Friday, June 28, 2013

Radio Station Field Trip 45 - KALW in San Francisco

Wall outside KALW (photo: Jennifer Waits)

Now that summer is here, it seems like the perfect opportunity to visit some nearby radio stations. I'd met General Manager Matt Martin of KALW two years ago at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters conference and ever since that time, I'd be meaning to stop by the San Francisco-based public radio station. After running into Martin again this year, I decided that I'd waited far too long to visit.

KALW entrance (photo: J. Waits)

On June 20, 2013, I took a short drive to KALW's headquarters at the Philip and Sala Burton High School in San Francisco. Licensed to the San Francisco Unified School District, KALW was actually the first non-commercial FM radio station west of the Mississippi and started broadcasting in 1941.