Warsaw Students Get More Opportunity To Be On Radio
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Listeners of WIOE Oldies 98.3 FM will hear the voices of Warsaw Community High School students more throughout the day from now on.
Beginning this week, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, radio station owner Brian Walsh made it possible for students to broadcast on the low-powered FM station, according to teacher Dave Baumgartner. Previously, students' broadcasts aired in the evenings. Under established guidelines, students will report on the weather, school news, national news and other information.
"I can't emphasize enough how Brian has opened up his business," said Baumgartner. "It's just a tremendous opportunity for kids to get broadcast experience and be broadcast countywide. My hat is off to Brian. I am thrilled about it. (Principal) Troy Akers is thrilled about it. Our whole school community is thrilled about it."
In its first week, Baumgartner said it's going pretty smoothly. The students are still learning some of the mechanics, he said, but seem to be grasping it.
WIOE started Oct. 28, 2002. Within the first month, Walsh had students doing broadcasts. The studio in the high school was completed July 15, 2006. This year, students had the opportunity to broadcast over the summer months. Because of the level of interest, Walsh said, the student broadcasts were extended to the weekdays.
The high school students also do the Tiger home and away football games. Baumgartner and an administrator travel with the students. If no student is available, Baumgartner and the administrator do the play-by-play, but the intent is for students to do them.
Walsh said the Oldies station has always been local. Thanks to the sponsorships, they have made it possible for the students to learn broadcasting.
Of the 10 to 12 students on air, Walsh said they do a good job. They sound concise, informative and professional. They know how to work the computer.
Students on the radio are in Baumgartner's mass media class. That course is in the process of being changed to fundamentals of broadcast, which will include television.
Besides the radio broadcast, Walsh also provides WCHS with space on the WIOE television website. There's also the Tiger Net News website.
"There's lots of exciting things going on," said Baumgartner.
"The focus is the students learning here what they normally wouldn't learn until their sophomore year in college," said Walsh.
Baumgartner said the school is in talks with Vincennes University to offer dual credit for the broadcast course. The paperwork still needs completed.
"It's a huge step for us to broadcast during the day on an FM," said Baumgartner. "Not a lot of high schools are able to do that."
He said students cut underwriters' commercials, provide sports updates, community events, weather and provide interesting facts. Very shortly, said Walsh, students will start doing interviews. They will be recorded first so they can be edited.
Senior Danielle Barker said, "I love doing this because I always have a good time and I enjoy doing this."
Walsh said students doing the broadcasts are getting a springboard to learning public speaking.
"There's a lot of flexibility. Kids can be really creative with it," said Baumgartner.If a student wants to do a segment on art, they'll be able to, he said.
Students work in pairs. There are shifts of students throughout the day.
All the music for the station comes from Walsh's home where the WIOE office is, but the students can still manipulate it. They can't, however, slide in a CD to play.
"Brian is the wizard behind all of this," said Baumgartner.
