WOBC
Makes Its Own Headlines
by Joe Kremer
Hosting
interviews with radio journalist Amy Goodman, anti-racism activist
Tim Wise and author Michael Parenti this week, WOBC 91.5 took the
first step in a revival of radio news at Oberlin.
In conjunction with the Building Alliances for Progressive Action
conference that will be held at Ohio State University this weekend,
the WOBC staff conducted phone interviews with the three prominent
social critics.
On Tuesday of this week, public affairs staff member junior Paul
Gargagliano interviewed Wise, founder of the Association for White
Anti-Racist Education (AWARE). Wise and Gargagliano discussed institutional
racism and its danger to people of all races. Wise addressed the
responsibility of people to move past the catchall of diversity
and address the problems of racism through reparations and programs
such as affirmative action.
On Thursday, Amy Goodman, the creator of the acclaimed radio news
program Democracy Now!, a show previously affiliated
with the independent network Pacifica Radio, spoke on the compliance
of commercial media corporations with the government. Goodman discussed
manufacturing of consent for the war in Afghanistan,
pointing to the need for independent media to provide the public
with unbiased information.
Also on Thursday, junior Andrew Leland, the WOBC Public Affairs
Director interviewed Parenti. Parenti, a politically active academic,
spoke on the hypocrisy of globalization and this nations response
to the recent terrorist attacks.
Recently the Public Affairs department at WOBC has begun running
a daily news brief between music programs, as well as various pre-produced
broadcast journalism pieces and interviews.
Put together each day by students and broadcast at the hours of
7 am, 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11p.m., WOBC intends to offer
an accessible source of national and local news.
Local radio is unique as a news media because it can respond
immediately to current events, junior Director of World Music
Neil Kelley said. With the level of activism on campus, WOBC hopes
to become a valuable source of information for the college and community.
Following the popularity of WOBCs Im on the Stereo,
an afternoon program focusing on the concerns of local youth, WOBC
now sees a viable audience for talk radio in a largely music based
programming schedule. After the show was featured on NPRs
All Things Considered WOBC realized the potential community
interest in more in-depth coverage of Oberlin current events.
Im on the Stereo has made WOBC listeners
more receptive to news and special interest pieces on their radio
station, junior IOTS producer Chelsea Martinez said.
Currently the station is seeking a larger staff to accommodate news
programming. Additionally, the station is opening its airwaves to
students interested in hosting discussions pertinent to the Oberlin
community and working with Review staff to increase the breadth
of news coverage at Oberlin.
To
become involved with bringing news and public affairs to the Oberlin
community on the radio, email WOBC at news.wobc@oberlin.edu.
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