Photo provided by WQSU
By Tre Shuttlesworth, Staff Writer
Susquehanna’s radio station, WQSU, started hosting the PA Pig Skin Preview, a live sports talk show, from Buffalo Wild Wings in Shamokin Dam in October. This new program previews local college and high school football action with analysis and live interviews with area coaches.
The event was held in conjunction with the Association for Women in Sports Media, which is a volunteer-run organization that is a support network and advocacy group for women in sports media. The organization runs networking and mentoring initiatives while organizing internship opportunities and scholarship programs.
Senior Michael McGimpsey was one of the hosts of the PA Pig Skin Preview. While the show’s production and planning can be intensive, he has taken lots of redeeming experience in hosting these preview shows.
“The experience I’m getting from running this live sports show is priceless,” McGimpsey said. “Our communications department always tries to put us in situations that we could find ourselves being in the workforce.”
The show requires high levels of coordination as high amounts of communication are needed to coordinate with local coaches and teams who are already occupied during the season as part of the planning process.
McGimpsey explained the production and planning process for the show: “When Thursday comes around and it’s time for the show that’s the easiest part because all of the work is already done. I’m lucky that I have great people on my team to get a show like this off the ground and push it to be successful.”
For McGimpsey,the most rewarding part of hosting the show is the unparalleled support the show has received on campus and in the community.
“The positive feedback makes all of this worthwhile. Being a part of this community and making a difference is what being a part of local radio is all about. I’m just happy I can be a small part of something like this,” he said.
With the football season ending, this creates an opportunity to expand the live show into other sports. The basketball season starting opens the opportunity to expand the show’s coverage into local high school and college basketball.
WQSU is is operated by students, faculty and volunteers from the local community. It is the most powerful college radio station in Pennsylvania that covers nearly a third of the state with a 70-mile range. Programming includes regularly scheduled music, news programming, sports shows and broadcasts throughout the year, including during academic breaks.