Mission

What is TFRP?

That Fresh Radio Piece is a progressive & grassroots media project in College Park, MD. As a weekly digest on college radio, it attempts to present social injustices and problems as well as what people are doing in response on a grassroots level. It serves as an outlet for diverse issues, opinions, and organizations; ultimately aiming to increase awareness, inspire activism, and mobilize the "glocal" community. TFRP is co-hosted by Christian Melendez, Diego Iniguez-Lopez, and James Briscoe, among others. You can hear us on Tuesdays, 4-6pm on WMUC 88.1 FM or online at WMUC FM College Park. Additionally, you may listen to our complete archives here.

WHY??

Independent, aggressive and critical media are essential to an informed democracy. But mainstream media are increasingly cozy with the economic and political powers they should be watchdogging. Mergers in the news industry have accelerated, further limiting the spectrum of viewpoints that have access to mass media. With U.S. media outlets overwhelmingly owned by for-profit conglomerates and supported by corporate advertisers, independent journalism is compromised...Excerpt from FAIR's "What's Wrong With the News?"

More than ever before, we are living in a media age and a media world. Nine transnational conglomerates dominate the global media; multibillion-dollar deals are concentrating this power even further. Yet we are also experiencing a technological revolution that empowers independent media, worldwide communication and innovative media projects for everything from community development to political action...Excerpt from Media Channel's "Mission Statement"

We believe that a more democratic US media system will lead to better public policies at home and abroad. As our world becomes more and more interconnected, it is imperative that any kind of development takes into account basic environment, economic, and human rights, while defining corporate and personal responsibilities. Free Press considers information to be among the most important resources to any society. We strive to open up the media system to allow more diversity of opinion to be expressed, to present a broader perspective, and to increase the caliber of information available to everyday people. This, in turn, will lead to a more participatory and accountable government and to more sustainable policies and practices regarding national and global development...Excerpt from Free Press' "About Us"

And some quotes by the wonderful Amy Goodman...

  • I don't like the whole reality-TV craze, but I think we need some reality TV when it comes to war.
  • Independent media can go to where the silence is and break the sound barrier, doing what the corporate networks refuse to do.
  • Journalism is the only profession explicitly protected by the U.S. Constitution, because journalists are supposed to be the check and balance on government. We're supposed to be holding those in power accountable. We're not supposed to be their megaphone. That's what the corporate media have become.
  • War coverage should be more than a parade of retired generals and retired government flacks posing as reporters.

    • Biography

    Christian Melendez

    As a junior at the University of Maryland, I feel there is much I want to accomplish before graduating in 2 years. This campus, as well as the other prominent ones in the DC area, has a plethora of resources that, if utilized appropriately, can prove to be great assets for the growing community of civically engaged youth. Clearly, things won't be easy, nor rapid, but I think the political climate today is forcing many my age to consider how they can make positive change in their life and community. There are plenty that have accomplished so much already, so why not unite these seasoned activists to make even greater strides for change, as well as mentor others to do the same?

    At the same time, I choose to spend most of my time involved in media-related endeavors. Obviously, That Fresh Radio Piece is one example, but the DC area is full of valuable individuals and groups working to provide more appropriate and independent media outlets for the people. Without education and participation, democracy cannot function in a healthy state. The participation has been addressed above, and now I want to focus on the education. All of us ultimately decide if and how to educate ourselves. From books to the internet to films and more, there is plenty options available. Unfortunately, some of these media have been skewed and mishandled due to financial and political reasons. A handful of companies own an overwhelming amount of the media outlets in this country. When all these information portals become concentrated in the hands of a few, one must wonder how truly "fair and balanced" their media is. And the truth is, many have shown the media today to be largely both "unfair and unbalanced" AS WELL AS being more of "infotainment" as opposed to "information" centers. Hours could be spent discussing the issues of media ownership, sensationalism, advertising, censorship, "the national entertainment system", and more, the fact is that the populace is in dire need of advocacy and reform for today's media environment. Many of us are too busy in our lives to read more than a few headlines or watch/listen to more than a few minutes of news, its sad but not absolute that we are fed things that impoverish the mind, rather than cultivate it.
    Diego Iniguez-Lopez

