The coronavirus’s affect on Kean’s radio station WKNJ 90.3

By Craig Epstein | Published by April 18, 2020

With Kean University being turned into a coronavirus testing site, the programming for the school’s radio station WKNJ 90.3 has become a continuous loop of a public service announcement explaining the steps that those who are being tested must go through. 

“Audrey Kelly from the president’s office contacted me to see if the radio station could help broadcast a message to help facilitate the process for the testing at Kean,” Professor Scott McHugh said. “The message was produced by Union County in English and Spanish and then sent to me and then I went into campus on Sunday the afternoon before testing started and set up the station so that it would play on repeat.” 

Along with going through the steps that are taken at the testing site, the announcement also explains how those who suspect they may have the coronavirus should act when quarantining themselves. 

“When people get to Kean for the testing, they get all the information they need to go through the testing site as easy as possible,” McHugh said. “I’ve heard that it has been very helpful for those who are going through the process.” 

Due to the station playing this continuous loop, radio shows that were previously aired on WKNJ have been impacted along with planned segments and interviews. 

“In March, we had a women’’ month special planned where all of our special guests would be women, then we had a big show in April where we would have collaborated with another show at Drew University,” Kean student and host of “The Black Minds” Zachery Halley said. “The coronavirus ruined a lot of opportunity for us and slowed down our momentum.” 

Along with his co-hosts Sincere Washington and Brianna Christie, Halley’s show discusses topics that they believe to be important talking points in the African American community, including trauma/mental health and what it’s like for black people being gay in the black community. The three also discuss racism in the LGBTQ+ community, black movies, and will have debates on the show as well. However, with his co-hosts living in different parts of New Jersey the transition to doing the show remotely has been difficult for the three. 

“We are still trying to find a way to do our show since all three of us live in different parts of New Jersey and we have different resources so it’s very hard,” Halley said. “Right now the best thing for us that we have come up for is to do our show on Instagram live.” 

Along with Halley, fellow Kean student and WKNJ radio host Devin Wilson has also had to adapt his show “The Devin Hour” due to the effects of the coronavirus on the radio station. 

“The coronavirus has completely stalled my show,” Wilson said. “Due to the campus shutting down, I had to cancel all of my interviews and events.” 

Focusing on pop culture as well as topics within the LGBTQ+ and black community, having guests play is an integral role in the production of Wilson’s show. 

“Now I record in my home studio that I created in my room,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, I have to record the shows by myself but I am working on trying to still have some guests on.” 

While the move to recording his show at home has not been an ideal scenario, Wilson tries to remain positive and see the light in a bad situation. 

“It is completely different from the recording in the radio station where we have professional equipment but it is very cozy and I like it,” Wilson said. “I upload every Wednesday on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.” 

 

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