WLRA
Encyclopedia
WLRA or sometimes called WLRA Radio, or WLRA-FM, is a college radio station
broadcasting a Variety
format. Licensed to Romeoville, Illinois
, USA, the station serves the Chicago
/greater Joliet
region. The station is licensed to and owned by Lewis University
. Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university with an enrollment around 6,500 students. The station is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters
, Illinois Broadcaster's Association, and Broadcast Education Association
.
WLRA Radio's diverse programming reflects a traditional college radio format known as variety
presented in block style (2-4 hour show).
WLRA Radio, through its creative staff and leadership, has hosted many innovative radio programs over the years. These include an eclectic and Freeform
, experimental college radio programming, weekly live radio talk shows, Lewis University Flyer sporting events from around the country, remote broadcast
s, and community service events.
WLRA's current programming includes news and sports talk radio
, coverage of Lewis University
Flyer Sports, local high school football and basketball; music genre formats including: adult album alternative
, alternative rock
, hip hop
, rap, rock and roll
, blues
, jazz
, reggae
, religious, country
, seasonal Christmas music
, and Latina-American cultural immersion.
In the Fall 2008 semester, WLRA staffed 24 hour with students on air. The station also introduced a Trop Rock format called "The Island" which features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music.
WLRA has broadcast many radio remotes from as far away as Florida to cover Lewis University Flyer Baseball, Las Vegas to broadcast "The Practice Squad" sports talk show; and also the National Association of Broadcasters Convention at the Comrex booth. The radio station has also done broadcast from The House of Blues
in Chicago, LaLaPalooza, Jimmy Buffet pre-concert, Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago, and ESPN Zone
in Chicago.
WLRA, with a commitment to community service, has produced marathon broadcasts for a local children's hospital and Christmas music
programming with the United Way of Will County. In March 2011, broadcasting student Jodi Steinberg, set a WLRA broadcasting record with a 76 hour non-stop on-air marathon during "To Kill A DJ". The WLRA Marathon broadcast record holders are the following:
The money raised goes to the Family Assistance Fund of Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
"Route 53 Country" features country music (Sunday 6am-6pm)
"Un Poco de Todo" features Latina music from Brazil, indigenous, Afro-Caribbean (Sundays 8pm-9pm)
"Friday Night Lights" features local high school football games from the Joliet region (weekly - Friday 6pm-10pm)
"United Way of Will County's Christmas Memories for you and your Family" features religious and secular Christmas music (Thanksgiving until January, 24 hours a day)
players and recorders, and DAT
), ISDN digital phone system, ISDN and IP remote broadcast codec
s, Optimod AES/EBU audio processing, AES/EBU broadcast delay
, Harris Digit AES/EBU fm exciter
, and transmitters were upgraded from analog to state of the art
digital AES3 type I balanced and type II optical. The entire digital project was a joint venture with the Freberg Communications Corporation of Illinois, Harris Corporation
of Florida, Pacific Research and Engineering of California, A-Ware Corporation (Musicmaster (software)
) http://www.a-ware.com/ of Wisconsin, and Broadcast Electronics
Corporation of Illinois. WLRA also added RDS Radio Data System
to the FM transmission allowing information about the artist and song to be displayed on a radio tuned to 88.1-FM. Lewis University installed a new self standing 250 feet (76.2 m) radio tower and new digital IBOC or HD Radio
ready ERI Rototiler http://www.eriinc.com/ single bay fm antenna in 2000 adjacent to DeLaSalle Hall. WLRA increased the antenna height to 200 feet (61 m) HAAT and had to reduce the effective radiated power
to 140 watts. WLRA moved from the basement of Fitzpatick Hall dormitory basement to new studios and broadcasting center in December 2005. The new broadcasting facility was named The Andrew Center of Electronic Media
at Lewis University
. The state of the art
broadcasting studios and transmitters are located in DeLaSalle Hall on the Lewis University
Romeoville campus. In 2005 WLRA began streaming
a simulcast of the station over the Internet
and in 2008 mobile media
APPs for the Apple iPhone
and iPod Touch
. WLRA uses an AES3 Orban Opticodec audio processing/encoder for their 128kbs and 64kbs bit streams. In 2010, WLRA and Broadcast Electronics, Inc. integrated social media automation and Twitter
with the newest generation of Broadcast Electronics AudioVault (FLEX) and Message Manager (TRE) RBDS data. The automation allow listeners to be notified of favorite artist being played through tagging. WLRA was the first station to have Broadcast Electronics integrate customer supplied computers, paving the way for other stations to upgrade into new generation Audiovault FLEX.
