Activate Media is a radical, decentralized radio station and news organization that originated at Occupy Boston in 2011. We changed our name in 2013 to reflect our broader mission as activists for social change.
We are a non-commercial online radio station that broadcasts digitally, streaming on Shoutcast 24/7. We feature fresh content daily from all corners of the earth, including over 20 original shows covering a wide range of topics, including music, news, politics, culture, and social justice.
We also produce a daily news report called Activate News and publish both news and op-ed pieces. Our news coverage is independent and critical, and we focus on stories that are often overlooked by mainstream media.
All the music heard on Activate Radio is either Creative Commons licensed or artist submitted. We believe that all artists deserve to be compensated for their work, but we also believe that music should be accessible to everyone.
We are not currently a 501c3 organization, but we hope to become one in the future. In the meantime, we strive to operate in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
We believe that everyone has a voice, and we are committed to providing a platform for people to share their stories and ideas. We invite you to join us in creating a more just and equitable world.
Tune in to Activate Radio today!
Our Story
From it’s beginnings as a working group in Dewey Square, Occupy Boston Radio has been one of the longest functioning parts of the Occupy Movement. Occupy Boston started officially on September 30th 2011 through a series of twitter conversations that resulted in an encampment in the heart of the financial district of Boston, Massachusetts.
It was December 10th, 2011 that Occupy Boston Radio began broadcasting. We had no expertise, nor did any of us have the benefit of an education in broadcasting. What we did have, was a belief that a better world is possible. So we began broadcasting a very diversified lineup of programming that we thought would fill a void that has been a vacuum in our society, a free and independent press. Alongside our comrades at ‘the Boston Occupier’, and with partial funding through Occupy Boston, we forged a studio space at encuentro 5. In the past twelve years, Activate Radio, has been broadcasting original programming by and for the 99%, with focus upon the voices of those marginalized in our society. We have broadcast directly from Occupy protests, held public forums, broadcast election coverage, and helped put together some decadent parties. We have participated in community events, and stayed true to the principles of the Occupy Movement.
As the crowds diminished at GA’s, and the social media buzz was waning around Occupy, we continued broadcasting. Through countless hours of learning and then doing we have spent enormous amounts of time and personal resources to continue . Along with the help of many members of the community, we have been able to survive though we face many challenges in doing so.
Some of us found something at Dewey Square. It wasn’t the drum circles, or the meals served to around a thousand people a day, or even the amazement on peoples faces as they experienced the oppression by our camp derelict. What we found was a dream and the ingenuity, or perhaps insanity to believe that we could accomplish this endeavor of building a viable independent radio station. Though our road has not been easy, we persevere to continue to build an independent media resource for all people. To build a resource that is centered around teaching, as well as expanding the voice of oppressed and marginalized people, and building our community. We envision an organization that will help others create their own media based organizations, and a media creation branch to support the success of those organizations. We also would like to become a larger resource for our own community, in helping our local worker and social justice organizations reach their own potential. We found our dreams of a better world in Dewey Square, and we found the many invisible people to our society. We also found forms of oppression that many of us didn’t even know existed. These dreams are what press us forward to to the realization that in fact, a better world is inevitable.
With our deep admiration, respect and solidarity for all Occupies across the globe, as well as the many organizations that have been, and are supportive of our efforts, we will realize the fruition of our efforts through the community that we strive to build. This will be accomplished through the cooperation and collaboration of many different groups and peoples.Through innovative funding, and the wisdom in our community, and just plain old elbow grease, Activate Radio will become a viable independent radio station. In order to accomplish this task we need two things, the expertise of our comrades, and the support of our community to realize our goals.