For those in the Central Ohio area who have not already had the pleasure of listening, WCRS, also known as Simply Living Radio, started broadcasting on a five hour per day schedule in late June 2007. Broadcast hours are currently from 3-7 pm Monday through Friday. The low power FM (LPFM) signal is found on two frequencies, 102.1 and 98.3. The 98.3 frequency is broadcast from southwest Columbus and has a stronger signal. This is actually a “translator” beacon provided by the generous support of the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism which publishes The Free Press in Columbus. Westerville is the location of the 102.1 broadcast tower and is the “home signal”. WCRS instantly became the LPFM station with the largest metropolitan market in the country!

WCRS is Central Ohio’s only radio station broadcasting the Pacifica Listener Sponsored Radio Network, the largest alternative and progressive programming network in the United States. Many major public radio stations in other metropolitan markets offer at least some Pacifica programming during the day. Despite having two major National Public Radio stations, WCBE and WOSU, Pacifica programming has previously been unavailable in Central Ohio. Having Pacifica in Central Ohio is an important achievement. The Pacifica programs now carried are the award-winning Democracy Now with Amy Goodman and Free Speech Radio News. Other weekly shows such as Counterspin (on Monday) are also broadcast.

WCRS also offers several locally-produced programs including Simply Living Healthy; Cranksters, Columbus’ weekly bicycle radio showcase; Conscious Voices, spotlighting how we can affect positive changes for our community and the environment; musical programs and a Somali language broadcast on weekends. It seems like new programming is being added every week. For the complete schedule go to the website: <www.wcrsfm.org>.
With the immense effort of starting a radio station now behind, WCRS needs our help to grow and make a difference in the Central Ohio community. The station is now broadcasting 5 hours daily on weekdays with some intermittent weekend broadcasting. Plans are being made to expand the hours of transmission dramatically to 24/7 as soon as the infrastructure, resources and programming can be developed.

We have all learned from the events of the Iraq War and a long history of consumer-driven corporate broadcast and cable programming that a healthy community-centered media is indispensable to our daily lives and our democracy. WCRS offers the best vehicle for this alternative community media in the Columbus area.

WCRS needs your help and support to make it the best, vibrant, and vital medium of community and information it can be. It is your community station! Tax-deductible donations can be made at the WCRS website. Or send a check to Simply Living, 2929 N. High St. Suite A, Columbus 43202. Indicate in the check memo that it is for WCRS Radio. And please drop by WCRS’s new studio in the Simply Living office at 2929 N. High above Aladdin’s!

We also invite you to explore exciting volunteer opportunities at WCRS. Contact at or call the Simply Living office at 614-447-0296. Opportunities are available in marketing, fundraising, production, programming, web development, technical support, and community outreach. From personal experience I can tell you that volunteering with community radio is fun!