WLCL-AM General Managers:
WERA-AM General Managers:
WLRA-FM General Managers:
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a Variety
Variety (radio)
The term variety as a radio format is loosely defined as a format that plays music across numerous genera.Freeform variety is associated with a wide range of programming including talk, sports, and music from a wide spectrum. This format is usually found on smaller, non-commercial...
format. Licensed to Romeoville, Illinois
Romeoville, Illinois
Romeoville is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,153 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the population has grown to 36,837. It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago near the newly constructed I-355 extension south from the Stevenson Expressway to I-80...
, USA, the station serves the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
/greater Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
region. The station is licensed to and owned by Lewis University
Lewis University
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
. Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university with an enrollment around 6,500 students. The station is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
, Illinois Broadcaster's Association, and Broadcast Education Association
Broadcast Education Association
The BEA is an international academic organization originating and operating mainly out of the United States. The BEA is devoted to multimedia research and teaching, and retains the historical purpose to prepare college students interested in telecommunications and electronic mass media for careers...
.
Lewis University's radio station history
WFJL-FM - WLCL-AM - WERA-AM - WLRA-FM- WFJL-FM -- (W - FJL - Frank J. Lewis) (93.1 FM Chicago) went on the air in 1947 until 1959. WFJL operated as a non-commercial station by Lewis College of Science and Technology (previous name of Lewis College, now Lewis UniversityLewis UniversityLewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
). Lewis College sold WFJL-FM in 1958. The new owner of WFJL-FM, Louis Lee, renamed the call letters to WSBC-FM from 1959 to 1963. In 1964 Lee changed the call letters to WXRTWXRTWXRT, also known as WXRT 93.1, XRT, and 93-XRT is a AAA radio station in Chicago, Illinois. For many years their slogan has been "Chicago's Finest Rock". WXRT is a primary sponsor of the Chicago nonprofit Rock For Kids.-History:...
-FM. Dan Lee, Louis Lee's son sold WXRTWXRTWXRT, also known as WXRT 93.1, XRT, and 93-XRT is a AAA radio station in Chicago, Illinois. For many years their slogan has been "Chicago's Finest Rock". WXRT is a primary sponsor of the Chicago nonprofit Rock For Kids.-History:...
in 1995, it is now owned by CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. WFJL-FM, under the leadership of Roman Catholic Auxiliary BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Most Rev.Bernard J. Sheil, D.D., of the Archdiocese of Chicago and General Manager Jerry Keefe, radio format consisted of religious, educational, news, talk, and CYO BoxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. WFJL's facilities were located at the Lincoln Tower Building, 75 East Wacker Drive, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, 600 feet (182.9 m) above the ground and had an effective radiated powerEffective radiated powerIn radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 29,000 watts.
- WLCL-AM - (W - LCL - Lewis College Lockport) AM carrier currentCarrier currentCarrier current is a method of low power AM radio transmission that uses the AC electrical system of a building to propagate a medium frequency, AM signal to a relatively small area, such as a building or a group of buildings...
radio station on Lewis College, Lockport, Illinois campus. Located in Sheil Hall dormitory basement from its inception until 1969. The station broadcast on 600kHz to Sheil, Fitzpatrick and Founders Halls. Robert Feustal and Norb Bora are credited with the inception of WLCL-AM and introducing college radio at Lewis.
