Articles

Multi Cultural Radio Network (MCRN), represented by lead agency Asian Media Access, is a collaboration of Pan Asian, Russian, Pan African, and American Indian non-profit organizations serving the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota. Since 2007, MCRN has been working with Minnesota-based broadcasting group - BOB FM 106.1 FM (Milestone Radio, LLC) to realize its vision of multi-channel broadcasting of diverse cultural and linguistic productions via supplemental HD digital audio channels, and to start the state’s first ever, twenty-four/non-stop HD radio broadcast for immigrants in their native languages. Multi Cultural Radio Network (MCRN), represented by lead agency Asian Media Access, is a collaboration of Pan Asian, Russian, Pan African, and American Indian non-profit organizations serving the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota. Since 2007, MCRN has been working with Minnesota-based broadcasting group - BOB FM 106.1 FM (Milestone Radio, LLC) to realize its vision of multi-channel broadcasting of diverse cultural and linguistic productions via supplemental HD digital audio channels, and to start the state’s first ever, twenty-four/non-stop HD radio broadcast for immigrants in their native languages.

This public broadcasting initiative - Multi Cultural Radio Network (MCRN) - will bring linguistically isolated populations news, emergency broadcasts, music from local/ national/ international artists, community events, English-as-a-Second language, and call-in talk show focusing on community health and wellness.  Indigenous languages facing extinction will be revitalized through daily language programs. Youth from the distinct listening audiences will be offered the opportunity to learn radio production and eventually will produce a weekly program for broadcast in their specific non-English languages.

The first step in realization of such dream is the opening for the new HD radio technology studio at BOB FM, at 14443 Armstrong Blvd., just west of Hwy. 10 in Ramsey, MN. A ribbon-cutting ceremony has hosted for the new BOB FM radio broadcast facility on Feb. 4. The new facility has included a multi-microphone interview room, a state of the art Master Control suite, and four MCRN partner studios - Asian, African, Russian and Native American Production Studios.  The first pilot 24-hour HD radio station - Radio ASIA, 106.1 HD3 will be launched on March 1, 2009.

The Multicultural Radio Network (MCRN) will initially produce programming that is a combination of music and talk radio broadcast in non-English languages: Chinese, Hindi, Hmong, Laotian, Russian, and Somali, etc.  Digital radio broadcasting is on the cutting edge of mass communication and particularly appealing to immigrant and refugee populations that traditionally depend on this medium to keep abreast of current events.  The pilot Radio ASIA's partners include:

* Asian Media Access
* Chinese Social Services Center
* Laos Assistance Center
* SEWA/Asian Indian Family Wellness  
* Slavic Community Center
* Somali Community Resettlement Services

Every partner will share 4 hours of broadcasting time in its native language, Asian Media Access' Executive Director, Ange Hwang, shared her appreciation, "Although we know it is the first multi-cultural HD radio channel in the State, [the] idea of such collaboration is not new for our immigrant communities; we all have been working together to expand our resources to the maximum, and this time, we simply apply such idea to the radio. The benefit to the ethnic communities represented in MCRN will be great. A sense of community is so important when most immigrant groups are isolated from others due to language and cultural barriers. The community-at-large will also have the opportunity to learn about these communities, learn some of their languages and customs, and hopefully start to bridge the gaps between the community-at-large and immigrant and indigenous communities in Minnesota. There is no downside to this endeavor.  It is truly a win-win opportunity for all involved."

Gedaly Meerovich, The Slavic Community Center’s Executive Director added, “We are honored to part of this group of different immigrant and indigenous communities. We think this kind of partnership, which represents the whole globe, is best for all of us, because on the local level we will be able to share resources and information, and support each other.”

For more information on this MCRN initiative and the Launching of Radio ASIA, please contact Asian Media Access, 612-376-7715, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .