ID#94-3239511.

(back to top)

Q. "Who funds you?"

A. National Radio Project funding comes from a variety of sources, so we are free to explore corporate and government influence. 80% of our funding comes from over a thousand generous individuals. Here is a list of our key institutional funders.

(back to top)

Q. "What’s your budget?"

A. Our budget is $300,000. 65% of that is people costs. The rest is basically rent, show distribution, equipment, supplies, phone calls to guests around the world, and some fundraising costs – a very simple business. Please browse our annual reports .

(back to top)

Q. "Do you offer production services, like event taping, sound booth rental, CD duplication, etc.?"

A. Yes - we provide audio production, duplication, and distribution services to non-profit community groups and individuals at discount rates. More information here.

(back to top)

Q. "How can I support/contribute to your work?"

A. You can quickly and safely donate now, or read more about why and how to donate money or other materials.

(back to top)

Q. "How can I be added to the mailing list?"

A. Please contact us and give us your name, complete address including zip code.

(back to top)

Q. "How many radio stations are you on and where are they?"

A. Our flagship program, Making Contact, is broadcast on over 200 radio stations across the U.S. and Canada, South Africa and Ireland. Individual listeners can hear us via Internet-only radio stations (Webcasters). See our USA Radio Schedule or our International Radio Schedule.

(back to top)

Q. "When does Making Contact air in my area?"

A. See our USA Radio Schedule or our International Radio Schedule. You can also listen to programs from the Making Contact Archives online any time you want.

(back to top)

Q. "How do you choose topics?"

A. We have a variety of topic sources:

A community group or supporter alerts us to an issue
(see How to Suggest a Story).
A radio station or freelance radio producer pitches us an idea
(see Submission Guidelines).
The staff contributes possible ideas and pitches.
The Production Department reviews the last year or two of programs to determine topical gaps to fill, and which shows to do follow up editions on.
The Desks generate ideas in their topic areas.

Program Topic Decisions: The Senior Producer is the point person for pitches. He/she consults with the staff and Executive Director as well as colleagues and National Radio Project advisors.

(back to top)

Q. "What topics or initiatives are coming up?"

A. The Home Page features a box on the lower right-hand side that lists Featured Shows and Upcoming Shows. Contact to subscribe to the Advance Show Alerts e-mail list. These emails come out a week in advance of each program and will alert you to upcoming show topics and initiatives.

If you would like to suggest a topic, please visit this page.

(back to top)

Q. "How can I get in touch with people on your programs?"

A. To contact a guest on a particular show, find that show in our Archives. Each program description contains contact information for guests. You can contact our staff here.

(back to top)

Q. "How do I order a CD or Cassette Tape?"

A. Write down the program title and number, (e.g. "Women’s Movements in Palestine #09-05"), and follow our Ordering Instructions.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you offer discounts for CDs or Cassettes to teachers or for educational purposes?"

A. Yes - please contact us to talk about it.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you offer discounts for bulk CD or Cassette purchases?"

A. Yes - please contact us to talk about it.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you offer transcripts?"

A. Transcripts are very labor- and cost-intensive, so they are available for select shows for $12 each. Some programs already have transcripts because we got special funding - please see our archive.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you have events?"

A. Yes. Individual supporters host house parties. We occasionally do public events. Please contact us if you want to be informed of future events.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you have any job openings?"

A. Please see Jobs for current openings.

(back to top)

Q. "Do you have internships?"

A. Yes. More information about Production Internships is available here.

More information about Organizational Internhips is available here.

(back to top)

Q. "What are your volunteer needs?"

A. If you are a team player who loves independent media, see our Volunteer Page to find out more about what you can do to help.

(back to top)

Q. "Can I volunteer if I live outside the San Francisco Bay Area?"

A. Out-of-town volunteers can help with transcribing, research and recording. More...

(back to top)

Q. "I work for a radio station. Can we air Making Contact?"

A. YES - it’s easy and FREE. We'll even give you a link on our online schedule. More...

(back to top)

Q. "How can my group use Making Contact?"

A. We can make programs available to you for literature tables, or for your members to listen to in study groups. More...

(back to top)

Q. "How do I suggest or pitch a story?"

A. Grassroots groups can read How to Suggest a Story for instructions written for the general public.

Radio Producers - please see our Submission Guidelines.

(back to top)

Q. "Which grassroots groups do you collaborate with?"

A. Each Making Contact program description contains the contact information of the grassroots groups that contributed to that program. This means that our Archives are a rolodex, including web link in many cases, to the hundreds of groups we have worked with over the years.

(back to top)