State Owned TV & Radio: Why?

[cawasinnj]

The question is: Should a university be teaching "the basics of radio" in the first place?

Of course they should. Where else can you learn it? What do you expect people to do, go up to a radio station and say "Hey I'd like to work for you, but you'll have to teach me everything and pay me to do it." Please....

College is a unique and very expensive opportunity. Should students be wasting that opportunity playing radio.
A student radio station is one thing as an extra-curricular activity. Carrier current or LPFM is one thing, but scarce FM bandwidth - especially in the crowded Northeast corridor - should not be wasted on a student toy.

I agree. Only those schools who are *serious* about teaching radio should have serious facilities.

And college's offering majors in broadcasting should be charged with fraud.

On what grounds? If they're teaching what the kids are paying them to teach, where's the problem? Everybody has to learn somewhere. Not everyone does it the same way, but college is one viable option.

Notice that the people who run the industry were not broadcasting majors.

No, they were business majors. The industry is run by business people. That's a bad thing for radio but a topic for a different day.

Hint: generally the DJ's don't run the stations themselves.

Broadcasting courses are an opportunity for slackers to enjoy the benefits of campus life without serious study.

Apparently you haven't taken a broadcasting course at a real school. I have, and just one course could be like taking on a 20 hr/week part time job and having to pay for the privilege.

And at the end, there is little opportunity for gainful employment.

Odd then how many graduates of my alma mater have gone on to be some of the most well respected people in media.