Economy Hits Public Radio on Campus

There have been lots of stories recently about the financial struggles that many college and public radio stations are facing. Here are a few more examples of college-owned public radio stations dealing with an uncertain economy:

KCSM (College of San Mateo, California)
According to an article in the San Mateo Daily Journal, public radio station KCSM is located on a college campus (College of San Mateo) and gets some funding from the district. The jazz-oriented station is facing a financial crisis, as donations are down and money from the school is being reduced.

KOCV (Odessa College, Texas)
The future of Odessa College radio station KOCV is a bit uncertain at the moment, according to an article in Odessa American Online. Apparently the public radio station used to be student-run and programmed at some point in its history, but is now affiliated with National Public Radio. According to the article:

"OC has had to put in close to $100,000 a year to cover a shortfall in the station's expenses. KOCV has not had a full-time station manager in a long time, and its transmitter is from the Vietnam War era and losing power. The station only reaches a small portion of Midland County.

'We have made progress toward solidifying partnerships, but it's still part of talking possibilities,' Vice President For Instruction Clayton Alred said."

I wonder if they'd ever consider transitioning the station back to the students?

WHIL (Spring Hill College, Alabama)
Here's another campus-based public radio example. According to an article in the Mobile Press-Register, WHIL announced that it was doing a week-long emergency pledge drive in order to raise needed funds.