- WERA-AM - picked up where WLCL left off in the Fall of 1969. It was at this time that the merger with the College of St. Francis in Joliet was announced (the combined school would be called Lewis-St. Francis of Illinois) and the campus radio station at Lewis (the "North Campus") would now serve the two dorms at the "South Campus" as well. A direct feed to the PA system in the Lewis cafeteria was also installed. The Sheil Hall basement facility was upgraded with new QRK professional turntables replacing the old Garrard consumer models AND a pair of Spotmaster tape cartridge machines to handle promos, jingles etc. A used Gates Sta-Level compressor was installed, giving the station a much more professional technical sound. A second studio was constructed for production use with the turntables and mixer module able to be easily removed for "remote" broadcast origination from anywhere on the "twin campuses." Most of the carpentry work during the upgrade was done by Dennis Stork and the studio wiring was done by Mike Berlak. One very late night, while station staffers discussed plans for the new incarnation of the station (around a table at the Pure Oil truckstop on 55), they noticed a dry cleaners' van in the parking lot with the name "New Era" on it. And THAT is the real story of where the WERA call letters originated. It was a "new era" for both the college and the campus radio station. At that time, the station also changed transmitter frequency to 590kHz. During 1971, General Manager Mike Berlak began the process of applying for an FCC FM license, which would allow over-the-air broadcasts. In anticipation of this expansion, a completely new broadcast facility was built in the former Fitz Hall Lounge area, opening in the Spring of 1972.
- WLRA-FM - (W - LRA - Lewis RAdio) went on the air in the Fall of 1972 on 88.1 in mono, 250 watts of effective radiated powerEffective radiated powerIn radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
at 90 feet (27.4 m) HAAT. WLRA is licensed as a non-commercial- educational radio station. In 1976 WLRA added stereo. Lewis University was annexed from Lockport to Romeoville, Illinois and WLRA's license reflected the change. Although Steve Partman was the first General Manager of WLRA Rado, Mike Berlak is credited with all the work getting WLRA licensed and moving its facilities to Fitzpatrick Hall - he graduated before the first broadcast on 88.1-FM in fall 1972 but came back to do the first show on the new FM station.
Programming
As with most colleges, WLRA included, the music industry and musical tastes of the station's staff and the listening audience change with the times. Colleges and Universities have a diverse student population and audience. The college's radio station has the obligation to meet these challenges. As Cardinal John Henry Newman wrote: "to live is to change... and to be perfect is to have changed often". College radio stations pride themselves by promoting underplayed and under-represented forms of music, the obscure and unique - versus the mainstream. The college radio stations achieve this with the independent music labels and the College Media Journalhttp://www.cmj.com.WLRA Radio's diverse programming reflects a traditional college radio format known as variety
Variety (radio)
The term variety as a radio format is loosely defined as a format that plays music across numerous genera.Freeform variety is associated with a wide range of programming including talk, sports, and music from a wide spectrum. This format is usually found on smaller, non-commercial...
presented in block style (2-4 hour show).
WLRA Radio, through its creative staff and leadership, has hosted many innovative radio programs over the years. These include an eclectic and Freeform
Freeform (radio format)
Freeform, or freeform radio, is a radio station programming format in which the disc jockey is given total control over what music to play, regardless of music genre or commercial interests. Freeform radio stands in contrast to most commercial radio stations, in which DJs have little or no...
, experimental college radio programming, weekly live radio talk shows, Lewis University Flyer sporting events from around the country, remote broadcast
Remote broadcast
In broadcast engineering, a remote broadcast is broadcasting done from a location away from a formal television studio and is considered an electronic field production . A remote pickup unit is usually used to transmit the audio and/or video back to the television station, where it joins the...
s, and community service events.
WLRA's current programming includes news and sports talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
, coverage of Lewis University
Lewis University
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
Flyer Sports, local high school football and basketball; music genre formats including: adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, rap, rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, religious, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, seasonal Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
, and Latina-American cultural immersion.
In the Fall 2008 semester, WLRA staffed 24 hour with students on air. The station also introduced a Trop Rock format called "The Island" which features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music.
WLRA has broadcast many radio remotes from as far away as Florida to cover Lewis University Flyer Baseball, Las Vegas to broadcast "The Practice Squad" sports talk show; and also the National Association of Broadcasters Convention at the Comrex booth. The radio station has also done broadcast from The House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Chicago, LaLaPalooza, Jimmy Buffet pre-concert, Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago, and ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
in Chicago.
