Yes, time flies. Another World College Radio Day is upon us. And the need for commercial, public, and Christian radio to support it has never been greater. But instead of my usual blathering, I went to the source:
A real life example of why college radio is a lifeline, and worthy of your attention. Last year, a lot of money was raised by our clients and friends, and we hope to pull it off again. But our “spokesperson” this year – Amelia Lee – is more persuasive than me. That’s her anchoring the morning show in the photo at the top of today’s post.
Amelia is wrapping up her degree at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana (near the southwest section of the Michigan border). The Globe is their college station, wisely advised by faculty member Jason Samuel. They reached out to me a few years back to tell me about their program. And I wrote about them in a blog post called “Do You Know Any Radio MVZs?” Now 18 months later, some of them have finished up school, and are ready to make waves in radio.
As we approached World College Radio Day this year, I started thinking about a more persuasive way to tell you why this organization is important – not just to the kids, the faculty, or the schools – but to all of us. We struggle to find motivated young people with that strong desire to work in radio. Not only do they exist, many are well-trained and ready to go. I have no doubt most will matriculate right into the “real world” of radio, ready to immediately make a contribution to the stations that hire them.
In many cases, it’s no risk for a radio station to take a chance on most of these young radio wannabes. They know what they’re doing, having been trained in all the key disciplines of our business – including sales. And because they are “digital natives” – and not “immigrants” like many of us in radio – they have an intuitive understanding of how to integrate new technologies into our traditional media information and entertainment businesses.
So today, I turned over the keyboard to Amelia, one of The Globe’s best and brightest. Aside from serving as the Student Station Manager at the Globe for the second year, here’s how she fills her days, nights, and weekends: 
- Afternoon drive news anchor/reporter/producer at 95.3 MNC (Michiana’s News Channel)
- Holiday fill for WOWO/Ft. Wayne
- “Amelia til Midnight” host on Froggy 102.7 (voicetracked)
- News reporter/MMJ (multimedia journalist) intern for WNDU-TV/South Bend. It’s an 8-week internship. Amelia reports live in the field Saturday mornings, and works on longer stories on Sundays
As she wrote me, “I think that’s all I’m doing now.” Well, she also took the time to write the guest post below – “Why College Radio?”
By Amelia Lee
It’s been three years since the first time I turned on the microphone at my college radio station. Three years since I found my voice and my passion. Three years ago, my life was changed forever, and it’s all thanks to college radio.
I never thought I would do radio in college. It just wasn’t on my to do list. I didn’t know that it was an option. But, I met my professor at Goshen College, Jason Samuel, and he encouraged me to do it. I thought “why not, it could be fun, I could meet people.” Little did I know, that small choice would make a big impact on my future.
I always knew that I loved to talk, I did speeches in high school and I was involved with public speaking. Radio was a different story. I enjoyed it a lot more. I was so into the fact that I could just talk about what I wanted to talk about. I could be myself and have fun. It opened a door to new possibilities.
I had a rough freshman year of college. I had trouble making friends, branching out, and feeling like I belonged: all typical college things. When I turned on the mic, I found a community. I found my people. Every time I turn on the mic, I think about impacting one person’s day, making them happy that they tuned in and making them smile. It’s all about the listener.
At my college station, there are no commercials. We produce all of the content and have unique shows. We don’t use prep sites. We play “culturally progressive music.” It’s not like other stations. We play artists who may not get a chance on commercial radio and we let them shine.
We give everyone the chance to be on the air waves (during their first year of college if they want!). In college radio, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or where you’re from. Your voice matters and it will be welcomed with open arms.
College radio is the place where I found my voice. I didn’t talk a lot my first year of college. The only place I actually opened my mouth? On the airwaves of 91.1 The Globe. I don’t know why I loved it so much. It just felt right.
I started with shifts by myself and then transitioned to hosting a three person morning show, called the “Breakfast Blend.” That became my favorite thing in the world. I still wake up every morning with a big smile on my face, ready to talk to my Globe pals, aka the people listening.
It’s the thing I will miss the most when I graduate. I’ll never be on a show like that again. There’s something so cool about having different cohosts everyday and hanging out with your besties on the air.
I have gotten so much from college radio. I have countless awards, including best college DJ in the nation, best audio newscast and best student station manager in the nation, to name a few. I got
internships and jobs before I even graduated.
Now, I work at my college station, a top 40 station, a news/talk station, and intern at a TV station. I found drive, purpose, and fulfillment in radio. Jason Samuel always says, “the best ability is availability.” My program director, Jon Zimney says, “you have to be coachable.” I gained both of those skills through my time in college radio.
I learned about myself and who I am as a leader and how I fit into a group. Those lessons are so valuable, not just in radio, but in life. I was given hands-on experience since I set foot at The Globe. I have been running an FCC licensed radio station since 2022.
We put in the work in college radio. We may not be on a sports team, or do math everyday, but we keep a radio station running 24/7 365. I can say that when I graduate I will be so prepared to be in the real world. I understand what it takes and how to make it happen at a radio station.
I wouldn’t be at all where I am today without the support of seasoned broadcasters. My professors trained me and gave me the tools to succeed. The vets in the business gave me chances. They saw a young girl with dedication and let me go on the mic, even though I probably really sucked. They supported me and allowed me to make mistakes on the airwaves.
