ARKANSAS'S BROADCASTERSSERVING EVERY LOCAL COMMUNITY
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KSSN-FM in Little Rock, Ark., wrapped up its 23rd annual Toy Hill Toys for Tots drive with nearly 25,000 Christmas presents and $25,000 for the area’s neediest children. For the 72-hour event, morning host personality Bob Robbins camps out in an RV next to an area that grows into Toy Hill as donations pile in. Robbins stays on the air at all times, except for the few hours he catches his sleep. In addition to the three-day live broadcast, the station posts new photos on its Web site every four hours. Streaming broadcasts, Web banners and email blasts all play a part in getting listeners involved. Each year, the governor and mayor call in or stop by, and country artists and other prominent leaders share their support on the air. The schedule leading up to the 72-hour event is extensive, including live three-hour remotes from toy drop-off locations throughout the community and various promotional spots for other Toys for Tots events. At the conclusion of last year’s campaign, KSSN staff had given 500 hours of their time, which they plan on doing again come December. "We wouldn’t be successful without the local community and Bob Robbins and the KSSN family," said U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adkin Lomax. "We look forward to an even greater campaign next year."
Each year, KURB-FM in Little Rock, Ark., continues its commitment to children with its "B98 Champions for Children Radiothon." The station’s staff of five broadcast live from the lobby of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, which is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas, for 36 hours during a three-day period. Marking its fourth year, the radiothon raised a record $301,000 in 2008, bringing the total contribution from "Champions for Children" to nearly $1 million. During the fundraiser, montages of children and interviews with doctors and families gave the community a window into the lifesaving services of the hospital. The station donated additional airtime throughout the year and participated in the "Festival of the Stars" toy drive, which provided Santa with more than $79,000 worth of toys for his visit to the patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital this past holiday season.
When disaster strikes, KATV-TV in Little Rock, Ark., activates its "Neighbor in Need" relief fund to help its community recover. Through public service announcements and news stories, KATV asks viewers to extend a helping hand to those hit hardest by the crisis at hand. The station uses its phone bank facilities to collect donations. Originally created to provide aid to those affected by Hurricane Katrina who relocated to Arkansas, the fund has been activated several times since 2005 in response to severe weather. In February 2008, storms wreaked havoc across the state, and the community responded by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the fund. When killer twisters touched down in April 2008, viewers once again gave generously to help their fellow Arkansans, and KATV kick-started the giving with a $5,000 donation of its own. In the past year alone, more than $480,000 has been raised for the fund, all of which was given to the local Red Cross to further its efforts to provide aid to those affected by the flooding and tornadoes.
When a series of deadly tornadoes hit the South on Super Tuesday, broadcasters across the region provided a lifeline to their viewers and listeners, including KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Ark. The station started with breaking weather coverage before the tornados hit and brought in a satellite from Shreveport, La., so live coverage could continue for the days following the destruction. Across the state, 13 people lost their lives. Homes and buildings were devastated. Within 48 hours of the storm, KAIT teamed with Jonesboro radio stations KDXY-FM, KEGI-FM and KJBX-FM to get relief to those who needed it. In a single day, the stations rallied the community to donate 40 pickup trucks and four trailers worth of supplies. The minute a vehicle was filled, it left for delivery. The stations broadcast live cut-ins during the drive and raised an additional $30,000, which was given to the American Red Cross Tornado Relief Fund.
To serve the large retirement-age population in the area, KTLO-AM/FM and KCTT-FM in Mountain Home, Ark., started an annual event 17 years ago focused on the lifestyle and health of older Americans. Today, more than 3,500 people come to the KTLO/KCTT Senior Expo and Baxter Regional Medical Health Fair each year. With many free and low-cost screening tests, including hearing, eyesight, cardiac health and blood sugar, the fair provides access to needed health services. For weeks before the two-day event, the stations run hundreds of promotional spots. In 2008, 12 live interviews with hospital staff about the importance of the screenings were broadcast to motivate community members to attend. On the day of the expo, live cut-ins aired every hour. "In the ever-changing world of health care it is crucial to impart information to the general public in a variety of venues," said Donna McMullen, director of marketing for Baxter Regional Medical. "It has been a pleasure to partner with KTLO/KCTT and serve the community needs in such a necessary manner for these many years." As pioneers in this area, KTLO and KCTT are helping other stations start up similar health efforts in other areas of the state.
Knowing that last December was the first Christmas away from home for more than 800 local soldiers, KLRC-FM in Siloam Springs, Ark., got involved with the inaugural "Stockings for Soldiers" holiday drive to make sure the 101st Airborne Division 3-187 Infantry Battalion received a bit of Christmas cheer. In addition to airing promotional spots, the morning show broadcast an interview with Elizabeth Dubbell-Beck from "Stockings for Soldiers," whose husband, Major Will Beck, is currently serving in Iraq. Instructions on how to participate were posted on the station Web site, and KLRC staff handed out stockings to get listeners involved during a two-hour live broadcast from a local bookstore. After weeks of promotion, the campaign goal of stuffing 800 stockings was more than doubled. Servicemen and women overseas received a total of 2,000 filled stockings. "People want to give, and KLRC gave them a positive outlet to do just that," said Dubbell-Beck. "Friends, families, companies, schools and civic groups all rallied together to make sure these troops had a blessed Christmas morning. Thank you, KLRC, for your positive difference and for supporting our troops."
For more examples of how Arkansas’ local radio and TV broadcasters are serving every local community, please contact the Arkansas Broadcasters Association .