Radio Workshop 3 Credits CNA 220/320/420
Fall 2003 Wayne State College
MWF 12:00-12:50p HU408

Instructor/Advisor: Bryan Gahagan
Office Hours: MW 3-4pm/TTH 2-4pm

Phone Number: 375-7421 E-Mail: brgahag1@wsc.edu

Web Site: http://k92underground.n3.net

Purpose and Background:
Radio Workshop offers students the real world experience of working at a operational radio station without the potential hazards and complications of ratings, firings or selling advertising to stay afloat. KWSC-FM also serves as an organizational and management laboratory for broadcasting students. Students work as a team to manage and operate a 250-watt radio station, KWSC-FM. This includes making day-to-day and long-term decisions on programming, promotions, productions and staffing of the station. The focus of workshop can be summed up in two words, student run. The class also provides students with a deeper understanding of concepts learned in such classes as radio production, broadcast management, writing for mass media, broadcast journalism and other media-related classes.

The award-winning KWSC-FM, Wayne is licensed to the Board of Trustees, Wayne State College by the Federal Communications Commission. As with all broadcast stations, KWSC-FM is obligated to operate in the public interest. Accordingly, the station focuses on catering to community concerns and interests. However, KWSC-FM or K-92, is not a commercial station in that it does not sell advertising. The station relies mostly on state funding with some funds raised by students through underwriting and other projects. Without a commercial focus, K-92 can be more adventurous with is programming and on-air presentation than it's more ratings-bound brethren.

Expectations of Students
Students are expected to carry out their responsibilities in a professional manner, as if they were in a paid position. This means treating classmates with respect and being punctual to class, board shifts and other station events. This professional expectation also extends to on-air shifts, class room behavior and as a representative of KWSC-FM at events and remotes. Failure to act professionally could result in punitive measures against the student.
Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory. An unexcused absence from class will result in a minor. Repeated unexcused absences will result in a major which is an automatic lowering of the student's final grade. Class meetings are important, since station policy and business is discussed. Other issues affecting the broadcast industry are also presented.

Shifts
Once students agree on shift times for the semester, they are expected to fill those shifts. Students should arrive to their shifts at least 15 minutes early to prepare their programming and news copy. Students who can't make their shifts are responsible for finding a substitute from class and for filling out a Shift Substitution Form. The form must be filed with the faculty advisor one day prior to the shift. A student who misses a shift and does not find a substitute faces a grade reduction of one letter grade for their final grade. Students are required to take at least the following number of board operation hours weekly dependent on their course level:
R220--8 hours
R320--4 hours not necessarily including specialty shows
R420--4 hours
If scheduling of shifts still run short after the minimum hours of each student are met, students will be encouraged to take more hours. Those students that take extra shifts will be rewarded one letter grade each five-week grading period. Tandem shifts count as one-half an hour for each hour on-air. All students are required to fulfill all responsibilities encompassing being a board operator.

Staff Work
All R220 and R320 students are required to to serve as a staff member under one of the directors or student manager. The student manager will delegate duties to the staff members and offer any assistance if necessary. Those students that go above and beyond normal staff work will be rewarded with possible grade advance or other perks decided by the student manager and faculty advisor. Excelling in staff work also increases a student's chance of becoming a manager in following semesters. Staffs should be viewed by students as the training ground for becoming a director.

Station Events
Staff visibility on campus is an important facet of station promotions. KWSC-FM sponsors various special events and activities to ensure that visibility. All radio workshop students are required to attend such events. Failure to attend will result in a minor or major, depending on the event.

Student Activities
Once a student enters the on-air production studios of KWSC-FM, that person is expected to act like a broadcast professional. No obscene, racist, sexist or derogatory remarks of any kind over the will be tolerated. Such remarks will result in a substantial grade reduction. KWSC-FM shall maintain a PG rating in all day parts. Studios are to be kept clean and orderly. Food is not allowed in any studio, including the on-air studio, and drinks should be kept on the floor. Smoking is also not allowed. Also no visitors are allowed in any studio unless by prior arrangement. Only K-92 staff are permitted in the studios.

