Alliance for Community Media Hires Mike Wassenaar as New Public Policy Advocate

Mike Wassenaar has been chosen as the Public Policy Advocate for the Alliance for Community Media (ACM).

Wassenaar has a long history of industry experience including work as the Senior Development Director at Free Press in Washington DC, as the Executive Director at St. Paul Neighborhood Network in St. Paul, Minnesota, and as the Program and News Director at KFAI Fresh Air Community Radio, in Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as being the MN News and Public Affairs Director at WORT Radio in Madison, Wisconsin. Wassenaar has been actively involved in the Alliance for Community Media.

From 2004-2012 Wassenaar served as the Midwest Region Chair and also served on the National Board of Directors from 2004-2010. He was a National Chair from 2005-2007, served as Treasurer from 2007-2009, and as the Development Chair from 2010-2012. In 2012 Wassenaar received the Buske National Leadership Award.

The Public Policy Advocate will be working with ACM to lead public policy efforts in Washington DC to change federal law to remove the restriction on the use of public, educational and government (PEG) funds (capital vs. operating issue) and will represent ACM’s interests in broader legislative initiatives. He will also represent and lead ACM’s efforts at the FCC and meet with legislators to secure bi-partisan lead and co-sponsors of a bill.