Participating students pose with representatives of Wake Tech and the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.
“There is an immediate need for radio frequency engineers throughout our state. The Broadcast Technology Academy is providing a direct pipeline of talented and well-trained individuals to fill that need.”
Those are the words of Mark Mendenhall, president of the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, as reported on the website of Wake Tech Community College.
The NCAB partnered with Wake Tech to develop the 10-week academy “to prepare individuals who are technically minded, mechanically inclined or electrically inclined for careers as broadcast technicians.”
Tuition, fees and books are covered by the state association. Additional funds are available to help with living expenses and transportation.
The program provides 240 hours of instruction and bench work, eight hours per day, three days a week, for 10 weeks. The school has a lab equipped with modern Nautel solid-state AM and FM transmitters, as well as legacy CCA and Harris radio gear. TV equipment is planned.
The syllabus was written by retired engineer Jerry Brown, using the SBE Engineering Handbook as the course’s textbook; and as the program took shape, Brown also emerged as the instructor and ambassador for the academy. Guest lecturers complemented his teaching.
Students learn about AM, FM and HD radio transmission systems, including transmitters, antennas, transmission lines, remote control systems and program delivery systems.
Thirteen recently completed the program and subsequently passed the Society of Broadcast Engineers Certified Broadcast Technologist exam. They now should be able to troubleshoot and repair legacy and modern transmission systems.
I asked Jerry Brown if he had encountered any surprises during this first session.
“We found out early on that you need to do a refresher on basic physics and advanced math, such as linear algebra, geometry and an overview of calculus — foundational things when you get into antennas and electromagnetism and those sorts of things,” he said.
“We were able to adjust quickly and we’re addressing this in the course rework.”
Brown said that the program seems to be a good fit for today’s technically minded young people.
“STEM students find a field that allows them to do everything: computer science, IT, engineering, electrical, mechanical.”
And what a great model this is. I hope more state broadcast associations and technically oriented educators will emulate it.
The next academy at Wake Tech is planned for next summer. More info is at the school’s website.
Other schools on the list, according to the SBE website, are Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Wash.; Cayuga Community College in Auburn, N.Y.; and the AFRTS Technical Training Program at the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Md.
The society is on the lookout for other schools to join its Certified School list, and it has a school sample curriculum to assist schools in creating a broadcast engineering degree program.
Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.
Do you ever find yourself feeling a little blue about the radio industry? Spend a few minutes reading Dave Sturgeon, especially if you work on the commercial side of our biz.
“Radio is the only medium that still respectfully assumes you’re busy,” Dave wrote recently in a LinkedIn post.
“Every other medium today demands your attention: Watch this. Click that. Don’t skip. Stay till the end.”
Radio, Dave wrote, does the opposite.
“Radio assumes you’re living your life: Driving. Working. Making dinner. Running a business. Thinking.”
And instead of interrupting you, he wrote, it shows up alongside you.
“That’s not a weakness. That’s radio’s superpower. Because the people with the least time are usually the people with the most responsibility. Decision-makers don’t sit still. They move.
“Radio meets them in motion. It doesn’t fight for attention — it earns trust through repetition, familiarity and presence. Day after day. Week after week.”
In a world obsessed with “engagement,” Dave concluded, radio still understands something fundamental: Busy people buy things.
“That’s why radio doesn’t need to be flashy. It needs to be consistent. Clear. Human. The more demanding media becomes, the more valuable a medium is that respects your time and attention.
“Radio doesn’t nag. It accompanies. If your advertising only works when someone stops what they’re doing, it’s built to interrupt — not influence.”
I liked that post and asked for his permission to share it with you.
Dave is the founder of Radio TV Agents; he has spent more than four decades as a morning show host, market vice president, director of sales, trainer and public speaker.
He describes himself as “a Canadian by birth and Californian by residence” who “still believes in coffee-fueled morning shows, a great jingle, and the magic of live, local radio.”
