York University will be the host site of a national conference for radio station managers on March 24 and 25.
The National Community Radio Association’s annual Station Managers Summit (#SMS2018) brings together Canadian leaders of campus and community broadcast licences to exchange ideas, explore new models of content delivery, and develop volunteer and community engagement.
The two-day summit is hosted by VX3 Exchange, a registered charitable social enterprise and developer of connective media solutions, which includes the broadcast operation of York-affiliated radio station VIBE105 (105.5FM) (CHRY-FM).
It is the first time in more than a decade that the annual summit will take place in Toronto.
VX3 Exchange and VIBE105 will be highlighted on the conference itinerary to share how they have evolved to become one of the top revenue generators across the country through advertising and grant acquisitions.
Though the broadcast has performed well, the focus of the operational shift was in the development of a programming structure that includes a co-curricular experiential learning model called the V360 Program.
VX3 offers more than 100 York students, as well as community and student partners, access and opportunities to contribute to a professional broadcast experience, said Randy Reid, CEO and general manager of VIBE105.
“This platform allows for the vocational and educational growth of our active participants, further enhancing the delivery of language and cultural programming in media across the GTA,” he said, adding it is one of best models in social-enterprise and civic-media training in the country.
VIBE105 is a licensed community radio station that broadcasts across the GTA. Its roots on York University’s Keele campus date back to the 1970s, and in 1986 it was formally incorporated as a registered not-for-profit charitable agency when it launched as CHRY Community Radio Inc.
Reaching a base residential audience of more than 1.6 million, VIBE105 boasts a unique blend of language and culturally reflective programming heard across the Greater Toronto Area, and further reach through several key apps and online streaming platforms.
For more information, visit the VX3 Exchange website and the VIBE105 website.