WPKN FAQ’s

WPKN

244 University Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

On-air telephone: (203) 336-9756
Office telephone: (203) 331-9756

Station General Manager: Peter Bochan   (gm@wpkn.org)

Vlounteer Board of Directors:

Chair: Chris Teskey  (chair@wpkn.org)

Secretary:  Rich Kaminsky  (secretary@wpkn.org)

Program Director: Rod Richardson  (pd@wpkn.org)

Director of News: Ebong Udoma   (news@wpkn.org)

Director of Public Affairs:  Doug Echols  (publicaffairs@wpkn.org)

Volunteer Director: Ed Flynn  (volunteer@wpkn.org)

Director of Press & Publicity: Steve di Costanzo  (press@wpkn.org)

Music Director: Rick Petrone  (music@wpkn.org)

Director of Fundraising: Eric Ford (fundraising@wpkn.org)

PSA/Non-Profit Announcements Director: Pete Stewart (psa@wpkn.org)

Benefit Concerts Director:  Kevin Gallagher  (concerts@wpkn.org)

Library Director:  Dave Zinovenko  (library@wpkn.org)

Premiums Director: Jermaine Clarke & Shel Tarrant  (premiums@wpkn.org)

Technical Director: Don Duffy (tech@wpkn.org)

Long Island Director:  Kevin Ross  (LI@wpkn.org)

People wishing to have their music reviewed should send packages to Rick Petrone at the address listed above.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WPKN?

WPKN-FM is a listener-supported, non-commercial radio station broadcasting at 10,000 watts on 89.5 Mhz FM in Bridgeport, CT.
The station also broadcasts to the bulk of Fairfield and New Haven Counties in Connecticut, Suffolk County in New York (Long Island) as well as parts of Rhode Island.  The station dates back to the early 1960’s when it was affiliated with the University of Bridgeport. For the past 15 or so years,  WPKN has not been affiliated with UB, but broadcasts from facilities located on the campus. WPKN’s programming mix is a cornucopia of genres and styles.   From the obscure to the recognizable, WPKN is proud of its bold independence and its fearlessness to program without any strings attached.  Turn us on and you’ll hear everything from Bluegrass to Haitian voodoo; from lush classical strings to electroclash; from bebop jazz to 60’s psychedelia; from Americana to spoken word.   Some of our self-produced talk/news oriented shows such as Between the Lines are nationally recognized. We dare to be different, topical to be challenging and entertaining.
All of the station’s programming is controlled by individual DJs and not dictated by any management or staff.  Our programming is nearly 100% self-originated and we also maintain close ties with Pacifica Radio.

HOW DOES WPKN RECEIVE ITS FUNDING?

WPKN receives no corporate or government funding–we are funded by our WPKN listeners through our on-air fundraising events as well as through the support of other non-profit organizations in the form of broadcast NPA’s.

HOW CAN I LISTEN TO WPKN ON THE WEB?

Access our station on-line via the web and iPhone applications through our home page and also look for us on iTunes Radio,  Public Radio Tuner,  Wonder Radio and other tuners.

HOW DO I REACH THE STATION?

You may call our general manager, Peter Bochan at (203) 331-9756 or our part-time assitant Maureen Sullivan

gm@wpkn.org

CAN I FIND WPKN ON FACEBOOK, iTUNES, iPHONE?

Yes…to all the above.

FACEBOOK : Click here to go to the WPKN FACEBOOK Fan Page

iTUNES: Under PUBLIC and then under WPKN

iPHONE: download app PUBLIC RADIO TUNER

IS THERE A PROGRAM GUIDE?

Yes, WPKN produces a simple, printed program guide. For a PDF version you can go tp the PROGRAMMING page and download a PDF or contact the station and they will email you a PDF.  The most current information will always be found on-line.

Can I GET ON THE AIR?

