On The WYRE: Students plan new series of podcasts as YSU radio station

Telecommunications students at Youngstown State University are planning to get The WYRE, a student-run online podcasting system, up and running in one to two weeks. Originally started about two years ago as an online radio station, The WYRE, was revisited again by students interested in expanding the initial premise to include all types of information.

Increasing student involvement is one way to obtain a variety of content.

"The more people we can get associated with this, the more diverse of an audience we can ultimately reach," junior Shaun Brown said.

Brown and others want to include a range of podcast topics, including sports, religion and local music.

"We're looking at just about any idea anyone has. We will do our best to make it come to life," Brown said.

The students are hoping to get different majors involved in production. Journalism majors could lend experience to conducting interviews, while business majors could create podcasts on topics like the stock market. Political science majors could offer political podcasts.

While students would like to offer music podcasts, Bill Brophy, adviser to The WYRE, said focus on the local sports and music scene was vital to distinguishing The WYRE from other podcasts.

Brown and other students plan to make use of the new podcasting lab in Maag Library's Media Center.

The students are required to meet with the Student Government Association to reinstate their original student organization title as it was two years ago. While the students would like to obtain funding for a hosting site and a domain name, the ideal goal is to have a link to The WYRE on YSU's Web site.

Sophomore Steve Peterson said The WYRE will be a great addition to the telecommunications program.

"We need that second option," he said, adding that Homework Express is the main option for telecommunications majors.