    James Briscoe

    I'm a Junior Aerospace Engineering major at U. Maryland. I bring a theatre and singing background to the show along with some technical abilites, but unfortunately no journalism experience. I got inspired to start making a change in the status quo halfway through sophomore year along with Christian and Diego. I get so fed up with the streams of society that I see being formed in college students around me. Kids lose track of their track of their dreams and aspirations as they find themselves swept away by a career, eventually a family, and then all of a sudden you're 60 and are wondering where the time went. That's part of the reason why I undertook this project, to make sure I stay involved with the world around me, the effects my actions have on the world, and also provide a more balanced education to the students at UMD (CORE just doesn't cut it). Especially in my field, people can be so focused on the individual decisions they have to make daily that they don't see the big picture (for instance being so interested in aerodynamic calculations that you don't realize you're building a bomb that's going to kill). With that said, my goal is to sign up with a private space company and send myself to orbit. I hope you all enjoy TFRP as much as I enjoy bringing it to you.

    History of TFRP FM

    Back in the Fall of 2005, James and Christian had been living together and constantly frustrated over the apathy and cynicism that was found in many of their peers. Knowing that the media was accountable for much of this, they had pondered what could be done by some sophomores in college.

    Then came winter break and a trip to Mississippi for hurricane relief. While there, the two met Diego, a freshman at UMD, who was well-informed on the issues pressing the world today. He provided fresh dialogue to the debate and the three soon conspired to take their intellectual fervor to an effective medium: radio.

    The University of MD held the longest-standing college radio station in the U.S. on its campus, and was known for being independently-minded. After reviewing the programming schedule, it seemed that the time was right to provide a new program to further the notion of independent radio at the station, WMUC. With some inspiration from the lovely Amy Goodman and her DemocracyNOW!, the three amigos drafted an ideal program and applied to the radio station.

    And the rest is history. They were granted their 2-hour slot and have been blazin' the trail of freelance progressive journalism ever since. Dead air would frequent the airwaves (and still does occasionally, ha), with half-asleep hosts at the original Sunday 6-8am slot, but after some time and committment, That Fresh Radio Piece evolved into a product of our imagination that we proudly bring to the airwaves each week. Keeping with the tradition of community radio, TFRP reports on issues that either are spun out of context or don't even make it that far on mainstream media, while giving airtime to the voices rarely heard, whose stories provide inspiration for those working to effect social justice. And its not limited to us three, as many have contributed with their story suggestions, personal accounts, webmasting skills, and more. Things are just gettin' started...

    Who We've Had on the Show

    CodePINK......Reverend Yearwood
    Tunnel of Oppression......Langley Park Day
    Public Citizen......Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)
    Community Roots (CRoots)......Peace Forum (P4UM)
    Students Taking Action Now on Darfur (STAND)......Alternative Spring Break
    Invisible Children......Latino Student Union (LSU)
    Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN)......War Resisters League
    Venceremos Brigade......Courtney Dowe
    MaryPIRG......Student Peace Action Network (SPAN)
    Campus Antiwar Network (CAN)......American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
    Authors Reza S and Katrin K......Former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern
    Colonel Ann Wright......Iraq Vet Garett Reppenhagen
    Environmental activist and CodePINK founding member Diane Wilson
    Michael Berg......Voters for Peace
    Will "Peace" Covert......Chesapeake Bay Foundation
    TrueVoteMD......Summer of Resistance
    Progressive Maryland......Students for Sensible Drug Policy
    Cuban Mission to the UN......Fahima Vorgetts and Women for Afghan Women
    Camp Democracy......Declaration of Peace
    People's Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
    Hawah and Everlutionary
    Geoffrey Millard and the Peace Delegation to Jordan
    Chris Lobeau and Haiti
    Mobilization for Global Justice...TerPoets
    Feminism without Borders...S.A.L.S.A.
    Dr. Shibley Telhami: Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development
    Greg Gebhardt & Meditation Club...Granny Peace Brigade
    Peter Sage...The Critical Voice: We Will Not Be Silent
    David Helvarg & the Blue Frontier Campaign
    Hunger and Homelessness Week
    Former CIA Analyst David MacMichael & Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity
    Global AIDS Week...School of the Americas Watch
    J27 March...CUNY Morales/Shakur Community and Student Center
    Bill Moyers @ National Conference for Media Reform
    United Students Against Sweatshops...Amos Wilson
    Jeff Cohen...UMD for Clean Energy
    SGA Senior VP Kyle Carson & UMD's Prison-Industrial Complex