Aggies On The Air
“On Air” – the red sign glows brightly in the Agriculture and Life Sciences (AGLS) Building hallway, symbolizing a new era of experiential learning for students in Texas A&M University’s growing radio program. The AGLS Building on West Campus will now house College Station’s first divergent rock radio station, Fusion FM, aired on 95.1-2.
The commercial HD station, which officially opened with a ribbon cutting on September 24, is a partnership between Bryan Broadcasting and the agricultural communications and journalism program in the department of agricultural leadership, education, and communications.
The student-ran radio station is one of the only stations of its kind in the nation and the first university-corporate radio broadcasting partnership. Though final oversight will come from Bryan Broadcasting, Texas A&M students will be the primary staffers of the station, providing hands-on experience on the inner-workings of radio.
“In radio there’s been a lack of chances for a new broadcaster to get inside the doors,” said Tucker “Frito” Young, program director and operations manager at Bryan Broadcasting. “With Fusion, students learn radio in classes through the agricultural communications and journalism program, work with talent from Bryan Broadcasting to enhance that knowledge, and immediately put those skills to use on-air. No academic institution has put together a package like that to help craft the next generation of broadcasters and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
Experiential Learning
The agricultural communications and journalism (AGCJ) program within the department of agricultural leadership, education, and communications is known for providing a multitude of high impact learning opportunities to its students. Giving students the chance to broadcast on a live radio station is just the next step in experiential learning.
The radio program, overseen by Dr. Billy McKim, assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education, and communications, offers students two different courses that are taught throughout the year. Students taking any of the radio courses will have the opportunity to work in the station.
“Students currently enrolled in Radio Broadcasting (AGCJ 366) do some production and on-air work at Fusion after the mid-term of each semester,” said McKim. “Students enrolled in Advanced Radio Broadcasting (AGCJ 466) do the majority of the on-air (deejay), production, promotions and marketing, website and social media, and music selection and scheduling work for Fusion.”
Continue reading on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences site.
This article originally appeared on the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website.
