Radio students flow into The River
Junior Faith Orecchio is looking forward to working this summer with the radio station she “grew up listening to.”
Orecchio is a journalism and media production major, who also hosts the “Afternoon Drive” for WNZR.
She and fellow classmate and WNZR colleague Aubrey Bailey have accepted internships this summer with 104.9 FM, The River, a Columbus-area Christian radio station.
Bailey, also a junior journalism and media production major, is co-host of WNZR’s “The Morning Thing.”
Like many other college students, Bailey and Orecchio know the importance of active, real-world experience to get ahead in their chosen industry. Both said the internship will be a great chance to “get their foot in the door” and “test drive” a career.
Orecchio and Bailey will work side-by-side as Community Impact interns at The River this summer. According to The River’s website, they will serve as “the main face” of the station, representing it to clients and listeners in the community.
They will plan and execute community events, maintain the listener database and engage listeners in contests and the station. They will also periodically serve as the River Dog mascot.
Orecchio said she is looking forward to building relationships with a new audience of listeners at The River.
“I love working with people,” Orecchio said. “In this internship, I will be able to help plan events and promote The River in the community.”
Bailey said she is excited to be part of The River team. She is especially looking forward to hearing stories from listeners.
“I love when [WNZR] listeners come up and tell us how the music we play has impacted them, and I’ll still get to be a part of that with this internship,” Bailey said.
The internships are unpaid, volunteer positions, but both students will receive academic credit for their work this summer.
Orecchio is grateful that industry professionals are willing to invest their time and knowledge into shaping her future.
Although both Orecchio and Bailey have experience as on-air hosts at WNZR, they said their experience with The River will help them get a new and broader perspective from a large Christian station.
Both students said they are thankful for the many opportunities they have had to get involved in so many aspects of radio at WNZR.
“I have been able to be on air, work events, fund-raise and much more,” Orecchio said. “WNZR has given me an opportunity to understand the industry and has prepared me for my internship and future career.”