Management
Decisions on station operations are made by a team of student managers, lead by the general manager and program director. These positions coordinate the decision-making and daily operations of the station. The general manager also chairs the class meetings. All other managers are responsible for the decisions and activities in their areas. These managers are selected each semester by the faculty advisor, general manger and program director.

The Faculty Advisor
The faculty advisor, in addition to presenting current issues and presentation tips during class meetings, serves three general functions in regards to station operations. These functions are ensuring the station is following FCC rules and regulations, serving as a liaison between the station and college administration, and serving as arbitrator when student managers can't make a decision. The faculty advisor may rescind a student's management position or special abilities stipend if that student fails to carry out the responsibilities of his/her office.

Grading
Students are required to turn in an air-check tape approximately every five weeks. Students will receive feedback on their performance and a form detailing their grades. Since R220, R320 and R420 students generally serve different roles, they are graded differently.


R220 students are graded on the following criteria:

Following station policies, guidelines and rules
Professional behavior
On-air vocal performance
On-air technical work
Staff work
Support of station activities and events

R320 students are graded on the following criteria:

Following station policies, guidelines and rules
Professional behavior
On-air vocal performance
On-air technical work
Support of station activities and events
Staff Work

R420 students are graded on the following criteria:

Following station policies, guidelines and rules
Professional behavior
On-air vocal performance
On-air technical work
Support of station activities and events
Fulfillment of department responsibilities and goals
Management of staff
Initiative of manager in implementing new ideas
Ability to work with other managers as part of a team

The grading emphasis of each criteria differs depending on whether the student is R220, R320 or R420. For example, On-air technical work will be more important to a R220 student than a R420 one.

All students are required to produce three air checks upon the faculty advisors notice per semester. Each air check grade accounts for 100 points. A written critique by the student will also be expected for each air check. These typed critiques account for 60 points. A resume tape is also expected for the end of the semester. The resume tape is worth 100 points. There will also be two staff/manager evaluations worth 60 points a piece, one at midterm and the other at the end of the semester.

Violations
Violations are the station's method for staff accountability and rules enforcement. There are two types of violations, minors and majors.

Minors
Minor violations are given for the smaller violation of station policy. The minors can be given by the faculty advisor or student director. The minor must be signed by the faculty advisor. These violations include, but are not limited to:

Discrepancies on the station transmitter logs
Failing to accomplish staff work on time
Late arrival to board shift
Failure to follow management directives
Missing a class
Failing to take CD inventory

Minor violations can be cleared by performing a task as assigned by the faculty advisor or general manager. However, failure to clear a violation or receiving four or more violations in a single grading period will result in a grade reduction.

Majors
Major violations result from serious breach of station policies. Majors can only be given by the faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will consult with the general manager before issuing a major. The violations include, but are not limited to:

Missing a board shift without making prior arrangements
Making obscene, sexist, racist or derogatory remarks on the air
Drinking alcoholic beverages before or during an air shift
Continual tardiness to class meetings, board shifts or station events
Continual failure to follow management directives
Continual absence at meetings and shifts

Major violations automatically result in a reduction of at least one letter grade for the student's final. These violations may be able to be cleared through work on various station projects as directed by the faculty advisor. Depending on the nature of the violation, majors may not be able to be worked off.

Other Responsibilities

On-air operators must take transmitter readings every two hours.

On-air operators must log EAS tests which the station receives and sends. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action against the station by the FCC.

On-air operators must take CD inventory before their shifts to identify CD's that may be missing from the stations music library.

On-air operators must fill out music logs and sign program logs.

Operators must check out any equipment used on remotes or additional equipment for on-air.

Operators must clear all guests through the faculty advisor or general manager.

Failure to do any of these responsibilities may result in a minor or, if persistent, a major.