THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190166
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
When school is out for the summer, students will take a break from studying algebra, Spanish and English, but they can sign up to study radio.
Youngsters from all over Hampton Roads will have an opportunity to enroll in the WFOS Summer Broadcast Program, which begins June 20 at the WFOS studios at the Center for Science and Technology, 1617 Cedar Road.
WFOS-FM 88.7 is the radio station of the Chesapeake Public Schools. Run by adult professionals and student volunteers, the station offers a daily program of classical music, big band swing and jazz, pop oldies, specialty music programs and series, public affairs and news shows, live news broadcasts of local and national events, high school sports, news and weather.
``We play real radio here,'' said station manager and broadcast instructor Dennis McCurdy. ``We're on the air from 6 a.m. until about midnight and we offer a variety of programs and music. Students will be reading newscasts throughout the day and preparing station weather forecasts.''
The free summer radio program is open to public and private high school students 14 years old and older.
Although the program is tuition-free, a $45 fee to the Federal Communications Commission is required for students to work at a commercial radio station. The FCC license is free, however, if the student chooses to operate a transmitter at a non-commercial station such as WFOS.
McCurdy said this year's summer program will take up to 65 students.
He said the program is useful for those considering a career in broadcasting or public relations. Applicants should possess good communications skills and be able to read well for news and public service announcements.
All summer program students will be required to take initial broadcast class instruction as required by the FCC from June 20 to July 7.
Students can choose either a morning session from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or the afternoon from 1 to 3:30 p.m. They will learn about the main board of the studio, maintaining programming and engineering logs, an understanding of the music broadcast by the station and an introduction to pronunciation of foreign names and musical terms.
``Students enrolling are basically responsible for learning the requirements of the course,'' McCurdy said. ``Once they do that they will be put to work at the station.''
Once a student has taken the required classroom instruction and passed the exam, he or she will be able to work his or her own schedule and may be able to choose from a variety of radio jobs including announcing, production, archiving, engineering, inventory and computers.
``Parents must understand that students assume responsibilities that they have never had before,'' McCurdy said. ``Although the students are initially supervised by our student assistants, there will be a time during the summer when they are on their own.''
Before entering the summer broadcast program, students must:
Visit the WFOS facility before summer school begins to fill out an application.
Obtain the signature of the principal of their school on a sheet or form indicating that the individual is a student in good standing.
Take the broadcast exam on July 7 after taking the required classroom instruction.
Have at least 75 hours participation in classroom and practical experience to obtain high school credit.
Contact their school counselor before participating in the broadcast program if her or she is a student at a public or private school outside Chesapeake. MEMO: For more information, call WFOS-FM at 547-1036 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
by CNB