A basic requirement of the audition process for WPKN is to basically get involved with the station’s off-air activities (and even then there is no sure guarantee of an airshift).  Since we have only one paid employee, we rely on volunteers to keep the day-to-day office operations continuing; we require all programmers to do basic volunteer work here at WPKN, contact our Volunteer Director at the phone number or email address listed above.

HOW DO I FIND A SONG PLAYED?

You can start by using our ARCHIVES and searching for the time and corresponding show/host.  If that fails your best bet is to contact the individual DJ.  You can contact individual programmers by finding their contact info from our PROGRAMMING page.

HOW DO I GET AN EVENT BROADCAST ON AIR?

Public Service announcements can be sent to the mailing address above, noting: “Attn: PSA Department”. We ask that all PSA’s are sent typed, and as far in advance of specific events as possible.

DOES WPKN ACCEPT ADS or UNDERWRITING?

We do not accept commercial underwriting. WPKN actively solicits the support of other non-profit organizations that are interested in having their ‘announcements’ communicated in an ongoing, time-specific manner. These are called NPA’s.  Please contact the general manager if you feel your non-profit might benefit from such a program.

WHERE TO HEAR US…

WPKN’s programming can be heard on two frequencies: 89.5 in most of Connecticut and Long Island, and 88.7 in Montauk, Westerly & New London.

DIRECTIONS TO WPKN RADIO

FROM THE NORTH, VIA ROUTE

25 OR ROUTE 8:

Take the 25/8 connector into Bridgeport. Get off at Exit 1 (Myrtle Avenue/Prospect

Avenue), which is the last exit before the junction with I-95. At the

bottom of the ramp, go straight. Two blocks ahead you’ll pass under

I-95. You’re on Myrtle Avenue. See “From Myrtle Avenue”.

FROM THE NORTH/EAST, VIA I-95:

Take Exit 27 (Lafayette Boulevard). Stay to the left as the ramp forks.

At the bottom of the ramp, there’s a traffic light. Go straight. At

the second light, go straight. At the third light, make a left, which

puts you on Myrtle Avenue, underneath I-95. See “From Myrtle Avenue”.

FROM THE SOUTH/WEST, VIA I-95:

Take Exit 27 (Lafayette Boulevard) At the light at the bottom of the

ramp, make a right onto Myrtle Avenue. See “From Myrtle Avenue”.

FROM MYRTLE AVENUE:

Proceed straight down Myrtle. You’ll pass under a Railroad bridge, then

go straight through two stop signs, then you’ll come to a chain across

the road. If you make a left at that chain, you’ll be in the parking

lot behind the John Cox Student Center. WPKN’s back door is on the very

edge of the building, right next to the driveway you just came in on.

The back door has an intercom box, a keypad, and a TV camera. See below

for instructions on getting in.

CLICK ON THIS MAP FOR AN ENLARGEMENT

FOR SAFE PARKING:

On weekdays and early weekday evenings Monday through Thursday it’s

best to park in the lot next to the University of Bridgeport Book Store,

behind Mandeville Hall. Park close to other cars, and as close to the

building as possible. On early mornings, late evenings, and weekends

it’s best to park in the lot next to Campus Security.

FOR ACCESS TO OUR BUILDING, THE JOHN COX STUDENT CENTER:

On weekdays you should come in the front door of the building. Go to

the doorway on the left. Once you’re in the lobby, make a left down

a hallway. Almost immediately you’ll see a staircase on the right. Go

to the top of the stairs, hang a right, and walk down that hallway.

We are the last three doors on the right. If the office door is closed,

go to the last door on the right, which is unmarked but which leads

into the studio area.

If you’re coming before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on a weekday, or any

time on a weekend, you’ll probably need to come in through the back

door. Press the intercom button and someone will trigger the door lock

to let you in. Don’t expect to hear a buzzing noise; it’s noiseless.

Go to the very top of the stairs, enter our hallway, and go in whichever

of the first three doors on the left is unlocked.