EXHIBIT 3.01
 
                                                1381287
                                               ENDORSED
                                                 FILED
                                         in the office of the Secretary
                                         of State of the State of California
                                                 JUL 24 1986
                                         MARCH FONG EU, Secretary of State

                          ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
                        SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                        --------------------------------
 
     ONE:   The name of this Corporation is Salem Communications Corporation.

     TWO:   The purpose of this Corporation is to engage in any lawful act
or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of California other than the banking business, the trust company
business or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the
California Corporations Code.

     THREE: The name and address in this state of the Corporation's initial
agent for service of process is Edward G. Atsinger, III, 2310 Ponderosa Drive,
Suite 29, Camarillo, California 93010.

     FOUR:  The total number of shares which the Corporation is authorized
to issue is one hundred thousand (100,000).

     Dated:  July 22, 1986
 
                                             Stuart A. Comis
                                            -----------------
                                            STUART A. COMIS
                                            Sole Incorporator

     I declare that I am the person who executed the above Articles of
Incorporation and such instrument is my act and deed.
 
                                              Stuart A. Comis
                                             -----------------
                                             STUART A. COMIS
                                             Sole Incorporator