Student radio stations

Student radio is made by students and is closely connected to the life of a university or college community. Its purpose commonly combines entertainment, information and participation. The people producing the programmes share the audience's campus setting, giving their work a direct relationship with student experiences, interests and concerns. Music can be especially varied because presenters bring their own tastes to individual programmes. Specialist selections sit alongside conversation, interviews, campus news and sport. Coverage of student elections and university events provides a local editorial focus, while live sessions and cultural discussion can connect the station with performers and creative activity beyond campus. Participation extends beyond presenting. Students may learn production, journalism, event broadcasting and technical skills while working with a changing team of volunteers. That turnover brings new voices and ideas into the programme as successive groups take part. The defining feature is the students' role in creating and running the service, rather than a particular musical style or a uniform sound.