FROM CAMPUS RADIO TO COMMERCIAL NEWS
Chilliwack has a new voice for weekend news on FM radio, and her name is Alicia Williams!
The third year UFV fine arts and communications student got involved in radio by hosting Mood Swings on CIVL.ca in March of 2010.
Maybe you heard her this past weekend, however, doing regular news updates on Saturday and Sunday mornings through the the mid-afternoon on commercial radio for the very first time!
In November, Williams officially became a part of the team at The Hawk 89.5 FM in Chilliwack as a weekend news personality. Williams has been more than just a show host on CIVL, winning a 2011 National Community and Campus Radio Association (NCRA) Award Honourable Mention for Music Programming based on the exclusively Female Content edition of Mood Swings.
She also served as CIVL’s Program Assistant, Music Librarian, and Promotions Coordinator before trying her hand at news for the first time earlier in November. NCRA Executive Director, Shelley Robinson, says “It’s amazing to see someone’s passion for radio get recognized by both a local community and commercial station, and have a chance to reach even more listeners.”
Included among Williams’ other accomplishments at CIVL are her experience as Chair of the Programming Committee, responsible for approving new programs and reviewing concurrent content.
She also participated in CIVL’s national news broadcast of Groundwire, an NCRA project that reaches 30-40 stations across the country every other week. “We are glad to see a dedicated volunteer recognized in the job market,” says CIVL President Dustin Ellis. “Creating broadcast skills and experience is a big part of what we do, and Alicia has helped make this possible for others while making the most of our organization.” Despite the new job, Alicia will read daily news on CIVL at least until the end of this semester.
Alicia showing off CIVL’s 2011 Community Development Award from Halifax’s National Campus and Community Radio Awards, where Williams herself was recognized with an honourable mention in Music Programming for her Fem-Con episode of Mood Swings!