CBS Radio’s WLLD-FM Tampa (Wild 94.1) held an on-air forum in their studio 3/24 to discuss and give listeners information and understanding on the Trayvon Martin tragedy in Sanford, FL. Wild 94.1 held the discussion from 5pm-7pm.
“We are Trayvon. We are the people who are the hip hop community. We dress that way, we look that way and if this could happen to him it could happen to any of us,” said PD Orlando Davis.
Davis – along with Felix Vega from the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, Eric Deggans from the Tampa Bay Times, and a psychologist – made up the panel. Davis said listeners in the Bay Area are angry and scared. The goal of the forum was to give them information and understanding, especially in the “Stand Your Ground Law.”
Through Twitter, Facebook, and phone calls, the community also got a chance to ask questions and vent any frustrations. The last time the station held an in-depth discussion was immediately after 9-11.
“It’s not the norm but it is, cause we’re here to serve the Tampa and St. Pete community and this is the best way to serve them today,” Davis told WTSP-TV.
RBR-TVBR observation: Listeners and local businesses — as they’re listening to Pandora and placing audio ads locally with Pandora, respectively – tend to forget the power of radio when a crisis comes or there’s an issue that’s upsetting folks in the community. Pandora cannot bring community leaders together. Pandora cannot tell listeners where to go for help when the power is out. Radio entertains, informs and drives listeners to local businesses and events.
