Old Westbury Web Radio, the campus radio station of SUNY Old Westbury, joined with more than 700 college radio stations from around the country and world to mark the 14th World College Radio Day on October 4, 2024.
“World College Radio Day celebrates the power of this medium to share ideas and information within a community – whether that means on campus, in the neighborhood or around the world,” said Joseph Manfredi, OWWR station manager and an instructor in the campus’ Media and Communications program.
Students and community members offered programming and conversation throughout the day on the station’s live, online broadcast. The day’s music and talk programming centered on this year’s World College Radio Day theme, “The Soundtrack of Democracy.”
“Radio brings people together, knowing that ours as a university radio station has helped bring more people into the fray, gives me great honor,” said Patrec-Alexander Jones-Brown, a senior Media and Communications major and OWWR program director. “Knowing that this year's theme is ‘The Soundtrack of Democracy’ made this day even more important because of the basis of freedoms from which our founding fathers created this nation. Radio serves as a bridge for all to experience those freedoms.”
OWWR, which has participated in World College Radio Day since its inception in 2011, streams audio around-the-clock, seven days a week. This year OWWR included a live video feed throughout the broadcast day. The station offers a variety format featuring an array of music, news, sports, talk, and public affairs programming.
“Radio, in any form, is singular in its ability to have listeners react and interact in real time.” said Manfredi, while acknowledging the growth in both quantity and popularity of multimedia productions and podcasting. “Radio also continues to act in the interest, convenience and necessity of the public and still comes in first during any crisis. In both ways, this medium has been bringing people together since the industry dawned more than 100 years ago, enabling the importance and power of free speech all along the way.”
The College Radio Foundation organizes the annual WCRD event and raises money for student scholarships and college radio station grants. This year, Gavin DeGraw, a GRAMMY nominee and multi-platinum singer/songwriter, served as the event’s official ambassador. In a keynote interview recorded for all participating radio stations, DeGraw discussed his life story, his perspectives on democracy, and how college radio kicked off his career.
Photo Caption: SUNY Old Westbury students (from left to right) Muhamed Doucoure, Joshua Wilson and Ryszard Porcelli discuss on-air the role of radio and music in the development of their personal and political views during their participation in 2024 World College Radio Day.