Published June 07, 2019

Tune Into Student Radio

Cat Richardson

Director of Content Strategy and Development

Communities & Clubs Current Students

A female DJ sits behind the microphone and types on a keyboard.

“We’re an alternative-education station,” says Rachel Gilman, the general manager of WNYU, the University’s student-run radio station. “Our purpose is to teach students about the field of radio.”

Any NYU student can apply to join, says Rachel. “They just need a can-do attitude.” Once they’re accepted, students can shadow show hosts, learn how to engineer live sets, and eventually propose and host their own segments. Plus, working at the station, which broadcasts news, interviews, and music online 24/7, opens doors. “On my show, I interview writers. I got Joyce Carol Oates to come in and talk to me, which was amazing,” says Rachel. “And I covered the Cannes Film Festival in France—twice.” Students have also covered the presidential inauguration and regularly attend the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. “The WNYU name gives you press access to a lot of events,” Rachel explains. “And you can also ask your favorite bands to come to the station and do a live set. We get to meet a lot of bands before they get really big. In the early ’90s, Nirvana even came in before they were famous.”

Student sit in the studio and record their conversation through the microphones.

Four students talk to each other in the hallway of the radio station.

Students who join WNYU graduate well prepared for careers in a range of journalistic and creative fields. “Every aspect of WNYU is highly professional, but you get to hang out with your friends while creating your own content and working on your own terms,” says Rachel. “You graduate with a portfolio, a network of contacts, and a lot of experience doing interviews.”

A collage of artistic images spells out WNYU.

LISTEN HERE! WNYU is at 89.1 on the FM dial or stream it live any time at wnyu.org.

THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS: The “New Afternoon Show,” which features indie, electronica, and experimental music. It airs 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday.

Cat Richardson

Director of Content Strategy and Development

Cat has been telling NYU stories for nearly 10 years with NYU’s University Relations and Public Affairs Office of Marketing Communications and is constantly inspired by what the people of this community make real. She’s also a proud alum of the NYU MFA program in creative writing, and runs a literary magazine in her free time. When she needs to get away from words, she does work in her neighborhood gardens and parks.