WLRA, with a commitment to community service, has produced marathon broadcasts for a local children's hospital and Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
programming with the United Way of Will County. In March 2011, broadcasting student Jodi Steinberg, set a WLRA broadcasting record with a 76 hour non-stop on-air marathon during "To Kill A DJ". The WLRA Marathon broadcast record holders are the following:
- Broadcasting students Natalie Paul, T’rell Campbell, Brittany Miller, and Anthony Trotter, 48 hours, November 2011
- Broadcasting student Jodi Steinberg, 76 hours, March 2011
- Broadcasting students Courtney Everett and Josh Bowen, 72 hours, October 2010
- Broadcasting student Marc Denson, 55 hours, March 2010
- Broadcasting student Joey Preston, 48 hours, November 2009
- Broadcasting student Mark Serratore, 45 hours, March 2009
- Broadcasting student Joshua Bowen, 38 hours, November 2008
- Broadcasting student Mark Serratore, 37 hours, March 2008
- Broadcasting student Jason Brenski, 32 hours, 1993
- Business student Edward Vucinic, 30 hours, 1983
The money raised goes to the Family Assistance Fund of Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Promotion Slogans
- Radioaction 59 WERA
- You and 88 LRA
- Stereo LRA
- Eight Eighty One FM WLRA
- The Lock - Lock 88
- The Start - Digital Radio Press Start
Specialty Radio Shows
"The Island" features calypso, reggae, and Caribbean rock music (Friday Midnight - Sunday 3am)"Route 53 Country" features country music (Sunday 6am-6pm)
"Un Poco de Todo" features Latina music from Brazil, indigenous, Afro-Caribbean (Sundays 8pm-9pm)
"Friday Night Lights" features local high school football games from the Joliet region (weekly - Friday 6pm-10pm)
"United Way of Will County's Christmas Memories for you and your Family" features religious and secular Christmas music (Thanksgiving until January, 24 hours a day)
Technical achievements
Lewis University's WLRA Radio was the first college radio station in the country to become digital. Lewis University received a $350,000 digital broadcasting project grant in the 1990s from philanthropy of The Andrew Corporation, a leading worldwide communications corporation. The studios, music archives, music scheduling system, audio storage and retrieval systems (including an AES/EBU Broadcast Electronics - Audiovault serial number 001 and 002), digital audio consoles, CD players & recorders, minidiscMiniDisc
The disc is permanently housed in a cartridge with a sliding door, similar to the casing of a 3.5" floppy disk. This shutter is opened automatically by a mechanism upon insertion. The audio discs can either be recordable or premastered. Recordable MiniDiscs use a magneto-optical system to record...
players and recorders, and DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
), ISDN digital phone system, ISDN and IP remote broadcast codec
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
s, Optimod AES/EBU audio processing, AES/EBU broadcast delay
Broadcast delay
In radio and television, broadcast delay refers to the practice of intentionally delaying broadcast of live material. A short delay is often used to prevent profanity, bloopers, violence, or other undesirable material from making it to air, including more mundane problems such as technical...
, Harris Digit AES/EBU fm exciter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
, and transmitters were upgraded from analog to state of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
digital AES3 type I balanced and type II optical. The entire digital project was a joint venture with the Freberg Communications Corporation of Illinois, Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation is a Florida-based international communications equipment company that produces wireless equipment, electronic systems, and both terrestrial and spaceborne antennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors. It is also the largest private-sector employer in...
of Florida, Pacific Research and Engineering of California, A-Ware Corporation (Musicmaster (software)
Musicmaster (software)
MusicMaster for Windows is a music scheduling software produced by A-ware Software and used by radio, Internet and television stations. Their main office is located in Brookfield, Wisconsin.-History:...
) http://www.a-ware.com/ of Wisconsin, and Broadcast Electronics
Broadcast Electronics
Broadcast Electronics is a manufacturer of electronic equipment for the broadcast industry. Founded in 1959 in Silver Spring, Maryland, BE initially manufactured only endless loop cartridge "cart" machines for audio...
