Piece Description

Sound has a purpose. Music, voicings, writing - precise word choice - is our creative medium, no less in 60 or 120 seconds than in 60 or 120 minutes. In reinventing the station break, we need to look to the Core Values of public radio and insist upon Sense of Place to develop a genuine local identity, a truly unique place. And take note: placement is more than mere geography, it's how things are ordered in space and time, including in listeners' head space - "where their head is at." Of particular import as we redesign WKSU's Morning Edition station break is the core value of "Love of lifelong learning". WKSU is a university licensee - our listeners love learning. We want to emphasize that bond. The core value of humor - in its broadest form, i.e., not taking everything too seriously - is crucial to employ in developing the proper mindset for hosting. (Warmth vs pedantry.) And a unique, human, and conversational voice is what helps establish the real friendships that are created magically across the ether on public radio. Local core values need to be applied as well. Two are of special interest to WKSU. Listeners are critical of commercial radio and television news because it's shallow, it's crude and classless. And, listeners want news that gives them knowledge.