West Haven, Conn., August 11, 2009—WNHU, the University of New Haven’s radio station, will reschedule programming beginning in September in an effort to increase student broadcasting opportunities, bolster community connections and boost listenership.
The idea behind the schedule changes, says Professor Steve Raucher, chair of the UNH Department of Communication, Film and Theatre, is to move student broadcasts to the time slots when they are most likely to be heard by their fellow classmates and other younger audiences—from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.—and move programming that typically appeals to WNHU’s large and loyal adult community audiences to the 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. time slot. “When you look at the demographics of our total audience, a programming shift makes sense,” Raucher says. “We’re scheduling shows so that they will appeal to our entire audience as the day progresses, encouraging listeners to stay tuned from one program to the next.”
The station’s restructuring will allow additional student programming opportunities, building on the University’s core mission to expand experiential learning in all majors. “WNHU will become more of a laboratory, where students can bring the theories they have learned to practice while developing innovative programming and engaging in real-world broadcasting,” Raucher explains.
Several popular programs will be recorded and broadcast in new time slots once new programming has been developed, sometime in September. “We will announce schedule changes on the air and include a complete schedule on the WNHU web site so long-time listeners won’t have to hunt for their favorite shows,” Raucher says. The program changes are a continuation of the station’s strategy to expand its community connections. In 2008, WNHU developed a web site with streaming audio, play lists and expanded station information including popular DJ bios and photos.
With more than 50 community and student DJs, WNHU offers something for almost every listener, and is renowned for its eclectic programming—including jazz, rock, hip-hop, salsa and Celtic music, as well as news that caters to international audiences. In addition, the station hosts legendary disc jockeys with an international following, from Rockin’ Richard to Miss Rusty J. WNHU can be heard at 88.7 FM and http://www.wnhu.net.
A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven is experiencing a historic and nationally recognized surge in enrollment. Founded in 1920, the University provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. UNH is a private university with an 80-acre main campus. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,200; approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 3,500 undergraduates, 70 percent of whom reside in University housing. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its five colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science and criminal justice. University College at UNH develops programs and courses to meet the emerging educational and training needs of educators, businesses and public and social agencies, focusing on academic excellence, convenience and flexibility. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.
