VIRGINIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC PRESS INC

In the early 90s, our founder Christopher Maxwell, dissatisfied with local media sources, sought to make low power FM radio accessible to everyone. He united activists and college radio veterans to create Virginia Center for Public Press, in order to advocate for the legislation that would eventually lead to nonprofit LPFM stations like WRIR-LP 97.3 FM Richmond. In 2005, we emerged as one of the largest donor-funded, volunteer-run indie stations in the U.S., with over 150 active participants. WRIR’s mission is to air underrepresented news, views and music in order to provide a platform for cultural diversity in the City of Richmond, VA. We are on the air 24/7/365 with 111 individual radio shows and growing! Our talk shows feature local stories from Richmond's lively culture and national public radio programming that addresses important issues in our lives. We focus on music that showcases local talent and independent artists from home and beyond, as well as deep cuts from artists near and dear to your heart. Governed by the all volunteer VCPP Board of Directors, WRIR is unlike commercial radio or other public media entities. We are not beholden to corporate or government interests; our commitment is solely to The People.

-80% of our funding comes from listeners; grants and on-air underwriting makes up the rest.

-The majority of our programming is hosted or produced by women, people of color and folks from the LGBTQIA+ community -- nearly unheard of in radio.

-Weekday mornings feature local and national news and talk shows from 8am-1pm, while music from every genre and corner of the world fills the rest of the schedule.

-We are never off the air, broadcasting on your FM dial, streaming and archives online at wrir.org 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with a different local voice every 2 hours. We are always here for you!