Students learn radio skills

Ariel King wants to be a magazine writer, but for now, playing DJ will suffice.

King, 17, is one of 50 students in the radio broadcasting and journalism program at Highland Springs Technical Center, where she is in regular rotation as a DJ on the student radio station, WHCE (Mix 91.1 FM).

Five days a week, three hours a day, King heads from her regular studies at Henrico High School to participate in the program helmed by Bob Kaufman, a longtime radio presence in Richmond and the Tidewater area, and co-teacher Trevor Clarke, a weekend DJ at Washington's modern rock station, DC101 (WWDC 101.1 FM).

For King, music was the main allure for joining the Highland Springs program two years ago. She's learned on-air skills, as well as how to program playlists and create "show prep" -- the friendly banter about artists usually heard between songs.

"I always loved music and listened to the radio all the time," King said, adding that the DJs on Top 40 WRVQ (94.5 FM) and urban hits WCDX (92.1 FM) are the ones she listens to most and tries to emulate.

Mix 91.1 carries the tagline "Home of Variety Central," and its playlist is similar to those at the area's primary hits stations, with artists including Coldplay, T.I., Rihanna, Britney Spears and David Cook in regular rotation.

Though the station's reach isn't huge -- at 3,000 watts it hits an 8to 12-mile radius from the tower in eastern Henrico -- it's a 24-hour operation that now also streams online.

Students must maintain a C average to get their shot at being on the air, Kaufman said. Since classroom time is required, the students voice track their talk breaks in advance -- which takes about 20 minutes in the studio -- instead of being live on-air for a twoto three-hour shift.

"We would love to be live, but our primary concern is the classroom," Kaufman said. "But it's always been the philosophy of the program that to learn to swim, we throw you in the water."

The students are off for holiday break and return Monday. But just like any radio outlet, the station remains on the air with pre-programmed songs and talk breaks.

On a recent weekday before winter break, Raven Adams sat behind a microphone, computer and small mixing board in a closet-size room with white cinder-block walls. The studio is mostly unadorned, with only a framed Rolling Stone cover of Gwen Stefani, a plaque awarded to the station for a public service announcement and a clock placed in the cabinet housing the radio equipment.

Adams, a 17-year-old student at Hermitage High School, looked over a fistful of handwritten notes on loose-leaf paper -- her show prep that she said takes about 30 minutes to compile.

Like her classmate King, Adams also wants to be a writer and has the loftier goal of running her own magazine.

"I love music . . . but not a music or fashion magazine. I want it to be about teenagers like me who also write to show their feelings," Adams said.

For now, the Highland Springs program gives Adams an outlet.

"It's my way to show my personality and attitude."
Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or .