By Hannah Osborne
The Georgia Association of Broadcasters has announced “Black Radio United for the Vote” as their collective 2023 Broadcasters of the Year.
This decision is reflective of the impactful work of 13 Atlanta stations that worked together to mobilize members of Atlanta communities to the voting booths. The collective efforts of these stations to educate and rally their communities to make it to the voting booths reflect the core values of what it means to be a great broadcaster. These stations worked with their market competitors to fulfill the greater purpose of serving their communities.
Black Radio United for the Vote first began during the 2020 election cycle, using its resources to mobilize Georgia voters to the election booths. The first notions of the idea were planted in the mind of Kiss 104’s program director, Terri Avery, when a salesperson mentioned that in Chicago black broadcasters organized community events, such as picnics. This idea came to fruition in 2020 when Avery reflected on the low turnout rates among African Americans during the election cycle.
“I decided, I’m going to dig out that idea in my head and see if some of those stations would like to get together on a united front to get people mobilized and energized,” said Avery. “First to get registered to vote, and then to actually go out and vote.”
Avery used her connections within the Atlanta market to rally the different station groups together in this collective effort.
“Everybody, hands down, said ‘Absolutely, I want to be a part of it,’” said Avery.
In 2022, Avery once again brought Black Radio United for the Vote together again for the governor’s election, which included the election of a state senator as well.
Motivating citizens to become registered voters, and later to actually get to the voting booths, took great effort on all parts. Black Radio United for the Vote organized voter registration events – one such event took place in Dekalb and more than 200 people were registered to vote. The organization hosted a Town Hall for voters to learn the perspectives of each candidate and make more well-informed decisions. Popular DJs even appeared on one another’s shows to emphasize the importance of voting and discuss details of the election.
Black Radio United for the Vote found it important to retain their journalistic integrity by not promoting one candidate over another. This objectivity removed pressure from new voters feeling compelled to vote a certain way.
“In the African American community it’s very hard to get us engaged in first registering to vote, and then getting out to vote,” said Avery. “We thought it was very important, especially for this election, that we mobilize on a united front so we could put out the same message and we are putting this out together despite our competition to accomplish our goals.”
The impact of local radio has been proven time and time again, in this instance as a tool to mobilize voters during pivotal election years. The work of Black Radio United for the Vote stressed the importance of African Americans using their votes as their voice during elections.
Aside from the important work that was accomplished by Black Radio United for the Vote in playing a pivotal role in getting new voters to the voting booths, the collaborative efforts of the station emphasized the importance of radio in local communities.
“Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. used to broadcast on WERD, Atlanta’s first black-owned radio station, in the early 1960s to mobilize the black community during the Civil Rights Movement,” says Derek Harper, operations manager of Radio One Atlanta. “60 years later Black Radio United confirmed what he knew: Local radio has a connection to the community, unlike any other type of media outlet.”
The impact of local radio has been proven time and time again, in this instance as a tool to mobilize voters during pivotal election years. The work of Black Radio United for the Vote stressed the importance of African Americans using their votes as their voice during elections.
“Black Radio United for the Vote was a beacon to everyone that couldn’t shout loud enough, we did the shouting for everyone consistently and intentionally,” said SOLO Radio Group. “We all stood for the people and they saw that on each radio station platform every day, every minute, every second, and even on election day.”
Avery and Kiss 104.1 plan to continue to bring Black Radio United for the Vote back together when seen fit, such as the 2024 presidential election, when the eyes of the country will return to the nail-biting results of Georgia.
The group played an instrumental role in the exponential growth of voter turnout in the African-American community, and they will continue to work together to ensure every vote can be cast
“Being recognized by an organization of your peers is very exciting and a great honor,” says Avery, of receiving the Broadcaster of the Year award.
Stations honored as members of Black Radio United for the Vote are WALR-FM, WAMJ-FM/WUMJ-FM, WAMJ-HD2, WAOK-AM, WCLK-FM, WHTA-FM, WJZA-FM, WPZE-FM, WRDG-FM, WVEE-FM, WWSZ-AM and WXJO-AM.
