The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

WSIU receives $998,000 grant

WSIU made progress recently on a $1.6 million project to completely digitalize its station within the next few years.

The station announced Thursday that it received a $998, 000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The money will assist the station in upgrading its systems and provide clearer, more efficient programming for viewers, said WSIU Executive Director Candis Isberner.

Isberner said WSIU applied for the grant sometime in April and was one of 13 in the nation to receive the grant. She said 61 stations submitted an application.

Isberner said the grant would help WSIU replace the outdated analog system it uses, updating it with state of the art equipment.

"WSIU television succeeded in the digital transformation of our transmitter and antenna in Tamaroa and Olney," Isberner said. "But now we need to focus our attention on the digital conversion."

Isberner said the program has six goals for the money. The plans are to improve WSIU's master control area, gain program automation and digital server capability and align the station with national digital planning by PBS. They also hope to add staff and new equipment, improve messages for program writers and provide educational and safety information through their signal.

The grant will play an important part in the station's goal of offering complete digitalization for its viewers.

The progress of the station is mentioned in "Southern at 150", the University's plan to become one of the top 75 research institutions by its 150th birthday in 2019.

Duane Stuckey, University acting president, said the grant would help the station's technology be on par with its great programming.

According to a 1967 law, the goal of any PBS station is to both entertain and provide educational programming for viewers. WSIU has provided this outlet through such programming as documentaries about Charlie Burger and Fort Massac and educational shows such as Sesame Street.

WSIU, which currently services five states, needs $1.6 million to completely redo the master control facilities. In addition to the nearly $1 million grant, the station has received $70,000 from the WSIU community board annual auction and raised $92,000 through community fundraising.

The station also received financial support from the office of the dean of Mass Communications and Media Arts in the form of $200,000, as well as $250,000 from the office of the provost.

"We were able to meet the federal mandates to deliver the digital system, now we have to meet the other requirements," said Renee Dillard, who is in charge of grants and special giving for WSIU. "This is just the first piece of the puzzle."

 

 

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