BALTIMORE, Md. (October 3, 2005) – Provoke Radio, a new social justice radio show based in Baltimore, has hired Sawmill Marketing Public Relations of Baltimore for public relations services.

Sponsored by Radio Mass of Baltimore, Inc., Provoke Radio explores issues of social justice, morality and ethics – all within the context of inter-religious dialogue. Each half-hour program can be downloaded from a Web site, www.provokeradio.com or heard via Baltimore’s WBAL radio (Sundays at 10 a.m., 1090 AM).

Hosted by Father Stephen Spahn, a Jesuit priest and associate pastor at The Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., the program completed a successful pilot season earlier this year with topics ranging from local interest (“Youth Violence in Baltimore: What Have We Allowed Our Children to Become?) to broader interest
(“Peace Beyond Idealism”).

The program is written and produced by Claire Hartman, a veteran of the region’s advertising community who says the new program is different from other radio talk shows: “There’s really nothing out there like Provoke. While other programs encourage knee-jerk reaction, Provoke encourages thoughtful reflection. Provoke hopes to inspire a profound and personal response within each listener, one that ultimately will lead to action.”

‘Thou Shalt Be Provoked’

“The mission of Provoke is to engage the listening audience in a reflection of important contemporary issues from a religious perspective,” said Rev. William Watters, SJ, director of Radio Mass of Baltimore, Inc. and pastor of St. Ignatius Church. “We want to illustrate how the common principles of our diverse faiths can be lived out in everyday life. We want to ‘provoke’ listeners, in the best sense of the word.”

Taken from the Latin word, “provocare” – to call forth – Provoke features experts on various social justice issues such as poverty, unemployment, multi-culturalism and the role of faith in everyday life. All shows aim to inspire listeners to ask “what can I do to help?”

At the close of every show the host mentions area programs – faith-based and secular, advocacy and outreach – which are in need of volunteers and support. In addition, they are directed to the show’s Web site database for a more thorough list of such organizations.

About Provoke Radio
Visit www.provokeradio.com for more information, including background information about the host, Father Stephen Spahn, a database of organizations and an archive of downloadable shows from the pilot season. Provoke is sponsored by Radio Mass of Baltimore Inc., which, since 1946, has aired a live Catholic Mass on the radio and is believed to be the longest-running religious program in the U.S.

For additional information visit http://www.sawmillmarketing.com.

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