I asked him to share a few more of radio’s superpowers with us for this column. He sent this list:
Radio is free
Radio ads are unskippable
Radio doesn’t watch you back or follow you around, it respects your privacy
Radio is word-of-mouth advertising on steroids
Radio is the original platform for social media influencers (personality endorsements)
Radio audio entertainment and advertising is “crowd-delivered” — thus radio’s ultra-affordable CPM
Audio triggers emotions: Emotions make memories and branding stick
Digital is delivered one-to-one. Radio’s crowd delivery makes all digital advertising work better
Radio isn’t just music, it’s companionship — music discovery on radio is random and exciting
When disaster strikes, cable, Wi-Fi, phone service and all other utilities stop working, radio is the last remaining medium that keeps people connected.
Radio is the soundtrack to your daily journey — the most used in-car medium where people are on their way to spend money
I love Dave’s boulder-smashing energy. You can follow him on LinkedIn. His book is sold on Amazon, and he has a podcast called “The Truth About Radio.” You can also hear an interview with him on The SoundOff Podcast at www.soundoffpodcast.com/dave-sturgeon.
The Radio World editorial team is sharing stories that we found particularly newsworthy, meaningful or fun to cover.
Time flies when you are having fun! I celebrated my one-year anniversary of joining Radio World’s editorial team in December, and it’s a role I relish and take very seriously. An awful lot happened in radio in 2025. I wrote 363 stories — some of them heartwarming, others not so much.
Bud Williamson and me atop the 85th floor of the Empire State Building, on Dec. 4.
Regardless, it’s important to tell those stories in the way you, our loyal readers, have come to expect over Radio World’s history.
But not only has it been a thrill to craft these articles myself, it was also an educational experience. I’ve gained so much knowledge witnessing how my colleagues Paul McLane and Elle Kehres, plus our hard-working contributors like Randy Stine, cover the industry. You’ll see examples of those stories in my list below.
It has been a complete honor to work with Paul and Elle. Here’s to many more stories in 2026!
Throughout the year, I saw examples of how those in the radio industry turn to us when a story of importance breaks. That was the case around Labor Day, when small- and medium-sized station owners looked to Radio World after several Barix IP-based links were hijacked with explicit audio.
We cover plenty of modern studio buildouts in radio, and I still believe — perhaps naively — that technology has brought us many advantages. But I still often yearn for simpler times.
Luckily, we here at Radio World get to revisit places back in time with some regularity, like the former WPTF(AM) studios in Cary, N.C., which Elle Kehres profiled with the help of area historian Heather Leah.
All of a sudden, though, this story climbed back up our rankings in terms of popularity; if you watched season 5 of “Stranger Things,” you’ll know why!
It’s easy to look for negativity right now in the media landscape. But every now and then, I’m reminded why radio is still here and why I believe it’s not going anywhere. Unfortunately, these reminders often follow natural disasters.
Staff members at radio stations often go the extra mile to ensure their communities get the information they need when it’s required most. Paul McLane’s story on the efforts of Audacy St. Louis Chief Engineer Kyle Hammer, after a tornado struck KMOX(FM)’s tower in May, is another example.
2025 was a really difficult year for public media. Not only were there the obvious implications of the rescission of U.S. federal funding, then there was the unforeseen dispute between National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over program distribution. I was able to gather perspectives from both CPB and NPR in a story that I felt underscored the importance of delivering news that we journalists have today.
From a new chair to two commissioners resigning to the government shutdown, it’s been a year like no other at the Federal Communications Commission. After Brendan Carr was appointed FCC chairman in January, he said he was serious about reform. Through efforts like the commission’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, it appears he is intent on following through.
The commission’s September open meeting, which was disrupted by protestors, was a good summation of where things stand, as Randy Stine details. Whether or not we will see vast change to the broadcast ownership rules is most certainly something we’ll be keeping a close eye on in 2026.
