KMOJ’S MISSION & GOALS
KMOJ has a vision of equipping Communities of Color with information and education through the vehicle of mass communication which includes: computer/internet, television, radio, and print journalism. KMOJ’s mission is to: “Teach Communities of Color media skills that help reinstate the positive affirmative Black image.” The Center for Communication and Development’s philosophy is that through a process of education, collaboration, and grounding in culture and community, it can elevate the way of life of the people of its community. The organization understands the significance of its role as a media resource for the community and recognizes that this role must be nurtured and expanded to support and inform the community with access to knowledge and information.
KMOJ’S OVERARCHING GOALS ARE:
- To educate and engage Communities of Color to reinstate the affirmative Black image
- To support and empower Communities of Color in life long learning of it’s traditional and modern cultures, spirituality, and history; and
- To challenge systems, policies, and practices which are antithetical to the image of Communities of Color.
KMOJ’S HISTORY
With initial support from the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, The Center for Communication and Development (CCD)/KMOJ was born to provide broadcast communications training for African-Americans living in the Twin Cities and serve as an information and communications vehicle for the African-American community as a whole. KMOJ utilized community members as on-air announcers to provide public service announcements, information on resources through local agencies and churches, various social awareness programs, positive entertainment, and provided a forum for discussing issues that affected the lives of and helped improved the lives of African-American people. The founding vision was to “Improve the quality of love and provide positive experiences for residents in the north Minneapolis/St. Paul/St. Paul Sumner-Olson and Glendwood-Lyndale housing projects through entertainment, public service announcements and a forum for discussing issues that affected their lives.”
To meet its communications goals, the Center for Communication and Development was awarded a broadcasting license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in March 1976. On June 22, 1976, KMOJ-FM was created and began operating “on-the-air.” The station call letters, “KMOJ” were inspired by the Swahili word “UMOJA” which means “Unity.” At its birth, the community-based radio station’s 10 mega-watt transmitter was only able to broadcast in the immediate area of the public housing of north Minneapolis, but it wasn’t long before people in south Minneapolis were trying to pick up its signal, and KMOJ was recognized as “The Heart and Soul of the Cities.”
KMOJ has made great strides since its first broadcast. KMOJ has been a training ground for the broadcast industry, involving on-air announcing, public affairs programming, music programming, administration, marketing, production, and management. In addition, the on-air venue has expanded to include comprehensive public affairs programming, and a staple of positive urban contemporary music targeted to the listening audience in the following genres: Rhythm & Blues (R&B), Hip-Hop, Gospel, Reggae, Jazz, and Blues.
As KMOJ has grown, the focus shifted from targeting the African American community to all Communities of Color. As a part of KMOJ’s transition and growth, it is now recognized as “The People’s Station” to signify the broad audience and purpose of empowering the greater community through education and information. The transmission wattage for the station has grown throughout history from its founding 10 megawatts, to 100 megawatts, to 1000 megawatts and to its current 6,200 megawatts. As a result of the increase in power and coverage, KMOJ is now able to provide news, information and entertainment to the entire metropolitan area. The diverse listening base has increased from 87,500 unduplicated listeners per week to an estimated 140,000 per week. KMOJ targets all Communities of Color with the goal of bringing awareness and education to the overall audience, resulting in a more informed community.
CURRENT PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
KMOJ maintains two key areas: Training in Broadcast Management and Administration & On-Air Programming through engagement, entertainment, and education. KMOJ programs and activities serve as a “motivator” by drawing together community members who strive to provide a broadcast medium for a community that has been misrepresented in, misinformed by, and not provided access to, by mainstream media entities. KMOJ works towards popularizing and preserving indigenous forms of cultural expression not typically broadcasted by commercial stations. KMOJ values the role it plays in training and programming; helping to develop the vision of Twin Cities urban communities by engaging local residents, professionals, elected officials, and community activists, etc., in cross-cultural discussions that will engage in a truthful and candid, yet positive approach to discussing and examining Communities of Color from a journalistic perspective.
