WSIU Radio ranked 15th in nation

The audience of WSIU has remained loyal since the public radio station appeared in 1985, but recently it has helped the station rise to the national platform. WSIU-FM 91.9 is now ranked 15th in the country among more than 300 public radio stations nationwide, based on the percentage of audience that listens to the station.

The ranking is based on the quarterly research findings of the Radio Research Consortium Inc., an independent, not-for-profit research firm. The station plays classical music and reports on local, national and international news. "This is the first time in recent history that WSIU Radio has successfully stayed in the top 30 for consecutive ratings periods," said Jeff Williams, WSIU Radio station manager.

WSIU is also rated second during the morning/afternoon drive for all radio stations, commercial and non-commercial, in the Carbondale/Marion market. This national ranking is based on the fall 2004 Arbitron ratings for the top 30 non-commercial radio stations in the United States. Williams said the ranking is based purely on number of listeners and the station has not changed its general format in more than 15 years. "This reflects the value of what we do as perceived by our listening audience," Williams said.

WSIU employs 31 SIUC students who work in volunteer and paid positions. There are five professional employees on staff, and the students receive more than 8,000 hours of professional development throughout the academic year. Williams said when the rankings were sent to the station in late February, there was a general atmosphere of excitement on hearing the results.

"It's very difficult to achieve the kind of success we're experiencing," Williams said. "It takes a long time to gain the trust of our listeners, and this means we're doing the right things."

Lisa Morrisette-Zapp, the station's FM programming assistant, said she worked as a student at WSIU from 1994 to 1997 and started work there professionally in 1997. She said the experience she gained through the environment was invaluable. "I wouldn't have the job I have now if it weren't for the fact that I was able to work here as a student, earn a living, go to school and gain the skills to work both in public and commercial radio," Zapp said.

The national rankings are contributed to the dedicated teamwork of the radio station, Zapp said. "I'm very proud of the staff and students," Zapp said. "I know that it's a team effort, and a single person could not achieve what we have as a group." Zapp also said being in a more rural part of the state, without a large staff and additional funding, and still achieving recognition was especially rewarding.

"I think it proves that even the underdogs can do as well as they can in the city," Zapp said. "I'm just really proud of the fact that we have such great recognition throughout the nation, and I think it's a real testament to the fact that we all work very hard and we all do a very good job with working together."