Radio World frequently hears from experts in engineering and audio, and this feature by Paul McLane brings perspectives from five of the preeminent voices for radio on-air processing right now.
The industry has a long way to go in terms of gender equality. But I found several inspirational tales of women who have made a name for themselves in broadcast engineering through Elle’s series, including Lindsey Lounsbury of MaxxKonnect.
“I just wouldn’t stop asking questions,” Lounsbury said of her journey through 88.1 KVSC(FM) at St. Cloud State University.
Randy explored the uses of AI in radio in this feature earlier in 2025. I’m eager to see where opinions will land on AI use in the new year.
I don’t think the technology is going anywhere, particularly for software-based, back-end functions. But there was a notable shift, as we moved through the year, in consumer rejection toward AI for content, at least in its current form. Merriam-Webster named “slop” the word of the year for 2025, after all.
Mark Persons took us all on a trip to the island of Bonaire to visit the Trans World Radio AM transmitter site. The island is surrounded by the salt-filled Caribbean Sea, which means tower painting is required quite frequently!
Nothing excites me more than new software-defined radio technology, and James Careless did a great job profiling SDRplay’s latest offering. The nRSP-ST is the ultimate remote SDR; connect it to an antenna, provide it WiFi or Ethernet, and you can scan the band from afar through a web-based interface. Most notably for your humble author’s purposes, my brother, Bobby, came through big time and delivered this to me under the Christmas tree this year!
This year, I became a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers’ New York City Chapter 15. Bud Williamson, in particular, is doing great things as the chapter chair, all the while operating stations through the Neversink Media Group in New York’s Hudson Valley. Check out some of his insights into building a platform for community radio.
The Radio World editorial team is sharing stories that we found particularly newsworthy, meaningful or fun to cover.
As I near my fourth year at Radio World (time flies!), I can’t help but reminisce about my favorite aspects of the job. The answer, as corny as it may be, is rather simple: It’s all of you, our wonderful readers. Our readers are some of the most passionate people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Like myself and the rest of the RW team, you LOVE radio, with many of you having devoted your lives to the medium. That is a thread that ties us all together, no matter our differences. So, thank you for sticking with us during what was a tumultuous year for broadcast.
Elle with her copy of the show Daily at the NAB Show this year.
There is no doubt that the shuttering of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after the rescission of public media funding in late July hit our broadcast community hard this year. The Trump administration’s decision to rollback funds continues to affect stations across the country. Aside from the hot politics surrounding this issue, the change stands to be one of the most impactful for U.S. radio for years to come. Radio World will continue to explore its consequences.
As Tropical Depression Chantal swept through the Carolinas in early July, WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C., experienced severe flooding to its transmitter site, wracking up $150,000 in damages and taking out two 5,000-watt transmitters. This was a personal story for me to write, having gone to school at Chapel Hill and worked at WCHL. At the end of the day, this is a story about resilience, resourcefulness and radio’s mission to serve the community above all else.
Radio World and the rest of the industry continued to watch the progression of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The bill gained impressive, bipartisan support in 2025 but still awaits a vote in the full House. The 118th Congress had advanced the bill too, but it adjourned a year ago without acting. The 119th Congress has another year to do so before starting over. Meanwhile. the National Association of Broadcasters released a podcast about what comes next.
The FCC’s inbox overflowed with suggestions from broadcasters this year on ways it can improve regulatory practices as part of its “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative. Ever since the initiative was introduced in March, the commission has actively been tossing out what it calls outdated rules and “unnecessary regulatory burdens.” Deregulation has been a big topic of discussion since Brendan Carr became FCC chairman in January.
A couple years back, Radio World’s coverage of the geotargeting debate seemed all-consuming. It felt like I was writing about the desire (or lack thereof) to make use of FM boosters to originate unique, targeted programming nearly every day. Though these rules were approved last November, the effective date was not published in the Federal Register until this July.
