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 nation’s 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 WOBC’s “ I’m 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 NPR’s “All Things Considered” WOBC realized the potential community interest in more in-depth coverage of Oberlin current events.
“‘I’m 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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