May celebration for The Yak
The first birthday of The Yak FM coincides with NZ Music Month.
After an exciting year in news and music, the student radio station at Wintec celebrates its first birthday as The Yak.
Wintec radio tutor, Blair Dowling, rebranded the station as The Yak Fm a year ago this month.
As the birth of The Yak Fm ties in with May’s New Zealand Music Month, the focus of the student radio station is to represent New Zealand by playing as much Kiwi music as they can.
Dowling said that The Yak Fm has been a really exciting project for all the students involved.
“We are continuing to learn about how to best serve our audience,” he said.
The student radio station had a pretty big first year.
Student presenters covered events such as the Rena disaster, the 2011 Rugby World Cup and even a bomb scare in Hamilton – as well as keeping up with celebrity gossip and the latest music from around the world.
The Yak Fm has gained valuable student presenters from the Certificate in Radio Broadcasting and Bachelor of Media Arts courses over the last year, with some of them finding jobs in the industry.
Student Yak presenter Jed Murtagh said he has enjoyed the past year working on The Yak.
“I am looking forward to presenting the High Voltage rock show on there for years to come,” Murtagh said.
Former PR and student presenter for The Yak Rm Megan Ridley said the station helped her get into the work force.
“The Yak Fm was the greatest experience and introduction to radio I could have asked for,” she said.
She now works in accounts at Mediaworks Waikato with occasional promo work.
The Yak Fm is on Facebook and always welcome new fans to like their page.
Listeners can also phone The Yak Fm on (07) 837-7019 to place a shout out or request a song.
Listen to The Yak Fm online at www.theyakfm.co.nz or on 107.1Fm.