Earlier in the year, broadcasters across the U.S. learned about a series of rolling software updates that caused NOAA Weather Radio stations to experience periods of downtime. While these updates were scheduled in advance, the disruption in service caused some broadcasters to question whether adequate failsafes are in place should severe weather arise while NWR is down in any given area. The conversation soon shifted to the need for national resources amid government-wide restructuring. NOAA faced significant workforce reductions in 2025, including mass firings of probationary employees and planned cuts of roughly 17% (around 2,000 staff).
This has been my favorite, recurring feature that Radio World kicked off in October of this year. I love a healthy dose of radio nostalgia, and these stories by contributor Dan Slentz provide just that. In this particular story, we got to see a Buffalo broadcasting historian’s collection of vintage radio microphones and flags from stations like KDKA, WOR and WGN. It all started from a little dumpster diving, Biniasz tells us.
Of course, my roundup of favorite stories from 2025 would not be complete without the addition of one of my Women in Engineering stories. This year, I had the privilege of spotlighting three wonderful women who are contributing to the engineering field. I particularly enjoyed writing this story because I was able to speak with Grove in person at the Bonneville studios here in Denver. With more than 30 years of engineering under her toolbelt, Grove is a well-known figure in Denver’s radio scene.
The Radio World editorial team is sharing stories that we found particularly newsworthy, meaningful or fun to cover.
Me in front of the U.S. Capitol in warmer weather.
Radio World’s heritage is technical, and we celebrate radio engineering every day. But as its editor for almost 30 years, I have also sought to provide you with stories about radio’s people, its history and the fun or intriguing radio stories you might not read elsewhere. Here are some of the ones I found most interesting; Elle and Nick will share theirs in the next couple of days. Happy holidays!
We created the Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award 22 years ago to honor people who are doing outstanding work, particularly those who are in the midst of their careers. I am particularly excited about what Andy is doing to help develop excitement for radio among younger people, and then helping them find jobs.
Speaking of award-winning engineers, click the link above to read our profile of Paul Shulins, who was honored this year by the NAB with its Engineering Achievement Award.
Elle Kehres tells the story of WSIM(LP), which is licensed to Simsbury’s volunteer fire department, and the broadcast engineer who is helping the station with its technical upgrade.
Reader interest in this story was a clear reminder of how many people in our industry circle are active in amateur radio. Jason Frawley acknowledged that he’d operated on a frequency without authorization but said he did not interfere with government communications and was only trying to help. This was the largest penalty issued by the FCC in such a case.
“Broadcast regulatory experts expect ‘fast and furious’ changes at the Federal Communications Commission with Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office,” Randy Stine wrote. Here was our attempt to anticipate what Trump 2.0 would do as president and how an FCC led by Brendan Carr would regulate. How did we do?
Nick Langan has been writing for us for three years and joined our editorial staff full-time one year ago. Here, he tells the story of how broadcast infrastructure was threatened by the Los Angeles wildfires, and how engineers responded.
Few stories have prompted more letters to me than a column in which I shared my love of broadcast towers, including my memory of looking out a station’s back door on a summer Saturday to enjoy the towers standing in a cornfield at sunset.
Orban’s first FM audio processor was introduced 50 years ago. Radio World is partnering with the company for this series of conversations with Bob, who provides fascinating insights into his important early days. Read the first two parts here.
Readers loved this throwback story by Criss Onan. He wrote about a time when Gates Radio sought to simplify operations by developing a control storage device using a wide audio tape belt for spots, promos and PSAs. (Put THAT in yer cloud and play it!)
What questions about our industry are on your mind as we head into a new year? I’m curious to know.
Here are some of mine.
I wonder what kind of technology decisions and innovations radio organizations around the world might explore in 2026 to protect and grow their businesses.
Will the U.S. radio industry provide continued employment for people who currently still work in this field?
Will the growing use of tools that rely on artificial intelligence erode human employment in radio?
Will iHeartMedia set a new precedent for radio with its “Guaranteed Human” initiative, which promises that it will not use AI-generated personalities or synthetic vocalists?
