Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Radio Station Field Trip #104 - WERA-LP Radio Arlington

WERA-LP legal ID posted on equipment at Radio Arlington. Photo: J. Waits
I wrapped up my east coast tour of radio stations on February 28, 2016, with a visit to Radio Arlington. The brand new low power FM (LPFM) community radio station launched in Arlington, Virginia in December, 2015 with call letters WERA-LP. Although the station is new, it's part of Arlington Independent Media, a long-time membership-based media organization that runs a television station and offers media training.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.


Monday, June 27, 2016

Radio Station Field Trip #103 - Takoma Radio

Takoma Radio sign and equipment at founder Marika Partridge's house. Photo: J. Waits

It's always fun to see a radio station before it launches and I got to do just that in February, peeking behind the scenes as Takoma Radio prepared for its foray into low power FM (LPFM) broadcasting. I met with founder Marika Partridge at her home and then we walked over to the location of the station's future studio in Takoma Park, Maryland. The LPFM community radio station will launch in a few short weeks, on July 16, 2016. See my full tour report on Radio Survivor.



Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Radio Station Field Trip #102 - WGTB at Georgetown University

Door to WGTB office. Photo: J. Waits
During my flurry of station visits in February, I stopped by Georgetown University's student-run college radio station WGTB. Now a streaming radio station, WGTB has an interesting history, including a more radical past, when it broadcast left-leaning ideas and music to the entire Washington, D.C. community over a powerful FM signal.

Although the station mainly serves the campus community today, it's an active part of Georgetown and has a large staff hosting shows, running events, blogging, and covering campus sports.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.


Radio Station Field Trip #101 - WCUA at Catholic University of America

Door at WCUA at Catholic University of America. Photo: J. Waits

College radio has a long history at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with the first station launching in the 1920s. Today, streaming radio station WCUA operates out of the basement of the music building, sharing space with the percussion department. The dimly-lit station home houses gems from WCUA's past and also is the hub for its current operations.

See my full written report on Radio Survivor. I also discuss my visit to WCUA on the Radio Survivor Podcast, episode #50.


Radio Station Field Trip #100 - WPRB at Princeton University

Leo Blais sign at WPRB. Photo: J. Waits
It's hard to believe that I've now written up 100 radio station tours and I can't think of a more fitting station for that milestone visit than Princeton University's WPRB. My February, 2016 tour also included a stop at the station's history exhibit, which was held in honor of the 75th anniversary of student radio at Princeton.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor and don't miss our special podcast episode devoted to this visit as well.