by Olivia Greer and Isabella Albin
Summary
Prisoncast! is a radio program for incarcerated people inside Illinois prisons and their families and loved ones on the outside. All media covered on the radio comes from the people it serves. It is a request show, asking families and incarcerated folks for audio requests, musical preferences, and other topics they want journalists to cover. Currently, it is produced by WBEZ and Illinois Public Radio.
Organization Background: WBEZ is Chicago’s NPR news station, with about 400,000 weekly listeners.
Snapshot
Project Goals
Prisoncast! produces stories that connect those incarcerated with their loved ones on the outside. The journalists use their platform as journalists and the radio station to serve the community with information that incarcerated people and their families can use. It is important for the journalists to build relationships, both big and small, with the community they serve. The Prisoncast! staff doesn’t just report on people in prison but also reports for them to strengthen community and familial ties.
Project Resources
- The editor’s and staff members’ time. Prisoncast! has one full-time, grant-funded engagement and audio producer, and WBEZ’s engagement editor also contributes significantly to the project. It takes time and effort to maintain this in-depth reporting and engagement program. There is a culture within the staff to support this type of work, including direct support from the Chief Content Officer on this project and engaged journalism in general.
- Prisoncast! partnered with dozens of organizations adjacent to Illinois’ carceral system. These organizations act as a resource to producers, people in Illinois prisons and their families. Some of these organizations are Companions Journeying Together, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, The Reunification Ride and many more. The show’s team works closely with these organizations to become better acquainted with the community and get their input on what events families would benefit from. Prisoncast! Journalists also regularly correspond with and visit people incarcerated in Illinois.
Tools & Technology
- Snail mail is still used to communicate through handwritten letters. Prisoncast’s engagement with the community looks different! The team communicates with incarcerated individuals through traditional mail.
- Tablets have been introduced in prisons but are not universally available and difficult to distribute content on. Inmates are allowed to own tablets. The team is working on increasing the use of tablets and enabling communication with inmates through a restricted version of email called electronic mail.
- WBEZ, Chicago’s public radio, provides funding for staff travel and reimbursements and a budget for marketing promotions. The Prisoncast! project was recently awarded a significant grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand its work over the next three years.
- The Illinois Public Radio network is a loose confederation of all NPR stations in Illinois, and they often share content. Prisoncast! would not be possible without all IPR stations working together to broadcast shows across the entire state.
Impact
The impact has been to amplify voices in the community that would go unnoticed or unheard otherwise. Many incarcerated people can access free public radio. This show helps to connect and bridge the gap between the “inside” and “outside.” Prisoncast! aims to connect the community and families with their loved ones.
How it Happened
Not all is lost in engaged journalism, but there is still hope. What started as an experiment in 2022 has become an established project, engaging the entire community. Because managerial staff took a risk on a creative project, there is now an established network catering to a community that would likely never have an outlet to speak to and engage with. There are now frequent stories with multiple mediums, including photography, recordings, radio, music, in-person events, and gatherings. There is even a budget for advertisement placements of the radio station, as well as travel expenditure to promote the program to other communities and visit family members. Chicago Public Media recently got a three-year, $650,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to support and expand this work.
What Worked
1. Support from Chief Staff Members at the Radio Station
Prisoncast! has reach and impact because leadership and staff took on the project by chance. Staff members are able to dedicate months of their time and effort to this project, which might never be possible on a smaller station due to resources, budget and sheer number of people. The willingness to take risks on creative projects that would most likely be cut on smaller stations.
2. Being a part of Illinois’s Public Radio Network
As the largest public radio station in Illinois, WBEZ had established significant credentials, which helped facilitate getting the program into prison facilities. However, securing organizational partnerships required considerable effort to build trust. Many partners initially viewed WBEZ skeptically, seeing it as part of the mainstream media. Through persistent relationship-building, WBEZ successfully garnered support. Additionally, the Illinois Public Radio (IPR) network played a crucial role by providing a group of supportive partner stations and expanding the program’s reach across the state.
What Could Have Worked Better
1. Reaching and Connecting with Families
The radio station is broadcasted to incarcerated people and their families, but bridging the gap between the two is often an obstacle. Families usually have “so much going on, especially if there’s children in the picture”, said Alex Keefe, head editor of the program. Currently, the station focuses on meeting the families where they are. The Prisoncast! team hosted a family portrait session for incarcerated people in a prison. The staff wants to plan more events, like the portrait sessions, to engage with families.
2. Unforeseen challenges when initially entering the prison
While staffing issues have caused last-minute cancellations and confusion for family members visiting the incarcerated, Prisoncast! staff visits have never been canceled for any reason. However, it is well-documented that families often face significant hardships, sometimes driving 5-6 hours to visit their loved ones, only to be denied entry due to staffing shortages. Given the strict security and restrictions, there are inherent challenges when working in carceral settings. While these challenges are part of the situation, they are obstacles they must navigate to ensure the program’s success.
What Else You Should Know
Prisoncast! recently received a grant to expand the project.
Learn More
To learn more, reach out to Alex Keefe by email akeefe@wbez.org.