Jazzing up the SIUE radio beacon
WSIE will keep jazz format along with new additions
Karina Swank
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: A&E
The fundamental goal, as the chancellor said in his report, is to better represent SIUE, and Thomas said he is pleased the radio station will be able to accomplish this through the jazz format.
"I appreciate and support the chancellor's decision because we have a listenership in the St. Louis Metro-East area based on the jazz format that we have," Thomas said. "We are also the only station in the St. Louis metropolitan area servicing the jazz group."
According to Deron Boyd, SIUE alumnus and DJ for WSIE in 1986 and '87, the jazz format is what makes WSIE unique. Boyd said when he was an on-air personality, the niche space WSIE held was playing alternative music along with jazz, but that is no longer the case.
"Obviously that type of music is being served by the commercial market these days. 'Alternative' became more mainstream. I couldn't see WSIE returning to that format. It was perfect for its time and served a niche." Boyd said he feels that jazz is "something that makes the station stand out, stand apart."
Also, as a past music major at SIUE, Boyd said that having the station coordinate with the jazz program would be "a perfect fit" to better show the community what SIUE has to offer.
"There was a time when SIUE was considered a 'community university,' but it has grown far beyond that. A tool like WSIE can reach across the area and recruit the finest talent to the program, which will resonate beyond the area," Boyd said. "Seems like a slam dunk. With SIUE going Division I in athletics, that will bring attention to the university. … So what they broadcast is an important facet of the university."
Using WSIE as a tool to reach beyond the immediate surroundings is also one of the reasons the station moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the Department of Marketing and Communications, according to Elizabeth Keserauskis, director of Marketing and Communications.
"It moved … so that we can better utilize it as a marketing tool to showcase our academic programs," Keserauskis said.
In order to accomplish this goal of showcasing academic programs, Keserauskis said they have included faculty from several departments outside of the jazz program, including the Department of Mass Communications chair, the College of Arts and Sciences dean, one of the associate athletic directors, two members from the community, and the list continues.
"We will be broadcasting many of our sports programs, primarily men and women's basketball, but maybe also soccer and even baseball and softball in the spring," Keserauskis said. "We can also do things like wellness minutes because we have such a strong focus on medical sciences on campus."
So all that jazz comes down to promoting SIUE through radio, specifically through WSIE, Thomas said.
"The idea is that the radio station will be a beacon for SIUE, that it should let the surrounding community know what is going on right here," Thomas said.
"I appreciate and support the chancellor's decision because we have a listenership in the St. Louis Metro-East area based on the jazz format that we have," Thomas said. "We are also the only station in the St. Louis metropolitan area servicing the jazz group."
According to Deron Boyd, SIUE alumnus and DJ for WSIE in 1986 and '87, the jazz format is what makes WSIE unique. Boyd said when he was an on-air personality, the niche space WSIE held was playing alternative music along with jazz, but that is no longer the case.
"Obviously that type of music is being served by the commercial market these days. 'Alternative' became more mainstream. I couldn't see WSIE returning to that format. It was perfect for its time and served a niche." Boyd said he feels that jazz is "something that makes the station stand out, stand apart."
Also, as a past music major at SIUE, Boyd said that having the station coordinate with the jazz program would be "a perfect fit" to better show the community what SIUE has to offer.
"There was a time when SIUE was considered a 'community university,' but it has grown far beyond that. A tool like WSIE can reach across the area and recruit the finest talent to the program, which will resonate beyond the area," Boyd said. "Seems like a slam dunk. With SIUE going Division I in athletics, that will bring attention to the university. … So what they broadcast is an important facet of the university."
Using WSIE as a tool to reach beyond the immediate surroundings is also one of the reasons the station moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the Department of Marketing and Communications, according to Elizabeth Keserauskis, director of Marketing and Communications.
"It moved … so that we can better utilize it as a marketing tool to showcase our academic programs," Keserauskis said.
In order to accomplish this goal of showcasing academic programs, Keserauskis said they have included faculty from several departments outside of the jazz program, including the Department of Mass Communications chair, the College of Arts and Sciences dean, one of the associate athletic directors, two members from the community, and the list continues.
"We will be broadcasting many of our sports programs, primarily men and women's basketball, but maybe also soccer and even baseball and softball in the spring," Keserauskis said. "We can also do things like wellness minutes because we have such a strong focus on medical sciences on campus."
So all that jazz comes down to promoting SIUE through radio, specifically through WSIE, Thomas said.
"The idea is that the radio station will be a beacon for SIUE, that it should let the surrounding community know what is going on right here," Thomas said.
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