Station Manager's Blog
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An insight into the world of Junction11 from the Station Manager Francesca Mercer.
Junction11 Blog September 09
Hello from your Station Manager! I run Junction11 our Student Radio Station along with members of my exec to bring to you top quality student radio and banter, which broadcasts all day and night throughout 360 and Mojo's bar and online at www.rusu.co.uk/junction11 across the world!
The past few weeks have been epically busy preparing for Fresher's Week and for the new term ahead. I have come to terms with the acceptance that the Junction11 office is actually a part - time home for me, I'll slowly be moving in my sleeping bag in the next few weeks....! We have been building up the station in terms of equipment and software and towards gaining a better and more professional sound for Junction11 and this year we aim to bring the highest quality broadcasting and entertainment to your ears through the beautiful sounds of Junction11.
For everyone who has just joined the university, Welcome from Junction11! You'll be spending 3 of the best years of your life here so make the most of every opportunity you come across, namely of the them being Junction11! Fancy yourself as the next Jo Whiley or Pete Tong? You can start right here, right now as a student DJ presenting your own show. Join the music team and help bring all the new music to Junction11 and discuss why Sex On Fire is still one of the best and most frequently played song of Junction11 (might have something to do with the fact it was written about me - not going to lie)? Interested in web design? You can join the tech team and show off your creative skill in making our website accessible and appealing to all. Want a career in advertising? No better to start here and be part of our marketing team to bring the face of Junction11 to every student across all campuses. Fancy becoming a producer? Join the production team to help create the voice of Junction11 and giving the station a professional sound.
There are tons of opportunities and chances you can take here at Junction11 with only a few listed here. As many people may know, we take Junction11 to the SRA (Student Radio Association) every year to listen to various different people who are already in the radio industry giving each and every station tips on how to run and successful radio station, how to present shows professionally, how to obtain the best free gig tickets around, how to construct your own demo tape of your radio material…etc. It's a brilliant opportunity and a great way to get your foot in the door for radio broadcasting and production.
Junction11 is also fortunate to have tons of budding DJ's among its members, who all have an opportunity to come and DJ for the station for University events. We help to run Rough Cuts the live music night every Friday night in 360 showcasing all the local and new bands around and DJ for event. It is a brilliant night and a great way to hear new music. We also DJ for other societies events and our own events so if you would like to come along and help or even be taught how to DJ we have plenty of opportunities here for you!
Come on down to the Junction11 office in The Hub and you will find me and most of the exec slaving away trying to give Junction11 and the presenters the best opportunities we can give them, and if you fancy joining us and placing your name in the Junction11 history books then by all means come and sign up and soon your voice will be heard across the airwaves online to the world and to all those legends of students who spend their afternoons in Mojo's sipping their pints and listening to the sweet sounds of Junction11.
Log into www.rusu.co.uk/junction11 to hear more and contact us to join, and always remember Junction11 is Your Student Radio Station, so GET TURNED ON!
Junction11 Blog March 2009:
"Epic" the word used to describe our number one song at the moment. Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" has suddenly creeped back into the chart and regained its number one spot and stuck there yet again. Much to my delight of course as they are probably my favourite band but does that sound bias?? It's no lie that Jess (current Assistant Head of Music) and I bounce with glee - yes glee, when Kings of Leon enters the chart, but why is it so popular? Indeed "Sex on Fire" was probably the song of 2008 and the catchy guitar riffs, memorable lyrics (although practically slightly dangerous) and yet altogether so deep it appeals to nearly every student. This is why radio is so fun - do we keep Kings of Leon on the playlist so they have a chance to be in the chart? Or do we pull it off giving other bands a chance while looking at the pile of requests for 'that Kings of Leon' song…Dilemma much? I guess we'll just have to wait for the next big thing to hit the scene.
Junction11 has been so busy the last few weeks of term preparing for the SRA and we are now ready to send off our ticket request form to book our places at the National Student Radio Conference in Leeds. Not gonna lie, we're pretty excited - exec members and Junction11 members will be travelling hitch - hike stylee (well maybe that's just me) up to Leeds University to throw our belongings in our accommodation and hit the first lot of talks by speakers from the radio industry, time to grab a little lunch then splitting up to go to various talks about the different departments in radio, how to run them, how to get the best opportunities, how to get work experience etc. All very relevant information that we bring back here and try to incorporate with our station to make it the best it can be. 6 course meal for dinner….ok I lie, maybe not quite 6 courses but still and eloquent sufficiency (yes) to build us up for the night ahead - a drink or three with the other student radio station members and a grand exploration of the night life. Excited? You bet we are.
Stand by for all the gossip in next issue and I'm sure that if you tune into your lovely radio station on www.rusu.co.uk/junction11 you'll hear all the banter from the presenters as soon as we get back! Preparations are almost finished for the Societies and Volunteers Ball Tuesday 17th March which, I hear you cry, is St Patrick's Day! Junction11 will be there representing the radio station, handing out awards to the members and drinking the Guinness on tap. Yes, it's going to be a messy one.
Don't forget to tune into Junction11 to hear all the news and chat. www.rusu.co.uk/junction11 GET TURNED ON.
Francesca Mercer - Station Manager