American Student Radio to launch website today with IU School of Journalism

American Student Radio is celebrating the launch of its website at 4 p.m. today in the Walnut Room of the Indiana Memorial Union.

“This is a chance to show what we have been working on and obsessing over,” senior A.D. Quig said.

American Student Radio has four categories of shows: Arts and Life, News, Music and Sports. Each category will have a booth set up at the launch. A sound editing station will be at the event for people to try.

IU School of Journalism Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Michael Evans said he thought of the idea in spring 2011 while listening to National Public Radio, which led him to think there should be a student NPR. Evans then brought the idea to School of Journalism Adjunct Lecturer Sarah Neal-Estes during lunch.

“Do you want to save the world?” was Evans’ selling line to Neal-Estes.

“She latched onto it in wonderful ways,” Evans said.

Neal-Estes, along with two students, traveled to the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference to share their endeavor. She said everyone at the event wanted to know how to become involved and gave the group plenty of feedback.

All the station’s categories currently have one show, and Neal-Estes said at least two shows should be under each category by the end of
the semester.

Evans said he hopes the station can collaborate with media organizations at other schools to eventually have a nationwide network. Currently, the station produces podcasts and hopes to be able to stream live next semester.

Evans said if only 4 percent of college students tune in, they will still have more than one million listeners. He said he hopes this potential audience will help the station to bring in high-profile guests. Quig said she likes the experience she has gained from being involved with the station and likes being able to interview experts and hold
her own.

“It’s the first national student-oriented online radio station in the country,” Evans said.

About 50 students are involved with the station, many of whom are dedicating much of their time, Evans said. The station hopes to eventually have a permanent spot in
Ernie Pyle Hall.

“We’ll be facilitating a national dialogue,” Evans said. “It won’t be a secret that this is an IU thing.”