Pittsburgh's
Saturday Light Brigade radio program, which broadcasts each Saturday morning from
The Children's Museum, has been giving local kids a voice since 1978. For decades, children throughout the region have called in to the show and contributed their ideas and interests to the public conversation.
Technology, of course, has evolved dramatically during those decades. And as websites and podcasts became a part of our daily lives, SLB has extended its reach by embracing new formats.
This week, the
Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters recognized that work and the commitment behind it by honoring SLB with a special award. The Excellence in Broadcasting Judges' Merit Award isn't given every year, or even every two years. But SLB's work inspired the judges to give it this year.
"In the past we've typically won for categories related to children and families," says SLB's founder and producer, Larry Berger, but this is SLB's first time being honored on a broader scale. Berger is grateful for the recognition and inspired to continue expanding the work of his show.
"It's important to us that the voices of youth are heard by people beyond their peers, heard by people of all ages, and of all backgrounds. And radio is a good equalizer for that since it's somewhat ubiquitous," he says. "When you add the website, and related audio that stems from what we're doing on the air, that allows" those voices to be heard.
"If we go out more and collect audio for use on the air, in schools and at festivals and even here in the Children's Museum, then use it on air," he says, "it just gives us a chance to get a more diverse group of kids instead of relying just on those who may phone us on a Saturday morning."
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Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Larry Berger, SLB
Image courtesy of SLB