Grant awarded to campus radio station to discuss air-quality issues

By Meghan Volange

With little funds to work with, KFSR-Fresno 90.7 FM has still found the energy to produce a variety of shows, from music to cultural topics and got a $25,000 grant for hosting a program on Valley air quality.

The station even manages to make some of its own money.

KFSR-Fresno has now received a few grants, the most recent one received by the Valley Clean Air Now Organization that is known as the Valley CNN, to run a 30-minute show about environmental issues concerning Fresno’s air pollution.

Joe Moore, a history graduate at Fresno State, hosts this show every Sunday at 11 a.m., which is co-hosted by Fresno State professor Victor Hanson. One guest is invited to share his knowledge and give his opinion about a particular topic such as the amount of gas used by cars or the geographic situation of Fresno.

“ The beauty of programs like this is that we’re able to hear from people involved in their own words at length and really get to understand the problem,” Moore said. “It’s sitting down with theses guests who are very accomplished people from all across the spectrum, from scientists to doctors to farmers to environmentalists to economists.”

The show has been running for the last three weeks, and will go on for another year. The station has been doing research with the help of various scientists, Moore said.

“ The show features major air quality issues to do with health, economy,” he said. “Fresno is losing businesses and people aren’t attracted to Fresno because of the level of pollution it holds.”

Moore has been working for the station the last couple of years. He works full time, does after hours and researches the topics he will discuss on air.

Moore has collected several grants and has created a Web site and invited listeners to apply for full membership. The station, which is funded through the AS, which gives them $32,000 a year, is suffering from a lack of means, he said.

The station has been able to raise money, but Moore said the situation is “pretty bad.”

“ Our equipment here dates from the 1980s and we barely have enough staff to work properly,” Moore said. “The whole managerial system needs to be re-discussed and changed to create a more effective program.”

During the years, the team that began doing mainly music programs is now producing a variety of shows with discussions of all sorts. The station has no commercial interruptions and according to Moore, this makes it easier for the listener to follow through without being interrupted.

“ Radio is a unique medium because public radio enables you to spend time with issues in a way that wouldn’t go on commercial TV or commercial radio for that matter,” Moore said.