How will the long-term trend toward using software instead of hardware-based tools in the air chain change the way radio engineers plan their facilities and infrastructure?
Will more companies reduce their studio footprints and make increasing use of regional centers and NOCs? Will they outsource more of their operational systems to third parties, extending a trend we’ve seen in network monitoring and ad traffic management?
What additional impact will the move to software have on our industry’s manufacturing and vendor ecosystem?
Will the FCC eliminate restrictions on local radio ownership? Will President Trump’s recent signals to the FCC that he opposes further deregulation of TV ownership make a difference to what the FCC does with radio?
How will public radio stations navigate their challenging new financial landscape after seeing their longstanding federal funding yanked out from under them?
Will one or more of the largest U.S. commercial broadcasters file for financial reorganization, as debt continues to gnaw at them?
Will Educational Media Foundation continue to expand its presence and acquisition of FM signals, programming them with a national Christian syndication model?
Will OTA broadcast reception become harder and harder to find in the menus of car dashboards? Will the auto industry at large actually remove FM reception as well as AM from more dashboard designs? Will Congress approve an AM mandate; and would it ever consider an FM version?
Will plans by the NAB Show for a concentration of broadcast vendors plus on-floor conference presentations boost the convention experience for radio and TV attendees?
Will the Trump administration come to regret defunding U.S. international broadcast entities like VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia?
These are some of the issues we’ll be following in the coming year. What questions are you keeping in mind? Drop me a line at radioworld@futurenet.com. Meanwhile, happy holidays, and here’s to the best of new years for you and your colleagues and loved ones.
Here at Radio World we are proud to have an amazing team of staff writers and contributors who keep our publication fresh with news of the latest industry trends and technology. To finish out another busy year, we asked our radio family to share how they’ve been celebrating the holiday season.
Below, you’ll find a plethora of festive photos — including pics of furry friends, unique decor and, of course, Santa. Plus, we reveal which holiday songs “take the fruitcake.” Enjoy!
Paul McLane
Our fearless Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane, based near Washington, D.C., shared this photo of the Capitol Christmas Tree, taken this month. He said the tree on the West Lawn is something of a local secret compared to the more famous one up Pennsylvania Avenue on the Ellipse near the White House. This year’s tree is a red fir from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada.
Paul went with a professional pic to show the tree’s splendor! Credit: Getty Images/Mandel Ngan
Paul said: “I will spend part of the holidays with family, swapping tales of childhood Christmases around my family’s own tree in the 1960s, including memories of Lionel train sets and glass ornaments — before they became ‘vintage.'”
Paul’s favorite holiday tunes: “The Holly & the Ivy,” “In Dulci Jubilo” and “Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming” — choral classics he and his family would sing in four-part harmony!
Elle said: “Nothing beats a nice mug of Glühwein and a German pretzel! Denver has all kinds of festive events, so Matt and I have been very busy attending light shows, eating holiday treats and scouring local markets for homemade goods.
“We’ve had an unseasonably-warm winter thus far, so I’m wishing for more snow this Christmas! I have a feeling my wish will soon be granted tenfold.”
Elle’s favorite holiday tunes: “Happiest Christmas Tree” by Nat King Cole and “The Christmas Waltz” by Frank Sinatra
Nick Langan
Radio World Content Producer Nick Langan shared the following pic of himself, his mother, Barbara, and saxophonist Kenny G at his Dec. 11 show at the State Theater in New Brunswick, N.J.
“It’s at least the fourth time around Christmas my mom and I have seen him,” said Nick. “He is still on top of his game, my only wish: He needs to play more Christmas music at his holiday shows. He is extremely gifted at performing Christmas melodies!
“My mom and I both deeply share in our love for smooth jazz music and I feel lucky I can take in shows with her! Within the last two months, we saw Kenny G, Dave Koz and Boney James — all firmly on the Mt. Rushmore of smooth jazz artists.”
