SC State Radio Rebounding from Pandemic

The small staff at the radio stations of SC State operating out of Nance Hall became even smaller since the COVID-19 breakout more than two years ago. Carl A'see lost pretty much all of his volunteer and part-time on-air people (one of whom died). A student-run online station also went dormat. 

But things are looking up. A'see has recently added two ESPN stations to his rebranded Statement Media organization. 

Meeting with students in Patrick Harwood's Radio Production on March 29 A'see said he is giving interviews for new announcers for his WSSB 90.3 FM jazz station. And he wants students to know his door is open for those who are highly motivated, willing to work hard and learn about the radio business. 

 A'see (wearing a red mask) has been with SC State radio since 2008. And he is an SC State alumnus. 

Read more about him here.

"You know the pandemic has been called the Great Resignation," he said, commenting about how so many people during this difficult and transformative time have left and changed jobs. "But right now I'm reloading.' 

A'see showed us the operations in the main studio for WSSB 90.3 FM. This smooth jazz station puts out 80,000 watts and be heard from Columbia to Summerville. 

Amya Carr (pictured right) has been taking her Practicum communications course with SC State radio. 

In a production studio, also on Nance Hall's third floor, Carr played some of the content she has produced such as public service announcements and air checks. 

"I think the experience here is very hands-on and realistic," Carr said. "I'm getting the real feeling of what it is like working at a radio station. I appreciate that and I appreciate having to work for the things that I want because it makes me work harder and producer great things because I'm being pushed that way." 

Computer screens like this show what is playing now, what is next and what can be played. A'see says the WSSB library has some 16,000 songs in it, each one at his fingerprints through this technology. 

Another communications student, Kaila McClam-Tamplin, has been working with A'see on producing feature stories about SC State sports. 

Leading up the Bulldog's victorious Celebration Bowl football game at the end of last year, she helped produce several video feature reports about players and coaches. 

All in all, great experience and service can be attained by SC State students through Carl A'see and SC State radio. He is hoping in the fall that his lower power station WOBS will come back with student-led programming. In the past students have produced a talk and entertainment program called "The Dog Pound." 

A'see welcomes ideas from students about this program and he can use help producing several video projects he hopes to have completed by the end of this semester.