Vancouver Co-operative Radio, CFRO, 102.7FM is a non-commercial, co-operatively-owned, listener-supported, community radio station. Located in the heart of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Co-op Radio is a voice for the voiceless that strives to provide a space for under-represented and marginalized communities. Co-op Radio aims to increase community participation by encouraging examination of the social and political concerns of the geographic and cultural communities of BC.

OUR PROGRAMMING

Co-op Radio’s more than 400 volunteer programmers provide programming 24 hours a day in the areas of arts, public affairs, music and in languages other than English. We strive to provide programming that does not discriminate against people on the grounds of sex, race, age, class, ability, sexual orientation or anything else. Our first priority is to provide a media outlet for the economically, socially or politically disadvantaged. We provide news and perspectives that are not otherwise accessible – information that is not covered by the conventional media or perspectives that challenge mainstream media coverage.

Public Affairs: In our public affairs, we try to provide airtime to many socials groups who are frequently ignored by the conventional media. We aim to cover issues and events from the perspective of the social movements involved in addressing them.

Music: In music, our primary emphasis is on promoting exposure to locally-produced and performed music, whether it be live or recorded. We also focus on broadcasting music that is both entertaining and rarely heard elsewhere. Our music programmers put the music they play in context by providing information both about the performers and the genre.

Arts: Our arts programming presents the work of local artists, especially those who are not yet established or who are dealing with contemporary social issues. Co-op Radio provides a forum for artists to showcase their work and to promote local shows and performances.

Non-English: About 20% of our programming is broadcast in languages other than English. We give priority to people from language groups who have no access to media or who wish to provide a significant alternative to existing media outlets for that group.

To see our programming schedule click here.

STRUCTURE

Members:

As a member-owned co-operative, Co-op Radio does not have one owner - we have approximately 30,000 owners. Since we do not accept commercial advertising, we remain accountable to those who matter most, our listeners and members. By becoming a member of Co-op Radio, you become a part-owner of your own media and have a say in how the station is run. Every year, our members meet at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) to make important decisions about the future of the station and to vote on a Board of Directors.

Board of Directors:

The Board of Directors consists of 9 volunteers who are either programmers or community members. The board governs all the activities of the station, hires employees and is the appeal body for decisions made by committees.

Staff:

Co-op Radio employs 4 part-time staff who co-ordinate and administer the activities of the station. Each staff person is responsible for a different area of the station's operations but the staff manage the station collectively - there is no boss or station manager! Each staff person reports directly to the board and works closely with their committee(s) that makes major decisions in each of the areas of station's operations.

Contact information for the staff is available here.

Committees:

The backbone of decision-making at the station is through Co-op Radio's committees. Committees consist of programmers, community members and staff who make decisions in each of the station's operating areas. Currently, there are committees working in the following areas:

• Programming
• Training
• Membership and Outreach
• Finance
• Technical
• Web

Programmers:

The heart of Co-op Radio is our over 400 volunteer programmers who produce our programming. Each programmer at Co-op Radio is required to contribute 2 hours of non-programming-related time to the co-op every month. In this way, programmers are not only responsible for what goes over the airwaves, but also take an active role in the running of the station.