Snippets

Many college campuses operate a campus radio station to provide both information and entertainment to the student body. Campus radios are typically completely student-based and student-run. The student DJs of these college campus radio stations have the unique opportunity to inform and entertain their fellow college student peers. But, a rather large problem has been realized in many college campus radio stations. These stations admit failure in directly attempting to tailor their content to the major interests of the college campus' students. In addition, they do not seem very concerned with the balance of their radio show scheduling.

Two prominent campus radio stations in the Washington D.C area include Georgetown University's WGTB and Catholic University's WCUA.


In an interview conducted by student blogger, Victoria Shi, Georgetown University's WGTB station's programming director, Allie Prescott, explains how WGTB does not determine radio show scheduling based on whether the show is talk or music-based nor does it determine scheduling based on what show format is the most desired in a given time slot. Rather, Prescott states, "We hope that our DJs will work for 'returning DJ status,' which is just a way of saying that the DJ has completed their requirements and deserves to definitely have a place on the schedule the following semester." Basically, WGTB's show scheduling is based on DJ quality and seniority. How effective would you say this is in campus radio scheduling?

In another interview conducted by student blogger, Victoria Shi, Catholic University's WCUA station's general manger, Ross Spohn, explains that WCUA uses a "genre of the day" system to determine their radio scheduling. "For example, Mondays would be rock music... we try to schedule around that." Would you find this to be an effective radio scheduling method?

Student blogger, Victoria Shi shares her thoughts on how college campus radio stations should determine radio show scheduling and radio show content.


It is clear that many college campus radio stations rely on their own internal methods of scheduling and show content decisions to determine the functionality of their respective radio station, especially the stations of Georgetown University and Catholic University. Tailoring shows to current student interests or scheduling according to what students want to listen to at certain times are completely absent in the likes of these two college campus radio stations.

Victoria Shi also shares her thoughts on campus radio's significance and role in student life.


As we progress forward in a new era of media, radio seems to continue to decline in its impact to society. As college campuses strive to keep this form of media alive and accessible on their campus, an effective method of scheduling and an increase in concern about student interests would be critical in determining how to increase the impact of radio on college student life.