KTCU/KNTU.

[cnnradio]

I value my KNTU training. It helped me secure a job at KRLD for ten years and now CNN for 13 years.

 

[Dndsh237]

I value my KNTU training. It helped me secure a job at KRLD for ten years and now CNN for 13 years.

That means you were in the KNTU program at least 23 years ago. From what all has apparently happend with KNTU between then and now, I doubt you'd have the same experience as a student in the program today.

 

[Slambang]

Here's a question: Should college radio teach radio....or teach music?
If teaching radio is the goal, then does the music matter?

I understand that if you present a type of music the students like, they're more likely to want to be part of the radio station, however, you can't simply let them play everything they want....shouldn't they be instructed to follow fomat, and shouldn't they be taught how to get into/out of stopsets, how to read the weather, traffic, news, sports, liners etc....

rstatic, I agree those things are important, espcially hitting breaks properly. But I also believe that the station should be an extension of the whole student body, not just one aspect as KNTU has become as of late. Call me old fashion, but college radio is where many people have discovered up and coming acts over the years, if we went with your "model" of what is should be, bands and artists such as Led Zepplin, REM, Nirvana, and The Killers would've never been discovered by the masses. I would also digress that modern music as a whole (Alternative/New Wave/Dance-Electronica) would be a different place without college stations and on-air personalities playing what they enjoyed hearing.

 

[Trelvis]

I understand that if you present a type of music the students like, they're more likely to want to be part of the radio station, however, you can't simply let them play everything they want....shouldn't they be instructed to follow fomat, and shouldn't they be taught how to get into/out of stopsets, how to read the weather, traffic, news, sports, liners etc....

Everything you mentioned is taught at KTCU.

 

[Willis1000]

Call me old fashion, but college radio is where many people have discovered up and coming acts over the years

Realistically, broad musical knowledge won't get anyone a job in a world of computerized playlists being played out of servers. A good set of pipes, a thorough knowledge of the tools of the trade and the ability to connect with an audience while making money for the owner will take you a lot further than knowing the discography of every rock artist.

Where will you be when your station drops rock for country or news/talk? Your training can't focus on the music. In my career I've done Adult Contemporary, Beautiful Music, Big Band, Classic Country, Modern Country, MOR, News Talk, Oldies, Spanish/Tejano and Top 40. To stay employed you have to be able to say, ''I can do that'' regardless of the music you'll be playing.

 

[Slambang]

What you talkin bout willis? God, ive always wanted to say that!!

All kidding aside, I think both knowledge of music, as well as having decent pipes are vital to any position in radio. Be it you're on air, running the boards, picking music or cutting spots..In the day and age of server radio, it helps to have real knowledge of the product, no matter what format.

 

[TrapperJohn]

I value my KNTU training. It helped me secure a job at KRLD for ten years and now CNN for 13 years.

Is that you, Paul Chambers?

 

[cnnradio]

Guilty

 

[cowboyup]

Was this post started by Mark Taylor Lambert, faculty PD at KNTU? 1 watt or 100,000 watts it does not matter. Campus radio stations should be for the students and KNTU mgt. got the big head when it went to 100,000. KNTU is not like it was 20 years ago, the hands on training and ability to do IT ALL is no longer the case. Yet students are told MOST if not ALL will start in a small market where they will have to do it ALL. I will say students seem to be doing 100's of more things these days and many can't or won't make the commitment to do several things.

KNTU has a great student newscast but the problem is the fact that they only have 1 a day. Years ago the students were doing 5 a day. They are inconsistant with sports coverage at the high school level. They do all the football games, but years ago they did all the high school sports. Listening to some of those young guns call Krum basketball was great. I looked into this issue and DISD says KNTU as the exclusive rights to broadcast any sporting event.

I could write much more, but I think the bottom line is the station is not allowing students as many opportunities as possible because they are afraid of upseting their loyal Jazz listeners who pay the bills with the annual pledge drives. Here is an idea...At least let the students run all these shows, events, etc on an internet stream....oh wait then the fact that you are 100,000 watts looks like a stupid idea because people will wonder why did they bother if they are just going to put the students on the internet.

 

[r7commish]

I was the assistant news director at KNTU early 2000s and it was great experience. But I was also a broadcast journalism major which was in charge of staffing the 7am and 8am newscasts at the time but there was always tension between the Journalism dept and KNTU for some reason. I never got the full story. At that time we also had a 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 5:30pm late edition newscasts which they have destroyed most of those and starting running CNN after I left. 2000 was a good year b/c we secured WFAA broadcasts of their 6pm newscast which brought some good publicity to the station. As far as training me for the real world, I thought the management at KNTU did a great job (Russ Campbell, Aaron Brody, Mark Lambert), though I never went into the field...just didn't feel like moving to Brownwood, Tyler, San Angelo, Shreveport to work for $17K-$20K/year.

