WKNC 88.1 FM, N.C. State University's student-run radio station, was a runner-up for Best Radio Station in the Triangle, as voted by the readers of Independent Weekly. WKNC received this award after carrying Best Station in the Triangle from 2006 to 2008. This year the award for Best Radio Station in the Triangle went to WUNC 91.5 FM, an NPR-affiliate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

WKNC Station Adviser, Ms. Jamie Gilbert, believes that WKNC can reclaim this title in the future, however. "WKNC can continue to do its best to connect with the Triangle community by maintaining our commitment to North Carolina music," she said. "I believe we do a good job with local indie rock and would like to expand with our hip-hop, electronic, and metal formats, as well as with specialty music programs."

Gilbert was unsure why the three-year streak as Best Radio Station in the Triangle was lost, but did offer some ideas. During the voting period, WKNC was operating at ten percent power, and lost its coverage of Durham and Chapel Hill. "I know of at least one person, and probably more that stopped listening to WKNC for that period and instead listened to WUNC," Gilbert said. "We have since corrected that problem and hope to win back any lost listeners."

Current general manager Mike Alston, a senior in civil engineering at NCSU, offers additional ideas for reclaiming the title. "We can continue to work hard to bring the freshest, newest alternative music, nationally and locally, to our listeners and expand what we offer through our website and blog," Alston said. " I love where we are now, but there is so much we can do." WKNC is currently working on a project involving two local organizations to support local music.

Current disc jockey, "Mz. Kelly", was a finalist for Best Radio DJ in the Triangle. Two other WKNC disc jockeys were also recognized in the past. In 2007, Samuel McGuire was a finalist for Best Radio DJ in the Triangle and Tom Wharton received the award for Best Radio DJ in 2006.

Related Links

1. http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A396214
2. http://www.wknc.org
3. http://www.wunc.org