By: Jennifer L. Irvine
M.C. 2 INC of New Castle, PA is securing a radio station that plans to be a voice for the local community. J Robert Irvine, president of M.C.2 INC., a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation for the development of the arts, radio and television in Lawrence County and the surrounding area, was instrumental in delivering WLDJ 107.5 FM-LP to New Castle. Programming for the community will include local news and weather, local musicians, community calendar, talk shows, interviews, church messages, sports, storytelling for all ages, emergency broadcasting, and other shows.
M.C. 2 INC is partnering with Dayspring Harvest ministries in Ellwood City,PA for an affiliate station WXED 107.3 FM, also programming will be carried on 1470 AM FAR currently on the air in the Shenango Valley.
M.C.2 INC was awarded a construction permit to build a radio station on Jan. 31, 2014 and is to be officially over the air by July of 2015! By March of next year, Irvine expects to have a transmitter and be doing test broadcasts. By July 30, WLDJ intends to be officially on the air. Robert Irvine, explained how there was a small window of opportunity, opened by the FCC for two weeks in October 2013, to get a license. Irvine stated that he had applied in 2000 for a license and was denied and then waited for about 13 years for this window to be opened. A long wait for a community radio station! “It’s a long time coming, I have dreamed of opening my own radio station to help independent musicians since I was working at WKST in 1977.”, Irvine said.
Guidelines for programming will be set by the M.C.2 INC. Board of directors and steering committee of WLDJ which will be made up of five to seven local leaders and residents. Volunteers will also be needed to help in the day-to-day operations of the station.
Irvine announced that there is a great need for funding, as the equipment needed is expensive. He is writing grants and asking for donations but said he will need help with obtaining the funds needed for operation. For now, M.C.2 INC. is working to create awareness for the station and developing its management and operational structure.
Irvine stated “The station will promote unity and awareness in the community by having a public voice made up of many residents of the New Castle area. Programming will be aimed at local residents learning and listening to one another and sharing local events and activities that bring people together. ” Programs are planned to be aired 24 hours a day, but local community programming will only be aired daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. "Programming will be uplifting and wholesome for the whole family", Irvine said.