 

[tipadoe]

I must reply to the conversation...I was also at KNTU in the early 2000s (r7commish send me a PM) and was a RTVF Major. I agree that the training was ok. We did newscast, researched our on stories and more. I was also apart of the sports department where we did go to local high school sports games and give updates at half time. Has that ended? Also I had one of the best teachers and announcers in the world that taught me play-by-play but I think he has retired. In addition we did have hands on experience with the board and on-air. However the Head of the RTVF department always geared us towards sales because he would always say that is where the "real money" is in radio. I stayed in the field and I must admit it is hard trying to work in a big market like Dallas coming from KNTU. You have to start at the bottom. But alums for UT always get a head start due to there great RTVF dept. They focus on High School and Texas Football and play what they want.

 

[MikeShannon914]

I spent a little time at KNTU in 1987-88 (the George Dunham Class) in the old Smith Hall days. I switched majors mid-stream and didn't get in too many RTVF courses, but I thought they did a pretty decent job then. I did a morning newscast once a week, and came in a couple of times a week and rewrote stories off the AP wire and from the Dallas papers for the hour-long local newscast at 6PM. I believe we ran WFAA News audio then as well. I didn't have a lot of time to devote to the station (working FT at Western Auto to pay for school...thanks, dad) but Russ Campbell's door was always open, and he helped me out on many occasions, even when he knew I wasn't an RTVF major anymore. I was never that hip on the jazz format, as I'd listened to KNTU in the 70s as a Top 40 station...but never questioned the method to their madness. Back then, there were only 18 jazz-formatted stations in the US (and I assume they meant REAL jazz, not Smooth Jazz.) Far as the education itself, you had Russ, Sammy Sauls, Bill Mercer and many others who were/are broadcast pros who shared their vast knowledge, but didn't micromanage you behind the mic. I still look at it as a positive learning experience, but, then again, radio was a much different animal then.

I don't know on that last comment, about KNTU grads starting at the bottom. There's a LOT of NTSU/UNT grads out here in DFW radio that did start off well, and have had successful careers. Maybe some of them can add their stories to this thread (as I can't remember many names...Brian Briscoe comes to mind offhand--straight to KRLD sports anchor in the late 70s, then Dunham, of course.) Now if that's not the case THESE DAYS, I can understand that. But I'm thinking about the 70s and 80s and maybe 90s...any college education in RTVF trumped an Elkins card, and nearly anything trumped a VTI/Columbia School of Broadcasting/etc 'certificate.' And if you paired RTVF with a minor in journalism, there was even more potential.

 

[Jay Weaver]

I recently read where the Texas Tech radio station, KTXT-FM, has had to discontinue broadcasting due to lack of funds to operate the station. That is a real shame when you consider the station has been on the air since 1961.
I worked at the station in 1962 and 1963 when is was in a shack on the west edge of the campus.
Virtually all of the Gordon McLendon historical radio documents and information has been donated to Texas Tech by the McLendon Family and now they have no radio station.

 

[cowboyup]

No one from the past five years has a good word to say about KNTU. Times are different and KNTU has changed for the worst. From what I understand Russ is very much a micro-manager, and Lambert even more so. Brodie is no longer around. He finally finished his degree and landed a job with CNN in Atlanta. He said most of the time he couldn't apply for jobs (to get away from KNTU) online because the first page wanted to know the degree he had obtained and he didn't have one until about '07. He saw the place falling apart and less freedom being given to the students. Good for him though to finally break free.

 

[greencougar7]

KNTU started losing its appeal in the early 80's. The switch was made to go classical music,and jazz. In the 70's it was a pop/rocker during the day and 10p-1a Jazz. In the late 70's KNTU alum and current staff could be found on the air at KRLD, WBAP, KTXQ,KZEW,KVIL, KMGC,KAFM,KWXI,KSCS. The news department was like the big boys and the alum went on to ESPN, The weather channel, WFAATV,KDFW TV,TSN,.
Bill Mercer the dean of DFW sports broadcasting retired from KNTU/UNT. He helped found KNTU. To paraphrase his words"They don't want to teach broadcasting anymore" ":There is no on hands learning experience except for upper class students"

KNTU only a few bright spots in the 90's with Ellie Hogue<KTRK/WBAP> other than that its dismal. Sure they have pledge drives..when it used to be auctions. and some do contribute,but the imagery of a solid broadcast education is gone. Mark Lambert brought his style from KERA in the mid 80's to KNTU; Narrow in focus, limited if any personable character,and down right dull and uninteresting.
Russ Campbell is a businessman and has been a businessman and thus will lean towards that in broadcasting. Sammy Sauls ,once he got his Masters and Doctorate his ego got worse and its more about him, his way. He had limited commercial on air experience and his presentation showed that in San Antonio.

KNTU has gotten a bad influenza of corporate radio and unfortunately a great learning facility like many legendary stations has fallen into th dumpster.
KTCU is doing very well under Russell Scott and I hope he has the fortitude and support to continue.