RENO, Nev. — New survey results on the effect of Catholic radio show what Catholic radio operators have long known: The medium is having a positive impact on listeners, their parishes and the Church.
The survey, conducted in November by MBA students at John Paul the Great Catholic University on behalf of the Immaculate Heart Radio network, showed that just over half the survey respondents are more active in their local parishes as a direct result of listening to Catholic radio.
“The results are overwhelming,” said Doug Sherman, founder and president of Immaculate Heart Radio, which broadcasts on 24 stations throughout the American Southwest. “We knew we were having an impact on people … but we had no idea what a profound difference our stations were having.”
Among the survey’s other findings:
- 94% of listeners said they are more spiritually engaged and inspired.
- 83% say they’ve learned a great deal about their Catholic faith.
- 69% are better able to teach their children the truths of the faith.
- 47% attend Mass more frequently.
- 31% have returned to the Church because of the programming.
Steve Gajdosik, president of the Catholic Radio Association, said he wasn’t surprised by the survey results.
“Anecdotally, we hear stories like this all the time,” said Gajdosik. “The survey quantifies it and confirms what we’ve known all along.”
The State of Catholic Radio
While the total number of Catholic stations still pales in comparison to the more than 2,000 Protestant stations nationally, Catholic radio continues to grow. The number of Christian radio stations in the U.S has increased 15% over the past several years. Catholic radio is served by four traditional networks (Ave Maria, Immaculate Heart, EWTN, and Relevant Radio) and one Catholic satellite radio network (XM/Sirius’ The Catholic Channel). Catholic radio has grown from approximately 40 stations eight years ago to 178 today, with approximately 75% of them on the AM dial.
Gajdosik says that in upcoming years, Catholic radio’s presence has the potential not only to double, but also to invert, with the majority on the FM dial. This is possible because of two recent developments.
As a result of efforts by the Catholic Radio Association in 2007, just over 200 permits were applied for with the FCC for Catholic Non-Commercial Educational (NCE) FM stations. Already, 100 of them have been granted, and stations across the U.S. are in various stages of fundraising or construction. Among them, new FM stations include WNOC in Toledo, Ohio; KEDC in College Station, Texas; and KMDM in Polson, Mt.
In addition, Gajdosik says that there’s a good chance that applications for low-power FM stations may become available in 2011. Low-power FM stations are small entities that can broadcast within cities over a several-mile radius. They are ideal for medium to large-sized cities.
Explained Gajdosik, a strategically placed low-power FM station can reach as many listeners as a full-power station elsewhere. As an example, he cited Houston.
“In Houston alone, there’s a potential for 13 low-power FM stations,” said Gajdosik. “They’re relatively inexpensive to build and they’re accessible for schools or parishes.”
Modern Evangelization
“Our primary audience is educated Catholics stuck in traffic,” said Father Francis Hoffman, senior director of mission, programming and development for Relevant Radio. Relevant Radio owns and operates 12 stations and 21 affiliates nationally. “92% of adults listen to the radio every day. It’s much more powerful than television in shaping attitudes and is uniquely adapted to the task of evangelization.”
“The survey reinforces what I know to be true in my own life,” said David Rydberg, program director of Relevant Radio-affiliate KYES 1180 AM in St. Cloud, Minn. “My faith is nourished and fortified by listening to Catholic radio. It’s encouraging that others are also being fed by this kind of programming.
“As Catholics, we all have a role to play in evangelization,” said Rydberg. “By supporting local Catholic radio, you’re engaging in evangelization and making evangelization possible.”
The Catholic Radio Association is in the process of making the John Paul the Great survey available for its members so that it can be conducted nationally to validate the information gathered by Immaculate Heart Radio.
“Radio is alive and well,” said Gajdosik. “Catholic radio is a great instrument because it can so effectively convey Christ to the average person. It fits with the preaching of the Word. Just by turning on the station, you’re opening yourself up to hear Christ. That’s a winning combination.”
