WSAJ-FM

Infobox Radio Station
name = WSAJ


area = Grove City, Pennsylvania
branding = 91.1 The One
slogan = Something for Everyone
airdate = 1920 (AM), 1968 (FM)
frequency = 91.1 (MHz)
format = College radio
erp = 1600 Watts
class = A
owner = Grove City College
website = http://www.wsaj.com

WSAJ (91.1 FM) is a non-commercial college radio station located in Grove City, Pennsylvania. The station is owned and operated by Grove City College and carries syndicated classical and jazz music, as well as student programming and local sports coverage. The station is managed by an employee of the college, and its day-to-day operations are overseen by a staff of student volunteers when school is in session.

History

Experiments in radio broadcasting began at Grove City College under Professor Herbert W. Harmon [http://www.familyoldphotos.com/pa/mercer/2h/herbert_w_harmon.htm] shortly before World War I. The station was issued experimental callsign 8CO in 1914, and, after a brief period off the air during the war, returned under experimental callsign 8YV in 1920. The first broadcast was made on April 26, 1920, when President Weir C. Ketler sent a message via the station to the New Castle rotary club. [WSAJ.com] [official WSAJ history book] The WSAJ callsign was issued in 1920 and the station began operating briefly on a frequency of 1310 kHz, then moving later to 1340 kHz.

An FM station at 89.5 MHz was added under the same callsign in 1968 before moving to 91.1 MHz in 1981. [http://www.jkaudio.com/article_19.htm] .

Student programming was a mainstay on WSAJ from its inception until a power increase in 1995 resulted in the FM station's coverage area being significantly enlarged. At that time, student broadcasting on the FM station ceased and was moved to a current-carrier AM station on 530 kHz, which could only be heard in the immediate vicinity of the college campus. Over the next few years, the AM broadcasting equipment deteriorated to a point at which it was no longer functional, and student programming moved to an intranet streaming format, calling itself WGCC, even though this was not a legitimately-issued callsign.

In 2004, newly-installed college president Richard G. Jewell and chairman of the board David Rathburn, himself a WSAJ alumnus, instituted policy changes which allowed student broadcasting to return to the more powerful FM station. At that time, the student programming rebranded itself as 91.1 The One and adopted a primarily indie rock format. In early 2006, the operating license for the defunct AM station was allowed to expire while the FM station remains on the air [http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2006/060206/nerw.html#pa] .

WSAJ has applied for a construction permit to increase its signal across more of western Pennsylvania. It was accepted by the FCC for filing on August 29, 2007 [http://www.recnet.com/cdbs/fmq.php?call=wsaj&city=&state=&country=US] .

Programming

In March 2007, WSAJ made significant changes to its syndicated programming lineup. For years, the station carried classical music programming during the daytime from the Beethoven Satellite Network, originating at WFMT in Chicago. A decision was made to switch to classical music offerings from Public Radio International, which also enabled the station to add news programming from the British Broadcasting Corporation. The station also added a variety of specialty classical, jazz, bluegrass, and folk music shows throughout the week. The WFMT syndicated program "Jazz with Bob Parlocha" continues to air as well.

During the school year, students from a recognized campus organization fill each evening of the week with programming under the moniker "91-1 The One", featuring a main format of independent/alternative rock. Under this format, the station reports its spin counts to the College Media Journal. Some students also air specialty shows at various timeslots during the week. The organization appoints its own executive staff that governs the student programming. The students also do regular remote broadcasts at the college's Homecoming and Parents' Weekend events.

WSAJ also airs Grove City College football and road basketball games, as well as some area high school football games.

WSAJ has future plans to add more local programming and news coverage to benefit the citizens of Grove City and the surrounding areas. Already, WSAJ has aired brief reports from Grove City Borough Council meetings.

References

External links

* [http://www.wsaj.com/ WSAJ official website]
*FMQ|WSAJ
*FML|WSAJ
*FMARB|WSAJ
* [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WSAJ&service=FM&status=L&hours=U Coverage area map]
* [http://www.fybush.com/site-021024.html A visit to the WSAJ-AM transmitter]
* [http://www.gcc.edu/ Grove City College web site]