# CKCU FM Launches Keep Media Human Campaign to Fund Independent Community Media - Published: 2026-10-19 - Author: [PR Thrive](https://prthrive.com/author/prthrive-com.md) - Reviewed by: [Brett Farmiloe](https://prthrive.com/author/brett-farmiloe.md), Founder and CEO, Featured - Topics: [News](https://prthrive.com/news.md) - About: [CKCU FM](https://ckcufm.com), [Keep Media Human](https://ckcufm.com/donate) - Based on: [CKCU launches Keep Media Human campaign amid growing pressures on media](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/950597193/ckcu-launches-keep-media-human-campaign-amid-growing-pressures-on-media), EIN Presswire, 2026-10-19 - Based on: [CKCU FM](https://ckcufm.com), CKCU 93.1 FM - Source: https://prthrive.com/news/ckcu-keep-media-human-campaign/ - Publisher: PR Thrive CKCU FM, the campus and community radio station at Carleton University in Ottawa, is launching Keep Media Human, a fundraising campaign running October 23 to November 8, 2026, with a goal of $215,000 CAD, to keep independent, volunteer-made media on the air as funding cuts, political pressure and disinformation squeeze the sector. ## Key points - CKCU FM's Keep Media Human campaign runs from October 23 to November 8, 2026, and aims to raise $215,000 CAD. - Donations fund the station's programming, volunteer training, community partnerships and long-term sustainability. - Founded in 1975, CKCU was Canada's first campus-based FM station and is run as an independent non-profit. - The station grounds its appeal in data on news deserts, trust in news and the closure of 605 Canadian local news outlets since 2008. - The campaign launches on Friday, October 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fono, 473 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, with interviews, photos and audio available to media. ## What is Keep Media Human? Keep Media Human is CKCU's 2026 funding drive, built on the argument that media made by people matters more as trust in information erodes. For 51 years, the station's programming has been shaped by volunteers, students, artists and community members, creating space for voices that might otherwise go unheard. > "At a time when it's getting harder to know what to trust, community media matters more than ever. Real people are at the heart of everything we do. By sharing stories and different perspectives, we help build the trust, empathy and understanding that strong communities and healthy democracies depend on, in Canada and around the world." > > — Lia Kiessling, Station Director, CKCU ## Why is CKCU asking for support now? CKCU points to pressure on independent media on both sides of the border. In the United States, restrictions on press access and cuts to public broadcasting funding have raised concerns about press freedom; in Canada, local outlets keep closing; and the spread of AI-generated content adds to doubts about what audiences can trust. The release backs that case with figures from named research: - Almost 47 million Americans live in counties with limited or no access to local news (Northwestern University, 2026 State of Local News report). - 56 per cent of U.S. adults had at least some trust in information from national news organizations (Pew Research Center survey, 2025). - 605 local news outlets closed across 388 Canadian communities between 2008 and 2025 (Public Policy Forum). - 32 per cent of Canadians listen to campus or community radio regularly or occasionally, rising to 48 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 (a 2025 national survey). ## What does the campaign show PR and communications teams? Our analysis: the campaign is a compact example of a cause-led media pitch. Three choices stand out for practitioners. **A name that carries the argument.** "Keep Media Human" contrasts the station with AI-generated content and with consolidation in a single phrase, so every mention of the campaign restates its reason to exist. **Evidence before the ask.** Instead of leading with the fundraising goal, the announcement sets out third-party data on news deserts, trust and closures, which gives reporters a story about the state of local media, with CKCU as the example. **A ready-made media moment.** A dated, located launch event, a station director available for in-person and remote interviews, and photo and audio opportunities lower the cost of coverage for broadcasters and local outlets. Participation is the other theme the station leans on: listeners help make the programming, not just consume it. > "What makes CKCU special is that our community doesn't just listen. It helps create what goes on the air. For 51 years, people have brought their music, ideas, experiences and curiosity to this station. Keep Media Human is about protecting that spirit of participation and making sure there's room for the next generation of voices." > > — Corrie Rabbe, Chair of the Board of Directors, CKCU ## Frequently asked questions ### What is CKCU FM? CKCU FM is an independent, non-profit campus and community radio station at Carleton University in Ottawa, broadcasting at 93.1 FM. Founded in 1975 as Canada's first campus-based FM station, it serves Ottawa-Gatineau and listeners online with news, music, public affairs, arts and culture. ### When does the Keep Media Human campaign run? The campaign runs from October 23 to November 8, 2026. It opens with a launch event on Friday, October 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fono, 473 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa. ### How much is CKCU trying to raise, and what will the money pay for? CKCU's goal is $215,000 CAD. Donations support the station's programming, volunteer training, community partnerships and long-term sustainability. ### How can people support the campaign? Donations are taken at [ckcufm.com/donate](https://ckcufm.com/donate) for the length of the campaign. ### Who can journalists contact about the campaign? Lia Kiessling, CKCU's station director, is available for in-person and remote interviews and can be reached at lia.kiessling@ckcufm.com or 613-505-0570. ## Sources - [CKCU launches Keep Media Human campaign amid growing pressures on media](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/950597193/ckcu-launches-keep-media-human-campaign-amid-growing-pressures-on-media): press release from CKCU 93.1 FM, distributed by EIN Presswire, October 19, 2026. The statistics above are as cited in the release. - [CKCU FM](https://ckcufm.com): the station's website.