More Than Just Talk: WCC’s Orchard Radio

How students can make an impact through broadcasting

By Savan Saiya-Cork
Contributor

There’s music in the air, or rather in the digital transmissions coming from the second floor of WCC’s Technical and Industrial Building in Room 233, the home of WCC’s award-winning radio station, Orchard Radio. 

Orchard Radio is WCC’s student-run digital radio station playing adult contemporary music. The commercial-free broadcast can be streamed through Orchard Radio’s website www.orchardradio.com 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Any student enrolled at WCC (including WTMC students) with a minimum 2.5 GPA can become a DJ or podcast host. 

Station Manager Ryan Ehlke says WCC’s Orchard Radio gives students a valuable experience.

 “We provide an opportunity for any and all students to come in and learn [about] the radio world and have a chance to host their very own radio show or podcast,” Ehlke said. 

While Orchard Radio is not directly associated with the Broadcast Media Arts major or WCC’s broadcasting classes, the radio station and the broadcasting programs complement each other. Students taking COM 150, “Introduction to Radio Production,” are required to host their own hour-long radio show, a requirement Orchard Radio helps students to fulfill. 

There are currently 10 radio shows, each hosted by a different DJ, and one podcast which is run by two WTMC students. Each student’s broadcast has its own style and subject. The current lineup of shows ranges from conventional talk shows to their newest program, “Tales From the Gripped.”

Hosted by Sarah Woolsey and Kristin McGough, “Tales From the Gripped,” is a true crime show which discusses notable murders, deaths, and disappearances that took place in Southeastern Michigan. The pair has discussed cold cases from almost 100 years ago, but they also cover more recent killings which they find personally significant.

“We could have made this podcast about literally anything,” said Woolsey. “The best part is that I can just have conversations with my best friend.”

Another way Orchard Radio helps WCC is by promoting various WCC clubs and events. Orchard Radio encourages clubs to contact the station to raise awareness for their organizations or special events.

“Orchard Radio is a commercial-free radio station, so we do not play advertising. But the ‘advertising’ that we do is just focused on Washtenaw Community College,” Ehlke said.

The training process to become a DJ is thorough but not time consuming. Training lasts from about 30 minutes to an hour depending on how familiar a student is with audio equipment. Students with prior broadcasting experience will adapt faster; however, students with no radio experience shouldn’t be intimidated at the prospect of learning how to navigate soundboards or RDS encoders. Ehlke assures the software’s ease of use saying the program makes it easy for students to learn quickly.

After a student has finished broadcasting their show, the station automatically resumes playing adult contemporary music. DJs have control over the songs during their time in the booth, but station management selects the constant flow of hit pop and rock songs from the ‘80s to the present.

According to Ehlke, prospective hosts only need one thing: “The desire to have fun and just do something great with radio. Your career path doesn’t have to be radio, but just like everyone listens to shows and thinks, ‘oh I wish they’d talk about this,’ well, we’re here to give you an avenue to talk about those things.”

Orchard Radio’s website is www.orchardradio.com. Students interested in hosting their own show or promoting their club can reach the station via email at radio@wccnet.edu, Station Manager Ryan Ehlke at rehlke@wccnet.edu, and Club Advisor Dena Blair at dblair@wccnet.edu.

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