The Operations Handbook of WVYC FM 99.7 From York College of Pa.

WVYC

Mass communications plays a major role in our culture. We are constantly surrounded by the electronic media and from them much of our information about the world is received. The control of these important informational sources rests in the hands of a few and therefore the flow of information is restricted. The economic structure of media, being overly commercial and exclusive, makes this inevitable. Generally, access to the media requires large sums of money and the program content reflects the needs of commercial interests to maintain economic status quo. A mystique surrounds the electronic media because of their inaccessibility and at the same time, their importance to our lives. This mystique can only be broken down by demonstrating that these media are tools to be used by you, the programmers and volunteer staff that professionally operate this broadcast station licensed to York College of PA.

The purpose and objective of non-profit, educational radio station is to offer the York community cultural, informative and entertaining radio programming. As the only college radio station in York County, we offer a variety of alternative music and programming that is just not available from any other radio station in our area. We also serve as a training facility for any and all interested York College students to learn the art and science of radio broadcasting.

The York College radio station was founded in the early seventies by a group of interested students who were willing to share their technical and programming expertise. We began programming on 640 AM from the lower level of the Student Union where the Student Activities office is now located. In 1975 application was made to the FCC for an educational FM license at 88.1 MHz. WVYC signed on the air at 4:00 PM on November 18, 1976 with a live remote broadcast from Wolf Gymnasium, of the inauguration of York College president Dr. Robert V. Iosue. The broadcast day was from 4:00 PM until midnight. We moved into our present facilities on the third floor of the Robert V. Iosue Student Union Building in the Fall of 1986. The official sign on was at 4 PM on November 18, exactly ten years after our first broadcast. On November 18, 1997, WVYC 88.1 relocated to 99.7 MHz on the FM dial. The station’s first broadcast at the new frequency was at 4:00 PM; exactly twenty one years after we first signed on the air.

WVYC AM operates on a carrier current frequency of 640 kHz and on channel 7 of the college cable TV system, broadcasting to the students on the campus. The AM programming is also heard on P.A. systems in the cafeteria and Student Union building.

WVYC FM operates on a frequency of 99.7 MHz and broadcasts to a large portion of York County and beyond. Both stations are programmed independently, however when the AM station is off the air the FM station is programmed over the AM facilities.

The radio station is operated as a division of the Music, Art, and Communication Department, chaired by Dr. Thomas V. Hall. The advisor and overseer is Mr. Thomas Gibson .

WVYC CODE OF CONDUCT AND STAFF RULES

The success of our abilities depends upon your ability, conduct, and enthusiasm. These guidelines are designed to ensure a pleasant environment, maintain a safe and smooth operation, and keep WVYC attractive and enjoyable for all. The following violations will result in progressive disciplinary action in relation to the severity of the infraction and could cause the dismissal from the station. You should be aware of the seriousness with which management regards the following violations:

1. All WVYC staff members are expected to abide by published college rules and regulations as well as any public laws.

2. Eating, drinking, or smoking is prohibited in the station. Please use the lobby and clean up when you are finished.

3. All announcers must maintain a professional attitude while on the air. Programming that incites disorderly conduct of any kind is prohibited. (Your freedom of expression is regulated on the public airwaves.)

4. All logs must be filled out neatly and correctly. The FM announcer is in charge of the station when management or an E Board member is not present.

5. The operator is responsible for following all FCC rules and regulations. Any profanity or other inappropriate language or meaning is prohibited (all 110 words). This includes prerecorded material.

6. All announcers who want to do a “call-in” program, contests, or giveaway any prize, must have management approval. All callers must be screened before airing, and no one is to be put on the air without consent.

7. Any disruptive behavior should be reported to WVYC management or campus security immediately.

8. No more than two guests are allowed in the station after 5:00 PM and they are the responsibility of the station member. Guests are not allowed in the library at any time and may not use any of the equipment.

9. All announcers are responsible for finding qualified replacements in case of absence. Requests for absence must be made at least 24 hours in advance and must be approved by the program director or station manager.

