Campus radio stations in Winnipeg weigh in on future of community-oriented broadcasting

CTV’s Joseph Bernacki takes a closer look at campus radio in Winnipeg and the challenges they’re facing.

The financial struggles of campus radio stations in Ottawa and Newfoundland are fuelling concern about the long-term viability of community broadcasters across Canada, including at the University of Manitoba.

Every Monday afternoon at 3 p.m., Avery Nicpon steps into the U of M’s broadcast booth to do what she loves most.

When she’s not on the airwaves of 101.5 UMFM playing punk, folk, or electronic music, the first-year student is studying civil engineering. For Nicpon, the radio station is an escape—a place to set aside the pressures of academic life.

“Once I come in the booth, I don’t have to worry about exams or whatever’s going on in my life,” Nicpon said Monday before her show, Inbetween & Out Of. “I can just talk about what music I like at the moment or what artists are interesting.”

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nicpon joined UMFM in September and quickly found it to be more than just a broadcasting outlet.

“It’s just really nice to be able to have a small community of people who are interested in the exact same things you are,” she said.

It’s a platform she hopes will exist for years to come — though the future of campus radio across Canada is increasingly uncertain.

In December, CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa halted live broadcasts. Last week, Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union voted to cease funding for its campus broadcaster, CMHR.

“I can’t help but feel a little worried when I see things like that happen, because you always wonder, well, we do a lot on this campus, but that can always happen here, right?” said Jared McKetiak, station manager at 101.5 UMFM.

McKetiak has been with the station since 1999, when he joined as a volunteer. He became station manager in 2003 and currently hosts two shows on Monday evenings.

McKetiak said the past year has been a difficult one for the sector, as universities across Canada grapple with declining enrolment.

He said the shuttering of journalism programs and student levies becoming optional at some universities are critical for campus broadcast funding.

“In Ontario specifically, that student fee becomes opt-in-able or opt-out-able this fall, with the government of Ontario attempting to make it more affordable for students,” said Barry Rooke, executive director of the National Campus and Community Radio Association.

Rooke said there are approximately 255 campus and community radio stations across Canada, none of which receive core or stable government funding. The NCRA is now lobbying Ottawa through its Community Radio Initiative, which calls for a $30-million annual federal commitment — with $25 million distributed directly to licensed stations, amounting to roughly $95,000 each.

“What we’re looking for is just a small amount from the federal government to allow the stations to really focus on ensuring that their doors are open,” Rooke said.

McKetiak said the funds would be well worth it to protect programming that can’t be found anywhere else.

“I say that we are very much appointment listening,” he said. “You find your favourite five or six shows; you’re going to tune in every week.”

In the meantime, UMFM is preparing for its annual Pledge-O-Rama fundraiser, running from April 24 to May 1.

“Not only are we utilizing that one week of radio to sort of showcase the best of what we do, but it’s something that we look to raise about 17 percent of our annual operating budget,” he said.

“It’s a real indication of the impact you have in your community. I think that the type of programming that UMFM or CKUW or CJNU in this city provides is immeasurable.”