How it all began
“We need help covering topics relating to local government, civic engagement, and public services. Would the League be able to help us with this weekly program?” asked Arlen Diamond, general manager of KSMU, Springfield’s fledgling public radio station, in 1981. So began a now 40-year partnership between the NPR station and the LWV of SWMO.
In that time, League volunteers have recorded more than 2,050 episodes for the Making Democracy Work program. The program airs every Monday morning at 9:45am during the local segment of the national program Morning Edition. The only interruption was a six-month hiatus in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, as the station was closed to outside guests. The program resumed in the fall of 2020, thanks to the ability to record interviews via Zoom.
The program was first titled “Issues of the ’80’s” and then “Issues of the ’90’s.” As 2000 neared, the name changed to the current “Making Democracy Work.”
League radio committee members select their own topics, guests and questions for the six-minute interview program. The program’s goal is to help citizens understand the role and services of government, what it means to be an engaged citizen and how other organizations help fill a void not provided by public service.
Topics range widely
Topics range widely and have included:
- Ozark Greenways’ 30 years of service
- One-stop-shop investing in Springfield’s historic neighborhoods
- Reducing poverty and increasing educational attainment
- Watershed Committee and improvements at Fellows Lake
- Legal literacy
- Experience of election judges
- Next stops in Medicaid expansion
- City government structure
- Federal relief for healthcare
- Library services.
Tune in Mondays at 9:45 a.m. or visit on the web at https://www.ksmu.org/programs/making-democracy-work.
Historic Partnership
We are fairly certain we are the only League in the country who can boast this longevity with a weekly radio program. Other Leagues have had a monthly program, or a quarterly feature, or a program that ran for a few years, but no others have hosted a weekly program for 40 years. Our League is very grateful for this continued and historic partnership with KSMU and appreciates the opportunity to highlight guests and topics covering local politics, civic issues, city/county updates, nonprofit resources and programs and organizations that enhance the quality of life for our citizens and community. In addition, we recognize and appreciate the role of KSMU and public broadcasting in our community and are happy to be a part of their programming.