There’s some sad news on the college radio front this week, with word that Bucknell University’s student radio station WVBU will be losing its FM signal. VIA Public Media plans to purchase the license for $17,600.
The Daily Item writes, that WVBU “will move to a streaming-only platform and VIA Public Media will take over the terrestrial station as part of an agreement between the entities announced Thursday. Bucknell’s WVBU 90.5 FM will take on a new name when it transitions to streaming-only, operating online…”
According to Current, “Following FCC approval, VIA Public Media will simulcast its format of news, classical, jazz and weekend variety shows on the 255-kilowatt signal. It will also insert local programming that could include news reports from Bucknell students, according to Neil Prisco, VIA Public Media’s creative director of marketing and branding.”
The move to being an online-only station is something that the university argues is related to student interest. A VIA press release includes a statement from Brent Papson, director campus activities and student media: “We began exploring this collaboration after our students who are involved with Bucknell’s radio station voiced a strong preference for transitioning from a traditional, over-the-air broadcasting experience toward a contemporary and digitally-focused streaming platform.”
Bucknell and WVIA signed a Collaboration Agreement and a Studio and Site License Agreement that were not included in the official application to the FCC. The license assignment application states, “The information excluded contains proprietary information and is not germane to the commission’s consideration of this instant application.” The future plans include WVIA maintaining a studio on the Bucknell University campus, so it will be interesting to see what this Collaboration Agreement entails.
KHSU Shut-Down: How do Students Fit in?
At Humboldt State University, the sudden shutdown of public radio station KHSU has been painful for long-time staff, volunteers, listeners, and students. While not a student-run, college radio station, KHSU did employ student interns, who were also caught up in the wave of firings. According to the Lumberjack, students in the “KHSU Experience” class, “…had their learning experience cut short by the decision to gut the radio station. HSU President Lisa Rossbacher said that part of the decision for the drastic cuts to the radio station was to promote more student involvement at the station. However, the interns at the station were given ‘zero notice’ about the station firings.”
It’s an interesting twist that a massive overhaul of a community-run public radio station on a college campus could potentially benefit students. Humboldt State does have a student-run college radio station: KRFH-LP at 105.1 FM aka Radio Free Humboldt. On its website, KRFH outlines its history, stating, “We started back in 1990 when Dr. Gary Melton and Professor Emeritus Mark Larson convinced the College Dean to fund the beginning of a student run radio station at Humboldt State. This development came following the loss of student involvement at longtime campus broadcaster KHSU as the station ‘reached a new plateau in its evolution’.”
In a lengthy piece about the tumultuous times at KHSU, Ernesto Aguilar also speaks directly to the very different radio outlets at Humboldt State University. In Radio World, he writes:
Then there is the university’s student-run low-power FM, KRFH. It’s astonishing how few batted an eye about the fact KHSU received so many resources and KRFH received virtually no funding. You do not have to try hard to hear whispers about the aging of public media’s donor base and listenership. And, if KHSU protests are any indication, the station might have had difficulties attracting the next generation. Yet here, on the same campus, was literally the future of community media toiling in obscurity. HSU hints it will try to engage students more. Administrators would do well to provide more support for the campus’ student-powered LPFM and to expand student professional development opportunities at KHSU. Empowering our next wave of community radio leaders to learn is a topic everyone should be able to agree on.
Deep Dive into KFJC
On a personal note, I was on the other side of a radio station tour and story today, as Foothill College radio station KFJC is the subject of an extensive profile in the Mountain View Voice. As volunteer Publicity Director at KFJC, I try to spread the word about all the amazing stuff that the station does, so it’s gratifying to read, see, and hear (there are even audio components in the online version of the article) an in-depth article that digs into both the history and current activities of the station that I love. For those following my Leo Blais obsession, you’ll be happy to see that one of his signs made it into the photo essay!
More College Radio News
Profiles of Stations and Staff
- Embrace the Noise: KFJC, Foothill College’s Boundary-Pushing Radio Station, Turns 60 (Mountain View Voice)
- WRTC DJ Starts Online Broadway Music Station (West Hartford News)
- Radio Host Wants You to Come ‘Talk Music’ at His Flowery Branch Record Store (Gainesville Times)
- Rasta Stevie, Longtime KDUR DJ, Talks Reggae, Upbringing, Cancer Treatment (The Journal)
- Is a Big-Ticket Plan to Help California’s Community College Students Worth the Cost? (The California Report/KQED News)
- Audrey Peterson on Doing Radio in High School and College (WGN Radio)
- WSIE Radio Listenership, Funding up Under Jason Church (The Alestle)
Infrastructure, Funding, Station Closure
- Student Interns Fired from Humboldt’s Public Radio Station KHSU (The Lumberjack)
- Dead Air: KHSU’s Issues Have Drawn Attention (Radio World)
- WVIA to Take Over Bucknell’s FM Station, Student Radio to Move Online (Daily Item)
- Bucknell, VIA Public Media Enter into Partnership (Daily Item)
- VIA Public Media Adds Bucknell U’s FM Station (Current)
- U92 Has Sights Set on New Digs; Raising Funds to Move to DA Building (Dominion Post)
- WLBN Radio is No More, But Communications Classes May Use its Equipment (The Albion College Pleiad Online)
History
Alumni
- ‘WBCN and the American Revolution’ Cements the Radio Station’s Place in Music History (WBUR The ARTery)
- Jim Dunbar, Pioneer in SF Newstalk Radio, Dies at 89 (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Alaska Native Matt Hopper to Rock Houma on Latest Tour (Houman Today)
- UC Honors Chicano Activist and Former KDVS Host with Posthumous Degree (89.3 KPCC)
Events
- Green River College’s Pioneering Radio Station Celebrates 30 Years of ‘Today’s Rock’ (Auburn Reporter)
- Endicott College Radio Grand Opening (Wicked Local Beverly)
- The Golden Slipmat – Vinylthon 2019 (UMU The Dynamo)
- Elmhurst College Radio Station WRSE’s Battle of the Bands (Chicago Daily Herald)
- 33rd Annual Culture Shock Festival Draws a Crowd at Alumni Hall (Indiana Daily Student)
Programming
- The Granny and the Romanian: Unlikely Duo of a Bowdoin College Student and a Brunswick Octogenarian Hit the Airwaves (The Times Record)
- After Hours: A Student Dedicated to Sharing the Stories of his Fellow Veterans (The State Press)
Awards and Accolades
- Ithaca College Radio Station Honored by New York State Broadcasters Association (The Ithacan)
- AFTRS Winner Presented with SCA Internship Award (Radio Info)
- Four UMKC Students Awarded at MBEA College Media Competition (University News)
