8 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COVERSTORY
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
KJHK: a unique outlet
KJHK HISTORY
1924 KFKU,the first KU radio show,made its debut.
Radio station features mix of music, talk
1954 KUOK, an AM station run by the School of Journalism came into existence.
October 15. 1975 KJHK was launched.
By Amy Potter
apotter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Miss Fortune and Lady Luck, KJHK disc jockeys, give the Lawrence community something that can't be found on other radio stations. Their show, Hip House, features hip hop from all over the world including Africa and
including Africa and Korea.
"With college radio, you are able to hear music other than Top 40. You get innovative experienced sound," said Melanie Naasz, Wichita senior and KJHK's Miss Fortune.
From its first broadcast on Oct.15, 1975, KJHK has always been on the alternative side, said Meredith Vacek, KJHK station manager.
"It's a place where people can voice their opinion coming from many perspectives whether it be the multicultural perspective or multi-political."
"It's a place where people can voice their opinion coming from many perspectives whether it be the multicultural perspective or multi-political," Vacek said.
Vacek said some professors in the 1980s thought the station was too radical and dangerous
The unique music played during Hip House is typical of KJHK's variety.
Meredith Vacek
KJHK station manager
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The station has always tried to play music not found on other stations, said Peter Berard, KJHK music director.
"We are not a Top 40 station. That music doesn't get sent to our station and we probably wouldn't play it even if it was," Berard said.
"They fought to take out student control," Vacek said. "Eventually the people realized it was a bad idea and the whole reason the station existed was for the students."
In the summer of 1988 the station was changed to a Top40 outlet.
"The students didn't
like it, and it was changed back to the alternative voice," Vacek said.
KJHK has a strong reputation in college radio. Vacek said the station ranks in the top 50 around the country. At times it's ranked in the top 10.
Eric Braem/Kansan
KJHK's home, known as The Shack, serves as an outlet for a wide range of music. The student-run station spent a brief period as a Top 40.
"Throughout the '80s and '90s we developed a strong reputation in the college radio industry. Other stations watched us to see what we were doing," Vacek said.
SEE KJHK ON PAGE 9
Spring 1988 KJHK switched to Top 40 programming.
December 1994 KJHK became the world's first radio station to offer an Internet signal.
Station manager Meredith Vacek sees KJHK as as an outlet for alternative opinions. The student-run station spent a brief period as a Top 40 outlet in 1988. Now it faces an insecure future due to budget problems and a changing curriculum for the School of Journalism.
Eric Braem/Kansan