Radio Can Do What Politics Can’t: Bring Us Together
The United States has been rocked by political violence this year, from the tragic assassination this week of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the senseless killing of Minnesota Democratic state senator Melissa Hortman and her husband earlier this summer.
These heartbreaking events are a stark reminder: people with different views are not enemies. We’re neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members.
As broadcast influencers, we have a powerful platform. We can either add to the hate and division, or we can be the voice of connection, collaboration, and positivity. Radio has always been about bringing people together, and in this moment, that role is more important than ever.
Radio’s Responsibility
Radio personalities hold a unique space in our culture. Unlike most media platforms, our shows feel personal; listeners hear our voices every day and feel like they know us. That companionship means we can influence tone, perspective, and even healing.
This is a moment to rise above polarization. We can:
- Model respectful dialogue. Demonstrate how to treat one another by how we handle disagreements on air, respectfully.
- Focus on common ground. Celebrate stories of collaboration, kindness, and resilience that transcend politics. Fortunately, this week, we’ve heard politicians on both sides of the aisle call for more cooperation and collaboration within Congress.
- Promote positivity and unity over division. Most Americans identify as center-right or center-left. The loud extremes are the minority and the ones creating enemies and violence.
Listeners Are Hungry for Connection
People are tired of the polarization that dominates headlines and social feeds. They crave hope, empathy, and connection. Your show can become a safe space where listeners are reminded that we have far more in common than what divides us.
Thursday, after the Charlie Kirk assassination and on 9/11, Dave Coombs, Dorene & Marcus on WKLH, called for Milwaukee listeners to unite the way Americans did in the aftermath of 9/11.
The Classic Rock show highlighted listeners calling for unity and featured a “positive playlist” with songs like “Don’t Stop Believing,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “Us and Them.”
A Call to Action
You can be a voice for accepting our differences and focus on the values we share: safety, opportunity for all, freedom for all, and community. Radio can help amplify that message.
As hosts, you don’t want to be preachy. On the right stories, a simple reminder that peaceful dialogue is the path forward can inspire listeners more than you realize.
The Wrap
In times like these, the most powerful thing we can do is use our platform to remind people: disagreement is not hate and danger, and diversity of thought is not division.
Encourage no violence, more conversation. Less finger-pointing, more listening.
Radio can lead the way.
Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash
