Quote
JACKSONVILLE â€" When times are hard and money is tight, organizations seek relationships to help weather the storm.
Public broadcasting station WJCT and the University of North Florida are in preliminary discussions about forming a partnership. The potential deal could help WJCT provide the kind of Public Broadcasting Service television and National Public Radio programming its audience is used to. It could also help communications students at UNF gain hands-on experience and attract more viewers and listeners to its student offerings.
“We want to do more than just serve this community and a partnership with UNF could make it possible,†...
From Sarah Mueller at the
Jacksonville Business Journal.
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2011/11/25/link-with-wjct-could-boost-unf.html
The deal would be somewhat similar to UNF's relationship with MOCA Jacksonville. Thoughts?
As much as I appreciate their 'beautiful music,' I believe that Jones College's station falls short of the kind of college radio that most folks know and love. Having attended the University of North Florida, I wondered what avenues that their communications majors would have beyond their in-house 'radio' station that was aired exclusively on campus back when I was a junior and senior. I agree with Stephen that any partnership between WJCT and UNF would be greatly welcomed in our community --- and way past due!
^that's actually something we have be mindful of. The student radio program, Osprey Radio, currently runs an Internet only station, and they're actively pursuing a low-power FM band now that the senate has approved it. We need to make sure this doesn't get lost in the static, as it were. Jacksonville needs a college radio station.
Starting next week, WJCT be airing Osprey Radio shows five nights a week at midnight.
QuotePress Release for Friday, December 2, 2011
WJCT Public Radio Airs UNF Student Programs
Osprey Radio, the University of North Florida’s student-operated campus radio station, and WJCT Public Radio 89.9 FM are collaborating to showcase late-night student programs on Jacksonville’s National Public Radio station starting Sunday, Dec. 4.
The late-night UNF programs air Sunday to Thursday nights at midnight, which is a part of WJCT’s after-hours programming.Listeners will hear five genresâ€"jazz, heavy metal, indie, techno and world popâ€"in five programs, including Jazz with Jon (UNF senior Jon Tredway); Night Crusade (with Zach Neaves, a senior); Audio Adventure (with senior Trey Gowdy); The Techno Show (with Vess, The Oracle, a freshman); and World Pop (with senior Chris Jones).
“This is a great opportunity for UNF students and Osprey Radio to get on the air waves,†said Andrew Landis, Osprey Radio station manager. “It will broaden our listener base.â€
Landis says that after months of negotiations between Osprey Radio and WJCT 89.9 FM, the disc jockeys are excited to share the genres of music from their favoriteindie artists. “It’s a great merging of UNF and WJCT and the start of a really cool tradition,†said Gowdy.
For more information on the shows’ schedule, go to WJCT’s website at http://www.wjct.org/radio/wjct_music#unf. Osprey Radio will continue to stream on its website at http://www.ospreyradio.com and on campus cable, Channel 171.
Earlier this fall, Osprey Radio was nominated as a 2011 “Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station†by the College Music Journal, a radio and broadcast industry leader. This was the first such recognition for Osprey Radio.
http://www.unf.edu/ia/pr/media_relations/press/2011/WJCT_Public_Radio_Airs_UNF_Student_Programs.aspx
It's about time. Hopefully this is just the start of the local PBS and NPR stations taking more of an interest in local culture.
Quote from: stephendare on December 02, 2011, 04:30:08 PM
Sounds like WJCT had to deal with the criticisms launched on this website concerning their lack of connectivity and involvement with the actual community that they serve.
I'm sure that's the case
^I don't know the timeline of those criticisms, but they've been toying with this for a couple of years now. They've been in more serious talks since July, after the state cut public TV and radio funding.