This booklet provides background information on literacy for television and radio broadcasters. It focuses first on the numbers of functionally illiterate persons in the United States and what those numbers mean. Central to understanding those numbers, as pointed out by the booklet, is the definition of illiteracy that is used, a definition that is changing. The guide then suggests local issues that can be defined and examined in a community, such as welfare reform and literacy, work force literacy, and family illiteracy. The guide then points out programming ideas on literacy that television and radio broadcasters can use, along with other general ideas. It also includes sources of additional information, sample public service announcements, and a sample editorial. (KC)