WKSU: Difference between revisions

Founded by Kent State University, the station had its origins as a radio training workshop on the university's campus that provided programming for [[commercial radio]] stations, and save for a brief hiatus due to [[World War II]], continued into WKSU's 1950 establishment as one of the first educational FM stations in the United States. An NPR affiliate since 1973, WKSU evolved from a university-operated station into a public radio and [[classical music]] outlet, with additional emphasis on [[folk music]] during the weekends. WKSU's influence extended into Cleveland, where from 1978 to 1984, it was the NPR information station of record for the entire region. After a [[Local marketing agreement|public service operating agreement]] with [[WCLV|WCPN]] owner Ideastream took effect on October 1, 2021, this distinction was again made official as both stations combined programming and personnel, with WKSU as the surviving entity.

 

 

==History==

[[File:Kent State Radio Workshop January 1940.jpg|left|thumb|Kent State Radio Workshop [[radio drama]] rehearsal, January 1940]]Radio operations within Kent State University can be traced back to October 1939 with the establishment of the Kent State Radio Workshop, a division of the university's School of Speech<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1939 |title=Radio Workshop Elects Officers |page=5 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19391103-01.2.32&srpos=1&dliv=none |access-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523024454/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19391103-01.2.32&srpos=1&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref> led by director E. Turner Stump and professor G. Harry Wright, who joined Kent State{{Efn|Prior to 1935, this institution was known as Kent State College.}} in 1930 and 1935, respectively; both had worked together previously at [[Marshall University|Marshall College]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1930 |title=Prof. E. T. Stump Will Teach English Here |page=1 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19300807-01.2.10&srpos=1&dliv=none |access-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531193727/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19300807-01.2.10&srpos=1&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1935 |title=Wright Coming To Join Stump: Men Worked Together at Marshall College |page=1 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19350117-01.2.5&dliv=none |access-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531193750/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19350117-01.2.5&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref> The Radio Workshop entered into a partnership with [[WARF|WADC]]{{Efn|WADC had already been broadcasting programs presented by Kent State's School of Speech on an sporadic basis as early as October 11, 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 17, 1935 |title=Kent Speech Class Makes Radio Debut |page=2 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19351017-01.2.25&srpos=32&dliv=none |access-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531193727/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19351017-01.2.25&srpos=32&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref>}} to air a series of 15-minute long radio dramas produced by the Workshop on Tuesday afternoons;<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 8, 1940 |title=Students Operate Workshop; Write and Produce Plays |page=1 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400108-01.2.3&dliv=none |access-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523024452/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400108-01.2.3&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref> this began on March 3, 1940, with the program ''Lunch Room Nocturne'', performed at the WADC studios in [[Tallmadge, Ohio|Tallmadge]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46234426/university-workshop-to-air-weekly-fare/|title=University Workshop To Air Weekly Fare|date=February 29, 1940|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|location=Akron, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 6, 2020|page=17|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182442/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46234426/university-workshop-to-air-weekly-fare/|url-status=live}}</ref> Studios were constructed for the Radio Workshop on the university campus that were comparable to a licensed radio station and took nearly five years for Wright to secure;<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1940 |title=Department of Speech Gets Long Awaited Radio Shop |page=1 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400524-01.2.3&srpos=21&dliv=none |access-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523024453/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400524-01.2.3&srpos=21&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref> Wright also suggested the possibility of a [[carrier current]] AM station for the campus proper.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vacariu |first=Earl |date=March 12, 1940 |title=Campus May Have Own Radio Station |page=1 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400312-01.2.10&srpos=8&dliv=none |access-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523024453/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks19400312-01.2.10&srpos=8&dliv=none |url-status=live }}</ref> The Radio Workshop also assumed production of a weekly radio program by Kent State faculty members from [[WTAM]] in Cleveland, that program was also moved to WADC.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46235906/college-students-faculty-will-air/|title=College Students, Faculty Will Air Series On WADC|date=October 12, 1941|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|location=Akron, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 6, 2020|page=9-B|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182443/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46235906/college-students-faculty-will-air/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the last programs offered on WADC was an adaptation of the play [[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|''Arsenic and Old Lace'']] by the university's theater department on December 1, 1942.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46236446/long-run-serial-fades-thin-man-may/|title=Long-Run Serial Fades; 'Thin Man' May Be Dropped|date=November 30, 1942|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|location=Akron, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 6, 2020|page=20|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182442/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46236446/long-run-serial-fades-thin-man-may/|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

