WXPN Airs Special Election Day Programming

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Created on Thursday, 30 October 2003 14:16

The public radio station will air original programming asking the question,
"Whose Democracy Is It?"

PHILADELPHIA, PA WXPN 88.5-FM, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, is participating in a coalition of public radio stations, programs, networks and independent producers across the country and abroad that will launch an unprecedented national examination of the health of democracy in America November 3-9.

WXPN has produced two democracy-focused programs for national use in public radio's "Whose Democracy Is It?" week. As many as 300 public radio stations will participate in this extraordinary look into the condition of the world's most revered and critiqued democracy - America's.

WXPN will air its two programs on Election Day:

• Songs of Freedom, a two-hour World Cafe® special, November 4, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., that addresses the connection between artistic expression and free speech. Host David Dye talks with Daniel Wolff, author of You Send Me, a biography of Sam Cooke. The program features music and discussion with Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, and a conversation with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. The program also includes a performance by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
  
  
• Kids Corner: Youthful Vision, November 4, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., helps kids and adults better understand the brilliant solution that is our Constitution. Host Kathy O'Connell speaks with Carol Berkin, history professor at the City University of New York, Cathy Travis, author of The Constitution Translated for Kids, and some of the future leaders of tomorrow - the youth of today.

"One of the great benefits of public radio is our ability to air meaningful, thought-provoking content," said Roger LaMay, WXPN's general manager. "During this especially contentious election season, we support the public radio collaboration's goal to promote a dialogue among our listeners regarding what freedom and democracy really mean."

Stations leading the Whose Democracy Is It? collaboration include WXPN (Philadelphia), WAMU (D.C.), WBEZ (Chicago), WNYC (New York), Minnesota Public Radio, KPCC (Los Angeles), KERA (Dallas), KCUR (Kansas City), KUER (Salt Lake City), and Michigan Radio. Network partners include National Public Radio (and NPR on-line), Public Radio International (and Public Interactive on-line), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC World Service. Detailed information about the project and its partners is available at www.whosedemocracy.org.

About WXPN
88.5 WXPNis the non-commercial public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania and the premier radio showcase for contemporary music that spans the progressive edges of rock, folk, rhythm and blues, and American roots. WXPN can be heard in the greater Philadelphia/South Jersey area on 88.5 FM, n the Lehigh Valley at 104.9 FM,in Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, and in Harrisburg at 88.1 WXPH FM, and is available worldwide via streaming audio at www.xpn.org. The station produces programming for national syndication. Its signature series World Cafe with David Dye is distributed by Public Radio International and broadcasts daily on more than 160 public radio stations nationwide. WXPN produces the Peabody-Award winning Kids Corner, hosted by Kathy O'Connell. WXPN also produces the annual Singer Songwriter Weekend two-day music festival. For more information visit www.xpn.org, www.WorldCafe.org, www.KidsCorner.org, or call WXPN at (215) 898-6677.

CONTACT:
Kim Winnick
88.5 WXPN
215-573-3342