Sonoma State University is hosting the first-ever live Sonoma County broadcast of KQED's popular radio program, Forum with Michael Krasny, Wednesday, April 27, 9-11 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
"When we thought about doing a Forum broadcast in Sonoma County, Sonoma State seemed like an ideal choice," says Krasny. "It is an incubator of innovative ideas and we wanted to tap into that energy."
The live two-hour weekday call-in program presents discussions of current events as well as arts and cultural issues. On the docket for the April 27 show are two subjects. The 9 a.m. hour focuses on winery expansion and community backlash, while the 10 a.m. hour discusses courting the Millennial vote.
The wine industry helped put Sonoma County on the map, and is now the economic backbone of the region. But as wineries continue to multiply and expand, some locals say that additional traffic and noise are threatening the regions' rural character. This segment invites industry officials, community activists and local officials to talk about efforts to manage development.
The second segment takes advantage of broadcasting at Sonoma State and measures the political buzz on campus. Young people are voting in record numbers this presidential primary season, and Millennials have been particularly energized by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders' message of economic justice and free college tuition. But GOP contests have also seen record-breaking youth turnout. And in California, which is set to vote on June 7, there has been a surge in online voter registration among young people. Sonoma State students will be invited to talk about the campaign, political engagement on campus, and issues that matter to them.
The remote broadcast is part of the show's new "Forum on the Road" series, which this year features three live, on-location broadcasts. One was in San Jose in February and one will be in San Rafael in June.
Parking for this event is free in Lot D near the Student Center. The event is free to attend. Listeners can tune in at 88.5 FM in the San Francisco area, 89.3 FM in the Sacramento area, and online at KQED.org. Tickets are available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/forum-on-the-road-live-from-sonoma-state-university-tickets-24472934205.
About Forum with Michael Krasny
Michael Krasny, Ph.D., is host of KQED's award-winning Forum, a news and public affairs program that concentrates on the arts, culture, health, business, and technology. Forum is one of KQED's most-popular shows and one of the nation's most-listened-to locally produced public radio talk show. The live two-hour call-in program presents wide-ranging discussions of local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews. It airs live on KQED Public Radio weekdays at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Listeners can call in to 866-733-6786, email forum@kqed.org or tweet @KQEDForum to be part of the conversation.