10. Department heads are responsible for keeping their areas reasonably neat and clean.

11. No equipment or software may be removed from the station without permission from the student manager or the chief engineer. This includes Records, Tapes, Mini Discs and Compact Disks.

12. Treat all equipment and software with care and report all malfunctions as soon as possible. Use only the equipment that you have been instructed how to use. Do not touch or allow your guests to touch any other equipment.

13. Students are responsible for the neatness of the rooms they are using. Clean up when finished and return all software.

14. Staff members may not open screens or be on the adjacent roof at any time.

15. Students shall never misrepresent WVYC and/or use WVYC’s equipment name or equipment for their own personal gain.

16. Keeping in mind that WVYC is our station, please act responsibly and exercise collegiate common sense at all times.

Comments, Criticisms, or Suggestions to improve the program are always welcome.

WVYC RADIO DIRECTOR AND SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

A. All directors must be aware of the following responsibilities.

1. Supervise your department for a minimum of five hours per week.

2. Organize you department effectively and efficiently.

3. Have a grasp of overall station objectives and goals.

4. Be aware of department functions for total station success.

5. Encourage people to join your department.

6. Help students learn about department operations.

7. Learn from others as well as teaching them.

8. Be fair and objective with student evaluations.

9. Be open to new ideas about department operations.

10. Improve your own knowledge about effective management.

11. Do not be quick to criticize and judge others.

12. Investigate all evidence, make decision, and stick to it.

13. Be ready to admit when you are wrong.

14. Bear ultimate responsibility for your department.

15. Delegate responsibilities to reduce your workload.

16. Always be aware of ways to improve the station.

17. Do not wait for supervisors to tell you what to do.

18. Be objective about your potentials and know your limits.

19. Work with other directors for the good of the station.

20. Attend all station meetings and executive board meetings.

21. Suggest a qualified replacement when unable to serve.

22. Enforce station rules and report serious violations.

23. Insure your areas are reasonably neat and clean.

24. Set a good example and always follow station rules.

25. Check your mailbox daily; do not use it as a storage bin.

26. Assist in the supervision of the station in absence of management.

27. Exhibit positive and sound interpersonal relations

28. Demonstrate patients, dedication, humility, and knowledge.

29. Show real energy and enthusiasm for the station.

30. Demonstrate an understanding of relevant FCC rules.

31. Assign a departmental assistant director.

32. Post your station work and office hours and adhere to them.

33. Schedule a portion of your office hours in the evening.

34. All work assignments should be made fairly and equitably.

35. Maintain accurate and complete records of student work.

If you satisfy these requirements you will be an effective leader at WVYC.

