美国国家公共电台 NPR--The Carter Broadcast Group has been a pioneer in Black radio for 72 years

The Carter Broadcast Group has been a pioneer in Black radio for 72 years

Transcript¹

Kansas City's Carter Broadcast Group is the country's oldest Black-owned radio company. Currently Black ownership nationwide represents less than 2% of the market and is on the decline.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

At a moment when diversity in broadcast ownership is declining, Kansas City stands out because it houses the nation's oldest Black-owned radio company. From KCUR, Suzanne Hogan reports.

SUZANNE HOGAN, BYLINE²: Black-owned broadcasters have long faced a difficult path in the United States, from Jim Crow-era discrimination to racist³ practices by the Federal Communications Commission.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING")

FOUR TOPS: (Vocalizing).

HOGAN: But in Kansas City, Carter Broadcast Group has been a cultural touchstone that broke through those barriers, amplifying⁴ Black music and culture. But it's done even more than that. Freddie Bell grew up as a radio fan and later became a DJ for the company in the 1970s.

FREDDIE BELL: It was the only radio station in our community that dealt with our community needs - speaking, of course, of the African American community.

HOGAN: Jim Winston, who leads the National Association of Black Broadcasters, says that deep community connection is why diversity in media ownership is so important.

JIM WINSTON: It makes a difference from the top. It makes a difference in editorial policy. It makes a difference in the news you cover, in the news you report.

HOGAN: KPRS-AM was founded in 1950 by Black radio pioneer Andrew "Skip" Carter and has grown to become Carter Broadcast Group, which owns an AM and FM gospel channel, an HD station of R&B classics and KPRS-FM Hot 103 Jamz!

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CHRIS STIMPSON: Hot 103 Jamz! - Kansas City's No. 1 for hip-hop and R&B. It is your boy, Playmaker.

HOGAN: It's a company that has helped groom⁵ new generations of talent, like Hot 103 Jamz! DJ Chris Stimpson.

STIMPSON: Pretty much feel like I grew up with these people, you know what I mean? I feel I've actually became a boy to a man up here. It's crazy.

HOGAN: But across the country, commercial radio is struggling, and Black ownership of radio stations continues to decline. Now representing less than 2% of the market, that has Jim Winston worried about the future.

WINSTON: We've seen a lot of our members vacate the industry.

HOGAN: Of course, the history of Black radio in America has been blocked by significant hurdles⁶. But by the 1940s, Black broadcasters did begin to break through, like WDIA in Memphis, and WERD in Atlanta.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Well, it's 12 noon, and it's time for "Lunch Call."

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Hello, everybody. Welcome to "The Lunch Call Show."

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: It's radio's maddest 60 minutes of music, mirth and merriment.

HOGAN: Around that same time in Kansas City, Carter Broadcast Group's founder⁷, Andrew "Skip" Carter, wrote a critique of the industry's racist practices that was published in Broadcasting Magazine. And it got the attention of failed Republican presidential candidate, Alf Landon. Landon helped Carter start KPRS-AM in 1950.

Carter's dream was to be a commercial radio station that both entertained and informed. Now his grandson, Mike Carter, who started at the company as an 8-year-old jazz DJ, continues that mission as vice⁸ president of the National Association of Black Broadcasters and CEO of Carter Broadcast Group.

MIKE CARTER: To state that we're the oldest Black-owned radio company in America today, that's - you know, that's huge.

HOGAN: Last July, North Carolina Democrat⁹ G.K. Butterfield introduced a bill that would help expand broadcast ownership opportunities for minorities, but Congress hasn't taken that up yet.

In the meantime, Carter Broadcast Group continues to fill the airwaves - not just as a Kansas City gem¹⁰ but also as something of a national treasure, as the oldest of its kind in the country, celebrating 72 years in the business.

For NPR News, I'm Suzanne Hogan in Kansas City, Mo.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LET'S GROOVE¹¹")

EARTH, WIND & FIRE: (Singing) Let's groove tonight.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

4 amplifying   

放大，扩大( amplify的现在分词 )； 增强； 详述

参考例句：

• Often they use borrowed funds, amplifying their gains and losses. 他们通常会用借贷的资金交易，从而放大收益或损失。
• An amplifying type (or analog) device, as opposed to digital device. 放大器类（或模拟）器件，相对于数字器件而言的。

5 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

6 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

10 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

11 groove   

n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯

参考例句：

• They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
• The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。