Bakersfield College’s radio show, “Bakersfield College Today,” has completed 13 shows since February and has reached an agreement with KERN News talk 1410 to produce 14 more shows through the summer.
The radio show is the brainchild of BC Director of Public Information Don Clark, who was initially skeptical about how the show would appeal to Bakersfield listeners. Clark, who co-hosts the show with BC professor Chuck Wall, said that he discovered the recording studio in the media services center in the library while giving a tour and said that he was completely unaware up to that point that BC had such a facility.
“It’s classy,” said Clark, referring to the Media Center production studio.
The half-hour show costs $250 per broadcast, according to Clark. Funding primarily comes from local businesses and BC supporters in exchange for on-the-air acknowledgements. According to Clark, the show is trying to build into the BC Foundation budget.
Student involvement has been key in the show’s success. The format for the show typically involves a guest, generally a student or former student representing an organization or group of students on campus. Other special guests have included Congressman Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield), said media specialist and show editor Manuel De Los Santos.
“I was surprised how in-depth the questioning gets,” he said.
“They ask good questions.”
For the past 13 editions, the show has been recorded on Thursdays and is followed up by editing before it airs on 1410 three weeks later. Now that the show has been extended for 14 more episodes, Clark said that they will try to tape on Tuesdays and have the show air the following Saturday in order to be more current with the happenings around campus.
The show has attracted somewhat of a following in its timeslot on Saturday mornings between 7:30 and 8 a.m. According to Clark, “Bakersfield College Today” is the most listened to program for that timeslot in the market.
“We think we’re a real voice for Bakersfield College,” Clark said.
Clark also said that he and Wall “teasingly” call the show “radio free BC” because of the freely flowing discussions that take place on the show without censorship.
Roger Fessler, general manager at KERN, said that the show is a good forum for BC to get feedback and comments into the community.
“We’re pleased,” Fessler said. “I think it’s (the show) very tastefully done.”
Fessler said that the station is willing to commit to a more permanent airing of the show but that it “depends on BC’s level of interest.” KERN already covers BC football in the fall.
KERN programming director Blake Taylor said that “Bakersfield College Today” is one of the better college-based programs that he has heard.
“It’s a good quality product,” Taylor said. “The cool thing is that it’s local.”
Taylor was involved in working with the college when the idea for “Bakersfield College Today” was first introduced. He is involved with show structure, editing, promotion, and the on-air content. Before the show’s debut on the station, the timeslot was filled with infomercials.
Wall will be retiring this year from his full-time teaching position but says that he will continue to volunteer to co-host “Bakersfield College Today.” Clark says he couldn’t do the show without Wall.