WSIE’s Stephanie Lewis Wins Scholarship to Attend Public Media and Marketing Conference

On the journey to making WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville self-sustaining, its account executive applied for a scholarship to learn how to better position the station. 

Stephanie Lewis will attend the Public Media Development and Marketing Conference (PMDMC) Tuesday-Friday, July 9-12 in Dallas. The conference scholarship is given by the Public Radio Association of Development Officers (PRADO), which awarded Lewis a $1,500 PRADO scholarship to attend and is funded by the sponsor, Nacha. 

In response to WSIE General Manager Jason Church’s request to continuing learning about the radio business, Lewis found the conference opportunity on the internet. 

At PMDMC, Lewis will learn more about public media and how to advance WSIE. Information on fundraising, including underwriting and growing sustaining donors through automatic clearinghouse (ACH), will be presented. 

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to go,” said Lewis. “It’s going to make a big difference to me and this community radio station.” 

As part of the scholarship, WSIE will also receive consulting from Nacha on how it can grow its sustaining donor base.

“WSIE plans to be around for a long time to come,” said Lewis. “We have a very dedicated audience. Our listeners are amazing.” 

WSIE-FM went on the air on September 4, 1970 as a National Public Radio affiliated station delivering a variety of programming, while serving as an educational platform for SIUE mass communications students. In the 1980’s, WSIE became The Jazz Station, featuring such broadcasters as Leo Chears. WSIE has also produced a long list of highly successful broadcasters including Dewayne Staats, the current broadcast voice of the Tampa Bay Rays. On August 1, 2016, WSIE launched its new brand, 88.7 The Sound providing listeners with a rich blend of jazz, smooth jazz, blues and R&B to create “The Sound.” WSIE is a community supported radio station, which must rely upon its listeners and underwriters to maintain operations.