INTERNSHIP AT 90.1 WRUV FM BURLINGTON

INTERNSHIP ACTIVITIES AND REFLECTION

My experience at WRUV was magical, for lack of a better word. I was inspired every day, and surrounded by some of the most genuine, kind, and passionate people I've ever met. We were all there for one common reason - because we loved music, and we loved it so much we wanted to share it with the world.

I worked in the WRUV station in the Davis Center right after my GSWS class at the University of Vermont (here) Besides attending the station, answering phone calls, helping visitors and maintaining the space during the day, I took on a major project in collaboration with WRUV. Part of their FCC policy is to provide educational content to listeners. Station manager Rachel O'Neill and I came up with the idea of creating a podcast series to be broadcasted on-air. This way, I could not only learn how to use the station equipment, but I could also develop my experience with audio, work on interviewing skills, and give back to the community. Below is my background research:

I decided to make a podcast series highlighting the stories of LGBTQ activists and artists. The show is called "Out Talk with Alex Escaja"

" Join young filmmaker and queer youth advocate Alex Escaja on being Out, Loud, and Proud in the Vermont community. Highlighting the voices of LGBTQ artists and activists, Alex invites guest speakers into the WRUV station to reveal all the shapes and sizes of queer identity and local activism. "

Below is the script for a general podcast episode:

Unfortunately, the timeline did not go as planned, and I was only able to produce a couple of trial episodes and one official Pilot episode for the series. However, I spent a lot of time practicing and researching, which I will use as groundwork to CONTINUE this project once I become a DJ at WRUV. Listen to the episode below!

Using this feedback, I am passionate about continuing this series as a regular gig on my show once I pass DJ training during the summer (I need DJ name suggestions if anyone has any!) My experience at WRUV not only brought me a welcoming music community, experience in technical audio, but also introduced me to college life. Not only was I on the UVM campus all day long, but WRUV is a student-run organization. I connected with college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and asked them about their experience at UVM. I received words of wisdom and advice from people my age who had been in my position only a few years ago. It was a reality-check and broadened my perspective of the college student experience based on the people I met. It also made me excited to start UVM in the fall, and to return to the WRUV community and continue the connections I've established, to pursue opportunities I've discovered within the UVM community, and to start hosting my own show!