Nick’s favorite holiday tune: “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music. He said: “I love guitarist Russ Freeman’s version the most!”
Randy Stine
Longtime RW contributor Randy Stine shared the following pic of himself and his wife Christine in front of this year’s official State Christmas Tree in downtown Lansing, Mich., in front of the State Capitol Building.
“Thousands gather in late November each year to see the official tree lighting,” said Randy. “The tree is a 68-foot blue spruce, which was harvested near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.”
Randy’s favorite holiday tune: “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano — his favorite sing-along Christmas song!
“After being hospitalized for two weeks with no razor, I decided to let the beard grow,” said John. “I picked up a Santa hat, wearing it to the store, post office and gas station. It’s neat to see the positive reaction — and smiles — as folks reflect on the hope that Christmas brings.”
John’s favorite holiday tunes: “Silent Night” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives
L to R: Radio Daze print by Jim Daly, Rohn 25 Tower with an on-air sign and a 1929 Majestic model 90-B radio with Nipper the dog giving his holiday wishes into a microphone.
Mark’s favorite (novelty) holiday tunes: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” by Randy Brooks and “I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas” by Harry Stewart.
John Casey
Radio World Publisher John Casey shared this adorable snapshot of his daughter Anna with her first snowman, circa 1999. He said: “This pic always melts my heart!”
John’s favorite holiday tune: “Please Come Home for Christmas” by the Eagles
Raffaella Calabrese
Radio World Account Director Raffaella Calabrese shared the following pic of her skidding on ice in Lapland, Finland, while visiting Santa’s town!
Dan Slentz
RW contributor and WDOG(LP) “Rock Dog” advisor Dan Slentz shared the following pics from WDOG’s staff Christmas party.
“As a non-profit/non-com, the on-air folks are volunteers,” said Dan. “The board of the station always likes to have a little get-together with food and a nice gift for the volunteers. Besides jackets coming with the v.2 Rock Dog logo, the midday guy Adam Shepperd, and afternoon host Sarah Stone each got miniature AI-generated ‘stand-ups’ of themselves.”
WDOG Host Adam Shepperd
Station morning person, Steve Slentz, got a LED “neon” update of The Rock Dog.
Dan’s favorite holiday tunes: “The Closing of the Year” from Disney’s “Toys” soundtrack, and Paul McCartney’s “We All Stand Together.”
Jon Accarrino
RW contributor Jon Accarrino, founder of Ordo Digital, said: “Since I write about AI for Radio World, I couldn’t resist letting the technology generate my Radio World holiday card. Here is a ‘snapshot’ of me in the Santa suit, making sure the latest issue of Radio World gets delivered to the very top of a radio tower.”
Jon’s favorite holiday tune: “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues
“These two cuties are my favorite Christmas decorations that just make me smile,” said Rima. “They are on the window ledge at the top of our stairs going down to the front door. So they greet you going down or up the stairs.”
Rima’s favorite holiday albums: “Ella Wishes You Swinging Christmas” by Ella Fitzgerald, “Christmas Portrait” by Carpenters and “A Christmas Together” by John Denver & The Muppets. She writes: “Can you tell I was born in 1973?!”
“Although he is kind and gentle I tell people he is 12 pounds of furry fury,” said Michael.
The semi-retired engineer adds: “The adventure continues! It seems as soon as I phase out one engineering project a new one arrives. I always thought when I hit 65 things would begin to wind down. Maybe in my 70s?”
Raphael’s favorite holiday tune: “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
Ruxandra Obreja
RW contributor and chairman of the DRM Consortium Ruxandra Obreja shared a picture of she and her husband, taken in a manor in north England this month — festive!
“My husband is in the background as you can see in the mirror,” said Ruxandra. “He’s always beside me!”
Ruxandra’s favorite holiday tune: “Silent Night” by “Mahalia Jackson”
Connexion