Corporation of Illinois. WLRA also added RDS Radio Data System
Radio Data System
Radio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
to the FM transmission allowing information about the artist and song to be displayed on a radio tuned to 88.1-FM. Lewis University installed a new self standing 250 feet (76.2 m) radio tower and new digital IBOC or HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
ready ERI Rototiler http://www.eriinc.com/ single bay fm antenna in 2000 adjacent to DeLaSalle Hall. WLRA increased the antenna height to 200 feet (61 m) HAAT and had to reduce the effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
to 140 watts. WLRA moved from the basement of Fitzpatick Hall dormitory basement to new studios and broadcasting center in December 2005. The new broadcasting facility was named The Andrew Center of Electronic Media
Andrew Center of Electronic Media
The Andrew Center of Electronic Media is an academic broadcasting facility on the Romeoville, Illinois campus of Lewis University. The educational facility is located in DeLaSalle Hall....
at Lewis University
Lewis University
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
. The state of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
broadcasting studios and transmitters are located in DeLaSalle Hall on the Lewis University
Lewis University
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
Romeoville campus. In 2005 WLRA began streaming
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
a simulcast of the station over the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and in 2008 mobile media
Mobile media
The mobility and portability of media, or as Paul Levinson calls it in his book Cellphone, “the media-in-motion business” has been a process in the works ever since the “first time someone thought to write on a tablet that could be lifted and hauled – rather than on a cave wall, a cliff face, a...
APPs for the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. WLRA uses an AES3 Orban Opticodec audio processing/encoder for their 128kbs and 64kbs bit streams. In 2010, WLRA and Broadcast Electronics, Inc. integrated social media automation and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
with the newest generation of Broadcast Electronics AudioVault (FLEX) and Message Manager (TRE) RBDS data. The automation allow listeners to be notified of favorite artist being played through tagging. WLRA was the first station to have Broadcast Electronics integrate customer supplied computers, paving the way for other stations to upgrade into new generation Audiovault FLEX.
WLRA departments
2011-2012 WLRA-FM radio station leadership:| Department | Director |
|---|---|
| Office of The General Manager of WLRA Radio | Joshua Bowen |
| Office of Programming and Operations | Marc Denson |
| Office of Music | Colin Darschewski |
| Office of News | Shelby Ray |
| Office of Sports | Brett Lyons |
| Office of Promotions and Marketing | Jodi Steinberg |
| Office of Production | Joseph Preston |
| Office of The Chief of Engineering | Mr. J. Freberg, MS Adjunct Assistant Professor of Communications |
| Director's Office of The Andrew Center of Electronic Media Media Adviser of WLRA Radio |
Mr. J. Carey, MScIS Adjunct Associate Professor of Communications and Director |
| Director's Office of Broadcast Operations Media Adviser of Lewis University Television Network |
Mr. J. W. Kilpatrick, MScIS Adjunct Associate Professor of Communications and Director |
| Director's Office of Academic Radio/Television Broadcasting |
Dr. S. O. Enyia, EdD Professor of Communications and Academic Program Director |
| Chairman's Office of College of Arts and Sciences Communications Department |
Dr. D. Anderson, EdD Professor of Communications and Department Chairman |
| Dean's Office of College of Arts and Sciences |
Dr. B. Bondavalli, PhD, JD College Dean |
| Provost's Office of Lewis University |
Dr. S. Schlacter, EdD Provost of Lewis University |
| President's Office of Lewis University |
Br. J. Gaffney, FSC President of Lewis University |
Notable alumni
- David Ochs, retired Senior Sportswriter, Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Broadcast Services, Washington DC, 1982-2006. Recipient Lewis U Alumni Achievement Award 2004. - Douglas Bobrowski , afternoon drivetimeDriveTimeDriveTime Automotive Group Inc., based in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest used car seller and automobile finance company focusing on buyers with credit problems. The company has 88 dealerships in 36 U.S. metropolitan areas, and more than 2000 employees...
radio personalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
"Doug E. Styles" for CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
station WBBM-FMWBBM-FMWBBM-FM, known on air as "B96", is a Rhythmic Contemporary outlet in Chicago, Illinois with a Rhythmic based playlist. The station is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts at 96.3 MHz with an ERP of 4.2 kW. WBBM's main competition is WKSC-FM "103.5 Kiss FM", as well as urban rivals WGCI-FM &...
Chicago, Illinois - Derrick Brown, Clear Channel Radio, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Director of Urban Programming WVAZWVAZWVAZ, known locally as "V-103", is an urban adult contemporary radio station that is licensed to Oak Park. WVAZ is owned by Clear Channel, alongside sister stations WGCI-FM and WGRB-AM. In 2005, WVAZ began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.- History :The...
