The students of Alcorn State Univerity’s Mass Communications Department have joined forces with WPRL 91.7 FM (Alcorn’s radio station) to display their talents in the form of student radio shows. The radio shows present different genres of music from R&B, Rap, Gospel, Pop, etc. The shows can be heard every Tuesday through Thursday nights from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
In order to qualify for a radio show each student must first take a class entitled CO 218 Broadcast Announcing which is offered in the Fall of that academic year. During this course each student is taught the nuances of how to properly manage a radio show from how to create a program log, how to properly control vocal distribution, how to present PSAs (Public Service Announcements), how to present the News, how to prepare commercials and how to work the console (the board).
After successfully passing each section of the course with no less than a grade of ‘C’ the student will be allowed to enroll in CO 368 Radio Production Laboratory in the Spring semester of the academic year. The course offers no less than 12 live radio shows which gives each student a plethora of hands-on experience. La’Keilla Veal, a Junior Broadcast/Mass Communications major from Woodville, Mississippi, stated, “I thoroughly enjoyed both classes especially the Radio Production Lab course. It gives me an opportunity to express myself to an audience where I can make a difference.”
With the exposure given by both courses each student, once they’ve graduated, will be able to apply to any radio station in the country with a full understanding of the business of radio. Larry Sanders, an Instructor of Mass Communications at Alcorn State University, stated, “It makes me so proud to see these students take these classes and have such an amazing interest in this field. I am very confident in the next generation to carry on the mantle of Mass Communications.”
For more information about Alcorn’s Mass Communications Department contact Larry Sanders at (601) 877-6632 or lsanders@alcorn.edu or Dr. Cynthia Scurria, Chairperson of English, Mass Communications and Foreign Languages at (601) 877-6401 or cscurria@alcorn.edu.