News & Opinion Links about WREK

This post contains links to some news reports and opinion pieces about the WREK propsals. If you find any additional articles which are not here, email me at jnestorx AT gmail.com.

News Articles

• Technique article: WREK examines new proposals - September 29, 2006. Describes the meeting in which Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough apprised WREK management of two proposals:
1. A proposal by Georgia Tech Alumni Associate to "convert" WREK to commercial operation for use to broadcast Tech sporting events.
2. A proposal by Georgia Public Broadcasting to lease airtime from WREK during morning (6-9AM) and evening (3-6PM) drive time.
• Technique article: "Clough discusses his life experiences" - October 6, 2006. President Clough is interviewed by WREK on the program "Tech Talk".
• Georgia Tech Archive: Tech Talk Interview with Dr. Clough - October 5, 2006. Audio archive of the interview that was broadcast on WREK.
  
• Creative Loafing article - "WREK faces proposal to go commerical" - October 11, 2006.
• Technique article: "PBA inquires about managing WREK" - November 17, 2006. Describes a new proposal by Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA - the operators of WABE) to lease airtime on WREK for 14 hours per day, from 5am-7pm.
• Whistle article - "Athletics makes its pitch to student radio" - Nov. 27, 2006 (Georgia Tech Faculty/Staff Newsletter). Describes details of the GTAA proposal to commericalize WREK.
• Access Atlanta RadioTalk blog: "WREK changes forthcoming?" - Feb. 7, 2007. Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Rodney Ho describes the WREK proposals on his blog.
• Access Atlanta RadioTalk blog: "WREK meeting" - Feb. 8. 2007. Describes the RCB/GPB meeting that took place on Feb. 7. Describes GPB's vague proposal for a "partnership" and their desire to find airtime the Atlanta radio market.
• Technique article: "RCB meets with GPB representative" - Feb. 16, 2007. Describes the Feb. 7 RCB/GPB meeting and alludes to an upcoming meeting with Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA) in the "near future". Also discusses WREK's plans to broadcast in HD format, possibly by late summer.
• Creative Loafing article: "Public radio vies for airtime on WREK-FM" - Feb. 14, 2007. Another story about the Feb. 7 RCB/GPB meeting. Describes some of the alumni concerns.
• Technique article: "PBA Meets with WREK" - Apr. 6, 2007. Describes the RCB meeting with Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA) and the Atlanta Educational Telecommunications Collaborative (AETC), which operates PBA.
  

Editorials and Letters to the Editor

• Technique Editoiral - "Strong Signal" - Sept. 29, 2006. In favor of maintaining student control of WREK.
  
• Technique Letters to the Editor - Oct. 10, 2006. Two letters supporting WREK's continued operation, including one describing the takeover of Baylor's station by NPR.
• Fallout Brief - 'WREK-FM faces proposal to go commercial" - Creative Loafing Online Comments
  
• Technique editorial - "Leave WREK alone" - Nov. 17, 2006. Editorial supporting WREK.
• Technique Online Survey Result - Dec. 1, 2006 - "What do you think about the proposal for public broadcasting to take over WREK?" Pie chart at the top of page 2 shows that 70% of respondents indicated "They need to keep their hands off WREK".
  
• Technique Letter to the Editor - "WREK seeks input" - Dec. 1, 2006. Letter from Jim Fetig, Associate VP of Insitute Communications and Public Affairs (see previous post). Describes the process which Tech will be use to evaluate the alternative proposals.
• Technique Letter to the Editor - "WREK valuable tool for engineering students" - Jan. 19, 2007. A shortened version of the Open Letter to President Clough which describes the value of WREK to all Tech students (the Technique chose the title).
  

Deja Vu All Over Again: The 1997 WCNN Proposal

In 1997, WCNN propsed to pay WREK to simulcast commercial broadcasts of night football games. This was deemed necessary because WCNN's AM license required that it broadcast at reduced power at night.

• Technique Article: "Radio board to evaluate WCNN games proposal" - Feb. 21, 1997. Describes the initial proposal.
• Technique Editorial: "WCNN on WREK?" - Feb. 7, 1997. Editorial in favor of the proposal .
• Atlanta Business Chronicle Article: "WREK plays hardball with Cox" - June 13, 1997. Describes the proposal and the outcome (RCB voted against agreement).
• Technique Article: "New WREK schedule to include night games" - Sept. 3, 2004. Seven years later, WREK reverses itself and agrees to simulcast night football and men's basketball games after all with WQXI-AM, which took over football broadcasts in 2001.

Last update: Feb. 8, 2007.