Inside HBCU radio preservation at Elizabeth City State University

Inside HBCU Radio Preservation at Savannah State University

In 1975, a 10-watt radio signal began broadcasting from the campus of Savannah State College. Fifty years later, WHCJ 90.3 FM is still on the air, still rooted in the same mission it started with: educate through entertaining.

Inside HBCU radio preservation at Elizabeth City State University

This episode follows the preservation team to coastal North Carolina's Elizabeth City State University, where decades of radio history lay hidden in locked cabinets. Through the collaborative efforts of librarians, radio staff, archivists, and oral historians, we discover how WRVS-FM has served as a vital community voice since 1986 and how preservation work sparked an institutional commitment to safeguarding these irreplaceable recordings for future generations.

The Origins and Impact of HBCU Radio

This inaugural episode of "Broadcasting History: The HBCU Radio Legacy" examines how radio has functioned as both a tool for oppression and resistance, and highlights the extraordinary achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in creating broadcasting operations that not only trained students but transformed American culture.

Coming Soon: Broadcasting History: The HBCU Radio Legacy, a new podcast

Follow the HBCU Radio Preservation Project as we rediscover the magic of Black college radio. Through archival recordings, oral histories, and visits to historic campuses, we explore how HBCU radio stations serve as vital communication hubs, launching pads for Black voices, and catalysts for social change. Tune in as we bring these vital histories to life and explore their relevance to today's media landscape.