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 | | Major funding for Whose Democracy Is It? is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. |
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The Collaboration will focus on three themes to ensure that the national dialogue we create is influential and has depth. Participating stations will develop stories, sound portraits, and commentaries around these themes for local air and will share the best pieces nationwide.
- Democracy, American Style — a look at the history, practices, and culture that distinguish U.S. democracy from other democracies, for better and worse.
- Democracy by the People — how and why individual Americans choose to participate in our democracy or opt out of it.
- The Aging of Our Democracy — a look at how bedrock institutions and practices, such as elections, are faring with age and whether they meet today's needs.
Major market radio stations within the Collaboration are producing documentaries and showcase events to develop these themes and provide a backbone to the week of special coverage. Some of the shows being developed include:
- That Democracy Show
A multi-hour special designed by teens and young adults with stories, music, call-in, and mini-docs on what our democratic culture means and doesn't mean to those coming of age in America. Web interaction and I-messaging will be part of the event.
- The Dollars Behind Democracy
Why money, and lots of it, is a defining feature of American democracy that is not shared by European democracies and is the biggest criticism of the U.S. system by foreigners.
- Whose Vote Counts?
An investigative documentary from American RadioWorks on why many Americans have the right to vote, but can't exercise it. Florida was the tip of an iceberg.
- Apathy in America
A look at why Americans choose to become involved or opt out of democracy and what that means for the country. This documentary will also profile experiments to re-engage people in democratic life.
- Democracy for Export
A live global call-in show co-produced and distributed with the BBC World Service on whether the US model of democracy is right for the rest of the world.
Each collaborating station will design its own week of special coverage by intermingling shared programs, democracy specials produced by national shows, and its own local reports, shows and events. Stations will also feature democracy coverage on the Web, allowing the audience to suggest story ideas, discuss issues, take the citizenship test immigrants must pass, find educational resources and hear Whose Democracy Is It? programs online.
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