Free radio in Lusatia: Citizens create their own program!

Free radio in Lusatia: Citizens create their own program!

A new free radio is being built in Lusatia, which broadcasts not only regionally but throughout Germany via digital streaming. This innovative project, which is led by the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, aims to offer people in Lusatia the opportunity to create their own radio programs and digital audio productions. The initiative is a reaction to the lack of free radio in southern Brandenburg and is intended to provide a mouthpiece for marginalized voices in the region in particular. b-tu.de reports that two important projects will be launched with funding of 206,000 euros and will run until the end of 2027.

A central element is the development of media education workshops in which interested citizens can acquire a “radio license”. These workshops will enable participants to acquire basic knowledge of audio technology and journalistic strategies and to produce their own radio shows. The “Radio Driver’s License” project will be funded until the end of 2025 and helps to promote active participation in the democratic media public. The cooperation with the media education association M2B and the Radiokombinat Brandenburg ensures a comprehensive support network.

Cultural participation and exchange

The Free Radio is designed as a cultural and meeting place that promotes exchange among the citizens of Lusatia. The audio productions should be developed thematically, recorded on site and designed in a studio in order to make the region's diverse cultural landscape more visible. Regular radio programs are planned, which will be broadcast on the first Sunday of the month from 5 p.m. on DAB+ channel 12D and as a live stream.

The focus this year is on building self-determined editorial structures. Collaborations with cultural institutions and associations are planned until the end of 2026 in order to make the cultural offerings audible. A significant event will be a two-day radio festival in the summer of 2027, which is intended to further promote exchange and visibility of the cultural scene. The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is committed to passing on its expertise in media education and cultural work to the radio community, with the project structure being particularly geared towards the needs of marginalized groups.

Important dates and contact

Readers are invited to attend an open editorial meeting on May 14, 2025. Anyone interested can register at menrath(at)b-tu.de. The projects are not only an opportunity for creative development, but also a platform for strengthening social cohesion in Lusatia. lausitz-kultur.eu emphasizes that Free Radio will play an important role in promoting Brandenburg's media education landscape.

Further information about the activities of independent radios in Germany, including challenges such as the switch from FM to DAB+, can be found at frei-radios.de. These pages provide information about the support that many of these stations need to maintain their operations and ensure their independence.