Over the weekend the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) concluded its annual conference in New York City, honoring exceptional student broadcasters and college radio stations with its IBS Golden Microphone Awards. Winners were announced across 40 different categories, with a wide range of stations taking home trophies. WERG (Gannon University in Erie, PA), WONC (North Central College in Naperville, IL), and Wire Radio (Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA) garnered the most 1st place awards, with three a piece. Selected winners include:
Best Overall Station: WERG 90.5 FM – Gannon University (Erie, PA) – Read more about all of WERG’s awards here.
Best Streaming/Online-Only Radio Station: WIRE Radio – Wentworth Institute of Technology (Boston, MA)
Best College/University Station (schools over 10,000 students): KBVR 88.7 FM – Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) – Read more about the other awards that KBVR won here.
Best College/University Station (schools less than 10,000 students): WERG 90.5 FM – Gannon University (Erie, PA)
Best Community College Radio Station: WKRB 90.3 FM – Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn, NY)
All winning stations were selected from entries submitted by IBS member stations. The complete list of finalists and winners (PDF) can be found on the IBS website. Some other notable winners are WCHS (Communications High School in Wall, NJ) for Best Podcast (High School), and WCRX 88.1 FM (Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL) for Best Station Blog (see it here).
In other college radio news:
And the mtvU College Radio Woodie Winner is…
Yesterday mtvU hosted its annual Woodie Awards during SXSW in Austin. Based on online voting, the College Radio Woodie was awarded to WESS 90.3 FM at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania . Viewers can watch the mtvU Woodie Awards special on MTV on Sunday, March 16 at 8pm ET/PT. In related news, radio consultant Larry Gifford tuned in to the mtvU College Radio Woodie finalists (via the snippets highlighted on the Radio Stuff podcast) and offers up his take on the state of college radio and shares tips for broadcasters.
Michigan Student Broadcast Awards Honors WXOU as College Radio Station of the Year
On Wednesday, March 12, student broadcasters were honored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The full student winners list is on the association’s website. Oakland University station WXOU is reporting that it was named College Radio Station of the Year for the 3rd year in a row.
Delgado Community College Granted its LPFM Application
The processing of new LPFM applications has slowed down considerably and it’s been a few weeks since a college or university application was granted. On Tuesday, Delgado Community College in New Orleans broke this cycle and had its application granted, bringing the total number of granted college radio applications to 40. According to Delgado Community College’s application (PDF), the station will be enhance existing course offerings in broadcasting. It will serve as a “…training ground for future broadcasters” and will “air programming that reflects the extremely diverse nature of the college’s student body, provide a media outlet for underserved populations, and potentially offer actual over-the-air instruction in areas such as English as a Second Language, Music Appreciation, Poetry, Theater, etc.” The station also plans to broadcast collegiate baseball games.
Southeast Arkansas College Finalizing Plans for New LPFM Student Radio Station in Fall 2014
The Kansas City Star reports that Southeast Arkansas College is getting close to its dream of launching a student radio station on campus. The new LPFM station will broadcast at 100.7 FM and is purportedly the 10th college-based radio station in Arkansas. The FCC granted the college’s LPFM application on January 30 of this year.
Cal Poly Pomona’s Online Radio Station
The Poly Post reports that Cal Poly Pomona’s radio club started planning an online radio station in 2012. Dubbed CPP Interactive, the virtual station features live DJs during weekdays. Listeners can tune in to hear podcasts on the Spreaker app.
Student Radio Station in UK “Takes Over” Commercial Station
Over the weekend, University of Surrey’s (in Guildford, Surrey, UK) student radio station Stag Radio prepared a special 12-hour broadcast that was heard over commercial radio station eagle3‘s DAB channel and online. You can read more about the collaboration on Eagle 3’s website.
College Radio Station to Air Auditions for Teen Culinary Competition
East Valley Institute of Technology’s student radio station will be taking on an interesting role during the production of a new cooking competition show for teens, FOOD-BALL TV, that’s being created on campus. The East Valley Tribune reports that, “EVIT’s student-run radio station, The Pulse 90.7/92.7 FM, will broadcast every audition live, and students can use social media such as Twitter and Instagram throughout the show’s production to engage viewers.”
Elementary School Students Tour College Radio Station KCFV-FM
In a novel attempt to introduce various careers and college offerings to kids, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley toured students through the campus and even included a stop at student radio station KCFV-FM. According to the St. Louis American, “The students toured KCFV-FM, the student radio station, where they learned about audio production and the difference between analog and digital signals. They had an opportunity to do voice-tracking and actually broadcast.”
Cub Scout Field Trip to College Radio Station WBSU 89.1 The Point
Some 1st grade cub scouts got to check out a college radio station during a field trip to The College at Brockport’s student radio station 89.1 The Point in Brockport, New York.
WSOU Documentary Seeking Donations
An Indie Go Go campaign is working to raise needed funding in order to complete work on the documentary Pirates of the Airwaves: The WSOU Story. The film will chronicle the storied history of Seton Hall University’s heavy metal-oriented college radio station. One of the gifts being offered to donors is a 3-D printed pirate ship that is also a functional FM radio receiver. Arrrrr!!
CBI Continues its Station Spotlight Series
Over on the College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) blog, an ongoing series puts the spotlight on college radio and television stations. Radio stations featured so far this year include the aforementioned WSOU, Hofstra University station WRHU, Millikin University station WJMU, WRCU at Colgate University, and WMSC at Montclair State University.
Media Offerings, including Radio, at SUNY-Adirondack
According to the Post-Star, State University of New York (SUNY)-Adirondack is a leader in offering students media experiences which could easily lead to careers in broadcasting. The Post-Star reports that, “The college offers associate degree programs in media arts and radio and television broadcasting. It also offers certificates in media arts and radio broadcasting.” All students are welcome to participate in the campus radio station.
We cover the culture of college radio every Friday in our College Radio Survivor feature. If you have college radio news to share, please drop us a note at EDITORS at RADIOSURVIVOR dot COM.