WGCI WGRBWGRBWGRB, 1390 AM, is a radio station in Chicago owned by Clear Channel Communications. It airs a gospel music format targeted to Chicago's African-American religious community... - Len O'Kelly, WGVU Grand Valley State NPR Grand Rapids, Michigan Program DirectorProgram directorIn service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
and radio personalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,... - John W. Kilpatrick, 3 time Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy AwardThe Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
recipient for nationally daily syndication television program The "Oprah Winfrey Show". - Anthony Musiala, Grammy nominated A&R director, co-founder of [Minty Fresh] records
- John V. Strolia, 7 time Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy AwardThe Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
recipient for nationally daily syndication television program The "Oprah Winfrey Show". Supervising editor for Harpo ProductionsHarpo ProductionsHarpo Productions, Inc. is an incorporated US-based multimedia production company founded by Oprah Winfrey . It also includes Harpo Films & Harpo Radio, Inc....
. - Deborah Olivia Brown, Director of Station Relations for NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
WMAQ-TVWMAQ-TVWMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - John Mason, television news presenterNews presenterA news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
(News Anchor) for KSTP-TVKSTP-TVKSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
, Minneapolis - William Grant-Acquah, Jr. (aka Kwesi Awotwi), radio account executiveAccount executiveThe job role executive admin. covers various descriptions depending on the specific industry covering mainly marketing role.In IT organizations, an account executives is a senior management role, responsible for executing large contracts. Control of the Profit & Loss is one of the main...
for WGCI-FM 107.5fm Clear Channel Radio ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Renee Syzmonick, promotions manager for CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
station WBBM-FMWBBM-FMWBBM-FM, known on air as "B96", is a Rhythmic Contemporary outlet in Chicago, Illinois with a Rhythmic based playlist. The station is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts at 96.3 MHz with an ERP of 4.2 kW. WBBM's main competition is WKSC-FM "103.5 Kiss FM", as well as urban rivals WGCI-FM &...
B-96.3fm ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Angelo Lazzara, television producerTelevision producerThe primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, for nationally weekly syndication agriculture television show - "This week in Agra Business" (formerly the Tribune BroadcastingTribune BroadcastingThe Tribune Broadcasting Company is a group of radio and television stations located throughout the United States which are owned and operated by the Tribune Company, a media conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois and named for the flagship Chicago Tribune newspaper.- History :Tribune Broadcasting...
's "US Farm Report") - hosted by Orion SamuelsonOrion SamuelsonOrion "The Big O" Samuelson is an American broadcaster, most widely known for hosting U.S. Farm Report. He was inducted in to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.-Biography:...
and Max Armstrong - Jay Zawaski, executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
station WSCRWSCRWSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
The Score Sportsradio 670 AM ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Eric Wilson, television news presenterNews presenterA news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
(News Anchor) for WREX-TVWREX-TVWREX, channel 13, is the NBC television affiliate serving the Rockford, Illinois area. It is the market's only full-powered VHF station and is Rockford's second oldest television station. Its studios and transmitter are located at Auburn and Winnebago Roads, west of Rockford and north of...
, RockfordRockford, IllinoisRockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... - Tim Tierney , Good Karma Broadcasting, Janesville, WisconsinJanesville, WisconsinJanesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...
afternoon drivetimeDriveTimeDriveTime Automotive Group Inc., based in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest used car seller and automobile finance company focusing on buyers with credit problems. The company has 88 dealerships in 36 U.S. metropolitan areas, and more than 2000 employees...
radio personalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
and Program DirectorProgram directorIn service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
of WWHG - Mark Serratore, radio account executiveAccount executiveThe job role executive admin. covers various descriptions depending on the specific industry covering mainly marketing role.In IT organizations, an account executives is a senior management role, responsible for executing large contracts. Control of the Profit & Loss is one of the main...
for Bonneville InternationalBonneville InternationalBonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
Corporation radio station WDRVWDRVWDRV is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, and simulcasts on WWDV . "The Drive" programs a broad-based classic rock format called "Timeless Rock"...
-FM Chicago, Illinois http://www.WDRV.com and Lewis UniversityLewis UniversityLewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
LaSallian speaker for 2010 commencement - Chris Madsen radio personality, KNXKNX (AM)KNX is an all-news radio station in Los Angeles, California, USA. The station operates on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio. KNX broadcasts from facilities shared with sister stations KFWB, KCBS-FM, KTWV, and KAMP on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile...
