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New Voices on Vocalo »
Vocalo.org is introducing more voices to its airwaves – including two new hosts and shorter spots for current volunteers and interns.
To fulfill its mission of bringing the stories of the people to the airwaves, the people behind Vocalo.org realized that the ingredients to make good radio - audio production and storytelling - need to be in the hands of the people telling the stories. Vocalo offers its listeners resources to help them hone these specific skills in order to share their stories. So Vocalo offers regular free trainings in community centers that teach listeners how to start an online profile and how to use a telephone to upload audio content to that profile. Vocalo opens its studios three times a week for free audio editing and production training and welcomes volunteers and interns. (For more information, see note below and check www.vocalo.org/openstudio.)
“In addition to the behind-the-scenes training and radio production opportunities we offer free to our listeners, users and the public, we wanted to give a share of the mic to Vocaleros interested in cultivating their on-air chops,” said Adam Yoffe, Vocalo’s interim station manager. “This move is another way to fulfill the Vocalo.org mission: to make public radio more public.”
A former intern and a former volunteer – Molly Adams and Jesse Menendez – rose through the ranks who will take the host-producer helm from 1 to 4 p.m. on alternating days Mondays through Fridays.
Molly started volunteering at Vocalo.org in the fall of 2008, quickly finding herself the on-air foil and assistant producer to host-producer Brian Babylon during his midday shift. Molly came to Vocalo.org with diverse experience managing, reporting and editing public radio and was drawn to the experimental start-up because, “It’s mission rang true for me.” Then, host-producer Dr. Bibiana Adames, who took maternity leave in December 2009, decided to stay at home to raise her family. Molly knew the opening was the opportunity she was waiting for. Molly describes her shift as “upbeat and conversational” and will include a feature called Feminist Wednesdays when she and guests will show “why feminism is good and not scary.” Molly can be heard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m. (For a sample of Molly’s work, click here, here and here.)
Jesse Menendez began at Vocalo as a volunteer and then as an intern with morning host Tom Herman. He learned editing, story collection, and various other technical skills that hosts need to know. Jesse’s experience hosting Vocalo broadcasts grew from 20 minutes under Tom’s watchful eye to whole three-hour shifts unassisted. Jesse proposed a new Saturday live-hosted shift to then-Production Coordinator Adam Yoffe in September 2009 and soon after Jesse was on-air. He describes his now expanded hours as “informative while irreverent.” Jesse can be heard Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (For a sample of Jesse’s work, click here and here.)
To cultivate more on-air talent like Molly and Jesse, Vocalo.org will allocate four hours a week during its live broadcast to participants from its pool of trainees, interns and volunteers to host an hour-long program. These Collaborator Hours will begin on February 16 and will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Midday host Brian Babylon will be mentoring these Collaborators, and will be on-air Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
One of the Collaborators hosting a new hour is Siri Bulusu. She’s a 22-year-old “self-proclaimed awkward person.” Her love affair with radio began at the college radio station WPGU at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she produced commercials. After college, she attended a Chicago Public Radio event, where she introduced herself to anyone with a “Producer” name tag. While there, Siri met Vocalo.org content director Lloyd King and host-producer Brian Babylon. From there, Siri “stalked” Vocalo.org for a year – working in the production studio and jumping in on-air with Brian during his midday shift. For her upcoming Collaborator Hour, Siri would like to create discussions with listeners focused on human-interest stories related to science and technology. Talking about this opportunity to get on-air, Siri says, “I'm relieved Vocalo doesn't think I'm too creepy. It's a great feeling to know important people believe in me.” Siri’s debut will be on Thursday, February 18, at 10 a.m. (For a sample of Siri’s work, click here and here.)
Shenita Gayten is another Collaborator hosting a new hour. She’s pursuing her post-baccalaureate degree part-time at Columbia College in Communications/Radio Broadcasting. Last summer, Shenita was looking to spruce up her production skills, when a faculty member told her about Vocalo. Shenita started volunteering in the Factory (Vocalo.org’s production arm) in June. Shenita was also a blogger for now-defunct blog community, inChiCity.com, and started collecting and producing audio material related to her blog about the challenges of the dating and relationship scene as an African-American woman. She’ll continue exploring these themes on her Collaborator hour, debuting on Thursday, February 18, 11 a.m. (For a sample of Shenita's work, click here.)
Vocalo.org always welcomes feedback from its listeners and users by commenting below or by e-mailing info@vocalo.org.
Note: People interested in learning more about radio production or in volunteering their time to Vocalo.org can come to a free, one-hour Orientation on Wednesdays at 6 p.m., Fridays at 2 p.m., or Saturdays at 10 a.m. All Orientations are held at the Vocalo.org studios on Navy Pier in Chicago, 848 E. Grand Avenue. Please e-mail Bea at info@vocalo.org to reserve a spot at Orientation. After attending an Orientation, participants are welcome to the free trainings at the Open Studio: Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please e-mail Bea at info@vocalo.org to sign-up for a spot at Open Studio. Lastly, the community of interns, volunteers, trainees and staff are invited to gather on the first Wednesday of every month at the Navy Pier studios from 6 to 9 p.m.