=== Early educational years ===

 

=== Shift to news programming ===

 

WKSU-FM launched multiple regular news segments including weekly interviews with ''Plain Dealer'' sports writer [[Terry Pluto]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2016 |title=WKSU-FM radio in Kent a finalist for seven AP awards |url=https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2016/03/06/wksu-fm-radio-in-kent/19827184007/ |access-date=May 22, 2022 |website=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]] |location=Kent, Ohio |language=en-US |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522190716/https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2016/03/06/wksu-fm-radio-in-kent/19827184007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Cleveland Plain Dealer sports writer Terry Pluto is a commentator on NPR radio stations and his segment "The View from Pluto" |access-date=May 22, 2022 |date=March 21, 2017 |publisher=Ashland University News Center |url=https://news.ashland.edu/cleveland-plain-dealer-sports-writer-terry-pluto-commentator-npr-radio-stations-and-his-segment-view |location=Ashland, Ohio |archive-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213121642/http://news.ashland.edu/cleveland-plain-dealer-sports-writer-terry-pluto-commentator-npr-radio-stations-and-his-segment-view |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Quick Bites'' stories on food and eating<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Conner |date=March 30, 2015 |title=WKSU "Quick Bites" host Vivian Goodman in finals for James Beard Award |url=https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2015/03/30/wksu-quick-bites-host-vivian/19827182007/ |access-date=May 22, 2022 |website=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]] |location=Kent, Ohio |language=en-US |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522190716/https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2015/03/30/wksu-quick-bites-host-vivian/19827182007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Exploradio'' reports on research and innovation.<ref name="AkronB20121027p D001">{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2012 |title=Companies & Consumers |page=D1 |newspaper=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102331000/companies-consumers/ |access-date=May 22, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522190716/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102331000/companies-consumers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Amy Reynolds, dean of the university's College of Communications and Information, began hosting ''Elevations'', a five-minute interview program on Saturday mornings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palattella |first=Henry |date=January 30, 2017 |title=CCI dean elevates local radio to new heights |page=5 |work=The Kent Stater |location=Kent, Ohio |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks20170130-01.2.19&srpos=1&dliv=none&e=------201-en-20--1--txt-txIN-WKSU----2017-- |access-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521023807/https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=tks20170130-01.2.19&srpos=1&dliv=none&e=------201-en-20--1--txt-txIN-WKSU----2017-- |url-status=live }}</ref> During a Kent State University Board of Trustees meeting in late 2015, chairman [[Dennis E. Eckart|Dennis Eckert]] advocated for WKSU-FM to offer more locally based programming to national distributors like NPR to help boost the university's name awareness; WKSU-FM continued to produce ''Folk Alley'' for syndication and the station's news department frequently filed reports for NPR's news programs.{{r|AkronB20151212p B005}}