, Los Angeles, California - David Collins, radio personality "DJ Cowboy", for CBS RadioCBS RadioCBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
station WVEE, Atlanta, Georgia - Mike Berlak, Clear Channel Radio, SacramentoSacramentoSacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
Program DirectorProgram directorIn service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services... - Peter Chinderle, radio personality]"Pete Michaels", for station WRXQWRXQWRXQ is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to Coal City, Illinois, USA, it serves Will Grundy County, Illinois, and Kankakee County, Illinois counties as well as Southwest Suburban Chicago. The station is currently owned by NM Licensing LLC and features programming from...
, Joliet, Illinois - P. Douglas Becker, UnivisionUnivisionUnivision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
, TelefuturaTeleFuturaTeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Ryan Arnold, radio personalityRadio personalityA radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
for Bonneville InternationalBonneville InternationalBonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
Corporation radio station WDRVWDRVWDRV is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, and simulcasts on WWDV . "The Drive" programs a broad-based classic rock format called "Timeless Rock"...
-FM Chicago, Illinois http://www.WDRV.com
Lewis University radio station managers WFJL - WLCL - WERA - WLRA
WFJL-FM General Managers:| Years | WFJL-FM General Manager |
|---|---|
| 1947-1959 | Most Rev. Bernard J. Sheil, DD Auxiliary Bishop Archdiocese of Chicago |
WLCL-AM General Managers:
| Academic Years | WLCL-AM General Manager |
|---|---|
| 1965-1967 | Robert Feustal Norb Bora '67 |
| 1968 | John McCrea '70 |
WERA-AM General Managers:
| Academic Years | WERA-AM General Manager |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Chuck Burkhart |
| 1970-1971 | Dennis Stork |
| 1972 | Mike Berlak |
WLRA-FM General Managers:
| Academic Years | WLRA-FM General Manager |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Steve Partman '74 |
| 1974 | Diane Drinka '75 |
| 1975 | Joseph D. Vercelotti |
| 1976 | Robert Best |
| 1977 | James Boles '77 |
| 1978 | John Mason '80 |
| 1979 | Kate Dolan '80 |
| 1980 | David O'Donnell '81 |
| 1981 | Russell Tulacz '82 |
| 1982 | Sandra Janicke Edward Vucinic |
| 1983 | Paul Yedwofski '84 Martin Albert '84 |
| 1984 | Sergio Cerda ' James Duda '85 |
| 1985 | Lauria Skala '87 |
| 1986 | Thomas Hehir '87 |
| 1987 | John J. Sonnefeldt II '89 |
| 1988 | Stanley Wysocki |
| 1989 | Anthony Musiala |
| 1990 | Calvert N. Coleman Eric Wilson |
| 1991 | Christopher Thelan |
| 1992 | Kathy Holland |
| 1993 | Steven L. Jordan |
| 1994 | Renee Syzomonik |
| 1995 | Adam F. Schwake |
| 1996 | Candice Foiles |
| 1997 | Eugino Garcia '99 |
| 1998 | Cindy M. Dardwin |
| 1999 | Gennin Bradley |
| 2000 | Mara Mishler |
| 2001 | Ryan Arnold |
| 2002 | Justin Greiner |
| 2003 | Patrick J. Brodnicki |
| 2004 | Peter J. Turano |
| 2005 | Carmen Madia |
| 2006 | R. Huff |
| 2007 | Justin Thomas '07 |
| 2008 | Thomas Graham '08 |
| 2009 | R. Brett Mega '10 |
| 2010 | Mark Serratore '10 |
| 2011 | Brett Lyons '12 |
| 2012 | Joshua M. Bowen '12 |
WLRA's memberships
- NAB (National Association of BroadcastersNational Association of BroadcastersThe National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
)http://www.nab.org member station - ILBA (Illinois Broadcaster's Association)http://www.ilba.org
- BEA (Broadcast Education Association)http://www.beaweb.org
External links
- Google Aerial map of Lewis University campus
- Official Lewis UniversityLewis UniversityLewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...
website http://www.lewisu.edu