Media School students, IBHA collaborate to celebrate WFIU’s 75th anniversary
This semester, The Media School and the Indiana Broadcast History Archive are working with WFIU – a public radio station broadcasting from Indiana University Bloomington – to help celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Professor Mike Conway is teaching the History of Broadcasting course, which is an immersive, hands-on project for 14 students where they are conducting video oral history interviews with people who have worked at WFIU over the years.
Conway also serves as the director of the Indiana Broadcast History Archive where future generations of students interested in broadcasting can better understand the importance of Hoosier television and radio stations. Along with the interviews, written profiles of the WFIU individuals featured in the oral histories will be published on the IBHA website.
WFIU’s history within IU’s campus stretches two decades beyond that of the National Public Radio network, which WFIU joined upon its inception in 1970.
To prepare for the interviews, students were taught the key distinction between oral history and standard interviews. As Conway notes, connecting with individuals who were part of the industry in earlier times will also help students gain a deeper understanding of historical events.
“I interviewed Tom Roznowski,” explained Sarah Colvin, student in Conway’s class.
“His work in broadcast media include a long-running program on WFIU called ‘Hometown,’ which resulted in an Emmy-nominated public television special, and a book of stories published by Indiana University Press.”
“The most memorable story for me was when he told me a story about when he first heard Aretha Franklin on the radio. He said that when he first heard Aretha Franklin sing, it changed his life.”
Through these collaborative interviews with WFIU, students have gained firsthand insights into the transformative power of radio and television, while also honoring the enduring legacy of the organization. Students and future generations will be able to appreciate the dedication of the individuals who have helped shape IU’s media landscape, ensuring that WFIU contributions will continue to resonate beyond the classroom project.
“The rewarding part for me is watching the student’s connect with these individuals,” said Conway.
“It’s not the easiest thing. It’s a different generation, so there’s stressful times throughout the project, but when I get the emails from my students expressing their excitement of a successful interview, it is an amazing feeling.”