The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) have launched a nonpartisan radio campaign aimed at ensuring Americans register, verify their names on voter rolls and vote on Election Day.
"AURN has a direct line into the hearts and minds of our target audience," said Melanie Campbell, executive director and CEO, NCBCP. "We’re delighted that America’s largest African American owned radio network company has joined with us to educate voters, protect our vote and turn out the Black community in record numbers in this historic election."
Jerry Lopes, president of program operations and affiliations for AURN adds, "NCBCP has a long history of making sure people participate in a process that our ancestors died for; as a radio network reaching 20 million African Americans weekly, we’re pleased to join hands with them to insure people participate in this most basic and fundamental right."
Over the next two months, the Unity ’08 Campaign will target 18 states with their message of "Be the Change." According to the organization, in addition to promoting the NCBCP’s Unity ’08 voter assistance hotline 1-866-MYVOTE-1, the goal in the initial phase of the radio campaign is to make sure each eligible voter is registered, locates their polling place in advance and knows what to do if they incur problems at the polls.
"This is critical information that every voter should know before they cast a ballot," adds Campbell. "That’s why we’re so excited about our partnership with AURN. We know that the way to send a message to the Black world is through radio, and AURN is our conduit to over 20 million potential voters."
The radio campaign will support the NCBCP’s Unity ’08 representatives on the ground in those states who will register voters, host education forums, get-out-the-vote rallies and assist voters at the polls on Election Day.
The initial phase of the campaign runs through October 1 and will be followed with phase two, encouraging citizens to vote early or on Election Day, November 4, 2008.
