WAIF 88.3 FM is celebrating 50 years of programming community radio

Cincinnati’s oldest independent radio station, WAIF 88.3 FM, is turning 50 this year. You’re invited to celebrate their first half century at a community celebration at Five Points Alley in Walnut Hills this Sat., Oct. 4. The party will feature live music from local artists played on WAIF, including Wussy Duo, Nick Maurer and the Grocers, Psalms Gospel Group, Senovia Byndon (host of I-HEAR-U) and other WAIF DJs. Local refreshments and food from Walnut Hills restaurants are also on the menu for attendees.

It’s a fitting celebration for a station that’s all about community. “It’s an all-volunteer station run, programmed, and operated by members of the local community,” explains Julie Mullins, a member of the WAIF 88.3 FM board of trustees*. “One of our upcoming missions is to increase our presence and outreach in the local community—and beyond,“ says Mullins.

What is WAIF? Find it and listen at 88.3 FM or online, playing host to almost anyone within our community who wants to broadcast. It’s an eclectic mix that includes music, talk shows and faith-oriented programming. Since December of 1975, their mission has remained the same: to offer the people of Cincinnati a station to listen to which listens to them.

How can I get on the air? Simply submit a proposal to be considered for an open spot. There are availabilities right now.

Is 50 years old unusual for a Cincy radio station? It turns out, WAIF is in good company with several other beloved Cincinnati-based stations that have surpassed the half-century mark: WVXU 91.7 FM (55 years), Q102 FM (78 years) and WEBN 102.7 FM (58 years). Heritage AM station, WLW 700, is over 100 years old, having begun broadcasting on March 2, 1922, from Powel Crosley Jr.’s home.

What are some shows on WAIF right now? There’s programming almost 24 hours a day, including shows like Are You Up Right Now from midnight to 1 a.m. on Thursday mornings covering local music and sports. There’s also Positive Vibes Only, Big Eagle Gospel Ship and a cornucopia of international music shows broadcasting tunes from Italy, India, Africa, Argentina and Germany. Plus, there’s plenty of bluegrass, reggae, R&B and jazz. Two programmers have been on the air for over 40 years: Ogingo Khamisi, host of Talking Drum; and Sister Ivette, host of Rhythm Come Forward.

Community radio is more essential than ever

In July of this year, a bill approved largely on party lines dealt massive cuts to public broadcasting as part of a $9 billion rescissions package requested by the White House that additionally included $7 billion in cuts to foreign aid. As a result, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has now effectively closed its doors. Historically, the private nonprofit corporation channeled federal money to public television and radio stations nationwide, respectively, PBS and NPR, for both programming and emergency alert systems.

In the aftermath of these cuts, many local stations may not be able to continue. This can be particularly devastating in rural communities, where public stations provide free news and emergency alerts.

This new challenge compounds an already dwindling local news landscape. According to the Pew Research Center, newsroom employment has plummeted by 26% since 2008, and the U.S. has lost 75% of its local journalists since 2002. That represents a drop from about 40 local reporters per 100,000 residents to just 8 local reporters per 100,000 residents today.

One result of having fewer watchdogs and fewer local stories has been a deterioration of trust in the media from regular citizens. In 2024, Greater Public, the Public Media Content Collective (PMCC) and Station Resource Group (SRG) decided to identify opportunities for local public media organizations to better serve their communities by researching the unmet needs of those communities. The national study of 30,000 respondents called Researching Unmet Needs, illustrates that Americans desire three things above all else:

• Local news: Stories about their city, town or neighborhood
• Solutions: Journalism that highlights how communities are responding, not just focusing on what’s wrong
• Connection: Music and culture that help people feel like they’re part of something bigger

This is where community radio shines; “what radio is meant to be,” which is WAIF’s tagline. “It’s still important—now more important than ever—to have independent voices in the media, whether they’re playing music, sharing news, discussing issues, interviewing people, or otherwise engaging with the community,” says Mullins.

*Editor’s note: Julie Mullins is a contributing writer for Soapbox. WAIF 88.3 FM is not an NPR affiliate and is supported financially by the community, station members, and businesses through underwriting and other donations.