WPSU, a historic radio station in State College, is facing closure. The date that is set for closure is June 30. WPSU is a vital part of the community, and many people rely on it for news and jobs. WPSU is selling its ownership to WHYY, a news station outside of the Philadelphia area. 44 employees at WPSU are in danger of losing their jobs, and over 500,000 households will be affected by the loss of local news.
History And Listenership
WPSU became a news station in 1953, meaning it has been one for over 60 years. The lasting impact that WPSU has had on students at Penn State is incredible. WPSU offers many benefits to the State College community, providing education, news, and a sense of belonging.
The loss of local radio stations and news signifies something bigger. Radio has been around for decades, and the closure of WPSU would show people in State College that a part of their lives would be gone. Countless people tune into the local radio station, and it has become a part of their daily lives and routines.
Repercussions
According to the WPSU website, 1.3 million people are covered by the WPSU TV and radio services. 515,000 households are covered, and there are more than 450,000 listeners in the counties that WPSU covers. This means around 10% of people in Pennsylvania are losing access to news and radio coverage when WPSU closes.
It is also important to note that the decision made to shut down the radio station was made entirely by the board, and there was no public imput.
Kate Woodruff, a math teacher at State High, says that WPSU is a great news source and she enjoys getting updates from it. “I appreciate that there are really good weather forecasts for our area,” Woodruff said.
Some specific aspects of WPSU that Woodruff listens to are the Fresh Air and American Life programs within WPSU.
“I think the just regular around town listening I would miss,” Woodruff said about the potential loss of this news station.
An outreach spokesperson from Penn State and WPSU released the following statement when asked to comment on the topic. “Penn State is selling WPSU to ensure the long-term sustainability of public media in central Pennsylvania. Like many universities, Penn State faces significant financial pressures, including rising costs, stagnant state funding, and the loss of federal support for public broadcasting. Transferring WPSU’s assets to WHYY, a respected public media organization, provides the best opportunity to preserve WPSU’s mission and maintain access to trusted programming for the communities it serves.”
Woodruff has listened to WPSU for 16 years since she moved to State College and has brought it with her throughout her time teaching.
Even though WPSU will still be around, it will not be the same due to the transfer to WHYY. There will be a loss of local news and coverage from Penn State students and other journalists. Woodruff agrees that it will feel different, “I think that we won’t quite have the same [experience], it would probably be different,” Woodruff said.
The shift of WPSU from WHYY will affect many people. Local journalists and radio listeners will feel the effects very soon during this controversial moment in the community.