''The Portager'' reported on September 9, 2021, that Kent State University's Board of Trustees were planning to vote at their forthcoming meeting on a "[[Local marketing agreement|public service operating agreement]]" proposal ''de facto'' merging WKSU into WCPN owner [[Ideastream]]; the meeting's advance agenda was largely withheld from the public but leaked to the ''Portager'' anonymously.<ref name="Portager20210909">{{Cite web|last1=Brennan|first1=Lyndsey|last2=Andrus|first2=Emma|date=September 9, 2021|title=Kent State trustees expected to vote on WKSU 'merger' with Ideastream next week|url=https://theportager.com/kent-state-trustees-expected-to-vote-on-wksu-merger-with-ideastream-next-week/|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=The Portager|language=en-US|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910202242/https://theportager.com/kent-state-trustees-expected-to-vote-on-wksu-merger-with-ideastream-next-week/}}</ref> The details of the agreement proposal had Ideastream assuming operations of WKSU on October 1, 2021, with all WKSU employees retained by Ideastream for at least one year, while the university would still contribute to their [[Pension|retirement pensions]].<ref name="RadioInsightWKSU">{{Cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|date=September 15, 2021|title=Ideastream To Begin Operating WKSU; Swap Frequencies Of WCPN & WCLV Cleveland|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212656/kent-state-university-to-vote-on-wksu-operating-agreement-with-ideastream/|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|via=RadioBB|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916200229/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/212656/kent-state-university-to-vote-on-wksu-operating-agreement-with-ideastream/}}</ref> This proposal had origins in a $100,000 CPB grant<ref name="ABJ20210914">{{Cite web |last=Marotta |first=Eric |date=September 14, 2021 |title=WKSU-Ideastream WCPN merger: Kent State board of trustees to vote on management agreement |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/09/14/wksu-ideastream-wcpn-merger-kent-state-university-trustees-considering-management-agreement/8326363002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204135526/https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/09/14/wksu-ideastream-wcpn-merger-kent-state-university-trustees-considering-management-agreement/8326363002/ |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |website=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |location=Akron, Ohio |language=en-US}}</ref> jointly awarded to WKSU and Ideastream on September 1, 2020, to help expand public media service in Northeast Ohio and encourage collaboration between both entities.<ref name="ABJ20210909">{{Cite web |last=Marotta |first=Eric |date=September 9, 2021 |title=Are public radio stations WKSU and WCPN planning to merge? |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/09/09/public-radio-stations-wksu-and-wcpn-considering-merger-sources-say/5756322001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204142936/https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/09/09/public-radio-stations-wksu-and-wcpn-considering-merger-sources-say/5756322001/ |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |website=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |location=Akron, Ohio |language=en-US}}</ref> The grant was prompted due to a decline in electronic and print journalism jobs in the region by 60% since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 1, 2020|title=ideastream and WKSU Awarded Corporation for Public Broadcasting Grant to Explore Potential for Growth of Service in Northeast Ohio|url=https://www.kent.edu/today/news/ideastream-and-wksu-awarded-corporation-public-broadcasting-grant-explore-potential|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=www.kent.edu|publisher=[[Kent State University]]|language=en|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182608/https://www.kent.edu/today/news/ideastream-and-wksu-awarded-corporation-public-broadcasting-grant-explore-potential}}</ref>

 

 

The deal was approved by the Board of Trustees on September 15, 2021, with no money changing hands.<ref name="WKSUMergerAgreement">{{Cite web|last=Lieszkovszky|first=Ida|date=September 15, 2021|title=WKSU And Ideastream Public Media Enter Into Merger Agreement|url=https://www.ideastream.org/news/wksu-and-ideastream-public-media-enter-into-merger-agreement|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=Ideastream Public Media|publisher=[[ideastream]]|language=en|quote=Neither Ideastream Public Media or WKSU management were involved in the reporting or editing of this story, nor did they review it before publication. Ida Lieszkovszky is a freelance reporter working in Northeast Ohio. This story was reviewed by an editor outside both organizations.|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916120717/https://www.ideastream.org/news/wksu-and-ideastream-public-media-enter-into-merger-agreement}}</ref> WKSU general manager Wendy Turner hailed "the logic of this convergence (that) stares us right in the face", Diacon expressed confidence in enhanced journalism, reporting and public affairs{{r|CPD20210915a}} and WKSU news director Andrew Meyer felt the merger would help bolster manpower and resources for the station.{{r|WKSUMergerAgreement}} Under terms of the proposal, WKSU became Cleveland and Akron's lead NPR station under Ideastream management,{{r|ABJ20210914}} retained all local shows and inherited WCPN's local productions ''The Sound of Ideas'' and the [[City Club of Cleveland]]'s ''Friday Forum''.{{r|RadioInsightWKSU}} The second phase of the changeover on March 28, 2022, had WKSU drop all music programming while WCPN changed call letters to [[WCLV]] and format to classical music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Ideastream Sets Cleveland Public Radio Frequency Change Date |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/220460/ideastream-sets-cleveland-public-radio-frequency-change-date/ |access-date=February 25, 2022 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US |archive-date=February 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225133046/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/220460/ideastream-sets-cleveland-public-radio-frequency-change-date/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WCLV's prior {{Frequency|104.9|FM}} facility changed their calls to WCPN and became a WKSU repeater for [[Lorain County]] and the western portion of Greater Cleveland.{{r|RecordCourier20210915}}{{r|CPD20210915a}} WKSU applied for on-channel boosters to address reception issues in Cleveland proper, which it was eligible for on the condition that {{Frequency|90.3|FM}} drop all news-related programming.{{r|SceneWKSUSignal}} With the addition of {{frequency|104.9|FM}} to the repeater network, WKSU boasted a 22-county coverage area and potential audience of 3.6&nbsp;million people, the largest collective footprint for an FM radio station in Ohio.{{r|IdeastreamFAQ}}

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=== Translators ===