DECATUR – Three Millikin University students recently represented WJMU, the campus radio station at 89.5 FM, at the 2022-23 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Conference and Awards in New York City.
WJMU Program Director Zack Harper, Sports Director Anna Peter and News Director Cole Anderson, joined School of Art and Creative Media Instructor and WJMU Station Manager Sam Meister at the conference that brings together students, faculty and staff of college and high school media outlets from across the country.
“The overall environment is really active. It’s loud and boisterous, and there is a lot of energy,” Meister said. “Many people are trying to use that conference to figure out how they want to use the media skills they have developed as students into a job.”
Four WJMU contributors were finalists for awards and Millikin alum Cole Daniels ’22 took home the IBS Golden Microphone Production Award for Best Use of Sound Effects. Daniels’ award came from a 30-second promotional spot highlighting his program “Cole’s Comic Book Collection.” Daniel was also nominated in the Best Documentary category.
“Cole was a phenomenal producer, and the work he put together in his year at WJMU included some great audio production,” Meister said. “He’s one of the best producers I’ve ever had.”
Joining Daniels as award finalists were Peter in the Best Sports Update category and Caleb Buehrle for Best Station Liner, which is a short station identifier used between songs.
Peter, a junior Communications major from Decatur, used her conference experience to attend informational sessions and build connections with experienced media veterans.
“There were a bunch of sessions all day Friday and Saturday. We went to one that members of iHeartMedia presented,” she said. “I went to a couple of sports reporting ones, which were very helpful. I’ve been able to connect with people on LinkedIn.”
Peter plans to get into sports marketing after graduation, and although she doesn’t think she will focus on radio, the experience at WJMU has helped her tremendously.
“You don’t necessarily have to want to go into radio to be involved with WJMU. It has helped me with my resume and to get more experience. WJMU is going to help you with any type of media,” she said. “It has brought us a really big opportunity in that none of us had been to New York before, and we got to take that trip because of WJMU.”
Anderson, a junior Communications major, has a passion for radio that he hopes to continue after graduation. He currently co-hosts a show with Harper called Mismatched, which discusses absurd new stories.
“I want to pursue a career in radio, but at the conference, we would hear from people that there isn’t much money in radio. But if I end up in radio, it isn’t because I want a bunch of money,” Anderson said. “It is going to be because I want to do something I’ll enjoy and make a living off it.”
As Program Director, Harper, a senior Communications and Philosophy double major, sees the vital role WJMU has in Decatur as a connection between the community and the University.
“I love college radio. The great thing about it is that it is a good break from the amount of advertising and the top 40 music you hear on other radio stations,” he said. “Another great thing about it is the amount of freedom that you have to try out things on air stylistically with music or what your show is going to be about. You aren’t burdened with the things that limit you on commercial radio. You get more of an opportunity to try new and interesting things.”