TRAINING IN BROADCASTING
Central to the mission of KMOJ is to increase the representation of People of Color in Radio Broadcasting. To fulfill this, KMOJ is a training site for the broadcast industry in the areas of on-air announcing, public affairs programming, music programming, administration, marketing, production, and management through the KMOJ Internship Program. Interns are recruited from the community to include individuals who are participating in an accredited broadcasting program such as Brown College, Dunwoody Institute, Northwestern College, etc; and individuals who have experience in broadcasting or natural skills and talents for radio. Each intern’s skill level is assessed to determine their individualized training needs.
2023 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
KMOJ is committed to producing broadcasting no less than 60% of its programming to community conversations and education. The station’s community engagement strategies encompass live remote broadcasts of community forums and Town Hal Meetings covering topics like Housing, Health, transportation, and Education. KMOJ publishes this information through our on-air presentation, website, and social media outlets such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. North Minneapolis is a residential neighborhood primarily populated by African Americans so KMOJ provides culturally specific engagement activities in which residents can seek relief from difficulties of inequalities inherent in achievement gaps. KMOJ hosts or partners with many organizations to address community needs. KMOJ commits more than 16 hours per week to Public Affairs programming focusing entirely on issues and concerns directly impacting African Americans and other people of color.
Among key partners with whom KMOJ collaborates include Minnesota Public Radio, Insight News, North News, 360 Journalism, The Spokesman-Recorder Newspaper, Black Media America Television, and Twin Cities Public Television. KMOJ also collaborates with many Community non-profits including NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Turning Point, The Minnesota Department of Health, The Minnesota Urban League, The Minneapolis NAACP, The Cities of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and The State of Minnesota. Educational institutions (Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools, Independent School District 622, Burnsville Public Schools; Superintendents (Interim Superintendent for MPS) Rochelle Cox; Joe Gothard, Christine Tucci -Osoria and Teresa Battle respectively; The University of Minnesota and Mankato State University, Best Academy and Harvest Prep School); Hamline University, St. Paul College; St. Thomas University, and Metropolitan Technical and Community College. KMOJ-FM works with many business community partners like Summit Academy OIC, The American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Avivo, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cars for Neighbors; and Minnesota Public Housing Authority, and regularly engages with parents and influencers through its seven-member Community Advisory Committee.
KMOJ’s programming is focused on engaging in education and finding solutions for the problems in the communities of color. KMOJ is acting on its mission of educating its listeners through a focus on eliminating teen violence, home foreclosures, job creation, and community empowerment. KMOJ is focused on the issue of transportation, food insecurities, and of course, healing from COVID-19 through messaging around vaccination and recovery. KMOJ continues to reach an underserved segment of the community through its HD station with culturally and age-specific programming. Metrics indicate this audience is continually growing. Partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health; and the Department of Public Safety, KMOJ is providing critical, life-saving information to its audience. KMOJ developed local and National documentaries on vaccines and civil unrest. KMOJ is effectively increasing awareness around all of these concerns.
The station is known as The People’s Station. As such, KMOJ regularly gives voice to its listener base through its programming and community events. KMOJ actively engages elected and community officials such as the mayors of both major cities, and Public Safety and Public Health officials. Through its programming, KMOJ brings forward people of color who are making a difference in the communities. KMOJ is creating news programming that will be translated into different languages for public consumption. The station broadcasts local and national news each hour.
The Corporate Public Broadcasting grant makes it possible to provide live broadcasts from community events, The grants also allows KMOJ to hire Independent Contractors to host, produce, and voice various programs targeting issues many African Americans face each day. Most recently, KMOJ was able to employ an experienced Program Director who is guiding the station to the next level of broadcast communication. Additionally, the grant provides for information to be shared nationwide through its website and various other social media platforms, now including those targeted at a younger, more diverse audience. KMOJ believes this effort is critical to effective communication now and in the future. This support is especially helpful as KMOJ navigates relocation concerns brought on by the construction of a new Light Rail system that is expected to come through the African-American community in North Minneapolis.