Broadcasting department expresses concern after MSU merges broadcast, radio

After Michigan State University merged its public broadcasting services with the College of Communication Arts and Sciences last summer, some broadcasting professors have expressed concerns about competition in the mid-Michigan area.

The merger, which happened last July, has given many competitive advantages to MSU, including the capability of paying their employees at broadcast stations WKAR-TV and Radio.

Some members of the CMU school of broadcast and cinematic arts believe they could be at a disadvantage from a recruiting standpoint, as more MSU students now have access to better facilities and opportunities.

Peter Orlik, director of the school of broadcast and cinematic arts, said the merger gives MSU three major comparative advantages: Better facilities, a large engineering staff and more opportunities to be on the air.

“What they now have with their reorganization is Michigan State students, number one, have access to far more and far better facilities to hone their craft in,” Orlik said. “At the same time, they have support from a much larger engineering staff, so when things go bad, they can be fixed much more quickly. Third, this gives their students more air opportunities on much bigger stations, so you now have student shows on WKAR-TV and WKAR FM.”

Orlik said from a recruiting standpoint, MSU also has a large advantage because of the capability to pay many of their student employees.

“By reworking their finances, they’re now in a position to pay a lot more of their students who are working in the facilities as student employees,” Orlik said. “We have no student employee budget. All of our students are strictly volunteers.”

BCA professor Rick Sykes, a member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation, said the merger has raised concerns for the department.

“The merger of their public broadcasting program with their communication school creates another dynamic in terms of how they maximize resources,” Sykes said. “Any good competitor will tell you when the environment changes, you need to look at how you can change to remain competitive in that environment.”

Sykes said despite MSU’s growing broadcasting program, the CMU BCA department still offers an experience to students that mirrors the industry and has won awards for a decade straight.

“My charge is to create a co-curricular experience for the students in our program unequaled in the state,” Sykes said. “Right now, we are in three counties and more than a dozen communities, and we have a very strong and ever-developing social media component.”

Berkley senior Robert Cameron is the former music director for WMHW 91.5 FM and is working on becoming a producer for Moore Hall TV this semester. Cameron said it’s unfortunate that broadcast student employees don’t receive pay, but the professional experience makes the work worth it.

“With the time we put in, I wish we could get paid,” Cameron said. “But it’s still fun just to get the experience and do the work and see the finished product.”

Cameron said despite funding advantages MSU may have, he and other CMU students still believe highly in the broadcast department.

“We still believe we’re the best in Michigan,” Cameron said.