Be Heard

By Erin Colton

The call letters read BHRD, or "Be Heard." It's the slogan for the new internet radio station being broadcast out of the Glen Cove High School library. And the hosts -- are kids. (Sorry, younger adults.)

High School students, along with a select group of staff at Glen Cove High, created the network all by themselves. They literally asked the librarians to give up their office in the library, and transformed it into a 4 microphone DJ booth -- capable of broadcasting around the world on the internet.

I was lucky enough to be invited the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon. Broadcasters such as myself, co-Sports Anchor Jamie Stuart, News 12 legend Ken Grimball, the WBLI Morning Show Team, and WBAB DJ's were all there to witness the High School embark on such an amazing journey for young people wanting to get their feet wet in business as early as possible. Jamie and I were interviewed by the Sports DJ's on the station's first ever sports segment. (Our very own Ken Grimball also took us aside for an interview.) And I have to say, the students already sounded like professionals. They were prepared, asked the right questions and acted like they'd been there before. (Which is always the way to go.) The new radio station compliments the students' television station next door.

What's also great about this new project is that no taxpayer money went toward funding it. The students were awarded grants to help them get the station up and running. School technicians also gave up their free time to install the equipment needed. The broadcasting business is all about teamwork. I wouldn't be able to go live on air every morning if it were not for 10-15 other people behind the scenes here at News 12. So the students are already learning it takes a whole lot more than personalities to pull off a radio station.

Ralph Suozzi, the Mayor of Glen Cove, said it best while speaking at the unveiling. He said, "I feel like my grandfather by saying this, but I never had something like this growing up." Mayor Suozzi's right. I never had a radio or TV station in high school. I knew I wanted to go into the business at a young age, but many kids don't. They find out when the experience it. And that's what Glen Cove is providing for their students. 

Congratulations, Glen Cove school district. Letting your students "Be Heard" is making the future of our business better. (Just make sure one of your students doesn't take my job!)

Comments

[Casey Lynch]

I think this is a great way to have students do this at a young age. So if they have a intrest in it they can contiune in college!

[amy elias kornfeld, ms]

I would love to see more about the students in the glen cove schools having access to the news 12 newsroom,

[Adam Ramadan]

To answer your first question, yes there is a link available to the station, and it can be found at the school's homepage www.glencove.k12.ny.us. Although a schedule has not been posted officially yet, it should be available very soon.

[John]

Two questions:

Is there a link to the station available, for those interested?

Has someone documented the setup? It's been more than a couple of years since my school days, but a list of equipment and software would surely be a great benefit to other schools with groups who might have similar interests.