B. Specific duties of student managers and directors.

Station Manager

1. Assume ultimate responsibility for all station operations.

2. Coordinate all aspects of the station operation.

3. Insure that directors are supervising competently.

4. Maintain communication with directors and supervisors.

5. Provide sound, common sense leadership.

6. Maintain accurate and complete financial records.

7. Purchase needed supplies while staying within the budget.

8. Keep and accurate and complete long distance telephone log.

9. Delegate responsibility to the assistant station manager.

10. Be familiar with FCC rules and regulations.

Assistant Station Manager

1. Assist the student station manager in station operations.

2. Act as a station manager in the absence of the manager.

3. Accept delegated responsibilities graciously.

4. Supervise the underwriting and promotions departments.

5. Enforce station rules and regulations vigorously.

FM Program Director

1. Plan and arrange the programming day.

2. Plan and arrange music formats and rotations.

3. Assign announcers to air shifts.

4. Make a list of approved substitutes and post in FM.

5. Listen to announcers and offer suggestions for improvement.

6. Insure that announcers follow format and FCC regulations.

7. Deal with the violation of rules fairly and objectively.

8. Review program logs for accuracy and rule compliance.

9. Ensure program log errors are corrected by announcers.

Music Director

1. Keep in constant contact with record companies.

2. Insure the weekly reporting of the play list.

3. Keep in touch with local bands and record stores.

4. Interview artists performing at your college.

5. Review CDs for rotation.

6. Secure promotion merchandise for giveaways.

7. Relay feedback from announcers to record labels.

AM Director

1. Work with training department to teach new students current FCC rules and regulations and studio operation.

2. Arrange programming schedule in coordination with student schedules.

3. Work with production director to make liners, sweeper, and station identification messages.

4. Work with Traffic and Continuity director to create an AM log.

5. Post a list of AM approved substitute DJs and their contact information.

6. Organize AM rotation.

7. Listen to DJs and help them develop skills that could improve the overall performance of their shows.

8. Create and distribute a working programming schedule of the shows.

9. Keep the AM booth organized, clean, and its bulletin board updated.

10. Be aware of student talent for future placement in FM programming.

Training Director

1. Total understanding of the operation of all the equipment in the AM and FM booth.

2. Work with AM and FM directors to ensure that new students are familiar with all studio equipment and FCC rules and regulations.

3. Teach announcers how to monitor and adjust levels for all studio equipment, understand the function of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), follow rotation, and broadcast professional sounding programming.

4. Monitor announcers, and retrain any announcers who are not achieving the standards set forth by the current Management and E Board.

News Director

1. Organize and maintain a working news staff.

2. Teach basic functions of a professional newsroom to staff, including police rounds, reporting, AP editing, creating a newscast, and announcing.

3. Assign duties to students that incorporate the aforementioned skills.

4. Create a schedule of duties for the staff.

5. Incorporate the Sports Department into daily newscasts.

6. Maintain upkeep of all equipment necessary to news department.

7. Maintain relations with the Spartan newspaper and other campus offices in order to create campus stories for broadcasts.

8. Be aware of top news events and know how to incorporate them into a news broadcast.

9. Create new ways to incorporate professional news techniques into the college news department.

Sports Director

1. Work with the news department to broadcast daily sports news.

2. Gather and edit the day’s sports news from the AP wire.

3. Broadcast York College sporting events in a professional manner.

4. Interview York College athletes.

5. Produce a weekly sports show highlighting sports on a national level and from York College.

6. Maintain contact with the York College sports information director.

Education Director

1. Select educational programming.

2. Communicate with program suppliers.

3. Work with FM director to select times for educational broadcast.

4. Ensure that educational broadcasting follows all FCC guidelines.

Public Affairs Director

1. Produce a weekly half-hour segment.

2. Organize community service events.

3. Conduct surveys to obtain feedback regarding WVYC programming.

Copywriting Director

1. Write original promos and liners for the production department.

2. Type card station PSA’s and promos.

3. Creatively write local PSA’s.

4. Proof read all type written announcements.

Production Director

1. Produce station identification, liners, Grant Service Announcements, music beds, and sweepers.

2. Train department members in the proper use of production equipment.

3. Experiment and practice to improve efficiency and skills.

4. Produce introductions for prerecorded programs.

5. Assist other departments with production work.

6. Assist announcers with production of show promos.

Administrative Director

1. Assign students to man the desk in order to help guests and answer the phone.

2. Write thank you letters to businesses that donated money to the station.

3. Be aware of all station events in order to better answer questions from callers, visitors and other station publics.

4. Document meeting minutes.

5. Log all new compact discs into the computer database.

Library Director

1. Organize all station records and compact discs.

2. File all new Compact discs and records.

3. Dispose of outdated and useless music in order to keep the library neat and organized.

Promotions Director

1. Organize WVYC promotional events throughout the school year.

2. Establish and maintain strong contacts with public businesses for promotional merchandise.

3. Oversee current annual WVYC events like Amateur Night.

Underwriting Director

1. Sell grant service announcements to local businesses.

2. Maintain records of past and present WVYC sponsors.

3. Pursue potential new clients.

4. Uphold contractual agreements made for a specific GSA are upheld.

5. Be aware of all FCC rules and regulations when scripting GSA’s.

The list below indicates the areas of participation at WVYC-FM. Use this list to decide the areas you would like to work in or receive training in. Practicum students, remember you may not work in a department you have worked in previously for a grade.

AM Announcing