Jacqueline Fernandez

Professor David Welton

UNIV 101
28 November 2018
The History of KZFR and Community Radio Stations
KZFR is a community radio station that originated in Chico, California thanks to Erik
Mathisen. Mathisen created KZFR with pure intentions of creating something that reflected the
community. He successfully began broadcasting on July 6th, 1990. Now KZFR is present in the
Northern Sacramento Valley (KZFR.org).
First, what is a community? A community is a group of people that reside together in the
same area and share similar beliefs, values, or experiences. A community radio is radio
broadcasted over this area of where this community resides. However, according to “Community
Radio in Political Theory and Development Practice” by Erika Tucker what makes a community
radio genuine is “airwaves on a community radio station [that] should be opened to those
members of communities who are not heard on other media”. This way community radio
programs may be understood by all members of the community, especially if the community is
diverse. This means that community radio stations will have a better understanding of the people
listening to the radio, influencing what programs will be heard on the radio.
Compared to Public Radios, Community Radios seek what benefits the community. For
instance, there is an intimate community radios have with their audience. According to Tucker,
“Public media are also seen as professional media, with paid staff, professional reporters, while
community media are normatively supposed to be run by the community members, which it
serves”. The benefits with community radio includes an increase in knowledge the listeners will
receive, and encourages people to participate in the community. According to “Community
Radio for Change and Development” by Colin Fraser and Sonia Restrepo-Estrada, community
radio also helps “marginalized groups to improve their situation”. Community radio stations help
the community in many ways.
All community radios begin as a development project. According to Tucker, most
community radios originate for social, political, or religious purposes. However, KZFR began
with the purpose of community participation and communication. Most community radios have a
variety of programs that range from politics, music, talk shows, and information. It is common
for community radios to be ran be volunteers and interns or NGOs (non-governmental
organization). This form a radio can be recognized as a crucial form of communication because
not only does it provide its people valuable information about politics and news but, it also
educates its listeners.
KZFR provides valuable communication and information to all its listeners because they
value the community of Chico and the relationship they maintain with the residents.