CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. -- It is National Radio Day, a celebration held on August 20th since the early 1990s. This day recognizes the first device to allow for mass communication, transferring information far and wide...and changing the world forever.
If you ask Jeff Byers of WRSC, or any other radio host for that matter, they will tell you the importance of radio is to be able to reach through the speakers and touch the lives of your audience. Despite its long history, new streaming opportunities make people worry about the future of radio.
WRSC Radio Morning Show Co-Host Jeff Byers has worked in radio since his freshman year at Penn State. He says he fell into it almost by accident in 1987. By the next year, he decided his passion would become his profession, "It opened up a lot of doors, taught me a lot about how to write for radio. Writing for newspaper or magazine is different than writing for radio or TV and just learning those differences and getting to the heart of the matter."
Having grown up in the Centre County community, listening to Fran Fisher broadcasting Penn State football games and Lanny Frattara calling for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he enjoys covering what is happening in his home. In fact, he has done so for nearly 30 years. He says his most memorial moments in radio have been broadcasting for the Penn State Wrestling program during their national championships and other achievements. He is no stranger to accolades himself, having been nationally-recognized for his broadcasting talents -- in particular, for his detailed, analytical calling of Nittany Lion matches. He has been calling for the team since 1990.
The booming voice covering a wide array of topics behind the microphone, he says he loves the interaction with guests and audiences that radio provides, "It's just one of the more unique ways that you get to interact and connect with other people, getting to hear from them and even when you're out and about and people that you don't know just come up and say, 'Man, I enjoy listening to the program' or they'll tell you their take on it. That is really one of the rewarding aspects."
The big draw to streaming services is that there are no commercials, which professionals say poses a threat to radio. However, the argument for radio is that you have a familiar voice, talking about the topics within your community as they are happening. An aspect to radio that, Byers says, makes it stand out from the rest.
He believes that no matter how many streaming services there are, there will always be a place for local radio and knowing what is happening your backyard, "It's that connection with the local community and that immediacy of radio." He adds, this quality makes radio stand out from other forms of broadcasting, "What I think radio can do that I'm not sure any other medium can, I think there's an intimacy when you're actually having to listen to somebody and listen only, where you're connecting with the thoughts and only kind of grabbing somebody's attention in a way I'm not sure you can with the other outlets. I think that's unique."
He says, this unique aspect to radio will keep it alive for years to come, "Radio does hold a special place in American history...It's something that many people have fond memories of. When I think back to my childhood, listening to radio baseball broadcasts, Penn State football games -- I hope it remains a vital part of the American lifestyle. It's an important part for people to stay engaged on what's happening in their local communities and throughout the country and the world."
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