KHOI-FM 89.1 is a new community radio station bringing local music and news to the Ames area. Licensed to Story City, IA, the station airs with 2,750 watts at 77 meters.
“Our greatest need is for people to help manage our web-site and social media,” Ursula Ruedenberg, KHOI project manager, told Iowa State Daily. “We also need help with data entry, reporters, feature producers and general office workers.”
KHOI’s mission is “to welcome all voices of our community, regardless of their perspectives, to freely discuss issues, nourish the spirit and entertain. We will encourage community members to draw their own conclusions.”
Community radio experts have come in from all over the country to help get this station off the ground, reported Iowa State Daily.
Engineer Tom Voorhees from Seattle, Operations Manager Donna DiBianco from Santa Fe, NM and WDRT Operations Manager Todd Wallin from Viroqua, WI, all came on their own money to volunteer and ensure a smooth take-off for this station.
“The best part about community radio,” said Thomas Beell, professor of journalism and communication and volunteer for KHOI, “is that it gives members of the community a place to come together a share information, it will also provide accurate reporting of events taking place here.”
KHOI began regular broadcasting 8/17 with automated machines playing music chosen by the production team as they worked on preparing their live programming.
On Monday, “Live Talk,” hosted by Don Wirth and Ruedenberg, launched as the signature program for KHOI featuring local interviews. It will air at 7 a.m. noon, and 7 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. As their production capacity grows in the coming months, this will move to a daily show.
Another show, “Weather Outlook,” will air daily at 7:55 a.m., 12:55 and 7:55 p.m. This show is hosted by Elwyn Taylor, climatologist, meteorologist and professor of agronomy at Iowa State.
See The Iowa State Daily story here.
