Since the opening of the Supermax prisons Red Onion and Wallens Ridge WMMT has received hundreds of letters from the prisoners requesting songs, reporting abuses, and expressing appreciation for the community radio station's unique programming of bluegrass, traditional music, jazz, blues, and urban music. As an independent community radio station, WMMT produces almost all of its programming with the help of some fifty community volunteers from ten counties in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Many of these volunteers have exchanged letters with prisoners, taken requests, and even played games of chess via the airwaves and mail. "WMMT has always tried to serve groups of people who weren't represented in mainstream commercial media. These prisoners need to feel that there is a media outlet that is interested in their well-being," stated station manager Barry Rueger. "Certainly the Holiday season is a time when everyone wants to hear the voices of their family and loved ones. We're helping to make that possible."
WMMT's signal covers a large portion of 5 states and has also broadcasted its unique regional sound over the Internet since 1999. WMMT is part of the media arts center Appalshop. Appalshop began as a War on Poverty program to train mountain young people in media production. Appalshop produces and presents work that celebrates the culture and voices the concerns of people living in the Appalachian Mountains.
While devoted to a particular place, Appalshop's work addresses universal concerns. Jane Alexander, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, called Appalshop "one of the jewels in the NEA's crown," and the National Endowment for the Humanities has called the organization "one of the nation's most important community-based humanities centers."
For more information about the broadcast for prisoners contact:
Amelia Kirby or Nick Szuberla; 606-633-0108
Or e-mail: cmi@appalshop.org
Website: www.appalshop.org/wmmt