You know about the allegations made about WPRK General Manager Ron Shearer by WPRK employees on a public facing Facebook page and in an email to the entirety of the Rollins College faculty.
We sent questions about these changes to Shearer this week. He responded today.
Here are his answers to our questions in full, unedited.
1. Are there any drastic changes coming to WPRK? What are they?
There are no drastic changes coming to WPRK. There are some changes in the works, and one of them is we are planning to install remote control of the transmitter and the automation system, so if a DJ or talk show host is late or can’t do his/her shift, they won’t have to scramble to try and find a substitute. If a DJ has an emergency and can’t make it to the station, the automation system can keep the station on-the-air so there is no dead air. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires someone at the station at all times to take the transmitter readings to make sure we don’t interfere with other stations on our 91.5 frequency or stations near our frequency, and if there is a national, state or local emergency, the station operator knows what do to and tell listeners. With automation and remote control, we can legally keep the station on-the-air. The FCC requires stations that don’t have someone at the station or don’t have remote control installed to shut off their transmitter and stop broadcasting and that has always been the practice at WPRK.
There are no plans to use automation and remote control to replace live station DJs and there are no plans to change the programming at WPRK.
Another small change that I am trying to implement is to encourage our student and community volunteer DJs to bring more live musicians into the studio to perform. I think WPRK is a unique station for Orlando in that it brings in live musicians, especially local musicians, to perform. I am also encouraging our on-air staff to put more college-oriented and local public service announcements (PSAs) on the air, instead of relying so much on nationally produced PSAs.
2. When will they go into effect?
The move to install remote control will take effect as soon as we can afford it and get it installed, hopefully sometime this summer.
3. Why do you feel the need for the changes?
The need for the remote control/automation is to keep the station legally on the air 24-hours-a-day. I want to put more musicians live on-the-air, especially local musicians, because I think it makes WPRK unique and it is and a good source to hear free live local music. I think it also helps boost the local music scene. When it comes to putting more Rollins College and local non-profit PSAs on the air, I think that’s good for Orlando-area listeners and helps Rollins and non-profit organizations get their message out to area residents.
4. What are the benefits to students and the community?
The benefit of remote control/automation to the students and community volunteers will be that if they can’t find a substitute to take their shift in an emergency, automation and remote control will be available to support them. The benefit to the community is that WPRK can remain on the air 24-hours-a-day.
As I mentioned, the benefit to putting more live music, especially local musicians on the air, and local PSAs on WPRK, is that it allows us to be more involved with the local community and be more of a service to local residents.
5. Will DJs be le go?
No DJs will be let go due to use of automation and remote control.
6. Are there any negative impacts these alleged changes will have?
The only negative aspect I see is when automation is used, WPRK listeners won’t have a live student or community volunteer operating the station who is able to take requests and chat with listeners. I see no negative impact in getting more involved with the local music scene, airing live musicians, and helping non-profits.
We sent questions about these changes to Shearer this week. He responded today.
Here are his answers to our questions in full, unedited.
1. Are there any drastic changes coming to WPRK? What are they?
There are no drastic changes coming to WPRK. There are some changes in the works, and one of them is we are planning to install remote control of the transmitter and the automation system, so if a DJ or talk show host is late or can’t do his/her shift, they won’t have to scramble to try and find a substitute. If a DJ has an emergency and can’t make it to the station, the automation system can keep the station on-the-air so there is no dead air. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires someone at the station at all times to take the transmitter readings to make sure we don’t interfere with other stations on our 91.5 frequency or stations near our frequency, and if there is a national, state or local emergency, the station operator knows what do to and tell listeners. With automation and remote control, we can legally keep the station on-the-air. The FCC requires stations that don’t have someone at the station or don’t have remote control installed to shut off their transmitter and stop broadcasting and that has always been the practice at WPRK.
There are no plans to use automation and remote control to replace live station DJs and there are no plans to change the programming at WPRK.
Another small change that I am trying to implement is to encourage our student and community volunteer DJs to bring more live musicians into the studio to perform. I think WPRK is a unique station for Orlando in that it brings in live musicians, especially local musicians, to perform. I am also encouraging our on-air staff to put more college-oriented and local public service announcements (PSAs) on the air, instead of relying so much on nationally produced PSAs.
2. When will they go into effect?
The move to install remote control will take effect as soon as we can afford it and get it installed, hopefully sometime this summer.
3. Why do you feel the need for the changes?
The need for the remote control/automation is to keep the station legally on the air 24-hours-a-day. I want to put more musicians live on-the-air, especially local musicians, because I think it makes WPRK unique and it is and a good source to hear free live local music. I think it also helps boost the local music scene. When it comes to putting more Rollins College and local non-profit PSAs on the air, I think that’s good for Orlando-area listeners and helps Rollins and non-profit organizations get their message out to area residents.
4. What are the benefits to students and the community?
The benefit of remote control/automation to the students and community volunteers will be that if they can’t find a substitute to take their shift in an emergency, automation and remote control will be available to support them. The benefit to the community is that WPRK can remain on the air 24-hours-a-day.
As I mentioned, the benefit to putting more live music, especially local musicians on the air, and local PSAs on WPRK, is that it allows us to be more involved with the local community and be more of a service to local residents.
5. Will DJs be le go?
No DJs will be let go due to use of automation and remote control.
6. Are there any negative impacts these alleged changes will have?
The only negative aspect I see is when automation is used, WPRK listeners won’t have a live student or community volunteer operating the station who is able to take requests and chat with listeners. I see no negative impact in getting more involved with the local music scene, airing live musicians, and helping non-profits.