WCGR-logo_Final-OL_Black.jpgIf you’ve ever dreamed of being on the air, running a camera or working behind the scenes in media production, WCGR—the University’s student-run radio and TV station—offers plenty of opportunities to get involved. Whether you’re looking to earn class credit, host your own radio show, or gain hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment, WCGR provides a creative space to explore broadcasting, reporting, producing and editing.

  1. It’s one of the only clubs on campus that can earn you class credit. The WCGR Practicum is broken up into two pass/fail classes: Practicum I is open to anyone who wants to get involved as a production crew member, DJ, reporter or other position in digital media production. In Practicum II, students take on more of a leadership role to train and lead their peers.
  2. You can host your own radio show. “Radio has been more popular than TV in the last couple of years, due to the explosion in popularity of podcasts,” says staff advisor Nicole Garza, who oversees the club. Many of the student shows broadcast in the evening, which is convenient when you have classes during the day.
  3. You’ll get practice using cameras and can even appear on CUC newscasts. Perfect your news-anchor voice and learn what goes into producing story packages for a visual format. WCGR recently received funding for new cameras, so you’ll have access to up-to-date equipment to learn industry standard technology.
  4. Behind-the-scenes work is a learning experience, too. “Some people don’t like being on mic or on camera, but you can be behind the scenes, you can edit—it really depends on what your interests are,” says Garza. You’ll learn how to use equipment in the control room, work with a green screen, cameras, teleprompter and more.
  5. Any student from any major can participate. You don’t have to be a communications major, and you don’t have to be enrolled in one of the WCGR Practicum courses. Pursue it as a hobby and build your skills for the future.
  6. WCGR radio streams online, but it used to broadcast over the airwaves. Listen live at icecast.cuchicago.edu. The schedule of student-hosted shows changes every semester, but music streams 24/7 when students aren’t on air. The current WCGR was built as part of the construction of the Krentz Center in the 1990s, although there were earlier campus radio stations in the 1980s (WCRF) and 1970s (WCTC) in different buildings.

Curious about getting experience in radio or TV production? Contact Nicole Garza or swing by the WCGR table at the next Involvement Fair!