Register senior writer Tim Drake writes from St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Tim Drake: Register Radio: Catholic Radio and New Media
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We as Catholics need to draw the younger generation to the truth as well. We need to support the youth in a way that shows them that the Catholic faith can be an instrumental tool in their spiritual as well as professional futures. We need to involve their thoughts and ideas in forming programming that will encourage their friends and others to listen and make the Catholic faith part of their day. I know alot of you are saying, “yes, easier said than done”, but the youth are the churches future. There is a fantastic opportunity here. G1j
We as Catholics need to draw the younger generation to the truth as well. We need to support the youth in a way that shows them that the Catholic faith can be an instrumental tool in their spiritual as well as professional futures. We need to involve their thoughts and ideas in forming programming that will encourage their friends and others to listen and make the Catholic faith part of their day. I know a lot of you are saying, “yes, easier said than done”, but the youth are the churches future. There is a fantastic opportunity here. G1j
Bishop (insert name here), call your office.
I’m an Evangelical Protestant living in the Bible Belt. I discovered EWTN, driving through Kansas and love it. I have Catholic Radio on my XM satellite and find it generally boring except for catching Cardinal Dugan occasionally. I’m so glad the Catholic Church has discovered this medium that we Evangelicals have used for decades. Your participation is a great blessing. I pray for your New Evangelism and for God’s call of Catholic people to vocations. I think this new medium will help build up the church. I hope it will work toward bringing us together.
Radio is an excellent means of teaching the faith not just to the young but also to the not-so-young! I agree that there is a fantastic opportunity for the Church. The protestants sure know it and take advantage of it!
Gale,
Your comment is such a blessing. Thank you. I also hope it will work toward bringing us together.
The one caveat that must be stressed is that orthodoxy is the key to successful Catholic radion. Luke warm, “safe” programming does not resonate with many listeners. Real, spiritually challenging (sometimes difficult) program content that leaves you with something you didn’t know before is what is successful. The USCCB communications programming stands in stark contrast to EWTN, Ave Maria and the rest.
Much of California is “covered” by Catholic radio stations. Alas in Los Angeles and Orange, we have no 24 hour Catholic Radio Station. St. Joseph Radio could probably broadcast 24/7 but for the lack of enthusiasm and financial support from Catholics here, several million! We Catholics as a group give much less to our parishes, Catholic bookstores, and other enterprises than our Protestant brethren. Why is it that we cannot put our money where our mouth, our Faith is? If Catholics believed in tithing, charities and Catholic radio/TV stations would have the means to help many more not only with human necessities, but help to fill that hole in everyone’s heart that can only be filled with the love of God expressed through others’ care.
Chardin, you are oh so right! CNS, “Catholic News Service,” also a USCCB offering, starkly contrasts with CNA “Catholic News Agency” and other similar. The USCCB is either not with it, or doesn’t want to be with it. Makes one wonder.
I would not listen to anything but Catholic radio if I could get good Catholic radio. “The Catholic Channel” on Sirius/XM is totally BORING! What I wouldn’t give to have Ave Maria on Sirius/XM! I am a devout, Mass every day, teach in RCIA, Catholic and I simply cannot listen to “The Catholic Channel” for more than five minutes.
I listen to EWTN on Sirius radio (chan 160, I believe). Just like conservative radio has made inroads on the political scene, a lot of good can be achieved by Catholic radio just by hitting the tough issues and showing how to deal with them. As for donations, I found several years ago (late 1990’s actually) that tithing ( giving 10%) is not that difficult. I gave, but no where near 10% because I didn’t think I could afford it. One day I decided that I would and found that, for the most part, it didn’t make that much of a dent in my life.
Anniem,
Perhaps you were aware of the unfortunate clash between Mother Angelica and Cardinal Mahoney. She publicly took him and some other bishops to task on her show on matters of orthodoxy. Now that there is a transition in leadership in your archdiocese, don’t be surprised to see catholic radio there within 2 years!!!
GR8FUL1JIM:
If you’re interested in Catholic programming that reaches out to young people, there is a program on a Catholic station here in MN that aims to do exactly that. You can check it out on http://www.kyesradio.com/pages/TheRydbergGuys.
Just thought you might want to know: young, vibrant, and fervent Catholics are not always the anomaly they are perceived sometimes to be!
I invite you to check out Spirit FM 90.5 the broadcast ministry of the Diocese of St.Petersburg. spiritfm905.com Bringing the music…bringing THE Faith in Tampa Bay for 25 years!