Without the support and encouragement from radio pros, I don’t think I would have nearly as much success as I do as a twenty-one year old. I have not met a person on the radio who has not wanted to help me. That gives me so much pride and excitement to be in this business. I feel so supported.
I got to work at the news/talk radio station I grew up listening to as a kid, WOWO in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I met all of the people that I listened to growing up and they encouraged me every step of the way. I am still in awe with the amount of chances that I was given. I am so grateful.
It’s important for radio vets to be supportive of “fresh young talent.” That support stays with a person. If we want to continue to make radio an incredible platform, then we need to continually support the youth in radio.
We need to encourage them to stay in the business. That might mean reaching out to colleges, meeting with students, or even talking at a college station. I’m excited to be a vet in the business, so that I can do what mentors did for me, support and encourage.
As I approach the end of my four years of college I think back to my time at 91.1 The Globe. I will miss it so much, the people, my professors, and the building. I’ll miss being at the station at all hours and working on content.
The walls at The Globe have watched me grow into the person that I am today. They’ve watched me cry, laugh, and get mad. They’ve been through all my emotions. I hope that they can do the same for so many other students after me.
College radio is so important. It is a building block and a starting point for people in broadcasting and other places. I try not to think about the end of my time in college radio. I wish it could last longer. There’s just something so special about it that’s hard to put into words.
Yes, I’ll be in radio when I graduate and I’ll be so happy to do it, but I will always remember my years in college radio. I’ll always thank The Globe for what it’s done for me. I am so grateful for college radio and I hope that it continues to thrive.
You want to hire her? Amelia is obviously a standout, but I can tell you she’s one of many dedicated student broadcasters at Goshen College and hundreds of others universities and colleges across America.
They need our support. And we need their youth, their raw talent, their drive, and their optimism. We also need to give them a chance (as Federated Media is doing for Amelia – they own the station cluster she’s working for) – the opportunity to be a broadcaster.
We wrote a check to the College Radio Fund. We hope you do, too. You can find more information here, along with how you can make a donation.
Along with initiatives from organizations like the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the RAB’s National Radio Talent Institute, radio operators need to support these efforts with their dollars and their time and effort.
Amelia’s story is inspiring, hopeful, and from the heart. We’ve got to give her and her peers who love radio every opportunity to succeed in our business.
Below is a video put together by these Globe students that tell you all you need to know. – FJ
Why do we love college radio? We’ll let you know what it means to us and why we’re happy to be a part of The Globe!
Tune into our 24 hour #worldcollegeradioday broadcast on Friday, October 6! pic.twitter.com/MLi8pjpqb7
— 91.1 The Globe (@911TheGlobe) October 4, 2023
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Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Thanks for sharing this, Fred. I agree with Amelia Lee. I got my feet wet at then WSCB (carrier current), which then converted to FM as WBNY at Buffalo State. As soon as I moved into roles where I could influence our station working with younger folks who are radio nerds, I did. Still do! I believe in youth. It may be cliché, but they are our future.
Indeed. And it’s too late for broadcast veterans to support college radio. Thanks, Chris.
Thank you Fred for highlighting the importance of college radio! We’re very fortunate to have Amelia here at Federated Media. She brings not only immense talent, but also a tremendous work ethic.
And there are more where she came from, James. Thanks to you and Federated Media for giving them a shot.
College Radio teaches multiple disciplines. Annoying to see lack of faculty interest and student connection. The pendulum can swing back with a more welcoming atmosphere, relevance to now with Colleges NOT abandoning their radio stations, one of the most important extracurricular activities. Founded WWUH-FM Stereo University of Hartford 1968, rescued AM Stereo License 1220watx.com Hamden/New Haven, 2021. Throughout, Broadcast Internships are priceless experience. Happy College Radio Day!
That involvement with college radio leaves indelible memories for all of us. Some have told me it was the best time they every head in radio.
This generation is more driven, I’ve ever seen, and any old time or who scarves, is obviously spending way too much time on social media, than out in the field. I am amazed at how open to criticism and organizational habit adjustments the people I work with are. I normally don’t plug, but I’m plugging the station because the concept came from a 21 year old, he’s my programmer, I’m happily his assistant, to see someone so passionate and driven about the AAA format, while in country radio, while running a web design business, is inspiring to my daily life. the Mtn radio.comm
Thanks, Brandon.
Everything I learned in life, I learned from college radio! Loved my time at WRHU-FM Radio Hofstra University!
So many of us fond memories of those campus radio days! Thanks, Dan.
I might’ve alluded to this earlier, but here’s the official English-language version of a write-up from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa about a live remote for this year’s World Radio Day from (national, commercial CHR) Mega Hits’ afternoon-drive show–which happens to be led by UCP graduates, some of whom apparently worked at its student station…
https://www.ucp.pt/news/world-radio-day-most-resilient-media-all
Thanks as always, Eric, for the international perspective.
Great post. As someone who spent 15 years teaching radio students at the University of Indianapolis, I know how important and impactful college radio can be. I also saw firsthand how Goshen College’s radio program grew under Jason, so it’s not surprising to see an outstanding student like Amelia who is passionate about radio and clearly very good at it.
Fred, thanks for spotlighting the importance of college radio! We in the industry complain so much about how “young people aren’t interested in radio,” and then ignore places that are actively helping get young people passionate about it.
Appreciate it, Russ. You’ve hit on the paradox. Let’s stop bemoaning the young people who have no interest in radio, and instead, let’s focus on helping those who do.