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UW-RF Radio Station Benefits from Broadcaster Association Grant

DEC. 10, 2004--WRFW FM 88.7, the UW-River Falls campus radio station and a Wisconsin Public Radio affiliate, is the recipient of an equipment grant from the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association.

The $2,082 grant funds a four-station newsroom software system and the compatible hardware for the existing WRFW newsroom audio board. The equipment will be installed summer 2005 in order to prevent disruption of station operations.

UW-RF journalism Associate Professor Sandra Ellis, who authored the grant, is the principal administrator. Students enrolled in Ellis' broadcast journalism courses serve as the news staff for the radio station, giving them hands-on reporting, producing and anchoring experience.

Ellis says the grant gives students the opportunity to work with a professional integrated newsroom computer system with software capabilities for news gathering, copy writing, audio recording/editing as well as generating on-air scripts. The new equipment will allow students to digitally edit interviews for news and radio documentaries on the computers.

"Today’s radio stations are incorporating digital audio in their newsrooms," said Ellis. "This upgrade will make our students better prepared when they begin their careers in the news industry, and the new software system makes WRFW’s operations more closely resemble professional stations.

Without the assistance of WBA, the department could not have purchased the computer system due to budget constraints, said Ellis.

This is the fifth year of the WBA Foundation’s Educational Support Grants Program. UW-RF was the only grant recipient this year.

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Last updated: Friday, 10-Dec-2004 15:05:50 CST