CJAM funding in jeopardy!

I was hoping to write something eloquent but as it turns out that might be out of my ability. So I will tell you why CJAM means so much to me. I started at CJAM almost 30 years ago with my friend Scott Sparrow and together we started Cowboys & Indies. We both love this little program with the stupid name. Scott has physically moved on to bigger and better things with his family in England but he is still very much apart of this show. The fact that I often refer to the show as 'we' reflects that.

I love hosting this program on a weekly basis. It is the music that I love. But what I really love is the connections that I, we, have made through the years. People that have become friends, past volunteers of the station and past management as well. I hope our passion for the music is what you love about the show as well as the music. But I don't think our trip is done yet. Please help us continue our journey as a show and as a station as a whole. Please write your MPP and tell them why ALL campus/community radio matters.

Your opinion matters. Your voice matters. CJAM matters! Make sure that all who will listen know this. Help us smash all those preconceived notions! WE ARE CJAM!

CJAM FM to be Considered Non-Essential Fee – Funding in Jeopardy
Posted by CJAM FM on February 11, 2019

On January 17th, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities announced the Student Choice Initiative through which every individual student in Ontario will be able to opt out of fees that are not “essential”, even if previously voted on by the student body via referendum.

Under the Student Choice Initiative CJAM is not considered an essential fee.

CJAM FM provides students and recent graduates with employment opportunities that help them build for the future. CJAM offers academic course integration, creative practice hours and volunteer experience for current students. This year the station will employ upwards of 5 students and integrate 11 students who will receive course credit for their work. Across the province, over 300 young people are employed every year in campus radio- over 80% of those salaries are funded directly through student fees and not government funds.

CJAM FM has worked hard in the last four years to integrate academic programs into its regular programming. Currently CJAM has two fourth year nursing students creating a weekly health promotion program as a part of their community clinical placement. CJAM also works as a service learning center for the STEM and Digital Journalism departments, offering students course credit while gaining valuable skills and promoting campus research/services. CJAM also has students volunteering from the Law, Women’s Studies, Communications Media & Film, and Sports Management programs.

Further, CJAM has been declared an emergency broadcaster by condition of license by the CRTC, which means we have purchased an installation system to interrupt our broadcast with essential information including amber alerts, weather warnings and more.

Email or call
Windsor MPP Lisa Gretzky
lgretzky-co@ndp.on.ca

Windsor/Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield
PHatfield-CO@ndp.on.ca

Windsor MP Brian Masse
brian.masse@parl.gc.ca

Office of the Premier
https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/…/fee…/default.aspx

This is URGENT. Please take the time to write, call, and make some noise for campus radio and independent media. We still have time to make a change. Over 300 young people are employed in Ontario at media organizations. We provide experiences outside of the mainstream and grow and garner skills for the real world.

More information on these changes and how they will affect CJAM FM can be found on our website
http://www.cjam.ca/cjam-fm-to-be-considered-non-essential-…/