I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for Relevant Radio. I am a protestant but find the programming informative and entertaining.
It has lead me to pray the Rosary daily and to begin reading the Catechism.
Who knows where this may lead?
I listen every day and often and miss it when I can’t. Thanks for helping to bring it to Austin. Please don’t stop.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless you all.
Gigi,
Might I suggest finding either KVSS or Ave Maria Radio on the internet?
I believe both offer links to allow you to listen live….
My involvement with Catholic Radio came by a dream, which was strange, because there was no station in our State. Yet we were soon to move to St. Louis where Mr. Tony Holman has built an outstanding network of stations. Best thing that ever happened to me, and enriches my life daily.
I agree with the need for orthodoxy and faithfulness to the magisterium. I have no problem with Mother Angelica’s comments. Not enough people stand up for their faith in the public arena.
Thank you——catholics need to be connected and use every form of media.. and stay away from t.v.——90% of which cannot be looked at is is not true.. so why pay the money to keep that going!!!!! ...
Laura,
I followed your link because our station (Salt and Light Radio, Boise) is looking for youth-oriented programming possibilities. Guess what?
“All good things must come to an end…” The local hosts are gone, replaced by a network show. Oh, well.
As much as I respect Steve Gajdosik and the work of the CRA this “survey” should be taken with a grain of salt.
For example, “94% are more spiritually engaged” means 94% of whom? It means “94% of the people who were motivated to go the web site and complete the survey are more spiritually engaged.” Makes sense.
People who are not more spiritually engaged, or not more involved in their parish, are also less likely to respond to the survey. It doesn’t mean 94% of our listeners. It only measures results among those who went to the web site and we have no idea what fraction of our audience that was, or how representative a sample they constitute.
This is a self-selected sample. It does not accurately measure anything.
Mr. Jess,
For all I understand your point, I firmly disagree with your conclusion. Specifically, whom would you wish to measure instead?
I’m not at all interested in hearing the views of umpteen bazillion Catholics who could care less about Catholic radio OR their faith. I DO, in fact, wish to hear from those who HAVE benefited. It’d be nice if we didn’t need to rely upon social communications in this manner; it’d be nice if the average Catholic would hear something from the pulpit that would challenge them to live more virtuously. Sadly, this hasn’t happened much in my lifetime.
I don’t believe this survey intended to be an all-encompassing view of the state of Catholic radio. I think it mostly aimed to discern whether Catholic radio could be expected to accomplish much good for the Church.
Judging by the results, I’d say that’s a definite “Yes”.
Certainly seems to be doing a better job than what I see, hear, or do at the average parish….
Readers might infer that 94% of all listeners to Catholic Radio are more spiritually engaged, and this would be wrong.
A true “survey” would involve contacting a cross-section of the identified population, whether it’s listeners, church-goers, or the general public. Otherwise the “percentages” listed have no meaningful context. Consider how political pollsters, the Neilsen and Arbitron Ratings, and the U.S. Census all work.
For Catholic Radio or any other medium to succeed, it must be effective. Effectiveness is not measured by collecting anecdotal stories from the people who like you. It is measured by doing a true survey of an entire population, and documenting changes over time.
Otherwise how can we know whether Catholic Radio is an efficient use of resources and whether it might be driving away some people even as it brings others into the fold?
Mr. Jess,
I’m with you. 94% does seem a little low.
Steve,
I, too, am leery of the survey results. We have no idea who they surveyed, so the results don’t tell us much and are self-serving.
You may want to check out “GRN Alive: Real Faith. Real Radio.” It was a Catholic radio show I hosted here in San Antonio, TX for a few months last year. It was meant to appeal to youth, young adults, and those who wouldn’t normally listen to Catholic radio. It was edgy but orthodox.
MP3s are available here:
http://catholicradioreject.com/catholic-radio-show-grn-alive/
I,m Working in Corning N.Y. and I was delited to discover 88.1 at my Campsite. Catholic Radio Has warmed my soul especially in my lonely time away from my wife and two Children.
Respectfully and Continually Yours in Christ
Bill Voltz
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