M&M meets WUOG

By Olivia Baker
M&M TIPster

The Media & Message students took a mini field trip Thursday to the WUOG 90.5 radio station located at the University of Georgia. The students were greeted at the door by the programming director, Laura Leidner, and the operations director, Nakeem Purkiss. Laura told the students that the station has been on the air since 1972, so now they are approaching an "over the hill" age. She said that the station played all types of genres, from rock and pop to jazz and classical. Also that they have over 60 DJs and 30+ speciality radio shows.


Laura mentioned to the M&M kids about the WUOG's strong music philosophy that everyone on staff knows. "We are an alternative media outlet," she explained, "we promote artists that don't get radio play, and no one that has been charted will be played." Laura also went on to say that the station is a "training ground for students" that allows them to become more technically savvy. She told the students about how the station has no automated system, and all the members of the staff of volunteers.
The Media and Message students then went on to have our tour of the station. They were shown the staff's offices, the pile of reject Cd's, the production room where the shows are edited, the news room where the news and talk shows were held, and the wall where artists that come in and play have signed. Last but certainly not least, the kids were able to see the DJ booth, where they met DJ Max who in on his second semester of DJing. When asked what his favorite part of being a DJ was, he responded, "All the music I'm surrounded by is great." It was explained to the students how everything is free will of the DJ and they have an open selection from the box. Also that there are specialty shows and regular shows. On the way out the kids were able to pick out a CD from the "reject" box and a souvenir of either sunglasses, a yo-yo, a beach ball, etc.
 
Olivia Baker, 15, is a sophomore at University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee.